I was accepted to both the BU and UNC chapel hill. I am instate for Carolina and so the cost would be significantly lower.
I am interested in biomedical engineering, but have no interest in pre med. UNC’s BME program seems to be mostly premed kids while Boston has an much more traditional engineering department and their BME program is rank #9. Now here’s where my decision gets harder.
I have an identical twin and we’ve grown up together pretty close but definitely want to go our own separate ways and do our own thing and unfortunately we are both leaning towards UNC. Also I have a bunch of friends who go to UNC and they all still hang out with people they went to high school with, which is the last thing I want to do. Plus chapel hill is only 25 minutes from my house so I feel like I wouldn’t really be getting all that much of a “going a way to college feel”. I haven’t visited BU yet but I’m worried the lack of a camps might be kind of lonely, but also I’ve experienced the crazy “chapel thrill” night life-frats and all, and I think that would get old pretty quick.
Disclaimer*
I know money is a significant factor to go to UNC, but my parents are very well off and have assured me not to let that be a deciding factor. Still to not consider it would be unrealistic.
Congratulations! Quite an achievement for you! While they are both great schools I think you have a lot of valid points as to why perhaps BU would be better for your major. I would never advise anyone to select a college without visiting. BU does have a unique “campus” set in the middle of the city. My son was accepted too and that’s one thing he is wrestling with - the lack of a campus. However, my two daughters go to schools with campus - green space - etc. and they’re like okay I walk across it to get to class, but aside from the beginning of the year and the end of they year no one is hanging out “on the campus”. All very valid points. Generally your friends are formed within the dorm you reside - or at least that is where my daughters made their friends. However, UNC has that gorgeous weather so the campus would be more of a factor. We are headed to BU next Friday for the accepted students day and for my son to try to get another feel for it. Maybe he will feel more comfortable or perhaps he will hate it. Without visiting it is very hard to draw a conclusion. The difference in cost is a lot for the two. As with our son, he is fortunate that cost doesn’t have to factor into his decision. Best of luck to you and I think, if possible, plan to visit and get a feel for the campus. Our daughter goes to school 45 minutes from home and I totally agree she never got that college experience being so close to home.
Thank you for taking the time to write this helpful reply! I booked a trip for one of the engineering open houses and hope that visiting will be able to make my decision clearer. Being from the south UNC and duke are the prestigious universities thought of down here and I was wondering as far as in Boston with all those great schools around (Harvard, MIT, etc.) is it that BU is sort of looked down upon?
I don’t think so at all, but then again my kids were never Harvard material 
As someone recently said to me BU is known nationwide. It is a prestigious school and people recognize the name. I’m glad you booked an trip up it’s hard to describe to you what it is. I can tell you Boston is my favorite city! There is so much to do there and places to visit - it really is a great college town. Our daughter graduated from Bentley (smaller Business school) and now lives in the city. I cannot tell you what fun we had going up all four years of her college and even now that she’s in an apartment. It is definitely an urban campus, but there is something to be said for that. You have all of Boston as your campus. I do not believe BU is looked down upon at all. Maybe someone else can give you a better perspective on that, but we haven’t gotten that feeling. We feel like it is a great accomplishment for him to be accepted out of what - 55,000 applicants this year? I hope your visit goes well and you get more of a feel for the campus. Remember this is one time in your life you can fly…no strings…no attachments…go see the world ! (and still on Mom and Dads dime
@momtoo3 - We’re of the same opinion of BU and also visiting next Friday! Knew S wouldn’t make it into Ivies so shot for the next tier. We’re still deciding but definitely being in Boston (despite the weather) is one of the attractions.
Come visit. The “lack of campus” thing is actually “well, it’s a really really long skinny campus” thing. You’ll still have dorms, cafeterias, classrooms, etc., and Boston does have green space and much, much more to do than Chapel Hill (my alma mater) which is certainly a decent college town in its own right. Because money is no object and your particular major seems to be better at BU, come give it a serious look.
Also, I would not say BU is looked “down upon,” by other schools, although that was a great line in The Social Network movie when snooty Mark said “But Erika, you go to BU” in the first scene. There was an audible collective gasp in the theater! There are SO MANY COLLEGES IN BOSTON. Each has its own vibe. There are friendly rivalries, but it’s the best college town in the world.
I have certainly heard complaints about BU however those complaints were also very true at Carolina (huge classes, etc.).
@CaliforniaDreamz hi there! as a New Englander, I would say definitely go to UNC. Especially if you come to the north, UNC is a prestigious school that is ranked higher than most schools in New England that are non ivy. My brother went to UNC, moved to Boston and had a job right out of college. I applied to UNC as a transfer student and got in but wasn’t able to afford it. However, it is a beautiful school and to be honest, as a southerner I’m sure you’ll see after visiting BU that the culture is extremely different. The winters are freezing and depressing which is much different than the Carolinas. IF you really want a complete change, BU is the choice for you. But if I had an amazing school witch such great academics, sports (BU is just hockey and no good college basketball) I would definitely choose Chapel Hill. Trust your heart,ultimately its your decision. I wish you the best of luck!