Lasell College is a small, private, co-ed college that was established in 1851. It is located in the city of Newton, Massachusetts, in the village of Auburndale.

You may not have ever heard of Lasell, or recognized parts of its campus as you drive by as it blends into a residential area with large, Victorian-style houses. Members of the Lasell community, both past and present can tell you that Lasell is the best, and here are seven of the many reasons why.

1. Community:

Lasell College being set in the middle of a residential area gives the campus a certain homeyness. Add in the student body, only about 1,800 people and you get that feeling of a close-knit community.

Class sizes are generally small, less than 20 people which allow for students to build a personal relationship with their professors, peers and staff members over the course of their time at Lasell.

By the time you graduate, your peers and classmates are more than just peers and classmates, they are your family.

2. Location, location, location:

Newton is 8 miles west of Boston (a.k.a., the greatest city ever.) Campus sits at the end of the Green “D” Line of the MBTA, with easy access to campus via Riverside or Woodland Station, about a 10 minute walk from either end of campus. The ride to the city only takes about 45 minutes to an hour and there are countless places to adventure throughout the city.

Whether it's trips to see the Sox at Fenway, the Celtics or Bruins at TD Garden, shopping at Prudential, Downtown Crossing or Newbury Street, or hopping off at a random stop and exploring, adventure possibilities are endless. If you want to get all touristy walk The Freedom Trail, walk around the Boston Common/Boston Public Garden, visit Quincy Market, and take a picture of the CITGO sign.

Auburndale being a historic district gives part of the campus character, namely the numerous white Victorian-style houses with green shutters that are a part of the campus. A decent portion of these houses are residence halls, while some are offices.

3. Food:

Fair warning, there is an Einstein’s Bagels on campus, and Boomer’s Grill is opened until midnight for those necessary late-night study snacks, but be sure to use your dining dollars wisely, otherwise you may be paying out of pocket before the midway point of the semester.

For those nights that the dining hall just isn’t cutting it, there are several options to order out that will fit nearly every appetite. Some of the most popular spots include Dominos, West Newton Pizza, NY Pie and Dragon Chef. There are many more, just check out Grub Hub or peek at the stacks of menus that are often times stacked at the entrances of many residence halls. And if you’re looking for a sweet treat look no further than Cabot’s or J.P Lick’s for the best ice cream ever.

If you want to cook for yourself or restock your snack supply, just walk 10 minutes off campus and you’ll find Star Market to fulfill all of your needs.

4. Athletics:

Lasell College is a NCAA Division III school that offers 17 varsity sports, which allows athletes to balance academics and athletics. All school year you can watch the teams in action on Taylor Field, Grellier Field or inside the Athletic Center, so be sure to pack the stands and cheer on the Lasers, and become a member of Laser Nation.

We have the unique opportunity to have a laser as our nickname, and our mascot Boomer. What is a Boomer, you ask? We’re still not entirely sure but he’s a gentle, blue giant with a torch who leads our teams into battle, is awesome at high-fives and loves having his picture taken.

Our women’s soccer and lacrosse team’s won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship this year, with the soccer team clinching their SIXTH straight. Across the board our athletic program had numerous players selected to all-conference teams and win other awards due to their athletic accomplishments.

5. Clubs/Organization/On-Campus Activities:

Lasell offers over 50 different clubs and organizations on campus, some of the most notable being (but not limited to) Lasell College Radio (LCR), Campus Activities Board (CAB), Rugby, The 1851 Chronicle, Relay for Life, intramural sports, Polished Magazine, Tennis Club, Lasell Spartones A Capella, Lasell Cheerleading and the Lasell Pulse Dance Team.

There are many others related to fields of study/hobbies, and some groups even go on service trips helping not just the local community but surrounding communities, across the country and across the world.

BINGO night is a must (get there early if you want to get in at all) because the prizes are awesome. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosts many events on campus that are not limited to Open Mic nights and live performances/acts as well as various themed trivia nights. The Office of Student Activities (OSA) sells tickets to Boston sporting events, Sox, Celtics and Bruins but those tickets go fast so be sure to keep track of the dates!!

At the end of each semester on Reading Day (the day before finals start) the Student Government (SGA) hosts a Midnight Breakfast from 10 to midnight. There is nothing better than a late night meal in the midst of stu(dying) but one thing that makes it better is as much pancakes and bacon you want served to you by your professors/staff members.

6. Traditions:

Being such a small school, Lasell has some unique traditions, one of which is River Day. River Day occurs during Friends, Family and Alumni Weekend in October down at Stoller Boathouse on the Charles. The day features canoe races involving family, friends, alums and students and is fairly entertaining (considering some people have no idea how to navigate a canoe.)

The favorite tradition however happens on the last day of classes for the spring semester, which is Torchlight. Each senior is given a lit torch and at sundown they march as a class from one side of campus to another before handing their torch to an underclassman of their choosing, thus passing their legacy on.

7. Marathon Monday:

The third Monday in April is Patriots Day, a.k.a. Marathon Monday, the day that the Boston Marathon happens. This means no classes and a day of festivities including a DJ and cookout in the quad. The end of campus is located at mile 17.3 of the marathon and students can watch and cheer on the runners and just enjoy a fun-filled end to a 3-day weekend.

These are just a few of the many reasons why Lasell College is the best.