<p>So, I’ve gotten into five colleges: NYU, BU, Syracuse, UW and U of oregon.
UW and U of O were safeties, and NYU is too expensive for me. So the choice is: BU v. Syracuse!
I’m thinking on majoring in journalism (not fully decided, so I want to make sure that the school I go to has other good colleges within the university).
I’ve visited both, surprisingly really liked BU (loveeeee Boston, I even liked the campus!), and surprisingly hated syracuse (just a gut reaction that I’d really dislike going there).
I know that Syracuse/ Newhouse has the better reputation, but 1. I’d have to transfer from CAS to Newhouse and 2. I’m not sure if journalism is my real passion. So I’m leaning towards BU. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I have no direct experience with Syracuse University, but Ive lived in Boston and currently reside in the Syracuse area. I think the city of Syracuse gets a bum rap and there is actually much more to do here than at first glance. The arts and music scene is actually well developed for a smaller city and is growing, and the Armory Square area is a great place to hang out. There are also a lot of recreational activities within an hours drive of Syracuse. If you cant find something to do around here, youre really not trying very hard.</p>
<p>There also seems to be a great deal of school spirit at SU college sports is a much bigger deal here than in Boston and the whole town goes nuts when the Orange basketball team is doing well (and they should be pretty good for at least the next few years to come). </p>
<p>As for the weather everyone always brings up the snow, but it snows plenty in Boston, too. The main disadvantage to Syracuse weather IMO is the number of cloudy days we get, but weve actually been having a nice spring so far.</p>
<p>Im going through the decision process with my son (and BU is one of the schools he is considering), so I can appreciate where you are at right now. I would recommend considering another visit to SU to check out the campus again before you make a final decision.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Agree with JayDee12. We are west coast and know a freshman going as freshman to Newhouse–considered one of the best journalism schools in nation (also accepted to Annenbergs and other journalism schools). School visit was apparently great!</p>
<p>Have you been to either? (I do find it odd that Syracuse supporters somehow find their way into BU’s forum. Do BU people post in Syracuse’s?)</p>
<p>Both COM at BU and Newhouse are very good programs. Syracuse is a more traditional campus and has big time sports, if that appeals to you. It’s also, despite the remarks above, still the City of Syracuse versus the City of Boston and in particular BU’s location in the heart of Boston. </p>
<p>You should consider price and if that is even or close then really ask yourself where you want to be.</p>
<p>My son was accepted at the Whitman School of Management and the Business school at BU. He received great merit $ at BU and none at Syracuse. I know that he loves the sports and school spirit at Syracuse and is concerned about weather/town vs. Boston. He is a bit concerned about the idea of a city school. </p>
<p>My question is … are these ‘ancillary’ concerns and isn’t academics a more important qualifier? If so, any thoughts on which of these 2 schools are a better choice?? They seem similar but for the locations and that he received money at one and not the other.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>In management, BU and Syracuse are comparable academically. Have you visited Syracuse? It is an urban university too albeit with a real campus unlike BU. While Syracuse is much smaller than Boston, it has many of the same urban problems, and not that far from campus either. As for weather, Syracuse gets an average of 110" of snow per year. Your son will learn what “lake effect” snow is.</p>
<p>No grant at Syracuse means $200,000 cost for four years. If you can afford this, you are very lucky. As for sports, while BU is lacking except for hockey, Boston offers an incredible professional sports scene. </p>
<p>BU seems to be a better choice to me.</p>
<p>My one big concern with Syracuse is that I didn’t get into the Newhouse program, I’d have to transfer in. And I have no idea if that would be possible or how hard it would be. BU I got into their COM program.
True, there’s probably more the SU than meets the eye. I just visited this weekend, and it was just kind of a gut thing. My dad is pushing for SU, but I think what I want lies at BU. I don’t know if I should ignore my gut, you know?</p>
<p>There is no way I’d pay much more to go to Syracuse. If the situation were reversed and Syracuse was cheaper, I’d say I wouldn’t pay much more to go to BU. Not for business. If we’re talking some special program that only one has, then maybe. If we’re talking no concern about income, then pick the one you want. If someone has a desperate love for upstate NY or can only survive on creamy clam chowder, then make that choice.</p>
<p>Alot of students are accepted into BU-Com and not into Newhouse; you could always try to transfer after freshman year if that doesn’t work out; </p>
<p>if you attend SU and try an intraschool transfer, into Newhouse, you should know that a 3.5 freshman fall GPA is usually the approx cut-off…</p>
<p>For the poster whose son received merit $$ at BU but not SU, that is probably because the majority of merit $$ at BU requires a FA submission while SU does not; SU merit money is purely based on merit while BU (for most of their scholarships) distribute based on need…I know this is confusing, but it basically means that if you have really good stats at BU but you don’t have financial need, very unlikely to get merit…</p>
<p>My daughter is a soph at Newhouse; received large merit at SU and zero at BU…when we actually asked BU we were told the above…</p>
<p>Some of the BU merit aid is done that way but some is done on scores and grades. They used to publish the stats for the basic merit awards. Don’t know if they still do.</p>
<p>I believe all university grants are based on need, with the inclusion of grades affecting how much need based grants is offered. A 25 ACT/3.4 student admitted to BU CGS with 0 EFC will get less than a 30 ACT/4.0 0 EFC student.</p>
<p>Grants are, as the name implies, need-based. Scholarships - Dean’s, University, etc. - are not grants.</p>