<p>I need some help. I am planning to do Masters in Accounting in the US and I am really torn between William and Mary and Boston college. Both these schools are really good and I seriously do not know which one to choose. William and Mary has been ranked above Boston in the PAR(Public accounting report) and It is also in a place where the cost of living is comparably cheap(Since I am an International student, I need to take this into consideration). On the other had Boston College has better reputation and recognition than W&M.But it is ranked below W&M for its Accounting program and also I need to pay 15k more . I need a job immediately after my course gets over and Its really hard to get a job in the US considering the Visa issues for International students.</p>
<p>Which one should I go for?
Boston College? (Hoping that its reputation would land me at a job anywhere in the US. )
OR
William and Mary?( Which is ranked better than Boston College and also has a better course work.)</p>
<p>Undergrad biz schools tend to be regional in nature. Ranking is not of much use for undergrad programs. </p>
<p>BC will tend to have more connections in the NE and W&M in the mid-Atlantic; neither are “national” per se. (IMO, the only true ‘national’ undergrad biz programs are Wharton and perhaps MIT-Sloan. A few others have large reaches, such as Michigan.) Boston is probably a better city for internationals in which to live, but may not be worth the additional $15k.</p>
<p>Obtaining a US work visa is not easy, and will not be easy from any US college.</p>
<p>Looking over the rankings, there isn’t a huge difference between the two schools. Account in the obvious margin of error for subjectivity in school rankings, and they are pretty much the same. </p>
<p>I looked at both (for UG though) and both impressed me very much. The tangible qualities of each are basically at the same level. For internationals, however, Boston will be a much more friendly atmosphere. Williamsburg is relatively isolated. The price difference is a factor in favor of W&M. </p>
<p>With that having been said, it might be in your best interest to visit both schools. The intangible/subjective factors will likely be the deciding factor.</p>
<p>Boston is a much better job market for business/finance/accounting than Southern Virginia. Southern Virginia will have mostly government or military jobs that you may be ineligible for as a non-US citizen. Also, as previously mentioned, going to school in Boston will be a better social experience, particularly as BC is a big sports school.</p>
<p>W&M has a beautiful campus but is VERY ISOLATED. I visited with my daughter and she decided not to apply. As an international (she is too) you may not get the real College town and US experience at such place. W&M is not well known abroad, as BC is.
Job market wise, you may get a better experience at BC. But it is more expensive, yes.</p>
<p>I agree you should visit both and judge where you feel most comfortable. However, I am a 1990 Accounting grad from W&M, and I am from CT. Granted it has been many years, but I had NO problem at all getting a job straight out of college (had 6 offers from the then Big 6 Accounting Firms) in Hartford, CT. W&M was a very well known and respected name, and 21 years later I still have a great career in my field in CT. Whenever I tell someone where I went to school they react positiively and are very impressed. The people that need to know, and should know, know.</p>