Boston College
Boston College is a Jesuit university on the Chestnut Hill line between Boston and Newton, where Gasson Hall's Collegiate Gothic tower presides over a quad of gray stone and gargoyles. First-years land in one of two worlds — Upper Campus at the heart of it all, or Newton Campus a shuttle ride west — and everyone rallies as an Eagle. Maroon, gold, and 'For Boston.'
What to wear in Chestnut Hill, month by month
This region runs from a humid late summer to a hard winter in about ten weeks. The mistake out-of-region families make is packing the whole year in August.
| Move-in (Aug) | 62–82°F | Warm, humid Boston late summer — no A/C in the first-year halls, so a fan earns its keep. |
| Sept–Oct | 45–72°F | Classic New England fall — crisp games at Alumni Stadium and the reservoir at its prettiest. |
| Nov–Dec | 30–50°F | Cold settles in and the light goes early; full coat by Thanksgiving. |
| Jan–Feb | 22–38°F | Real Boston winter — nor'easters, wind off the reservoir, and salted-over brick paths. |
| Mar–May | 38–65°F | A slow, sloppy thaw into a bright, green spring by Marathon Monday. |
What Boston College lets you bring
- A fan — no first-year hall here has A/C, and late-August Boston runs warm and humid
- Twin XL bedding (confirm your specific hall)
- UL/ETL power strip with a built-in circuit breaker — not a bare extension cord
- Damage-free wall hangings like Command strips — no nails or screws
- Low-draw LED desk and task lamps
- A fan, a reusable water bottle, and UL-listed electronics
- Open-coil / open-flame cooking: toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, electric grills, sandwich makers
- Candles, incense, wax warmers, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps
- Extension cords without a breaker; outlet splitters and multi-plug adapters
- Space heaters and personal A/C units (unless your school provides/approves them)
- Hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and other e-mobility devices
- Weapons of any kind — including decorative — and fireworks
- Candles, incense, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps and lamps with more than three arms
- Space heaters and electric blankets
- Personal air-conditioning units
- Hot plates, toasters, and other appliances with exposed heating coils
These come from Boston College's official housing pages and cover the essentials plus the genuinely local rules. Double-check the current official guidance before you buy — policies and renovations change every year.
Getting your room at Boston College
- 01After you deposit
Housing questionnaire
BC's Office of Residential Life places first-years and matches roommates centrally from a summer questionnaire — you don't pick your own hall or campus.
- 02Mid-summer
Assignments post
Your campus (Upper or Newton), hall, room, and roommate arrive over the summer through BC's online housing portal.
- 03Before move-in
Pick a move-in time
First-years sign up for a specific move-in appointment; students in the earliest orientation session may move in a few days ahead.
- 04Late August
Move in + Weeks of Welcome
First-years move in (late August — August 27 in 2025) and roll straight into Weeks of Welcome and Orientation before classes start.
Where you'll live at Boston College
Upper Campus
About 60% of first-years live on Upper Campus, right on the main Chestnut Hill campus — no shuttle, a two-minute walk to Gasson and the dining hall. Halls are traditional corridors with no A/C, and the towers of 'CLXF' anchor the neighborhood.
Four interconnected towers that form the largest first-year complex on Upper — roughly 560 students, and the social center of gravity.
The paired halls near the Quad; St. Joseph's Chapel sits in the Gonzaga basement for quick weekend Mass.
Kostka houses first-year women; Medeiros splits into single-gender, bathroom-sharing sections that turn into tight little pods.
Cheverus and Williams round out Upper; Shaw House is a 20-student leadership living-learning community you apply to.
Newton Campus
The other ~40% of first-years live on Newton Campus, about 1.5 miles west at 885 Centre Street. A shuttle runs continuously between Newton and main campus seven days a week — it becomes second nature fast, and the tight-knit Newton class is fiercely loyal to it.
The two halls closest to the Newton dining hall, treated as one community — Hardey the bigger (~190), Cushing the smaller (~120).
Joined by basement and first-floor lounges, so 'Duchesne' functions as a single community despite the East/West labels.
Like Duchesne, two structures linked by shared lounges — classic Newton first-year corridors.
Continuous, free, and seven days a week between Newton and Chestnut Hill — plan roughly ten minutes each way and you'll never miss a class.
The Boston College move-in checklist
The “Shop” links are Amazon affiliate links — a purchase may earn AllDorms a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Bedding6
Bath5
Laundry4
Storage & organization6
Desk & study4
Electronics6
Cleaning5
Kitchen — within the rules5
Health & meds4
Clothing — see the seasonal guide7
Move-in day go-bag5
Chestnut Hill logistics, sorted
How to send a package to a Boston College student
[Residence Hall + Room #]
325 Beacon St
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Gasson Hall is the icon
'For Boston' and Marathon Monday
Chestnut Hill & around
Chestnut Hill & Newton
Leafy, upscale, and quiet — the Chestnut Hill shops are a short walk, and Newton's villages ring the campus.
Chestnut Hill Reservoir
The loop along the reservoir just off campus is BC's default run, walk, and sunset spot.
Boston via the Green Line
The 'B' branch trolley runs from the campus edge straight downtown — the Common and Newbury Street are a ride away (allow about 45 minutes).
Fenway & the Fens
Red Sox baseball at Fenway Park, plus the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner, all clustered midway to downtown.
Where to stay near Boston College
AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle
Cleveland CircleThe newest option near the reservoir, walkable to campus along the 'B' line — books out fast for BC weekends.
Courtyard by Marriott Brookline
BrooklineA dependable chain a couple of miles east toward the city.
Boston Marriott Newton
NewtonOn the Charles by the Mass Pike; ask for the BC rate (code B69), with a Green Line 'D' stop nearby.
Boston College gear & gifts
Boston College — links & contacts
- Residential Life: Visit page