<p>I got into NYU and BC as a transfer student, and I can't make a decision! Convince me that NYU is the place to be!</p>
<p>NYU and BC are both really good schools, the same level academically and prestige-wise. They have completely different atmospheres though; I was accepted to both, and this is how I would describe them:</p>
<p>BC - A very traditional Jesuit school just outside Boston, with a beautiful stunning campus. A lot more school spirit than NYU imo. Students are often stereotyped as “preppy white suburban kids” and I definitely noticed that there. Great school, but reminded me too much of my hometown.</p>
<p>NYU - Nontraditional, no campus, in downtown Manhattan (Greenwich Village). There is not as much school spirit or sense of community, although plenty of stuff to do on and off campus, including all that NYC has to offer. Students are often stereotyped as “Artsy, urban, very liberal” and i’ve noticed a lot of this.</p>
<p>So unless you’re majoring in Math, Econ, Business, Philosophy or the Arts (pick NYU for those!) go by what kind of atmosphere you’d prefer, whether you want a traditional or nontraditional college experience, whether you like NY or Boston, etc.</p>
<p>BC= Most overrated college in America</p>
<p>NYU= A University that is quickly increasing its endowment, climbing the rankings such that of US News ( It might be top 25 soon), and NYU is giving Columbia a run for its money since it has Courant, Stern, Tisch, and many other impressive colleges that substantiate an NYU education.</p>
<p>Wow, I just looked at your last post to see what your major was, and you’re lying - either you’re getting ready to start your freshmen year at UVA, or you’re an upperclassmen transferring out, which is it?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say NYU is giving Columbia a run for it’s money - Columbia has long been an Ivy in the top 10, whereas NYU isn’t in the top 30 yet. I’m not saying rankings are everything, but Columbia has many, many programs ranked in the top nationwide whereas we have a handful. I love this school, but it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s overpriced and more of a “grad school” experience (which I like, but most people don’t.)</p>
<p>NuclearPakistan1, I was looking through threads relating to BC since I used to be a student there and noticed how you continuously put it down. What happened, did they not accept you or something? In all seriousness, NYU and BC are so similar from an academic and selectivity standpoint…both of which were my top two choices of the schools I got accepted to back in high school. It is honestly a matter of fit…Boston College has one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen while NYU is in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The “white, preppy upper-middle class” stereotype is definitely true of BC, though that is not to say that it doesn’t have all types of people. On the other hand, the “artsy, individualistic” mentality is definitely prevalent at NYU (while still appealing to all types of people). In addition, there is no denying that Boston College is more undergraduate focused than NYU. NYU has countless graduate programs ranked at or near the top while BC only has a handful. In my opinion, the fact that BC puts more emphasis on its undergraduate programs is definitely beneficial as an undergraduate because it gives you more opportunities as an undergrad to do things like research spearheaded more so by you than a graduate student. Unless you are in Stern, you should ask yourself if you want a more traditional college experience…if you can answer that, you should be able to make your decision.</p>
<p>BC is the best known of all 28 Jesuit colleges in the USA: [Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>
<p>Have you visited the campuses? Even if you need to fly in, the cost will be a small portion of what you’ll pay in tuition. You can also take Amtrak between Boston and NY.</p>
<p>I was accepted to both schools but I easily knew which one was for me after visiting both campuses. They have very different schools for very different people. I mean, either way, they are both great colleges.</p>
<p>I have always thought BC was overrated along with a couple of close friends. Everyone has their bias. Also, I am going to be a Senior next year. ( Class of 2010)</p>
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<p>Seriously? Once you cross the Mason-Dixon line, who’s ever heard of BC? Wouldn’t NYU be much more prestigious (or at least well-known) around the world, given that there are SO MANY schools internationally?</p>
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<p>Are these the departments/schools that really stand out at NYU? Are most NYU students well aware of their prestige? </p>
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<p>How so? What’s a “‘grad school’ experience?” (More independence?) Also, someone told me “undergraduate education is not NYU’s priority.” What’s your take on this? </p>
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<p>Wait, what? BC has more opportunities?! I thought NYU was all about “75% of undergrads have had at least three internships by the end of their junior year.” Granted internships are different from resesarch, but I saw a bulletin for undergrad research at Courant and I honestly don’t think any BC research opportunity could compare.</p>
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I said they’re the same level academically, that has nothing to do with how many people have heard of them. Most people haven’t heard of Amherst and Williams, the 2 best LACs in the country. By equal prestige-wise I meant they’re ranked within a number of each other. And many Americans haven’t heard of NYU.
Yep, Stern and Tisch are the most famous NYU schools, but most CAS students also realize that certain programs here - Math, Philosophy, Econ - are also outstanding. Not that all of NYU doesn’t have strong academics, but it’s #1 in applied math and philosophy.
It’s different from the typical Undergrad experience of frat parties, football games and grassy quads and BBQs - our campus is buildings scattered around the Village, giving a “grad school” feel of being independent. Like many research universities, NYU puts more focus on Grad rather than Undergrad, because that’s where the money lies. Especially NYU’s crown jewel, NYU Law.
I don’t mind massive lecture halls and TA’s, but some students would prefer the smaller, more personal BC atmosphere.
Sure, NYU has tons of research and internship opportunities. What Nesh correctly stated is that in a small school like BC, more focus is put on undergrads and it’s more personalized - I’m guessing students become closer to professors and research assistants and get to pursue their own interests more. NYU is massive, so there’s more research opportunities here, but it’s more impersonal and definitely less undergrad-focused. </p>
<p>As has been stated several times, NYU and BC are both really good. They’re ranked around the same, they both have elite programs, you can get an equal education at both. So choose based on atmosphere. BC is smaller, more personal, that “LAC feel”. It has a gorgeous campus and the students are preppy and school-spirited. NYU is huge, more independent, no one’s gonna hold your hand here, there’s no campus, you’re smack in the middle of the largest city in America, it’s more artsy and urban. </p>
<p>I was accepted to both, but BC felt like my HS and only had Bio, whereas NYU has Neural Sci. I was nervous about it being so nontraditional, but it’s made me so much more mature and independent. I remember my first week here, I met all kinds of people, went to all these cool places and did a lot of new stuff, and my friends at other colleges were just like, “Today I went to a frat party and got wasted. Tomorrow we’re going to another one. Tuesday, another one. Then another one. Thursday afternoon, there will be a BBQ.” At that point I realized I had made the right choice for me. :)</p>
<p>And btw Nuclear Pakistan, many people think NYU is way more overrated. $200k to live in a walk-in closet and listen to TA’s who can barely speak English? Even I think it’s overpriced. If my parents weren’t well-off, I wouldn’t take loans out to come here.</p>
<p>Thanks Alix!</p>
<p>What kinds of things did you do during that first week? I’m assuming it involves the city…</p>
<p>Also, you said NYU’s crown jewel is NYU Law. But what about Courant, Stern, Tisch…? (Haha if you can’t tell, I desperately want reassurance that Courant is all it’s cracked up to be, but I’m not sure any one opinion can give me that. I’ve gotta try, though.) Regardless, Courant puts BC’s math deptartment to shame, right?</p>
<p>Oh don’t worry, Courant is definitely really prestigious. I just mentioned NYU Law because it’s more well known by the general public (I didn’t hear of Courant until I became a student but I knew of NYU Law for years) and people will often list it as the most prestigous of NYU’s Grad programs. Courant is extremely prestigious in the Math community, but the average person doesn’t know or care about math as much. 
It’s kind of like how MIT is well-known for Math and Science so people ignore that it has one of the greatest Econ dept’s in the world. And yes, NYU has the best applied Math program in the country so it sweeps the floor with BC’s Math program. :p</p>
<p>So basically, NYU’s great at everything.
Thanks for all the info!</p>
<p>When you guys see the US news 2010 nat’l university rankings for NYU, come back and tell me NYU is overrated. And don’t tell me rankings don’t matter, EVERY university cares about them.</p>
<p>Ok, and USNWR ranks NYU #33 and BC #34. In other words, they’re basically the same level prestige wise, and 1 year isn’t going to bump NYU to an Ivy. So why are you bashing BC? They’re both really good schools and it makes our students look petty when someone is bashing other schools on this forum, even if you’re not an NYU student.</p>
<p>Universities care about rankings because they influence the number of applications and cut into revenue. But everyone realizes rankings are bs; USNWR makes some minor changes every year so people will keep buying their publication. I understand you’re in HS but believe me, after 12th grade no one gives a hoot over minor changes in rankings. Employers realize NYU is a good school but even most students here don’t know what it’s ranked. </p>
<p>When I think of all the ways our university could improve itself, rankings are one of the last things i’d care about…the intelligence and capability of our students, professors and alumni does not rise and fall with rankings.</p>
<p>Thanks Alix2012 for clearing up what I said :)</p>
<p>Dude, NYU is 10x better than BC. No one has heard of BC internationally.</p>
<p>does anyone know when the new 2010 USNWR rankings are coming out?</p>
<p>The middle of August.</p>