<p>In a little over a month, I am going to take a visit to Boston. I am planning to put a lot of effort into applying for merit scholarships at both Clark University and Boston University and am most interested in Biochemistry and Music.
I am leaning towards Clark due to the appeal of their LEEP program, 5 year masters program, and seemingly more open-minded, liberal environment. </p>
<p>One of the main purposes of my trip is to compare Boston University and Clark University while getting a feel for both campuses. </p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions on what I should ask about or see while I am on or near those campuses? Any advice would be appreciated. </p>
<p>The neighborhoods are vastly different–you will notice that immediately. Both are great schools, but Clark is in a sketchy section of Worcester, while BU is right on Commnwealth Ave a major thoroughfare in the Back Bay, a great part of town.</p>
<p>Julian, my S recently did this visit (in addition to Brandeis as well). I would strongly suggest a tour in both places if you can. </p>
<p>Based on his visits, my S fell in love with Clark and will be attending this fall. Personally, he didn’t like his visit to BU and crossed it off his list immediately after the visit. That’s absolutely not to say BU isn’t a great school and Boston isn’t a great city (I lived there for a time)----but it is to say how individual this process is and how important it is to visit each place, which is what you’re doing. What one person finds a ‘sketchy’ neighborhood another person finds accessible, very affordable and full of opportunity. </p>
<p>I’d talk to students in each place too. The best way to do this is to buy lunch or dinner or a snack at the student cafeterias. You can start up conversations if you’re more outgoing, or just sit and listen if you’re a bit more reserved. You get a sense of the sorts of students going to each school this way. A visit to the library and any other place of interest to you is informative as well. </p>
<p>Are you interested in a specific major yet? If so, I’d advise you to contact the department and ask if you can drop by. Many departments are open to visitors if you set up an appointment. Have a list of questions ready in advance so you can make the best use of your time when you’re there. For instance, ask about research and internship opportunities if you are in the sciences.</p>
<p>If you can sit in on classes, that would be amazing. Ask–sometimes they’ll let you. </p>
<p>S2 just graduated from Clark. He is spending the summer in Worcester, working at a job that will be an internship for his grad program in Community Development and Planning. </p>
<p>Five years ago, we visited BU and Clark. Clark certainly is in a less lovely neighborhood, but it does have a clearly defined campus. If you decide to look around the neighborhood, check out Park Avenue, which runs along the back side of Clark campus. It also is not glamourous, but has quite a few restaurants and is more safely traveled if you wish to find a nice restaurant in the area closer to WPI, which is 2 miles from Clark. At night, S2 and his Clark friends will take a cab home from parties at WPI. (A close childhood friend attended WPI.)</p>
<p>One thing that impressed me about Clark occurred at an accepted student day. I had an opportunity to talk with a couple of professors and to see them interact with prospective students. These profs clearly enjoyed teaching and knew how to connect with young adults. When I asked about students who were not sure about what their major would be, the economics professor said that the university does not expect students to enter with a clearly defined plan of study. Some do; most do not. The expectation is that students will learn to think, to challenge convention. I believe this environment has worked well for S2.</p>
<p>If you do apply to either school, visit classes that are in session. Talk to students. Compare merit awards. My son got very nice merit aid at Clark. Both schools are great and you could probably love either one. Enjoy your visits!</p>