I was recently accepted to both Boston College and Tufts and am having a pretty hard time deciding between the two. At Boston College, as the title states, I was accepted into the Arts & Sciences Honors Program, whereas at Tufts I was admitted to the College of Engineering. Luckily, cost is not a concern so I am really just focused on academics and fit. I am planning to double major in computer science and economics with a minor in a business related field (entrepreneurship or management). Which school would be better for that specific major/minor combination? Additionally, would it be correct to say that the typical Tufts student is more engaged in the arts whereas the typical BC student is more engaged in sports? Thank you!
I think Tufts is a better school academically. The schools are very different however. Tufts is smaller campus (but very nice) and seems for the more serious student. BC is larger, more into sports and partying.
Compare the stats…has nothing to do with seriousness. BCs students are as smart as Tufts’ . But it’s more like they study more at Tufts because their sports are nothing to get excited about, and they don’t know.how to throw a party.
Have you visited either school? Luckily for you, Tufts and BC are in the same area so you don’t have to trek across states. I don’t believe that Tufts and BC are that much different academically – it just depends on the type of campus and feel that you want. IMO the two campuses are very different.
I think BC might be a better match for what you want to do, plus you’ll be in the Honors program!
These schools are pretty much equal in terms of academics and reputation. I may lean towards BC because of its campus and alumni, but you can’t go wrong with either. My advice would be to visit each school and see where you would rather live for four years.
Tufts is a better school academically. Look up the statistics. BC, like most of its sports teams, is overrated.
BC is certainly the school that’s more rah-rah about spectator sports.
Academically, you’ll do fine at either school. Have you visited? You can really make this about what feels like a better personal fit.
D1 graduates in a month from Tufts with a CS major from Arts and Sciences and a humanities minor. The CS program has been wonderful for her, both academically and professionally. She’s also been able to pursue other academic interests besides CS. Given your proposed majors, if you pursue Tufts you might want to switch from engineering to free up more time for your other areas of interest.
@bcvstufts I assume you’ve read about Entrepreneurship Studies at Tufts?
http://gordon.tufts.edu/programs/entrepreneurial-leadership-program
and
http://www.tufts-ten.com/
Seems like there is significant support for and interest in Entrepreneurship at Tufts. Not sure how this compares to BC.
There is plenty of partying and resulting hospital transports at Tufts, if that is your thing.
How preppy are you? BC had a much higher percentage of students with good haircuts and wearing Vineyard Vines. Tufts students seemed a little more laid back in their vibe and maybe a few dress from The Salvation Army. The BC campus is pristine and gorgeous, and expensive looking–bluestone, granite, high quality woodwork/workmanship, formal landscaping, etc. The Tufts campus is a little more “natural” in aesthetic and not so expensive looking–, bricks, cracked concrete, hills with weedy grass and big trees. BC is Jesuit and Tufts seems non religious, if that makes a difference. Both schools have very smart kids! How much do you want to be an engineer?
The two environments tend to appeal to different personality types.
Tufts is located in a working class city with the second highest density of young people and artists in the nation, next to the city with the third highest density of young people and artists in the nation. There are lots of places for young professionals and students to hang out.
BC is located in one of the wealthiest cities in the nation. It has some beautiful sections, but it has one of the highest densities of SAT prep companies in the nation and it is populated more by old professionals, kids and soccer moms/dads.
Tufts is located on the Red Line where the High Tech and Innovation District (lots of software start-ups) reside.
BC is located on the Green Line where Fenway Park (Red Sox) and the Financial District reside
Tufts has a highly regarded Engineering/Engineering Management/Entrepreneurship School and a highly regarded International Relations/International Business School
BC has highly regarded traditional Business School
Tufts’ campus is more informal, natural, with architectural diversity and a great view of Boston from the library roof
BC’s campus is more formal, unnatural, with no architectural diversity, but it appeals to some people :).
Tufts Econ tends to be deeper in IR related subfields, but it now has both a Quant Major and a Finance Minor - put in place by Alums from the investment world. The CEO of JP Morgan is a Tufts Alum. Eugene Fama (2013 Econ Nobel Prize winner) is a Tufts alum whose undergrad research project was in the same area that he won the prize. Tufts does not have an Econ Phd program, so it typically does not appear in subject rankings.
BC’s Econ tends to be deeper in business related subfields. BC has a Phd program in Econ, so it is probably better known in academia.
Tufts Computer Science is deeper in leading edge fields, more interdisciplinary and more entrepreneurial. Microsoft, Google and Amazon have development offices 4 miles away in Cambridge. The investment community likes to hire CS/Quant Econ grads. The founder of EBay is a Tufts CS Alum, and Joi Ito who heads up MIT’s Media Lab is a famous Tufts CS dropout. Computer Science can be pursued from either the Engineering School or the School of Liberal Arts (it is easy to move between the two). Engineering has more requirements making it harder to double major.
Tufts major social events tend to be concerts rather than sporting events with the exception of Homecoming. There is more than enough partying at both schools, but different venues. What might surprise you is that MIT is the hardest partying school in Boston.
Tufts has a slightly better academic reputation while BC much more sports focus.
I would think that Tufts has more of an academic feel whereas BC has more of a pre-professional feel.
BC computer science is not great. BC has business. Either is probably fine for econ.
@bcvstufts Tufts need I say more…