BU vs. BC

<p>I want to run Division I cross country & track & field in college (distance runner). I've looked at BU and BC online and I wanted to know which school would be more ideal for me.</p>

<p>I haven't determined my major. But I'm interested in:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Computer Science</p></li>
<li><p>Astronomy</p></li>
<li><p>Business </p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm not rich, so I need to know which school would give me the most need based aid (track and field scholarship probability also). This is most important to me between these two schools. </p>

<p>The schools' Academics, Dorms, Facilities, & Athletics matter to me.</p>

<p>So what are pro's and cons for BC and BU? Please explain why? </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>You can try the net price calculator at each school’s web site to get an idea of what need-based financial aid is like at each school.</p>

<p>The only $$ answer will be from the coach. BU does not meet full financial need, but can be generous for kids it really wants. Thus, some students get lotsa grant/merit aid, and others get zero. (Net calculators are worthless for such colleges.) BC meets full need, but is not as generous as the really highly selective schools (Ivies et al).</p>

<p>BC has an excellent undergrad biz program; overall, its academics rate higher than BU. BU has engineering, so it will tend to be stronger in physical sciences.</p>

<p>BU is urban; BC suburban (but ~half of the main campus is inside the Boston City limits)</p>

<p>so which one would you prefer for me?</p>

<p>^^^You need to visit the schools and decide for yourself. BC is the better academic institution.</p>

<p>moose:</p>

<p>I suggest you check out each school’s individual thread. From those, you can get an idea of the campus differences. Only you can decide if you prefer a suburban-style, self-contained campus, or one more urban, with city streets cutting through it. Northeastern is another urban campus, but more self-contained than BU, IMO.</p>

<p>Big Time d1 sports? School spirit? Jesuit philosophy to education? Those are all personal items. </p>

<p>But perhaps more importantly, what about the coach at each college? Last weekend, I met a senior who is graduating from a UC Irvine where he was recruited for x-country and track. He learned to disagree with the coach’s training methods, and quit. He found a new coach and joined a local running club. Now training for ‘adult’ events and is sponsored. A fine young man, who had a lousy college sports career bcos he never really bonded with the coach.</p>

<ol>
<li>What grade are in now?</li>
<li>What is your unweighted GPA?</li>
<li>What are your standardized test scores?</li>
<li>Are you the top runner on your high school team? Do you have statewide top 10 times in your events? Has any school attempted to recruit you?</li>
</ol>

<p>Both outstanding institutions. But very different in look and feel and vibe. You need to determine which one makes you feel like “this is me!” And to do that you need to visit both, which you can easily do by taking the T! LOL.</p>

<p>I favor Jesuit schools overall. But I acknowledge that BU is a fine school.</p>

<p>I’ll contact schools next school year.</p>

<p>I’m visiting Boston and I can only tour 2 schools the 1 day I’m there. I’m planning on touring Harvard and either BC or BU. I just wanted an opinion on what characteristics make either schools stand out from one and another.</p>

<p>And that’s too bad for that UC runner, I guess things just don’t workout.</p>

<p>Do you recommend an overnight at BC and then I can just do a day tour at BU?</p>