Babson College is a small business school in the suburbs of Boston. Its entrepreneurship program has been rated #1 in the country for something like 18 years in a row, and it was recently rated #1 for business overall in Money Magazine, so it is very much up-and-coming. The best part about Babson, in my opinion, is the energy of the campus--everyone is always doing something, and there is always tons going on.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Babson really wants to see that you have a passion for something, and they want to know a little about your plans for the future regarding that passion. They don't expect every student to be a business expert and to have already started a business in high school or anything like that. You'll learn, as you begin your academic journey at Babson, that business does not have a cut-and-dry definition, and it can be incorporated into any aspect of life. So as long as you show that you are motivated and passionate, you are good to go.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The students at Babson all say that the academics are very rigorous--they boast things like a B at Babson is the same as an A at any other school. I've never taken classes at any other university, so I don't know if this is true, but I feel that the classes at Babson are not any more difficult than anywhere else. That being said, the classes are not by any means easy, I just don't know that we are right to brag that they are more difficult than classes at other colleges.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Babson's dorm life is very close-knit--all the freshman dorms are clustered together around the green, except for Forest, which is a little farther away (3 minutes walk). People wander in and out of each others rooms to talk and hang out all the time. I live in Mattos, which is the substance-free dorm, and the rooms there are absolutely huge--I'm in a double, and it is probably larger than a standard triple at other schools. There's a nice big window too. And the boys who live directly under our room have these giant floor-to-ceiling bay windows that are gorgeous. But that's just two rooms. The other rooms are pretty standard, I think. Although Park Manor West is going to be opened next semester, and it is supposed to be the nicest dorm building with a huge glass-wall common room and everything.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Everyone complains about the food at Babson, but personally I think it could be a LOT worse. Usually I can find something fairly palatable, and sometimes they'll even serve something really delicious. You also have the option of eating at Reynold's (the student center), which has a Pizza Hut, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, a Chinese-food place, a Mexican-food place, and sushi. Lastly, you can also eat at Olin School of Engineering, which is a 7-10 minute walk away. One big problem that students find with dining is that there is no place to eat if you get hungry late at night, because Trim closes at 7 and Reynold's closes at like 9 or something.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
The weekend starts on Thursday night for most Babson students, and there are always parties all weekend long. Boston is half-an-hour away, and there are other universities closer nearby as well (Wellesley, Olin). Babson also has various events such as speakers, performances, etc. And if you're still bored, well, you can always start your own business because that's what Babson is all about.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Since Babson is so small, all your interactions with the various offices on campus will be very personal. This applies to Student Financial Services as well, and I just had the best experience dealing with them after I was accepted to Babson. They really try to help you out, and they treat each student individually, on a personal level. After I explained my financial situation to them, they adjusted my financial aid package significantly, and also helped my dad secure a federal parent Plus loan to cover the rest of the cost. Babson is a very very expensive school, but they will do everything they can to help you out. I should also add that Babson is rated #1 for Return on Investment. Babson offers SO many opportunities, so if you make the most of your time here, you will graduate with a significant advantage over graduates from other schools.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
One tradition at Babson is Wellness Week during finals. They organize tons of events throughout the entire week that aim to de-stress students as we are studying for finals. For example, they always have a day when they bring puppies on campus, and we get to play with them--they are so cute! And they also have massages--and these are like really nice massages by professional masseuses. I had one this semester, and it actually did de-stress me. Some other events during Wellness Week are painting mugs, movie nights, tons of make-your-own stuff, yoga, etc.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Babson is definitely not for everyone. It's not for students who want to sit back and see where undergraduate education will take them, because those students will fall through the cracks and probably won't get noticed by employers because other Babson graduates have done so much with their four years at school. Those students should probably stick with liberal arts for undergraduate school. Babson is for the students who can't wait to start doing something with their lives, and who want to make the absolute most of the time that they have in college. If you are that kind of student, Babson is perfect because, being such a small school, they can afford to give you so much support and resources and advice. Everyone who works at Babson is truly invested in the success of every student on campus.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
For such a small school, Babson has a ton of clubs (over 100 by now, I think). I am a member of the Energy and Environmental Club, the Equestrian Club, Net Impact, Women Giving Back, the Consulting Club, and I am starting my own club next semester too. There are also organizations that are not clubs, but that have weekly meetings, such as Food Sol Community Table, and Good Business Fridays.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
I'm not involved in Greek life, but I definitely see its presence on campus. They are always hosting events and such, I think they host a large number of the parties on campus, and there is also Delta Sigma Pi, which is a professional frat. That being said, I can't say that the influence of Greek life is overwhelming, because everyone is involved in tons of different clubs and organizations, so Greek life does not become the defining characteristic of any student or group of students.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I can't really tell you much about campus safety because there have not been any threats to the safety of students that I have heard of. There have been tons of fire alarms because, well, we're freshmen, but there haven't been any real dangers. We have the standard blue-light system, and Campus Safety is open 24/7. One thing that Babson really stresses is their Amnesty Program, which basically means that if you see someone who is incapacitated from alcohol consumption, neither of you will get in trouble if you call campus safety to help them.
Babson College is a small business school in the suburbs of Boston. Its entrepreneurship program has been rated #1 in the country for something like 18 years in a row, and it was recently rated #1 for business overall in Money Magazine, so it is very much up-and-coming. The best part about Babson, in my opinion, is the energy of the campus--everyone is always doing something, and there is always tons going on.
Babson really wants to see that you have a passion for something, and they want to know a little about your plans for the future regarding that passion. They don't expect every student to be a business expert and to have already started a business in high school or anything like that. You'll learn, as you begin your academic journey at Babson, that business does not have a cut-and-dry definition, and it can be incorporated into any aspect of life. So as long as you show that you are motivated and passionate, you are good to go.
The students at Babson all say that the academics are very rigorous--they boast things like a B at Babson is the same as an A at any other school. I've never taken classes at any other university, so I don't know if this is true, but I feel that the classes at Babson are not any more difficult than anywhere else. That being said, the classes are not by any means easy, I just don't know that we are right to brag that they are more difficult than classes at other colleges.
Babson's dorm life is very close-knit--all the freshman dorms are clustered together around the green, except for Forest, which is a little farther away (3 minutes walk). People wander in and out of each others rooms to talk and hang out all the time. I live in Mattos, which is the substance-free dorm, and the rooms there are absolutely huge--I'm in a double, and it is probably larger than a standard triple at other schools. There's a nice big window too. And the boys who live directly under our room have these giant floor-to-ceiling bay windows that are gorgeous. But that's just two rooms. The other rooms are pretty standard, I think. Although Park Manor West is going to be opened next semester, and it is supposed to be the nicest dorm building with a huge glass-wall common room and everything.
Everyone complains about the food at Babson, but personally I think it could be a LOT worse. Usually I can find something fairly palatable, and sometimes they'll even serve something really delicious. You also have the option of eating at Reynold's (the student center), which has a Pizza Hut, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, a Chinese-food place, a Mexican-food place, and sushi. Lastly, you can also eat at Olin School of Engineering, which is a 7-10 minute walk away. One big problem that students find with dining is that there is no place to eat if you get hungry late at night, because Trim closes at 7 and Reynold's closes at like 9 or something.
The weekend starts on Thursday night for most Babson students, and there are always parties all weekend long. Boston is half-an-hour away, and there are other universities closer nearby as well (Wellesley, Olin). Babson also has various events such as speakers, performances, etc. And if you're still bored, well, you can always start your own business because that's what Babson is all about.
Since Babson is so small, all your interactions with the various offices on campus will be very personal. This applies to Student Financial Services as well, and I just had the best experience dealing with them after I was accepted to Babson. They really try to help you out, and they treat each student individually, on a personal level. After I explained my financial situation to them, they adjusted my financial aid package significantly, and also helped my dad secure a federal parent Plus loan to cover the rest of the cost. Babson is a very very expensive school, but they will do everything they can to help you out. I should also add that Babson is rated #1 for Return on Investment. Babson offers SO many opportunities, so if you make the most of your time here, you will graduate with a significant advantage over graduates from other schools.
One tradition at Babson is Wellness Week during finals. They organize tons of events throughout the entire week that aim to de-stress students as we are studying for finals. For example, they always have a day when they bring puppies on campus, and we get to play with them--they are so cute! And they also have massages--and these are like really nice massages by professional masseuses. I had one this semester, and it actually did de-stress me. Some other events during Wellness Week are painting mugs, movie nights, tons of make-your-own stuff, yoga, etc.
Babson is definitely not for everyone. It's not for students who want to sit back and see where undergraduate education will take them, because those students will fall through the cracks and probably won't get noticed by employers because other Babson graduates have done so much with their four years at school. Those students should probably stick with liberal arts for undergraduate school. Babson is for the students who can't wait to start doing something with their lives, and who want to make the absolute most of the time that they have in college. If you are that kind of student, Babson is perfect because, being such a small school, they can afford to give you so much support and resources and advice. Everyone who works at Babson is truly invested in the success of every student on campus.
For such a small school, Babson has a ton of clubs (over 100 by now, I think). I am a member of the Energy and Environmental Club, the Equestrian Club, Net Impact, Women Giving Back, the Consulting Club, and I am starting my own club next semester too. There are also organizations that are not clubs, but that have weekly meetings, such as Food Sol Community Table, and Good Business Fridays.
I'm not involved in Greek life, but I definitely see its presence on campus. They are always hosting events and such, I think they host a large number of the parties on campus, and there is also Delta Sigma Pi, which is a professional frat. That being said, I can't say that the influence of Greek life is overwhelming, because everyone is involved in tons of different clubs and organizations, so Greek life does not become the defining characteristic of any student or group of students.
I can't really tell you much about campus safety because there have not been any threats to the safety of students that I have heard of. There have been tons of fire alarms because, well, we're freshmen, but there haven't been any real dangers. We have the standard blue-light system, and Campus Safety is open 24/7. One thing that Babson really stresses is their Amnesty Program, which basically means that if you see someone who is incapacitated from alcohol consumption, neither of you will get in trouble if you call campus safety to help them.