<p>Hey.</p>
<p>Well first off, what made you want to come to this school? And secondly, how much are you enjoying it? Elaborate about that in terms of athletics, campus, clubs, curriculum, academics, food, social life, city life, things to do, student body, professors, financial help etc.
From your experience at this university, rate how much you like it on a scale from 1-10.</p>
<p>Hi Classy, I'm a mom, but I can tell you what my son thinks of BU. He's a music performance major. Here it goes...
1. Athletics- DS doesn't care much about it...but he has said that the hockey games are terrific, and very hard to get tickets to. The new Agganis Center is first rate, with an excellent fitness center, places for concerts, and outstanding facilities for the athletes at BU.
2. Campus- DS wanted an urban campus, and he loves BU. The city IS the campus. He did live on West Campus and that does have a "campusy" feel to it. Also the dorms along Baystate Road have a campusy feel also. Commonwealth ave feels like a major city road...and it is. But it provides great access to the whole city.
3. DS finds the curriculum in his field the same and perhaps in some ways more rigorous than some of the conservatory programs he was accepted to.
4. Social life, city, things to do...well Boston is a terrific city, very accessible via the T (subway system) and there is never a shortage of things to do. There are arts things, sports, you name it...it's there.
5. DS has made some wonderful friends. He really finds his professors to be terrific.
6. It's an expensive school. They do not meet full need, but they do provide aid.</p>
<p>I'm sure DS would give BU a 9 or 10 (with 10 being the highest). He has not regretted his decision to go there at all. Right now he is in London doing a semester abroad. BU has very well established Study Abroad programs.</p>
<p>Hey Thumper, how would you rank its business program (specifically finance)? I'm planning on applying there if I don't get accepted to UMich, NYU Stern. I'm curious as to how good its internships are as well as connections to companies. Thanks</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't know a thing about their business program. DS is a music major.</p>
<p>Well, you're asking for a mouthful, but I'll do my best answer:</p>
<p>Wanted to come: Honestly, it was primarily the location. I also liked the size and the uniqueness of the business program.</p>
<p>Enjoying it?: Thoroughly.</p>
<p>Athletics: I happen to never have the time to get involved with anything, but hockey is huge in Mass and we have a great team (Coach Parker is also a bit of an institution in his own--he was actually asked to leave BU and coach the Bruins but turned them down twice). Basketball is also pretty good, and the smaller sports seem to do well. Those who do pay attention are very into it and games are well attended. Beanpot games (a competition between BU, BC, NU and Harvard) are nuts.</p>
<p>Campus: It's either hit or miss. I personally like it. I'm living in a brownstone on Bay State and the Charles is right outside my door. It's nice to be able to talk a break from work at 3 am by taking a walk by the Charles. My dorm experiences have generally been good, and I'd rather have easy access to the city than have a secluded but nicer campus.</p>
<p>Club: I'm more involved in off-campus things, but there's an obnoxious number of clubs here. You'll find something you'll like, trust me.</p>
<p>Curriculum: The business program is top notch, IMHO. I don't think I could have made a better choice in that respect. I'm not completely satisfied with the psych program, but my objections have a bit more to do with how psychology is taught in general rather than BU specifically. Its hard to comment, though, without knowing your major, as program quality can differ greatly between programs.</p>
<p>Food: Considered one of the better dining programs in the country, which still doesn't mean much. I have my contentions with the food, but it's still better than the alternatives. We get lobster once a year, if that floats your boat.</p>
<p>Social life: I'm happy with it. The best thing about this school is the opportunities you have: you can make of it anything you want. Whatever you're into, there's always something going on--you just have to go find it.</p>
<p>City life: not sure what you're asking about. It's Boston. It's a tiny city, but a great one. Very different feel from any other.</p>
<p>Things to do: ???</p>
<p>Student Body: Diverse.</p>
<p>Professors: Diverse, but, generally great.</p>
<p>Financial Help: I think I made out pretty well. I'll still be in serious debt, as I'm paying for myself, but I'm also going to be making much more and I'll be better prepared for working than I would have if I went elsewhere.</p>
<p>That's the best I can do, but I'll be glad to answer any specific questions you have.</p>
<p>I wanted to come to BU because of the city, the diverse student population and the diversity of class choice. Generally, I'd say the city IS great, but if you're from a more rural place (like anywhere in maine, for instance), it takes a while to get used to. I know everyone says that but it's totally true and it's the little things you wouldn't think about. However, when you hear from friends about how they miss "real" food or that they haven't seen "real" (not students or professors) people in a while, you get to realize why you came to a city school.</p>
<p>Oh, just to throw it out there, while I'm thinking about it, I totally disagree with what was said before about the food here. It's good. Yes, it can get old eating in the same place, yes, the meal plans steal your money, but compared to other cafs I've eaten in, ours are pretty top notch. </p>
<p>Curriculum is a little off of what I expected at least. I assumed that at a huge school like BU, I could take a huge variety of classes, but in truth, the requirements are a little constricting. In most cases, you have to take about 10 classes to fulfill requirements of CAS... add that to the courses that satisfy your major and your electives become few and far between. That being said, the classes I have taken here so far have been great, and the requirements give you a nice liberal arts background. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT GO INTO CGS. I don't care who you are or what you want. It's a silly place and if you can get into any of the other schools, go to that other instead. If you can't get into any other school, then "the college of glue and scissors" might be the place for you... but it's probably not.</p>
<p>As for the social scene... this depends. I live in a single in south campus as a freshman, which is not a socially ideal situation (though it is absolutly sweet in every other way). I've made friends here but it's definetly not like a small liberal arts college where everyone you meet is cool. The thing I didn't think about when coming to BU was that diversity of student body doesn't only mean lots of cool people who are all different. That's what you get at a liberal arts school... the students are interviewed so though their backgrounds are different, they're all really the same. At BU, it's more like the real world. You will meet, have to work with, and live with a lot of jerks. It's up to you to search out a cool group of people to be friends with. </p>
<p>Two other social problems: independence of the students and the ratio of females to straight males. Ahhh... they don't tell you about that one in the college books! If you are a girl looking to find love at BU, you will be very very disappointed. Hotties there will be, but most of them are looking at eachother. The rest of the male population most likely falls under the catagories of total jerks or unfathomably weird. It's not their fault though... having a pick of like 1600 girls does strange things to a man. </p>
<p>The other problem of independence in the student body means that if you're in a house with upperclassmen, house events will inevitably not be attended. It means you can take a class without ever knowing the names of any other people sitting next to you. It means that a lot of people eat alone in the cafateria. </p>
<p>But all in all, BU is different from other schools because instead of feeling like being at college, it's more like jumping into the real world. I think the transition into this university has been a little harder for me than the times that my friends have had transitioning to their schools. But it's absolutly worth it. This college isn't a bubble. That's why I love BU.</p>
<p>thats good</p>
<p>Well originally BU was a safety because I was accepted at schools that are more difficult to get into but I liked it best, can't explain why, just felt right and Boston is so cool, compared to Cornell and New York City just seemed too big and kind of dirty, and I received over 15,000 in merit scholarship because of my high GPA and SATs.(over 1500/2200)</p>
<p>The first week was tough, some classes were big but some were small and the big ones had smaller versions with TAs so eventually I met a lot of people and the small writing classes are set up to interact with each other. West is more of a traditional campus and the dining hall is awesome and very social. The first month they set up dorm and floor trips. I wasn't a big joiner in HS, had some ECs but not a ton but I find it easier here to be social even though I have only joined 2 official clubs. I have a group of friends now, mostly other Freshman but a couple of upper classmen too. All are straight males like me. There is a lot to do on and off campus but a lot of times we just hang out in each others rooms, listen to muisc, talk, walk around campus or the city, go to a music club or campus event occassionally with each other or girls on our floor. My rooomate has a girlfriend in another dorm so he is never here. Have gone to some parties in dorms or BU townhouses. Lots of drinking at those. The work is challenging, more so than I expected, so far only one Professor sucks the rest are very good and approachable. I have met students from other countries but they tend to stick with each other.</p>
<p>Drummerboy, my S is having an experience like yours. BU felt right to him, and he applied ED. His general HS stats similar to yours, same scholarship, and it's not as easy as high school. He's had a chance to do some cool stuff he never did before, like intern on a radio show. (And he's not a COM major.) He's also on a couple of student union committees, and part of a research project team in the psych department. As he puts it, there's a lot of **** on his plate. BU is what you make of it. He actively searched for these opportunities. Academically, BU is not a piece of cake. BU might be a safety or less "prestigious" school than an Ivy, but his courses are challenging and I think he's happy with his choice. He's never called home saying he was miserable and hated it there.</p>
<p>Well first off, what made you want to come to this school?
I was familiar with the University. I found the research around me inspiring, the school large enough to provide adequate resources, and the "feel" small enough to satisfy my small-suburb childhood.</p>
<p>And secondly, how much are you enjoying it?
* I am enjoying it a lot. Really.
* While I don't attend athletic events, that's just a personal preference.
* If by campus, you mean "gated community," then I'm not satisfied. No, BU is an unsplintered urban campus and I like that.
* This being my first semester, I was not as active in clubs as I anticipated. That said, there was no lack of opportunities. I registered for several clubs and I fully intend to participate more next semester.
* The curriculum is difficult. Don't let anyone tell you that BU is an easy school. Easy to get in, maybe, but not easy to get out. There will be work. It will be interesting if you pick your classes well.
* I have never eaten cuisine as fine as this at home. Still, even good food can get boring. If you're impatient or in a rush, lines may drive you to foods that take less time to prepare. Meals are predictable but reliably good. They shake things up every few weeks with a theme night. We've had four-star local restaurants cook on premises, breakfast for dinner, live entertainment, and more.
* My friends have social lives. I am not the life of the party so I can't say how that goes, but alcohol is available if you "require" it.
* Boston is a city. Ever lived in a city? Visit one.
* Cities have things to do, but so does BU. There are events every week at the student union and elsewhere on campus.
* Some students are total dunces-- painfully dumb. Others are absolute geniuses. Most are smarter than the students in your high school.
* Professors are similar. Sort the wheat from the chaff and you're good. Graduate students are not bad teachers, by the way. They can sometimes be more invested in their teaching than professors. Grads remember being undergrads.
* For, uh, reasons, I am unable to share my financial experience.
* As I have not attended any other universities, I can't rate BU on a scale.</p>