Welcome Class of 2028

Boston University expects all new students to participate in the BU Orientation experience in its entirety. This includes completing the Orientation Blackboard course as well as attending an Orientation session. The deadline to register for an Orientation session is Monday, June 10, 2024. If you miss the deadline, please contact BU Orientation directly at 617-353-3555 or orientation@bu.edu.

During your Orientation session, join us at Kilachand Hall for snacks, games, and conversation alongside Kilachand students, advisors, and staff. You’re welcome to drop by 91 Bay State Road anytime during the hours below while you’re on campus. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of our Kilachand Summer Reading when you come by! We look forward to seeing you. RSVP here by the Monday before your session.

Session 1: June 5-6 

Thursday, June 6, 2-3 pm
RSVP by Monday, June 3

Session 2: June 12-13

Thursday, June 13, 2-3 pm
RSVP by Monday, June 10

Session 3: June 20-21 

Friday, June 21, 2-3:30 pm
RSVP by Monday, June 17

Session 4: June 26-27 

Thursday, June 27, 2-3:30 pm
RSVP by Monday, June 24

Session 5: August 26-27 

Tuesday, August 27, 3-5 pm
RSVP by Monday, August 26

Session 6: August 29-30

Friday, August 30, 3-5 pm
RSVP by Monday, August 26

All Boston University students will be assigned a First-Year Academic Advisor in their home school or college who will work with them this summer (and beyond!). You will hear from your academic advisor with information about fall course registration in late May 2024. 

How this information is disseminated and which courses you will take in the fall will vary by your school or college of enrollment. Keep an eye on your BU email for details! You will also be assigned a Kilachand Advisor who will reach out to you this summer.

In the meantime, learn about Kilachand Summer Advising & Fall Course Registration for the Class of 2028.

The first-year residential experience is central to the Kilachand Honors College community. All first-year Kilachand Honors College students are required to live on designated floors within Kilachand Hall. The space includes suite-style rooms, offers a shared kitchen on the first floor, and is located in historic Kenmore Square just steps from Fenway Park.

Kilachand Hall

Kilachand Hall offers single-gender suites comprised of two bedrooms that house two to three students each, and all suites offer one shared bathroom. Kilachand Honors College first-year students will be assigned to suites on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, with additional suites on floors 4-6 available for continuing Kilachand students. Suites on the 7th and 8th floors are open to the BU community. Resident Assistants on floors 2-4 of Kilachand Hall will be upperclassmen in Kilachand Honors College who work to support our first-year students as they acclimate to college life.

Selecting a Residence 

Kilachand students should simply select Kilachand Hall as their first choice on their New Student Housing Application. The application asks students to indicate multiple residence options; as the other options will not apply, you can simply put any other residences for your other choices. BU Housing receives a list of all incoming Kilachand students and will assign rooms accordingly in Kilachand Hall.

Roommates 

As with all BU students, Kilachand Honors College students are assigned roommates based on their responses in the New Student Housing Application, simply from a smaller pool comprised only of first-year Kilachand students.

Students who have already identified their Kilachand Honors College roommate may request their roommate on their New Student Housing Application. Students with roommate requests must each request one another; requests where only one student indicates preference and the other does not are not granted. While these requests are not guaranteed, BU Housing makes every effort to accommodate roommate requests.

Please note that first-year students can request to live only with other Kilachand Honors College students in the Kilachand Honors College specialty communities; first-year Kilachand students will not be granted a roommate request if their desired roommate is not enrolled in Kilachand Honors College.

Further Information

We invite Kilachand students who are seeking support in identifying gender-affirming housing within Kilachand Hall to email Taryn Craig for a confidential conversation about your preferences.

If you seek living accommodations such as a single room for medical reasons or approval for support or service animals, please connect directly with the Office of Disability & Access Services at least 60 days prior to move-in.

Summer Reading

Incoming First-Year Student Required Reading

We ask our incoming first-year students to read Signs Preceding the End of the World during the summer and invite them to join our optional book club conversation via Zoom on Tuesday, August 13 from 4-5:30 pm (register here). Signs Preceding the End of the World will be part of the Writing Studio curriculum during the fall semester.

A hard copy of the book will be handed out to students during our June Orientation program (see the “BU Orientation” section above). For students attending the August Orientation, we will be mailing books to you over the summer. More information about book mailings will be communicated via email.

If you’d like support preparing for or processing this content at any point, or if you have concerns or questions, please reach out to Studio Coordinator Chris McVey at cmcvey@bu.edu.

Visit the Summer Reading webpage to learn more

Both the Kilachand Hall first-floor Common Room and its entire ninth-floor offer shared spaces for study, conversations with friends, piano practice, and events. Open 24 hours a day for residents, these spaces are at the heart of our living-learning community. Before we welcome you to Kilachand Hall, please join us virtually for two Community Conversations.

Conversations will be hosted on Zoom and will be recorded for those unable to attend live.

Tips for Your First Semester (from KHC Student Leaders & Advisors)
Tuesday, June 25 @ 6-7 pm Eastern Time

Summer Book Club: Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera
Tuesday, August 13 @ 4-5:30 pm Eastern Time

The Kilachand Peer Mentors help first-year Kilachand students navigate their college experience, areas of academic interest, and the Kilachand curriculum. All first-year Kilachand students are assigned a Kilachand Peer Mentor who is a valuable resource as Kilachand first-year students begin their academic careers at Boston University. This is a unique opportunity for students to share their experiences and knowledge of campus resources with their mentees. These relationships serve as a foundation for the Kilachand community.

Incoming students can expect to hear from their Peer Mentors in early July. We will also host a Peer Mentor Meet & Greet during our Week of Welcome in early September. Keep an eye on your BU email!