Perspective Gained
Each year, almost 600 first-year students participate in a 48hours weekend. Many say the experience gives them a realistic and candid look at both the possibilities and challenges that Boston College poses for its newest members.
What is 48hours?
48hours is a weekend experience open to all first-year students who are interested in taking advantage of 51²è¹Ý's intellectual, social, and spiritual resources. Disrupt your regular routine for a weekend, hear from juniors and seniors about their experiences transitioning to 51²è¹Ý, and gain a fuller understanding of the possibilities and challenges of a Jesuit education.
Your First Year
Try to imagine what your first semester of college might be like. Just a short summer removed from high school, you arrive on campus, unpack your bags, and begin your long awaited college experience.
As the weeks and months tick by, you may begin to ask yourself some of the common questions that students transitioning to college consider:
- Will I make friends easily?
- How will I succeed in the classroom?
- Will I find opportunities to be involved?
- What will it be like to live away from home for the first time?
- What kinds of friends and relationships do I want to form at college?
- How does my identity impact my transition to 51²è¹Ý?
To help you navigate this important crossroad, Boston College has established 48hours as a first-year enhancement program. Each year, almost 600 first-year students participate in this three day, two night, weekend experience. Their overwhelming assessment is that it gives them a realistic and candid look at both the possibilities and challenges that Boston College poses for its newest members.
As a 48hours participant, you will hear senior and junior student leaders speak personally about their own college experiences, focusing particularly on their first-year ups and downs.
48hours will offer you opportunities to:
- Reflect on your transition to college
- Determine new ways to maximize your time at Boston College
- Connect with new friends and mentors
- Relax and have a fun weekend away from campus
What is a 48hours Leader?
On each 48hours weekend, approximately 13 upperclassmen join the team as Leaders to assist the FYE staff in bringing the retreat to fruition. Each Leader is assigned a group of first-year students and by engaging in personal discussions, they share the advice and wisdom they have collected over their years at 51²è¹Ý.
Working with members of the FYE team, Leaders will also prepare and present talks to those in attendance about their own experiences as first year students and their transition to 51²è¹Ý. These personal narratives are presented either individually to the retreat audience or as part of a panel made up of other members of the Leader team.
Leaders are encouraged to keep in touch with their groups following the weekend, helping provide valuable advice and friendship based on a mentoring relationship that 48hours initiates.
What do I need to become a Leader?
- 48hours Leaders must be members of the junior or senior class—juniors selected to lead are not guaranteed the position if they choose to re-apply during their Senior year.
- 48hours Leaders must be interested in mentoring first-year students and be willing to share their own transition experiences.
- 48hours Leaders must be willing to prioritize the Leader training meetings and retreat preparation over other non-academic commitments in the month leading up to the retreat weekend.
What is the 48hours Council?
The 48hours Council is a 12-member advisory group made up of students in their sophomore year, which meets bi-weekly for both semesters of the academic school year. The Council works closely with FYE staff in the designing, publicizing, and operating of the 48hours program.
In addition to attending bi-weekly meetings, Council members are also responsible for strategizing and organizing a series of outreach efforts to promote the 48hours program to the members of the first year class. This facet of the position requires council members to act in a consulting role and relies on an interest in developing marketing, field organizing, and advertising skills.Ìý
Lastly, each 48hours Council member will participate in at least one 48hours retreat weekend.Ìý On each retreat, the Council will work with the directors of the program to anticipate all logistical needs, support the 48hours Leaders, and help maintain enthusiasm throughout the weekend.Their role assists in making sure the program runs smoothly and provides an opportunity for leadership, mentorship, and public speaking development.
What do I need to become a 48hours Council member?
- Council members must be second semester first-year students at their time of application for the role, which occurs during their sophomore year.
- Council members must have a great attitude—positive, enthusiastic, cooperative, and willing to work very hard.
- Council members are not required to have participated in the 48hours program during their first year in order to apply for this role.
Watch a brief preview of what your 48hours experience could look like:
Current undergraduate first year students are eligible to participate in one 48hours retreat in either the fall or spring semester of their first year at Boston College. On each retreat weekend, there are around 150 students who attend the program, including sophomore, junior, and senior student leaders.
48hours retreats are offered on a limited number of weekends in both the fall and spring semesters. Each program lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
Each 48hours retreat is held at a luxury hotel in the South Shore or Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. Transportation is provided for all participants to and from the retreat.
The incoming class of first year students is eligible to register for 48hours beginning in June prior to the start of their fall semester and each incoming student will receive an email notifying them that registration has opened. The 48hours program fills to capacity each year, so those who are interested should register as soon as notified.
As part of the registration process, students are required to make a $180 non-refundable deposit via credit card. This fee includes the cost of meals, lodging, and transportation for the 3 day, 2 night program.
Financial assistance is available for students who qualify and is provided on a first-come, first served basis. Interested students can select the financial assistance option on their registration form and then will be contacted by a member of the First Year Experience staff.
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After participating in 48hours, students will be able to:
- Identify how retreat programs and the act of reflection are instrumental in the process of student formation and in the context of their Jesuit education; with the expectation that students will demonstrate a concerted effort to disrupt previously established routines and engage further in formative programs.
- Appreciate the commonality of first year transitional challenges and have an improved sense of community at 51²è¹Ý, which will instill hopeful future expectations about their college experience and encourage greater vulnerability in seeking supports to these challenges.
- Recognize habits or patterns of behaviors in their academic, social and interior lives; and implement practical strategies that will allow them to make improvements in those areas.
