BU vs. BC

Which is more globally recognized as a better school? Basically, if I took a trip to China and asked 30 different people which school they have heard of or which school they think is better, what would they say?

Hard to say probably BC… but only one of them is in Boston… =)

A third of the BC campus isd in Boston, the rest is across the street in Newton, =)

Both great schools, but generally BC > BU

I don’t know if anyone on here can answer that question–try the international forum and ask some actual Chinese nationals. Our definition of prestige and theirs will be different-most of the answers so far are based on the raw fact that BC has more prestige stateside. All I know is BU is VERY popular among Chinese applicants and a lot of Chinese international students matriculate at BU–for all we know, BU could have an edge simply based on familiarity. (I know BU made some major press in China when a Chinese student died in the Boston Marathon bombings and BU now has a scholarship in her name) It might also depend on the industry. Honestly I don’t think it would make a huge difference. Harvard, yes. BC vs. BU in China? Not so much. The applicant in question should go with whichever school they can get into for the least amount of money…

BU has a far higher international research reputation, but BC is higher nationally for undergraduate programs. National reputation for graduate level work at either school depends on the department.

Having been to China, BU is more known internationally (around China and England at least), but BC is better viewed in the states

BC has a higher national ranking, but lower international ranking. BU has a higher international ranking.

BU Internationally for sure, check international ranking of colleges here http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2015.html

BU 71
BC 401

and here http://www.4icu.org/top200/

BU 53
BC 198

and here: http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=boston

BU 78
BC 341

enough said

No, not enough said! All four worldwide rankings are based almost exclusively on research output. BU is a major research university with a medical school. BC is focused much more on the undergraduate experience. The worldwide rankings are irrelevant to undergrad students. But they do give the prestige obsessed something to crow about.

@TomSrOfBoston not really ONLY on research output, also on global name recognition

Global Name recognition? I think most people would think they were the same school - or similar. I bet that’s the case across the US too.

Actually they do but outside the US they think both are Boston University, in the US its the other way around, BC first

Outside the US Religious affiliated colleges are not well regarded.

"Basically, if I took a trip to China and asked 30 different people which school they have heard of or which school they think is better, what would they say? "

I think you would have to ask a lot more than 30 to find one that knew the difference.

If you exclude NCAA sports fans you might have trouble finding 1 in 30 on the West Coast of the US that had an opinion.