<p>I'm trying to decide between BC and BU. There are many positives and negatives for both schools that I came across when researching them, but I am wondering which school best fits me.</p>
<p>I am an Asian male that is looking to major in Biology. I know BU is strong in Biology and the campus is really diverse, but I don't really want to go to a campus that is too urban. I also found out that the campus gives off an impersonal feeling because it isn't necessarily connected and the facilities aren't that great. If I apply to BU I might be interested in the 7 year med program. I know that BC has a beautiful campus and it has more of a personal/campus-like feeling than BU. I also know that it gives better need based FA, which is a big factor for me. However, I know BC is less diverse than BU is and it's not as strong in the sciences. </p>
<p>My Gpa is a 3.75 and SAT 2070.
I know BC is somewhat of a low match for me, but BU is more towards the higher match/safety according to my guidance counselor. If I apply to BU I will be looking for greater merit aid, as I know their need based FA isn't that strong. </p>
<p>BU and BC are not really comparable. BC is an elite college with a small class size and a national name and located on a picturesque campus. BU is an enormous general admission university with an urban campus (if you can call it a campus) and a better graduate program than undergraduate program.</p>
<p>If you are deciding between these two, go to BC. You should also be looking at Northeastern, which I would put behind BC but ahead of BU in terms of science programs. It is slightly harder to get into than BU, but has better programs. Unfortunately, it is also as expensive as BC.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, I was leaning more towards BC when I made this thread. Is it true though that BC usually meets the full demonstrated need of students?</p>
<p>BC meets full financial need (as they define it). BU does not meet full need, and I’m not sure that your numbers (<2100) would qualify for a lot of merit aid.</p>
<p>yes they do use the federal EFC but only for awarding federal grants – they have to use it. BC uses something similar to the Profile formula for awarding its own grant money. Unlike some colleges, however, BC does not appear to cap home equity. Thus home equity is considered an asset in the aid calculation. (Home equity is not considered by fafsa.)</p>
<p>Everyone I know who goes to Boston College is paying WAY more than their EFC. They expected me to pay TRIPLE my EFC and expected my friend to pay 10X her EFC. -__-</p>
<p>might look at some other schools strong in the sciences-tufts and holy cross both very good in biology. holy cross is a jesuit school as is boston college, and holy cross has a tremendous med school acceptance rate and pre-med program. hc has many distinguished medical alumni including nobel prizw winner. like the ivies hc is need-blind for admissions. bu and bc are big hockey rivals with bu strong in the sciences.</p>
<p>^It’s all relative. BC is definitely not as generous as the well-endowed Ivies. But since it meets full need, it beats many other colleges that don’t meet full need. It really depends on your alternatives.</p>
<p>Given your background I would honestly try to consider some other schools other than BC. BC is a very prestigious institution with top tier academics, but unless your an upper-middle class Catholic white kid who enjoys football, I think it might be a little harder to find yourself assimilating into that sort of community.</p>
<p>Have you considered Brandeis? It’s academically comparable to BC with a very strong undergraduate program in the sciences. And if diversity is something high on your list, I would strongly recommend it over BC even with the alleged 40% Jewish population.</p>
<p>Boston University has better science programs and better pre-med opportunities due to its excellent medical school. BC’s freshman don’t live on the main campus; as a BC freshman, you have to take a 15 minute bus ride to get to the main campus. Something to think about. </p>
<p>Also, BU is far more diverse since you mentioned you were asian. When I toured BC, i definitely saw some defacto segregation among races that was not apparent at other Boston schools like Tufts. Have you looked at Tufts? it’s far superior to either BC or BU and you might have a shot if you retake your SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>And LOL at BC being considered an “elite college”. it’s an above average, pricey school similar to NYU.</p>
<p>Agree with others about Tufts and Boston College being different campus cultures. Holy Cross has a blend of great pre-med program and strong science majors with strong social life/school spirit. HC competes in the academic focused Patriot League and plays most Ivies in thes major sports. Also Holy Cross has a larger endowment per student than Boston College and tends to have lower class sizes.</p>
<p>Surprising to me that someone at a college with a strong honor code would publish faulty numbers. (Hint: over half of BC’s Frosh do live on campus.) “Something to think about.” :)</p>
<p>So by this logic, LAC’s are SOL? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>For a premed, it won’t much matter. Any of the schools can get you to the app stage. All do basic bio, chem and physics well.</p>
<p>OTOH, BC has fewer premeds (because it doesn’t have a med school), so the competition is a little lower for those so-called opportunities. BC also has a higher mean gpa than BU, so perhaps the curves are a little more generous. BC has an excellent premed Committee.</p>
<p>The good news for any Boston-area college is Boston. It’s a high tech mecca, and even if you can’t find anything on campus, there are plenty of research opportunities a short subway ride away.</p>