Pre-College Programs: Life at Bentley

Bentley University’s Pre-College Programs offer a vibrant campus life experience designed to immerse high school students in both academic and social activities. 

On-campus participants reside in campus housing, providing a taste of college living while being surrounded by Bentley’s dynamic community. The program includes a range of extracurricular activities and networking opportunities with current students and faculty. Students engage in interactive learning sessions and collaborative projects, all while enjoying the university’s recreational facilities and participating in organized social outings. This enriching environment helps students build connections, develop independence, and gain a firsthand look at college life at Bentley.

Meals/Dining
Commuter students are provided lunch on campus during their program. Residential students are provided breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as midday snacks provided by Bentley’s dining partner, Sodexo. Residential students also enjoy late-night snacks. One night during each session, students will enjoy a field trip to Boston with dinner provided. Accommodations are made for allergy requests. 

Dietary Needs

With advance notice, we can accommodate most dietary needs. Students with dietary requirements must articulate their restrictions in the intake forms provided during the enrolled student process. Students are welcome to bring their own snacks to supplement, but we ask that they avoid bringing personal snacks into shared spaces where food allergies may be present. Students are not allowed to bring refrigerators for residential accommodations. If you have any concerns, please reach out to us to clarify.  

Housing
Residential students stay in Nathan R. Miller Hall, a traditional first-year residence hall consisting of mostly double occupancy style rooms. Miller features a spacious common lounge on the first floor, complete with sofas, a television, tables and chairs. There is also an attached full kitchen for student use, cook wear is not provided. A central laundry facility is located on the first floor. 

Each room features air-conditioning and a bed, desk, and dresser for each student. Linen service (pillows, sheets, and towels) are provided at no additional cost. There are men's and women's bathrooms located on each floor and 1 all-gender single user bathroom located on the ground floor. 

All residential students are assigned a roommate. Students may request a specific roommate, but all requests must be mutual. Students who have not requested a specific roommate will be assigned based on their sex provided in their application materials. 

Bentley University is committed to creating an affirming community for our trans, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming students. If you would like to speak with someone regarding your student's pre-college experience, please contact our office at precollege@bentley.edu.

The Residential Center has professional and student staff members dedicated to the pre-college student experience to provide support outside of the classroom setting. Residence Directors (RDs) are professional staff members who work full time supervising student staff members, monitoring building needs, and providing direct support to residential students. Resident Assistants (RAs) are undergraduate students who assist with acclimation to campus, provide fun opportunities for students to get to know each other, and are eager to share their experiences as Bentley students. Both RDs and RAs serve in a duty rotation to provide uninterrupted support overnight and on weekends. Our staff are trained to address a wide range of situations, ensuring they effectively manage everything from minor concerns to more urgent matters.  

Weekend Stays
Students attending consecutive residential sessions may opt to remain in residence over the weekend at no additional cost. Meals and activities are provided during this time. Laundry facilities are available at not additional cost.

There will also be a Saturday field trip for students. Past trips have gone to Boston, nearby malls, Red Sox games, interactive museums' and cultural attractions in the area. Requests to check out from the program over the weekend, such as to visit friends or relatives in the area, must be submitted in advance following standard protocols for off-campus visits.

Residential students will arrive on Sunday before their program in the afternoon, whether or not students are in a 2,3 or 5-day program.

Arrival Schedule

1:00 to 4:00 p.m.: Check in at Miller Hall if driving to campus. Or fly into Boston Logan airport and Bentley will provide shuttle to campus

(If you are unable to book an flight arrival during this window, Bentley may not be able to provide pickup shuttle service from the airport to campus)

4:00 to 6:00 p.m.: Academic Orientation, campus tours, and family BBQ at Smith Academic Technology Center

6:00 p.m.: Undergraduate Admission Information Session

6:30 p.m.: Parents/Families depart and students have orientation session with residential Staff

Departure Schedule

For 5-Day Week Long Programs

Friday

2:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Presentations of group projects in Smith Academic Technology. Parents are welcome to attend. Specific timing of the presentation up to the individual professors. There is a box meal provided afterward.

4:00 to 7:00 p.m. - Check out of the residential programming

Saturday

7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Shuttles available to Boston Logan Airport for departing flights. There are no shuttles on Friday night.

For students in 2 or 3 day programs, the morning after your program there will be shuttles available to the airport to help with transportation.

Each week from 5:30 to 9:30pm Bentley will provide transportation to Boston Back Bay area for dinner, and the opportunity to explore Copley Square Mall, Newbury Street and Boston Commons with Bentley staff present. Dinner is provided by nearby restaurant that has accommodations for allergies and multiple food options. In the past students have attended a hibachi style grill that allows for students to pick their meal quantity and type.

Students should bring any medications they may need throughout the program. Students are responsible for storing and administering their own medications. Personal lockboxes are available for residential student use during their stay. Staff members have access to a locked fridge for any residential students requiring refrigerated medication. 

There is not a health center or any medical professionals on campus throughout the program. There will be no staff available to administer or oversee medication use. Students requiring medical attention may be transported by University Police to a nearby medical clinic. The Residential Center has staff members on duty overnight and on weekends to assist residential students in the event of a medical emergency or other urgent situation. 

All of the classes are in Smith Academic Technology Center and are a mix of tiered and collaboratory work project rooms. Students are provided a laptop for all academic course work and do not need to bring their own computer.

Online classes are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST and are live on Zoom with interactive group work and presentations.
 

A Typical Day

Pre-College Inquiries: precollege@bentley.edu