So it’s time for me to make my final decision. My results did not go quite as smoothly as I expected, as I had 5 rejections, 1 waitlist, and 4 acceptances (I already withdrew my acceptance from Fordham in hopes that it would help RD people). Clearly though, I am left with three awesome choices, and I would appreciate any insight you may have!
So right now, my order of preference goes BC, then Miami (FL), then Richmond. You guys are welcome to confirm what I already think, or try to convince me otherwise. I am fortunate enough that my parents are 100% capable of financing my education, so keep in mind that cost is not a huge factor here. I am planning on majoring in Computer Science, and while I recognize that none of these schools are particularly renowned for that, it would be great if anyone has insight about how the CS departments compare at each school. I’ll list the colleges and write the pros and cons for each.
BOSTON COLLEGE
PROS:
-I was accepted into the Honors Program, so this will give me some extra opportunities and could potentially look impressive to future employers
-Boston is an amazing city, with countless opportunities. There are so many college kids there, so many fun things to do, so many internship opportunities, and so many job opportunities after graduation.. I also would probably like to stay in New England after graduation, so the name of BC would probably help the most. Also nice how it's not right in the city, but still close
-Most prestigious of the three (I believe), and it balances this with D1 ACC sports... It's a really well-rounded school
-Relatively close drive from home (I live in southern RI)
-I'm Catholic, and I really like how BC is too
-Gorgeous campus... Probably the prettiest of all I have seen
-Good size: not too big, not too small
CONS:
-The weather... I was kind of hoping to go south for college to avoid that snow and cold
-The price tag... It's the most expensive of the 3, but like I said, this isn't a big factor
MIAMI (FL)
PROS:
-The weather!! (and location!) Both times I visited were in February and it was just so wonderful and happy and nice compared to the weather back home haha. (Could be too hot in the fall/spring though ?)
-It would be a fun and unique experience going somewhere totally different from where I live now
-The campus is beautiful in it's own way... Quite different than the beauty of BC's campus, but still stunning
-I got a pretty nice scholarship there so that could potentially help save some money for grad school
-Pretty much the only great school in Miami, so lots of opportunities for jobs/internships in the city
-I have family in FL (and my parents will be there in the winter), so that would be nice and convenient
-Good academics & ACC sports teams
-Good size: not too big, not too small
CONS:
-Not trying to be stereotypical, but in general, the students who go to UMiami seem to be less studious and more wild than at the other schools... I am sure that being in Miami is a big part of the party environment. While I think having fun is important, I don't want it to be too overpowering and take precedence over academics
-I didn't get invited to the Foote Fellows honors program and I think I'm kind of deserving to be in it if I go there. I could call and inquire about it if I decide to go
RICHMOND
PROS:
-A completely new location for me; Would be fun to experience
-Really good academics, small class sizes, Richmond Guarantee (research/intership experience), etc.
-Pretty campus (but in my opinion not quite as great as the other two)
-Nice area, while also being close to the city and its opportunities & fun (I don't know much about Richmond--the city--but it seems fun and nice)
-Weather in between the extremes of Boston and Miami
CONS:
-Costs almost as much as BC, but not as good in my opinion
-City not as major as the other two
-Sports not as good
-Near no one I know
Sorry this is so long, and thank you in advance for your help!!
Looks like a choice between BC & Miami. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Miami is oppressively hot for most of the school year. Maybe Sept & May might be rough, but Oct-April aren’t bad.
If you like warm weather & wearing shorts, & think you will not get tired of 4 years of the FLA vibe , then that looks like an interesting opportunity to explore an area that’s very different from Rhode Island. I wouldn’t get hung up on slight differences in prestige, or assuming one has more serious students.
I think you can’t go wrong. Just would add that it’s difficult to get into Miami, and the students there are very strong, so any party vibe is probably a bonus to what’s going on there, not a detraction from the academics. If you want to work in the northeast, though, I’d give the hat tip to B.C.
I’m a northern transplant to Florida and you’d be amazed at how great the weather is here 95 percent of the time. The sun vs the cold/gray just lifts your spirits.
My daughter is a freshman at Boston College and absolutely LOVES it!! (We live in Florida.) The BC community is warm and welcoming with a strong focus on academic excellence, tradition, service to others, school spirit, personal growth, and leadership. My daughter had some wonderful college choices (like most do), but two major determining factors for her got down to school size and location. While Richmond is also wonderful (I am not very familiar with Miami), I was pleased that she chose a Jesuit institution. For my daughter, BC is a perfect fit! Congratulations & GO Eagles!
I am from Florida and BC is my top choice but I want to be in the northeast and prefer a Jesuit institution. Have you even been to Boston in July? Florida is far cooler in the summer than most northern cities but from October to April, the weather is incredible. Also, I have friends at UM and they are very serious about academics. It really depends on which school supports your academic goals. Good luck with your decision. You can’t go wrong.
UPDATE: I just received an email inviting me to the Foote Fellows honors program at Miami, so that makes the decision even more difficult haha. Also, I forgot to mention that my sister is probably going to school in Boston, so BC would be also be nice because I would be near her there. Let me know if you have any advice!
I would pick Boston College. The only downside is that I heard freshman who live on the main campus live in triples. If you get placed at the other campus you get a double, but you have to take a bus to and from there each day. I just think if you want to work in Boston it’s probably a good choice.
My daughter is a freshman at BC and lives on the main campus. She is in a double which she got by lottery. “Guaranteed” housing for freshman on the main campus was to select a “forced triple” which is three students in a room designed for two. (I was not in favor of a forced triple despite the $ savings.) I believe that 40% of the freshman at BC reside on the Newton Campus which is 1.5 miles away from main (a 5 minute bus ride). My daughter would have been fine on Newton too if that’s where she ended up. (I heard that a lot of freshman really like living there.) Regardless, I believe that your college experience is what you make it. There is a school for everyone. When my daughter came home to Florida for Christmas she went to the beach everyday, but she also wanted to go back to BC early due to a team commitment. You have three great choices, but only YOU can decide which one is best for YOU. I think that the “best college” is really all about “best fit” as well as your ability to apply your acquired knowledge after graduation. Be blessed!
