<p>I can’t decide what school to go to. I visited BU’s campus and enjoyed it, although it could’ve been a bit more “connected” and green.</p>
<p>I also visited Tufts. Is BC’s campus anything like Tuft’s campus? </p>
<p>I’m planning to major in some science field, not sure yet. So which school has a better academic program for science?</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Tufts, but BC feels more like some European country estate more than anything else. It’s completely self-contained. </p>
<p>For sciences… BU has a lot of options (including stuff like biomedical engineering) that BC’s science program quite doesn’t. But, then again, I am not a science major, so I really can’t tell you much more than that. Any science majors willing to take a stab at this?</p>
<p>“better” means different things to different people. For example, if you are pre-health and just want to major in a basic science such as biology, chemistry or physics, than any college will do, even a small liberal arts college. Both Tufts and BU have engineering programs, so their physical science curriculum will be deeper and broader than that of BC – but not necessarily “better.”</p>
<p>But you also need to be realistic with your gpa. Without a hook, a 3.5 will not be very competitive for BC or Tufts since it will be in their low quartile. Tufts is also need aware, so being full pay is a plus; OTOH, needing aid can be a negative at that school. With your high test scores, you should apply broadly. Good luck.</p>
<p>How do you know my gpa and test scores? I have a 4.34 weighted gpa and 2170 sat, is this competitive enough for BC? I know its low for Tufts.</p>
<p>on another thread (April 24-10), you posted that your unweighted gpa was a ~3.5…if that puts you outside of the top decile for your class, it is low for BC (where ~90% of matriculants are in the top 10%).</p>
<p>Thats what I thought my gpa was.</p>
<p>I got an official transcript earlier this month, I have a 4.34 weighted gpa and I am ranked 11 out of a class of around 438</p>
<p>wow, that is a huge difference – all good! </p>
<p>To answer your question, BC is a self-contained campus, similar to Tufts but unlike urban BU. My sense is that Tufts has more open space on its campus, but BC is typically ranked for beauty. However, the culture of the three campuses is different enough that you should visit before committing.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Can’t visit, as I am in PA. Already went and visited BU and Tufts but didn’t get a chance to check out BC.</p>
<p>What are the scholarships like? Between BU and BC, what college would I most likely get merit aid from?</p>
<p>BC only offers merit aid to about 15 of their applicants who apply EA. That’s the “bad” news. The “great” news is that BC is an amazing school and I’m betting has higher marks for overall student happiness than both Tufts and BU.</p>
<p>Geez, 15? I’m not talking about full rides or anything. </p>
<p>I’m applying RD as well, not EA. I’m leaning towards a major in science, although english is a major interest of mine too. </p>
<p>I know I want to apply to Tufts for sure, I loved the atmosphere when I went there. Can’t decide whether to apply to BC or BU</p>
<p>If you like Tuft’s atmosphere, apply to BC.</p>
<p>I spent most of this week hanging out with a friend who goes to BC. It’s a very large, very pretty campus. However, unlike BC, BU is in the middle of a lot more hectic and chaotic scene. If you like that, go for it. BU has a lot more security measures put into place than BC because of its location and I know that when I was touring BU, many parents were concerned because those measures were told to be absolutely needed in that sort of area. So really, it depends on what you want. As far as I know, BC is more traditional and BU is a little out there.</p>
<p>BU is a strip mall – very much like NYU or GW. BC, like Tufts, is a more traditional college campus. In terms of atmosphere, BC (or Tufts) and BU are opposites. As law2011 said: “it depends on what you want.”</p>
<p>Hmm, I’m really learning towards BC over BU now.</p>
<p>Two concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’ve heard BU has much more diversity than BC. Is BC really that homogeneous? </p></li>
<li><p>Which college gives better financial aid/merit aid?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As for #1, which I think I can answer…</p>
<p>BC is not that homogeneous! Trust me. I was hanging around and you see people with all skin colors. Plus my friend (who I visited) talks about how there are so many people in her sociology class who have visited places, experienced different things. BC is a really welcoming community.</p>
<p>BU is obviously diverse too, so I won’t count that out.</p>
<p>[Boston</a> University - Office of Financial Assistance - Applying for Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/incoming_probability.html]Boston”>http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/incoming_probability.html)</p>
<p>“The University does not have sufficient funds to offer scholarship and grant awards to every admitted student who has financial eligibility.”</p>
<p>While all three will do English and basis sciences well, besides Boston I really don’t think these colleges have much in common. Tufts is more like a large LAC: at 5k undergrads it is one of the smallest Universities. BC is almost twice as big at 9k. BU is twice as big as BC, with 18k undergrads</p>
<p>Tufts is D3; BC is D1. And both are proud of it.</p>
<p>Both Tufts and BC meet full financial need, but only BC is need-blind in admissions. Tufts is need-aware in admissions, but will meet full financial need if accepted. Tufts offers small scholarships to NMF’s. BU offers merit money to students it really wants, but also more loans to those at the tail end of the app pool. BU does not meet full need. However, admissions to Tufts and BC are more selective than BU, so if you are competitive for Tufts (mean SAT ~2175, top 5%), you would likely be competitive for merit money at BU.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Might also look at Brandeis and Holy Cross. Holy Cross is need-blind and pretty good with financial aid. HC has strong science and pre-med reputation like Tufts.</p>
<p>okay for whoever said that BU’s campus is like NYU’s campus i have to disagree. I visited both campuses, and I thought that NYU had less of a campus feel then BU. I also visited BC and the campus is absolutely gorgeous, and is in a nice suburban setting. I didn’t get to visit Tufts, but their campus I hear is pretty liberal, whereas BC’s campus is definitely more conservative – it is a Jesuit school. BC is really into athletics and parties, where I would say not so much for Tufts. Overall BC and Tufts have a better name nationally than BU, but I would say internationally BU has a better name - it being a large, establish research university whereas BC and Tufts are smaller. If you are looking into the sciences and thinking about pre-med I would go for Tufts. also note Tufts is NOT need blind. </p>
<p>good luck. 
I visited both BC and BU, and I’m only applying to BU just because I want more of an urban campus than BC offered, BC is too much like the private catholic high school i already attend - I want a change, it is also a little too conservative, and it’s high reach for me, and I already have Northwestern as a reach.</p>
<p>Soul Reaver—if you are really interested, try to get up to Boston & visit the school! Perhaps on your winter break. My D has been to all three; we found it very helpful in getting a reading on the cultures and feel of the places. </p>
<p>We noted what Gibby said, too, about the FA situation at BU. D is not applying there. Mostly because after some thought, she found it too urban and no green places to sit and have a little peace from the city. </p>
<p>If you want to know which school has a better science program, go to their websites and look through their course catalogs, and visit the scie. depts’ sites! Look and see what various professors are working on. You didn’t mention what kind of science—what area are you interested in?</p>
<p>I have seen all three schools and would say they are all good for science and it would depend on which one you thought you fit at best. Tufts has a reputation for being soley reliant on their frats for any parties. Tufts campus was very pretty. BC is known for great athletics and parties but freshman boys have a bit of a tough time being excluded. BC’s campus is one of the most beautiful I have seen. BU is an urban school but the street by the river with the brownstone dorms is very cool. BU gives a significant amount of merit aid if they want you. They are fond of giving 1/2 tuition scholarships. Since it is only 50% of tuition after you finish paying for the rest of tuition, room and board it is still a hefty price tag. BUT BC and Tufts are equally expensive and they do not give merit aid. You should revisit any school before accepting. You should apply to all three, since they are all in the same area if you get accepted you can revisit all three in the same shot rather easily. Good Luck</p>