<p>Okay, so i've got admission into both, with half tution scholarships... and I have no idea which one would be a better fit.
So if anyone has any idea which univ is placed better according to their psych departments it'll be appreciated...
as for the environment... i don't really have a preference even though boston does sound quite tempting...
and while i am very politically inclined... american politics fails to thrill me, and all i hear about GW is how it's "the centre of political life"...</p>
<p>so any advice..??</p>
<p>I'm still waiting to hear from a few other univs... got into nyu but i don't think I want to go... so HELP!!!</p>
<p>Well Boston U stats are higher and Boston's population from Sept to May is that 1 in 4 residents are college students. DC has a leg up as far as climate though so that may be important to you and of course GW is a very good school. Our s considered Georgetown and even though politics interested him he felt it was everywhere you looked in D.C. vs. a college town life like Boston. I am a Psychologist and want to point out that its the type of profession that where you attended undergrad school will have less importance that some professions like investment banking. States require at least a Masters Degree for licensure and your graduate school internships will be one of the most important factors in where you begin your career. (for ex. I started out in the public sector but now work for a Fortune 100 co.) Good luck and I recommend you check out livejournal.com and put each school in to the search under "interest". Not sure about GW but BU has a thread for BU08, BU09, and BUnite where you can get a little flavor for campus life. Attending the accpeted students days at both will also help tip the scales in one direction over another. The good news is that both will offer a quality experience and education.</p>
<p>Speaking of psychology - it sounds to me, reading between the lines, that you have already made up your mind for Boston. But I think dogs is right - attend the sessions for accepted students, and the answer will probably float to the surface. My son was in your exact same position - scholarships and honors at BU and GWU, and a psych major. He attended both sessions, and eventually decided on GWU. Part of his decision was the freshman retention rate, which is higher for GW than for BU. He is thrilled with his decision. He loves the psych program, but he thinks what makes GW is the general quality of all the professors. </p>
<p>But my D wants to apply to BU next year, and has no interest in GW at all.</p>
<p>So good luck, and enjoy having the opportunity to decide between two fine schools.</p>
<p>One thing to remember about retention rate is that BUs might be slightly lower partly based on CGS kids for whom its a little bit of a stretch to be at BU plus some kids who aren't able to cut it in the more intense prgrams like the BA/M.D. program. Pre-med can be a killer even for the best HS students. Thse schools are not so far apart so you should do well at either but I agree with last poster that BU sounds like a better fit.</p>
<p>I think you should go to GW. It's a better school. Dogs said "BostonU stats are higher" and that's not true. GW has a 38% acceptance rate. BU has a little higher SAT I think, but GW has students ranked higher in their graduating classes. GW is ranked higher than BU and has more of a community spirit than BU. DC is also bigger and has more to do. Think of all the businesses, organizations, etc. because it is the nation's capital. The average class size is in the 28-35 range. Boston has more students, and doesn't have the discussion classes and personal contact with professors GW has. </p>
<p>Both are good schools, and it's a tough decision.</p>
<p>Dogs, that's a good point about the BA/MD program, but only if you compare BU's retention rate with schools that don't have such a program. GW also has a BA/MD program so that's a wash as far as retention is concerned. </p>
<p>I asked the people at BU why their retention rate was several points lower than NYU and GW (the schools BU most competes with). Their answer was basically "interview over". I was a little surprised by that, so I figured it is a sore point with them.</p>
<p>Uh Oh...this sure is a GW Board. Listen, as I said both are excellent schools. BU does have higher stats than GW but it is nominal---30 points for the top and 60 points higher (BU) for the average. (according to current PR listings)There is a division at BU called CGS (College of General Studies) that is for students with lower stats who would not be admitted into the regular BU Colleges but are given a two year transition period in CGS and that college does account for a larger percent of kids who leave. I wouldn't get caught up on "This school is better"...the original poster sounded like she was leaning toward BU and likes the city. You can't possible say one school has more to do on campus than the next since it really depends on your interest. A Skier or Snowboarder would certainly be happier at BU and with several on campus concerts a month (April has maroon 5, Donna, Alicia Keys, OAR, etc) music types may enjoy that too. However, many kids like to get involved politically and for that GW would have a ton more options and government internships and its warmer!!! As far as class size they are comparable. Big schools usually have big classes Freshman Year but they then break into small discussioin classes. Our S's Freshman year includes a class of 150 and another with 175 but both offered small group breakouts. His other six calsses though ranged from 12-28. If Internationals Relations is your thing then go for GW but she was asking as a Psych. major and as a Psychologist I just gave my opinion while at the same time noting both were outstanding schools. To say one is "a better school" is silly since fit is personal and since both are top schools neither is "better" its just about what is a better fit. These two schools are so alike that its often distance from home that ends up being a factor that makes the final decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice... it's definitely appreciated.
Yeah, I know my original post came across that I'm leaning towards Boston... and it is partly true, atleast if I'm to choose between Boston and Washington DC.
But it's still a tough deicision, and I think i will check out the livejournal entries and speak to some counsellers at the American centre.
I think campus visits could have possibly solved my dilemna, but I live in India so it isn't really possible....
I will do some more research though... thanks for all the help.</p>
<p>IMO, DC is a better city because of the cultural outlets. If you love city-life, DC is very cosmopolitan. GW is also very close to the Georgetown strip, which is great for shopping and eating.</p>
<p>dogs - don't worry - no flame wars here! GW and BU are very similar schools in many respects. </p>
<p>My own impressions: Where BU clearly wins: film program, graphic and fine arts; music. Where GW clearly wins: International relations, political studies, archeology, interior design, health & public admin studies. Where they are both very strong: asian language and cultural studies, journalism, pre-med (bio, etc.), psych, history. Both are in great college towns. Weather is a huge difference, but not a "win" for either, since some people like warm weather, while others love snow. </p>
<p>To Original Poster: if you go to Boston, and you're from India, buy some silk underwear! But other wise enjoy yourself at either school.</p>
<p>Dogs, just want to revisit one item: "BU does have higher stats than GW but it is nominal---30 points for the top and 60 points higher (BU) for the average. (according to current PR listings)"</p>
<p>PR listings for some reason have GW stats one year out-of-date. I looked at each school's website, and the BU SAT's - Not counting GSP -are 1250 - 1400. GW's are 1240 - 1390. Not exactly 30 points. Not to put too much of an emphasis on this, though, since 30 points is not compelling. But 10 pts is even less so.</p>
<p>Hmm... coming from India I definitely have a preference for warm weather....
but if i choose BU i'll mos def keep in mind the silk underwear... hehe...</p>
<p>I just asked a psychology professor their opinion. In this person's professional opinion, there is simply no contest between the departments. BU's department of psychology is unequivocally superior.</p>
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[quote]
"BU has the third-highest funded psychology department in the nation"
<p>Professor in BU's psychology department. I assure you that this is not a biased assesment. This person is not in competition with GW whatsoever. That's the point, actually. I only included the funding comment as one axis of BU's utter domination in this field.</p>
<p>Nom-I don't agree. First off, a BU employee would be biased towards BU. That's common sense. Secondly, you don't even go to BU, so I don't know when you happened to "just ask a professor" his opinion. Seems pretty convenient if you ask me. </p>
<p>GW has more internships because it's in a larger city. Neither BU or GWU are psychology powerhouses. They are fairly equal in the psychology rankings. I would go with the school with better opportunities, personally.</p>
<p>Hmm....
i almost wish i got rejected from one of the two... would have made this so much easier...
now i'm somewhat wanting to stay in india... kinda scary going off somewhere far off on my own, and too used to life here...
but i'm thinking of paying the deposit at both BU and GW, and then deciding when the time comes....</p>
<p>a higher ranked psychology department will make all the difference, so i think i'm going to start looking into info on that....</p>
<p>My parents are both professors at BU, one of them in the psychology department. I can be quick to reveal Boston University's shortcomings, so don't fallaciously attack my points on the grounds of bias. Despite my open cynicism, BU's psychology department excels by any measure.</p>
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<p>I'll admit that the funding bit was hearsay. I'm looking for an official source. In the mean time, I'd appreciate a citation on your "fairly equal in the psychology rankings" comment.</p>
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<p>That's a baseless assertion. Regardless, Washington, DC, is **NOT[/b</a>] "larger" than Boston.</p>