Navigating Residential Life at Boston College: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing where to live is a significant part of the Boston College experience. From the moment you arrive as a first-year student to your senior year, understanding the housing options, processes, and resources available is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of residential life at Boston College, covering everything from room selection to campus locations and essential packing tips.

Housing Guarantee and Options

The majority of Boston College students receive three years of guaranteed housing. However, students with three years of housing must live in an off-campus apartment during their junior year. Many students also choose to study abroad during this time. While not required, over 90 percent of BC students opt to live on campus during their senior year, highlighting the appeal and convenience of residential life.

Campus Locations

Boston College has three main campuses where students reside: Chestnut Hill, Newton, and Brookline.

Chestnut Hill Campus: This is the main campus, and Upper Campus is a part of it. The convenience of Chestnut Hill Campus means that students living here do not require the use of a shuttle bus to get to classes and other activities.
Newton Campus: Located approximately 1.5 miles from Chestnut Hill Campus at 885 Centre Street in Newton. A continuous shuttle bus service operates seven days a week, connecting Newton Campus to the Chestnut Hill Main Campus.
Brookline Campus: Situated at 400 Heath Street, about 1.3 miles from Chestnut Hill Campus. Only students enrolled in Messina College are permitted to live on Brookline Campus.

Room Styles and Assignments

First-Year Housing

Most first-year students are placed in traditional double-occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms on each floor. A limited number of single-occupancy, natural triple, and quad rooms are also available on both the Chestnut Hill and Newton Campuses. The Brookline Campus offers only traditional double-occupancy rooms. All students have access to laundry facilities and study/recreation rooms. None of the buildings in the first year area are air conditioned.

Lofted Triple Rooms

In a lofted triple room, three students share a space that traditionally accommodates two students. Students who volunteer for placement in a lofted triple room will be assigned first. If there is still a need to fill lofted triple rooms due to class size, the Office of Residential Life will assign students who were admitted from the Admissions waitlist.

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Each student in a lofted triple room will receive a prorated rebate for the first 6 weeks of the semester. Following week 6, each student will retain the entire 1/3 room rate rebate for the specific semester, regardless of whether the room is de-tripled prior to the end of the semester.

Sophomore Housing

As sophomores, most students participate in the room selection process. Rising sophomores living on the Chestnut Hill campus can select roommates and live in suite or traditional style rooms based on their randomly assigned "pick time." For the 2025-26 academic year, rising sophomore students can apply to live in the Healthy Living (HLC) or Fr.

Room Selection Dynamics

Certain room types are more popular than others, with rising sophomores often wanting to live in eight-person suites, and rising juniors and seniors often aiming for an apartment as their first choice. It can be initially disappointing not to receive your first choice, but it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean your next year will go poorly.

In some situations, the process of putting together a group can be stressful, particularly when it is a large group. Students are encouraged to have open and honest conversations with their friends about what works for them in a living situation and what doesn’t.

Room Amenities and What to Bring

Each room is furnished with a bed, mattress, desk, chair, and dresser for each occupant. There are built-in closets in each room for each student (lofted triple rooms share the closet). Most rooms on Newton and Chestnut Hill have wall-to-wall carpeting. All rooms on Brookline Campus have tile floors.

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Essential Items to Pack

Use the First-Year Packing Guide to make sure you have everything you need for your first year living at Boston College. We encourage you to pack lightly for the fall semester, bringing essential items only. These are just suggestions; you should adapt this list to suit your own situation. To save on packing and shipping, it might make sense to buy some of these items after you arrive.

Important Policies and Procedures

Eagle ID Access

All first-year students access their buildings with Eagle IDs. Students should not punch holes in the card as this could cause the card to malfunction. Chestnut Hill and Newton students will also use their IDs to access their bedrooms and common bathrooms. Bedroom and bathroom locks on Newton and Chestnut Hill require students to hold their card up to the lock and then enter a unique PIN number. Students can find PINs on their My Res Life portal page. Students on Newton and Chestnut Hill need to bring their Eagle ID with them when they go to the bathroom as they will need it to get into the bathroom and back into their own room.

Housing Application

First-year students living on Chestnut Hill and Newton campuses must complete the Housing Application by July 1. Students living on Brookline Campus must complete their Housing Application by June 1. Students may access previously completed steps of their housing application until the application deadline. Roommate requests may be made within your housing application. Requests must be mutually confirmed between students to be considered.

Special Accommodations

Students who have a disability-related need to bring their own mattress must make that request through the Disability Services Office and submit medical documentation from their health care provider. This documentation should consist of a full medical history as it pertains to the condition and provide a detailed explanation of why the student should be permitted to bring their own mattress to campus.

Resident Assistants and Support

Resident Assistants are full-time students who live in the residence halls and are responsible for a community of residents.

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Addressing Housing Stress

It’s a reality that the housing process can sometimes be a source of stress for students. This is normal. You can encourage your student to have conversations about housing early and often with their friends, and to check in with their RA or come talk to us at the Office of Residential Life.

Room Selection Information Sessions

Every January, Residential Life offers room selection information sessions to all students. First-year students are highly encouraged to attend to get all of their room selection questions answered.

Key Dates and Transition Periods

Check-in dates for all transition periods are published on our Hall Openings and Closings page. Information on particular transition periods is updated yearly and published a few months ahead of the transition.

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