Boston College or Brandeis University?

Hey!

So I am deciding between BC and Brandeis and I know they essentially are the polar opposite.

I am planning on doing Pre-Med however, there is a chance I may end up not wanting to do Pre-Med! I’m so scared in terms of what job or future I want but am 60% I want to do Pre-Med.

In terms of alumni, which college/university will help you get a great job after graduating?

I know BC has a better reputation in terms of reputation and etc, but does that matter in applying to grad school or getting jobs? Will colleges or companys know about Brandeis and how will they think about it?

I am so mixed because Brandeis has friendly people but doesn’t have good food or a beautiful campus like BC. Also, I am scared in terms of after college in whether I will get a job or get into grad school with a Brandeis degree or a BC degree.

Please Help!

P.S.
I was really set on BC, but after I visited Brandeis, I don’t know now!

The primary difference between the two is that BC is primarily Catholic and Brandeis is primarily Jewish. By no means do you have to be either of these to fit in at these schools, but a large proportion of the student body at both will identify as such (a statistic I saw floating around this website said that Brandeis is approx. 50% Jewish. Not sure about BC, but I’m sure a quick Google search could answer that question for you.)

To be honest, I’d place BC and Brandeis on the same tier of prestige. Neither are “near ivys” but both are very selective schools that attract top students across the US.

One way you can make your decision is based on location. Boston College is located right in the city itself, whereas Brandeis is just outside of it.

My greatest suggestion to you is for you to flip a coin to decide. Yes, I am actually suggesting it. For simplicity’s sake, lets say heads is BC and tails is Brandeis. If it lands on heads and you feel relieved, then you know BC is the school for you. If you feel disappointed, then Brandeis may be your favorite. Either way, one school should jump ahead of the other unless you’re at a true stalemate.

@minohi Thanks! Can you talk about post graduate stats in terms of getting a job or getting in to grad school if graduating from BC or Brandeis?

Job and grad school will depend on how well you do and your major. Also, your interview skills and networking abilities. People from both schools get jobs and get into grad school!

BC is not “in the city” so to speak. It’s in Chestnut Hill (Newton). Brandeis is in Waltham. They are about equal distance from Boston proper. Chestnut Hill is fancier than Waltham, and BC’s campus is fancier than Brandeis.
Both campuses are on hills. Both offer great educations.

Price being equal, I’d go with BC just because I like the campus better and they have a chocolate bar. Brandeis seemed a little depressing to me.

@cupcake9363 Don’t count out Brandeis you’ll have the same opportunities it’s a great college and the academics and people are great!

Thanks! Any more opinions! I’m still really stuck D:

@cupcake9363: Think about your visit to Brandeis, did it feel right…it’s more than just the name and place the college has to make you happy. You already answered your own question…need I say more.

@Massmom2015 thank you! But did I really answer it? I think the reason why I thought Brandeis had amazing people was because I met a high school friend there. I am confident that if I met a high school friend at Boston college, I would feel the same way. I feel like I would have more fun in Boston college than Brandeis. A lot of students at Brandeis just study during their free time while Boston college students go to games and know how to have fun and yet manage their academics as well. When I went to both, I felt it at Brandeis but it’s just because of my friends influence. Boston college has and amazing campus and amazing academics like Brandeis. I’m so confused and decision day is in 3 days!

My son’s best friend from high school went to BC and she hated it mostly. I have visited both campuses and I actually have a old friend who is dean of the library at BC. It depends on fit, they are totally different. I think I saw a statistic that said Boston College is like 80% catholic. And their religious affiliation is real and prominent, the upper echelon of the administration are priest mostly and catholic principles like the opposition to birth control and abortion and gay marriage are definitely there and it is not very LGBT freindly. There is a much bigger drinking culture at BC and the student body is extremely preppy and the division one sports program is all consuming. It is a jock school. Brandeis is a division three program and much more laid back. I think Walthum is a much hipper and more happening neighborhood then chestnut hill with a lot of ethnic restaurants, chestnut hill seemed predominantly residential. My daughter did not touch BC even though I could get her a guaranteed job in the library. Also you realize that BC doesn’t guarantee 4 years of housing? Braineis is not technically religiously affiliated. There are many jewish students there but it was founded on the principle of not excluding anyone at a time when jewish students were quota’ed at the Ivies. Boston College is prettier but the hill at Brandeis is for real. I believe BC is also more competitive then Brandeis. Also isn’t brandeis in the consortium with MIT, Babson, Wellesley someone else, Tufts? where you can register for classes at the other schools, which you should take into account. If your a preppy jock and loves sports BC otherwise I wouldn’t touch BC. I have visited BC like half a dozen times and Brandeis twice so I am not an expert but like I said we took BC right out of the list for my daughter. Fordham is nicer in that ballpark. If it were me I would be far more comfortable in Brandeis but that is me. Also brandeis is much artsier with a great art gallery and theater program.
If you are interested in alumni support you could look up the alumni giving rate which is usually a pretty good indication of how committed the alumni are to their school. I believe Brandeis doesn’t do that badly on that regard but I don’t have the figures in front of me

@robotrainbow thanks! That really helped a lot!

Cupcake. It is evident you like both schools. If you had written why x school essays for both. Go back and look at those and see which is more meaningful based on your actual visit . Good luck. You have two great choices

Looked it up. Brandeis is number 34 on Forbes grateful grad index. Boston college is number 95 http://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2014/03/27/the-50-top-roi-colleges-2014-the-grateful-grads-index/