I was accepted to BC and UCLA as an economics major, as well as UCSD and honors program for Irvine. I know according to economics rankings, BC is lower than UCLA, but I know as a private college, BC has strong attractions. I would like some insights please! Thanks!
Are you instate for the UC’s? If so, you are comparing the value of an education costing $35k vs. $65k. Something as a prospective Econ major, you and your family need to think about.
If you are OOS, why would you pay so much for a public? I’d take the private college for not much more money.
@bluebayou @PaperFlowers UCLA and UCSD are easily matches for most private universities and UCLA is superior to BC. They are both cheaper as their OOS tuition and fees are less than BC.
I’d say go to UCLA or UCSD as you will get an outstanding education in a great climate. UCSD also has colleges, so it doesn’t feel as big and the campus is sublime. UCLA is now one of the best universities in the country, public or private.
No time like the present to start figuring out how to do an ROI. As an OOS’er, why pay 2x than your roomie is paying for the same service? It’s all a value proposition, or should be for an Econ prospie.
One example: UCLA advising is essentially non-existent for the lower division. It consists of either a drop-in service, and possible wait in line for a couple of hours, or speaking to upper class volunteers. In contrast, BC requires every student to meet with a departmental advisor every term. Example 2: nearly all UCLA Frosh are housed in forced triples, due to construction/rebuilding dorms. (A forced triple is three beds in a dorm size built for two.) Obviously, thousands of students enroll every year, but for the same R&B price somewhere else…again, what’s the value prop?
Full disclosure: personally not a fan of paying OOS rates for any public, unless admitted to a special program. At UCLA that might be theater/film. At Cal or Michigan, that would be engineering.
@bluebayou @klingon97 Thank you for your answers! I am in California and due to my financial circumstances, will be attending UCLA for about 9000 a year as opposed to Boston for appx. 16000 a year. Although UCLA is cheaper by about 7000 dollars, I know Boston is far more expensive than UCLA so I am not appalled at the difference. My family is willing to help me pay for college, and the money is not our biggest concern due to the fantastic financial packages provided to us. Someone told me not to attend Boston over UCLA as an economics major unless I’m attending CSOM (which I am not). Money aside, what are your opinions on which college I should be attending? Anyone else willing to chip in will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Both great schools. But I’m guessing that you are in the low income category, given your offers, so UCLA makes a lot more (financial) sense. As much as I believe that BC is certainly 'worth’t the $7k delta, that is $28k over four years, and can be a LOT for low income folks. Plus, that BC cost of attendance doesn’t have much figured in for travel back and forth (for you and your parents), or winter clothes (should you need some).
Go Bruins!
Dear PaperFlowers : As bluebayou points out, you have been given two terrific options. What you will find is that your own personal success post-college will have less to do with the institution and more to do with you! Work hard and approach your decision making analytically as you have in this thread and you will experience great success. All the very best with your UCLA choice.
The numbers matter in the advice you get. How exactly are you planning on paying the 16,000 per year tuition at BC? Do you parents have college savings for you?