Boston College vs UNC -Chapel Hill

College Life
1

<p>Please Help!</p>

<p>I have been accepted to both Boston College and UNC-Chapel Hill. Deciding between the two is extremely difficult.</p>

<p>I intend to double major, going for Biology and New Testament studies/ Early Christianity.
So one is a science, the other a humanities. </p>

<p>I would like considerable flexibility with the courses I take for general ed, lower div, or however they may be called at these two particular schools.</p>

<p>I love running, and though did not do track and field or cross-country in high school (I run on my own account, as a hobby), I would like to join a sport or sports club as well as have easy access to a gym.</p>

<p>I am from San Diego, a city that does not have all four seasons, which is something I want to experience, but at the same time, I don't want to be to "shocked" or overwhelmed by a drastic transition in climate.</p>

<p>Coming from a big city where there's lots and lots to do, and is near the ocean, I am looking forward to the school in a place that has much to offer recreation wise.
For example one thing I've never done is gone hiking, or camping. In fact, I've never been to a national park. These are things I've wanted to do for so long, and am hoping I will have the oppurtunity to in college. But at the same time, I would love somewhere in which there is vibrant city life.</p>

<p>I also am very determined to do a study abroad program, and would like the school that gives careful guidance in helping me setup my plan for studying abroad.</p>

<p>I would prefer the school that allows for undergraduate reasearch, has professors that are very accessible, and in which the classes are not too large. </p>

<p>I plan to (hopefully) go to a top-notch graduate school, and wonder if my chances at that are increased depending on which of the two schools I mentioned above, I pick.</p>

<p>Despite my EFC (expected family contribution) that is calculated for financial aid, I know for a fact that I will not recieve financial support from my parents towards my tuition (there's just no way they can afford it, especially since my father is retiring soon), so I am in a state of panic as to how in the world I am going to make up for that EFC portion.
Money is an issue, yet, I don't want it to terribly sway my decision.</p>

<p>Absolutely any advice that I could get to help me make my decion would be great!</p>

2

<p>To me, UNC is more impressive than Boston College if you are accepted from out of state. Graduate schools probably won’t care whether you go to one or the other… Since Boston College is a Jesuit (sp?) school, there are a lot of general ed requirements - that was a big turn off for me. I feel like you’d have more flexibility at UNC. Plus you’d be in North Carolina, where I’m at now (but not at UNC), and the spring weather here is beeeeeeeeeautiful. You get to experience all weather in North Carolina, but nothing too extreme :). Plenty of outdoor recreation and because there are so many people, UNC has a city-feel (I have visited people there).</p>

<p>It’s up to you :slight_smile: (UNC UNC UNC)</p>

<p>I don’t really understand your selection of majors but okay :p. Whatever floats your boat.</p>

3

<p>Both schools are excellent (Boston College would probably have a better program in new testament/religious studies) but I would go with UNC-Chapel Hill, hands down. Better academics, better sports, better school overall. Plus, although Boston is a great city Northeastern weather isn’t all that warm (especially during the winters, brrr). North Carolina is going to be a lot more moderate in temperature (not quite San diego, but still pretty nice)</p>

4

<p>Go to both schools and spend a day; you may see what you like and dislike…Both are great schools…I disagree that the academics are better at UNC…completely…how can you back that claim up!!!
My daughter is a senior at BC, transfer from Conn…both schools have superior academics…when i go to visit my daughter at her off campus apt., it is always quiet, the kids are always studying!!! They also have a fantastic time at all the football games, the stadium is right on campus…the hockey games as well…so the blend of academics, social and sports plus BOSTON! is fantastic overall experience…</p>

5

<p>Boston College is a great school; I have friends that go there and they all seem to enjoy it. </p>

<p>That said, I believe UNC matches up perfectly with many of your requirements/desires.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure about New Testament studies/Early Christianity, but UNC’s biology program is excellent. It is pretty difficult (the bio majors I know here always seem to be buried in a textbook), but if you are good with that kind of stuff then you shouldn’t have a problem. One benefit of UNC’s size is that it allows students to take a wide range of interesting courses across nearly every discipline. </p>

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<p>Everyone runs at UNC (except for me haha). It has gotten to the point where I can’t go to campus without feeling guilty after seeing a few dozen joggers taking advantage of the beautiful weather and nice scenery. There are also numerous intramural and club sport offerings-everything from flag football to softball to wallyball to paper airplane throwing to inner tube water basketball. IM sports here really are fun. </p>

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<p>I believe UNC is first or second among public universities as far as the percentage of undergrads who end up studying abroad goes. UNC’s abroad program is great.</p>

<p>You can take a look at some of the programs here: [Study</a> Abroad at UNC](<a href=“http://studyabroad.unc.edu/studyabroad.cfm]Study”>http://studyabroad.unc.edu/studyabroad.cfm)</p>

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<p>UNC’s entry level courses (BIO 101, etc) are huge. Once you get past the prerequisites, though, class sizes drop substantially; it is just a matter of getting the intro courses out of the way. </p>

<p>UNC is also a big-time sports school. Football games (particularly night games) are incredible, and basketball games are typically a lot of fun too. The baseball, lacrosse, and soccer programs are also all very successful and have big followings.</p>

6

<p>Ugh, that IS a tough decision!! </p>

<p>I can see from your criteria that each school has a little of what you want.</p>

<p>First of all, both would look great to graduate schools. There is no difference whatsoever there.</p>

<p>I don’t know specifically about BC’s core requirements versus UNC’s - but that’s definitely another thing to factor in. Because I went to a school with very lax core requirements, it was much easier to double major and feel relaxed about it. </p>

<p>Second - the “feel” at each school is undoubtably different. Boston College is small, probably slightly more conservative (not THAT conservative, because Jesuits are very liberal leaning, but it won’t be quite the melting pot a flagship state uni is). You’ll probably get more attention from your profs, more discussion-based classes, etc. It will feel more “cozy”. New testament studies would undoubtably be better (does UNC even that???).</p>

<p>UNC will feel like it’s huge, the opportunities are endless, probably more research opportunities, etc. Probably you’ll also feel more like you’re “fending for yourself” and the humanities classes will be larger. That said I think of it as having a better reputation for the sciences, esp. bio.</p>

<p>One has under 10,000 undergrads and the other has over 20,000. </p>

<p>Third - Chapel Hill is a good college town, or so I’ve heard. It’s not Boston, but then, it’s not the middle of nowhere either. The climate in North Carolina is going to be much less brutal and conducive to being outdoors at all times of the year. But, you’ll still get to experience the seasons. Winters in Boston…very gray…very brrr…but, there’s a decent amount of snow! Which I’m sure you haven’t seen a lot of.</p>

<p>Both schools will probably have excellent opportunities for hiking, camping, etc. Almost every school has an outdoor outing club which will arrange these kind of activities for you. When I think outdoor, I think Chapel Hill area more than Boston area, but both are probably beautiful in their own way. </p>

<p>I would recommend visiting…if you are still torn or they are still ranked relatively close in your mind…honestly, pick the one that’s cheaper. You clearly could enjoy the atmosphere at either. Both offer a great education and both “names” have plenty of respect attached to them.</p>

7

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I can vouch for the excellence of this program at UNC. The religion department is excellent, and the early Christianity/Judaism faculty especially so. One of the faculty members won the Archaeological Institute of America award for excellence in teaching and is one of the very best professors at Carolina.</p>

<p>The religion departments at UNC and Duke collectively crush BC, and either is more than on par. Most people are surprised to learn that nearly all of the strongest religion departments are in the South (Duke, Vandy, Emory, UVA, UNC). The only schools outside the South on par with any of them are Harvard, Princeton, and Chicago.</p>

<p>Some of umcp11’s post is incorrect. UNC does NOT have more than 20,000 students. It has about 17K total undergrads and roughly 15K in Arts & Sciences. Furthermore, I find the claim that BC’s humanities classes would be smaller highly dubious. The average size for a humanities class at UNC is 17 students, and it has far more courses available. In Classics, it is not unusual for a class to have fewer than 10 students.</p>

8

<p>The numbers were slightly incorrect but the idea is still there:</p>

<p>Looking at just undergrads UNC is still about 2x the size, with 9,171 at BC and 17,981 at UNC.</p>

<p>Looking at grad+undergrad, UNC has WELL over 20,000…about 29,000 actually. BC has about 15,000. This may not impact class size but it definitely impacts the “feel” of the university.</p>

<p>There may be 15K in art and sci at UNC, but art and sci at BC is only 6K students.</p>

<p>One is going to feel bigger and less cozy, hands down. </p>

<p>There’s no questoin we’re still dealing with a LAC versus Big University decision.</p>

<p>Now, OP is dealing with a major that is probably not particularly popular at UNC (idk though). So, in that case, you may find smaller class size in that department. You’d probably have to ask the school to get super specific, though. At MD the average class size is apparently 26 in our equivalent college (with a 12:1 student:faculty ratio, how the heck that works out, who knows) but most of my English classes have had WELL above that number…In fact I took a 300 level English class last semester with close to 100 people in it, and the same with several 300 level History classes. A 400 level English class I’m taking this semester? 60 students. I don’t think that would happen at a smaller university, despite there being “less classes” offered. Though, OP’s major could indeed be one of those that is also bringing down the average haha…in that case 10 could be about right so I concede that I didn’t take major popularity into account ;). Is new testament studies in the classics department?</p>