What It's Like To Go To School In Boston

It's America's college town! Whatever that means.

With over 80 colleges in the Boston area, chances are, if you didn't go to school in Bean Town, you at least know someone who did.

Via wikipedia.org

One in five people walking down the street in Boston is either a college student, a professor, or affiliated with higher education in some way. So if you scream, "HEY SMARTYPANTS," in any crowded public bathroom, you're guaranteed to get at least one person's attention.

Because of this, Boston has earned itself the nickname "America's college town."

Via timeinc.net

For a lot parents and sparkling-eyed freshman, this title may call to mind images of students in letterman sweaters studying into the wee hours of the night in historic libraries.

Really all it means is that Boston will never have to worry about its alcohol sales.

Via allaboutaddiction.com

A citywide alcohol shortage? Maybe.

Boston's an OK city to attend college in if you value the changing seasons.

Via featurepics.com

Like winter!

Via hauteliving.com

And pre-winter!

Via blog.thecharlesrealty.com

And post-winter!

Via hsbrands.com

And sweaty! Ahem, summer.

Via northofnormal.com

And that one week in October when it's fall. (Also known as the week every single college tour takes place).

It's also a great city if you love sports.

Via i139.photobucket.com

Well, if you love their sports.

And if you're looking for cultural diversity, you're in luck! There are kids from all over New Jersey, Long Island, and California.

Via tumblr.com

They'll make it quite clear that they're respectively disappointed in Boston's bagels, pizza, and Mexican food.

Via russianmachineneverbreaks.com

And the local kids are like, "What? We've got Dunkin' Donuts, Papa John's, and Qdoba."

It's a city steeped in rich American history, and it's home to many badass founding fathers.

Via images.travelpod.com

Like Ben Franklin, the guy who invented the library so that you could one day forfeit your happiness there during finals week.

Via cherokeedistributing.com

And Sam Adams, the guy who helped you reclaim your happiness after finals week.

At least there's stuff to do downtown! Museums, symphonies, ball games...

Via tumblr.com

But with your outrageous tuition costs, you'll probably spend most of your time watching the sea lions swim in circles outside the aquarium since you can't afford the entry fee.

Boston has a bustling nightlife, though!

dailyfreepress.com

If by night you mean 12:15 a.m., because that's when the public transportation stops running.

Via laserpointerforums.com

It's like the city has a bedtime.

Brian Burt / Via northofnormal.com

Boston's other nickname is "The Walking City." That's because even the drunkest of drunks can find their way home using that glowing orange North Star aka the Citgo sign.

But Boston definitely knows how to party.

Via inquisitr.com

Not that party. Dance parties! House parties! Frat parties! (Because no one's fake can get past Boston ID scanners).

Via funnyjunk.com

Three-quarters of your college years will be spent doing this in someone's basement in Allston, Mission Hill, or Jamaica Plain.

Speaking of Allston...

Via a0.twimg.com

Moving to Allston will feel like a cultural rite of passage at first. But when you're squishing cockroaches with a bottle of Olde English and taking swigs between the kills at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday, it'll hit you:

Via tumblr.com

But it's all worth it when you realize the Common is your "quad."

Via aviewoncities.com

The esplanade is your "campus."

Via images.fineartamerica.com

And the North End is your "dining hall."

Via fenwaypropertiesboston.com

Going to school in Boston means knowing that a Smoot is an acceptable form of measurement.

Via web.mit.edu

And the T is free when it's above ground.

Via digboston.com

This is a joke. Pay your fare!

And Mike's may be the best, but the line is always shorter at Modern.

Via seriouseats.com

And the best time to redecorate your apartment is on Renters' Christmas (Sept. 1).

Via cloudfront.bostinno.com

And only freshman try to transfer at Copley.

Via northofnormal.com

And pronounce it Copely.

And dealing with the locals can be tricky.

Via tumblr.com

Eventually you'll learn to love this kooky city.

Via google.com

Because no one does marathons better...

Via google.com

Via google.com

This is how every college kid wakes up on Marathon Monday.

Via gifsforum.com

I mean "Patriot's Day."

Via awesomelyluvvie.com

I mean "start-drinking-at-10 a.m.-and-pass-out-by-5-after-a-long-day-of-cheering-on-marathon-runners" day.

...no one screams the lyrics to this song harder...

Via tumblr.com

The drunker you are, the more words you seem to know.

...and no one loves their home away from home more than Boston students.

Via boston.barstoolsports.com

Even if everyone moves to NYC or L.A. a week after graduating.

Via chrisguttag.com