Tufts Blogs

A fundamental part of being a first-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts is living in the Beacon Street dorms. The Beacon Street dorms are a set of three brownstone buildings located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, refurbished to contain singles, doubles, and triples that house all of the first-year BFA students. 

The Beacon brownstones are conveniently located on Boston’s Beacon Street, hence the name. They are a close walk to the SMFA, although a shuttle also runs regularly between them and the SMFA for a faster (and in the winter months, warmer) commute. This prime location provides easy access to SMFA classes and studios, as well as nearby Boston attractions such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, both of which offer SMFA students free admission with their student ID.

It is also worth noting that the dorms are located in Boston, but not in downtown Boston, which allows for a more peaceful environment. The brownstones are right by the Emerald Necklace section of Boston’s Fens, offering a natural respite from the busy bustle of the city. Additionally, directly outside the dorms is the C branch of the Green Line train, making commuting to the Medford campus all the easier. The train also provides access to numerous areas in Boston, offering a year-round abundance of fun and exciting activities.  

I remember being nervous about feeling isolated while living off the Medford campus; however, the small cohort of Beacon students leads to close friendships as we spend time commuting to the Medford campus and exploring Boston together. However, I did find that it was important to make a conscious effort to build further relationships on the Medford campus. Joining clubs and student organizations is an excellent way to meet students outside of the SMFA community and maintain consistent involvement in the broader Tufts student body. Additionally, many students choose to take most of their distribution requirement classes during their first year, so they have a reason to visit Medford regularly. Getting involved on the Medford campus as a BFA first-year student not only allows students to meet other students outside of their major, but also eases the transition to living on the Medford campus in their second year at Tufts. It helps students integrate into clubs and other organizations before their second year. It assists students in learning the ins and outs of commuting between Medford and Boston, making the regular commute to SMFA classes from Medford the following year familiar and easy. 

Overall, living in the Beacon Street brownstones allows for a unique first-year experience. Students form fast friendships and have especially easy access to Boston and the multitude of activities present there.