Hard Work Load

Introduction
Choose HC if you genuinely like to participate in extracurricular activities (esp. volunteering, club/intrameural sports, student government, etc.) Also, HC has a hard work load, but it's worth it when you get accepted into the best medical and law schools in the country. There's a big party scene at HC, but if that's not your thing you'll find plenty to do. It's not a suitcase school, so don't choose it if you plan on going home each weekend.

Don't choose HC if you're expecting to glide through college with no problem. Also, if you don't like to participate in extracurricular stuff, you'll feel left out because everyone here is involved in something. Don't come here if you're hoping everyone is super-Catholic-religious. While many students are, there are also many students that aren't.

Campus Life and Social Life
The social life on campus is awesome. The parties are great! There are parties in dorms on campus every weekend, and also off campus at upperclassmen houses (often called "Sports Houses" because members of sports teams will rent them). Every week there's the Edge (a dance with a club-like feel), the 10-spot (student bands/performers take the stage for a night), movies at the on-campus movie theatre, and a lot more. You'll never be bored, and if you are, you aren't trying hard enough! Drinking is pretty big, but if that's not your scene there's plenty else to do. Students also go into Worcester to go to clubs and bars on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays. Worcester isn't the best college city, but it's better than being in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. Advertisement
Academics
Academics are tough at HC, but definitely worth all the hours spent in the library when you get accepted to the grad school of your choice, or get that awesome job after graduation. For as hard as students play here, they also work VERY hard. Get used to hours in the library. HC has no TAs and all the professors are awesome, accessible, and speak perfect English -- something you won't find at schools like Tufts & BC. Professors are incredibly accessible, and often will invite you to lunch or make an appointment in their office for you to discuss your paper. All professors have mandatory office hours, so you'll never have a problem getting in touch with a teacher. The pre-med and pre-law programs are highly respected across the country, which is great for students hoping to go to graduate school. There aren't really any weak programs/departments at HC, just some that are less popular than others.

Student Body
The typical student at Holy Cross is involved in at least one organization (students are really into volunteering and club/intramural sports), spends a couple hours in the library each day, and goes party-hopping on the weekend. Students are super friendly, which is great for meeting people as a freshman. Also, with a freshmen retention rate of over 97%, it's easy to see that students are happy and love it here. Many students are religious, but there's also a large portion that aren't, so you can find any range of people in a spiritual sense.

In Closing...
While Worcester isn't known like Boston is, (and certainly it can't really compare), don't let that turn you away if you thinking about coming to HC. You'll find that there's so much to do in Worcester, and while the surrounding area may not be nice, the campus is one of the most beautiful in the country.