The bucket list: What to do in Boston before you graduate college
From local eats to silly superstitions, don't grab your diploma before trying these things.
Four years go by fast, and in a city like Boston, there’s a lot that can pass you by. With graduation dates all month long, seniors at local colleges are cramming last-minute activities into their schedules.
For those unsure of how to spend their final weekends on and around campus, we asked recently graduated seniors from three of the biggest universities in Boston to share all the things students from their schools should cross off their bucket lists before leaving.
Boston University
Recommended by DJ Rock, station director at BU’s radio station, WTBU1. Step on the seal
“There’s a BU seal in the middle of Marsh Chapel on campus, and if you step on it before you graduate, you supposedly won’t graduate in four years. I actually know some people that it actually happened to—he took a picture crossing the seal at orientation and ended up transferring out. But stepping on the seal after you finally graduate is a fun tradition.”
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2. Make a radio show cameo
“I feel like going onto your friend’s radio show at 2 a.m. or something is a thing that almost everyone does and it’s kind of a keystone of college radio.”
3. Have a gouda time at Cheeseology
“On campus, we have a place in the GSU [student union] called Cheeseology, and you can just make whatever cheese creation you want—they have like quesadillas, mac and cheese—so I’d definitely make it a point to try everything on that menu.”
4. Find something weird along Harvard Ave.
“There’s also a lot of really cool antique shops all along Harvard Ave. in Allston and that’s how I furnish a lot of my apartment—just like weird basement shops. There’s one called like Cheap Chic I think, and you have to go through this maze in a basement to a back room. Finding weird, cool things all along Harvard Ave. is a cool experience to have.”
5. Do a Tavern in the Square Thursday
“(Tavern in the Square) Thursdays is like something that a lot of BU kids do regularly. None of my friends were very into it, but a lot of people go in like packs and herds every Thursday because it’s the thing to do.”
6. Get late-night pizza at T. Anthony’s
“T. Anthony’s is another BU staple for kids coming home from Allston after a long night out and getting pizza at 2 a.m.”
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7. Visit as many concert venues as you can
“There are so many concert venues in Boston, it’s worth making it a goal to go to all of them. All [my friends and I] ever did was go to shows, and there are so many places — both real venues and houses — that I don’t think a lot of BU student took the time out to go to.”
8. See some comedy
“Liquid Fun is the big improv group that everyone knows, and they’re probably the biggest one. Slow Kids at Play is also a really good sketch comedy group, and they are really up-and-coming.”
Boston College
Recommended by John Wiley, 2015-16 editor-in-chief of BC’s student newspaper, The Heights1. Get the Cleveland Circle beer-and-pizza combo
“Going to Mary Ann’s and realizing it’s terrible and then inevitably ending up at Pino’s is a pretty typical night out that needs to be had one last time.”
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2. Order a dining hall classic
“On campus, we tend to eat mozz sticks and chicken tenders late at night. I don’t think that’s a particularly interesting order, but a lot of people are trying to get one last order in before graduation.”
3. Eat one last late-night snack
“New Hong Kong is also a popular late-night food place. It makes me feel a little sick, but I don’t know, it’s worth it.”
4. Indulge in a weird Senior Week tradition
“I’m not really sure why people do this, but there’s a tradition where people go into the fountain and go swimming in it and take a video of it. That’s definitely something you can try.”
5. See a classic improv group
“Before you graduate BC, you definitely have to go see My Mother’s Fleabag. It’s an improv group on campus—it’s actually the group that Amy Poehler was in while she was at BC. They’re one of the standout groups.”
Northeastern University
Recommended by Eric Tyler, 2015-16 student body president1. Grab a selfie with the president
“There’s a running joke that everyone has to take a selfie with President Aoun before they graduate. That’s definitely a newer tradition.”
2. Go wild with the Husky Hunt
“Everyone has to do the Husky Hunt, which is a huge scavenger hunt put on by one of the student organizations that runs for 24 hours.”
3. Strip down for the Underwear Run
“You should try to do the Underwear Run at least once. It happens every year on Parents Weekend. It runs up Huntington Ave., around the reflecting pool, up into the Pru, and back down.”
4. Begin planning a trip back for a Huskies hockey game
“I’m definitely going to miss the hockey games. Those were super fun.”
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5. Grab a drink at Connor Larkin’s
“For drinks, everyone goes to Connor’s on Huntington Ave. It’s the big campus bar.”
6. Enjoy one last sandwich at Rebecca’s
“Pretty much everyone survives on sandwiches from Rebecca’s Cafe during the week.”
7. Clog your arteries at Chicken Lou’s
“You can’t go wrong with a TKO [a chicken, cheese and bacon sandwich], from Chicken Lou’s.”
8. Head off-campus for one last night in Boston
“I think one of the cool things about Northeastern is that you’re not really constrained to campus. On any given night a lot of people are off doing things around the city, like checking out concerts or hitting up a Celtics or Bruins game.”
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