<p>which one is more academically prestigious/respected? better for IR/poli sci?</p>
<p>boston college is more well known b/c it is bigger, has successful division I athletic programs in many sports, and is a top catholic (jesuit) university in america right after georgetown and notre dame. however, i think that colgate's academics are a bit better and is a bit more prestigious in educated circles.</p>
<p>I went to BC a long time ago, and can't remember the last time I ran into somebody who'd never heard of it. From what I can tell, Colgate has a tiny fraction of BC's name recognition among the common folk, but I'd agree with batman that Colgate has the edge in prestige among the "educated," though the gap would seem to be closing a bit every year. The difference in prestige is tiny compared to the gigantic difference in setting...Colgate being very remote and BC straddling the line between Boston and the suburb of Newton (even though the address is Chestnut Hill and people think it's completely suburban). In creating politicians, BC has been sort of the "people's" school in Massachusetts--a role typically held by the flagship public university in other states. Over the years it has supplied a surprisingly high % of the higher-level politicians in Massachusetts--Tip O'Neil, John Kerry (BC Law), et al. Back when I went there, fully half of the Massachusetts delegation in the US House of Representatives were BC grads.</p>
<p>If you doubt the "people's" school remark, once my roommate and I skipped our afternoon classes and went to a bar in Brighton. We eventually ran out of money, and decided to thumb our way to Harvard Square, because back then one of the few ATMs in that area was in Harvard Square. My roomie was wearing a BC hat. In the middle of a block--nowhere near a bus stop--a public bus stopped, the door opened, and the crusty bus driver told us to get in. We explained that we had no money. He said not to worry about it, and let us in. The other passengers were shocked and angry that we got a free ride all the way to Harvard Square. I'm sure a bus driver wouldn't have done the same for somebody wearing a Tufts or Harvard hat.</p>
<p>That's a great story tourguide! Boston is a great small town really. :)</p>
<p>Colgate gets the nod on academics/prestige. </p>
<p>BC is a terrific school though, and I view it as a school in a great location on the upswing. My kid loved both these schools - he got into Colgate ED and BC EA. </p>
<p>Both are good for PS/IR.</p>
<p>I would say that Colgate has always been more academically respected, although would agree that the gap is shrinking, not because Colgate is getting any worse, just the improvement of BC. With more students applying to basically the same number of top college spots, BC has enjoyed a spillover effect. I would think Colgate would be a bit better in grad school admissions for Poly Sci type pursuits. One of the major factors should be weighing the rural feel of Colgate vs. the suburban/urban feel of BC.</p>