Transition to Grad Life in Boston
Brand New Bostonian (Kat T.)
I moved to Boston from Ripon, Wisconsin, where I went to undergrad, and almost everything is different! Moving to a new city can be challenging, but hopefully this advice will help to make the transition a bit easier.
Dress for Success
Check your weather app every morning! The weather can change in a minute here in Boston, and it is important to be prepared. This year, it was in the 70’s one week in February and the next week we got a snowstorm so big it had its own name! That being said, while Boston has a reputation for snow, it rains a lot here too. Umbrellas are encouraged and proper footwear is a “must” survival tool. Full-length winter coats are in, so take advantage of the style curve and get yourself one before the next round of wintery mix heads our way.
Bang for your Buck
Everything is more expensive in a city. Fact. Housing, transportation, even a carton of milk will hit your bank account a bit harder. Learning how to track your spending will benefit you greatly in the short and long term. Those loans are real and now is the time to prepare for them. Here are a few ways you can save:
- Remember, your feet are free. And in Boston, you can walk almost anywhere.
- Or you can “T” it. BU offers an 11% discount on a semester-long pass for the MBTA. Don’t procrastinate: sign up for it! If you miss the chance, you will be kicking yourself when you buy the monthly pass for $85.
- Utilize that student ID! There are many places around the city that offer student discounts. Don’t miss out on this or you will regret it when your two years are up. Two of my favorite places are Goodwill (25% every Thursday) and Chipotle (free soda with your meal).
Food for Thought
Obviously one of the most important things to know when you move somewhere new is where to eat! I’ve listed some of my favorites below and encourage you to check them out:
- On Beacon Street in Brookline (not far from SSW), I love the Busy Bee diner. It is as old-fashioned and “diner-esque” as it gets. They only take cash, so come prepared.
- One of my all-time favorites is Gyro City in Fenway. Even for a vegetarian, this place is amazing! They do not skimp on the feta and that’s important.
- In Cambridge, Lord Hobo might have the best and richest mac and cheese I have ever had the pleasure of eating.
- And finally, in the North End many will tell you to go to Mike’s Pastries for cannolis, but I would like to promote Bova’s and Modern instead. Modern has an incredible selection and is located on the same street as Mike’s. Bova’s is my personal favorite and they are open 24-hours!
Grad School as a Boston Native (Jahniah S.)
I am a first–generation college graduate and graduate student and, unlike many of my counterparts at BUSSW, I was born and raised in urban Boston in a neighborhood called Roxbury. When I started the program, I assumed that because I already lived in Boston, things would be easier for me to navigate. No big adjustments, just a new day. Wrong, wrong, wrong. It was a HUGE transition. And one that was experienced by every student, just in different ways. For me, though it didn’t involve moving to a new city, I was working part time and trying to balance family, school work, and my field placement. Throughout all the struggles and stresses of grad school, I’ve learned as much about myself as I have about the social work field. I AM becoming a professional who is fortunate to be doing what I love– helping people.
Over the course of this experience I have been able to identify strengths within myself. I’ve developed the confidence to know that I WILL make it through this and I will be an amazing social worker. How has the program helped me get there? Here are my thoughts:
Grad School is About Learning and Adding to Your Skills Base
Rather than just writing a paper to get a grade that means nothing but an “A.” We’ve all turned in BS assignments in college where we didn’t really know what we were talking about, but we passed anyway. If you pass here, it’s because you ARE demonstrating that you know what you are talking about.
Time Management and Self-Care are the Keys to Success
If you’re anything like me, you just read the sentence above and rolled your eyes. I know that advice might seem super overrated, but believe me, as someone who likes to make my own rules and do things on my own time, I’ve learned the hard way that it doesn’t always work out that way for grad students. The all-nighter you spent to finish a paper spills into the next day when you are working with a difficult client – and you need your brain cells. Or it spills into the weekend when you were supposed to go to the gym or hang out with friends. So, try to make time for all the things that are important to you and stick to it. Of course it takes practice, but you will learn to find balance. And once you’ve got it down, you will be better off for it!
Remember, everything you gain from this experience is going to help you grow as a person, as a professional, and make you a better social worker. It’s not about faking your way through a paper or a class, it’s about much more.