Schools similar to Boston College

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Well.....I dont know where you ventured or what you did while on campus and for how long you were there. But I can assure you that the 8 square blocks off of Arthur Avenue across Fordham Road are authentic Italians and its "little Italy." NPR did a special on every borough of New York. On the Bronx, they featured Fordham, Little Italy and several of the parks in the Bronx (one of which is LARGER than Central Park in Manhattan). </p>

<p>I have eaten in Little Italy often and at various times of the day and evening. At least 30 phenomenal Italian Restaurants, and they were most definitely run by Italians.</p>

<p>I'm just telling you that the neighborhood is not nearly as bad as some people think and that its a great education. Its not as yuppy as BC or Santa Clara. But I can assure you there are some BRIGHT kids at Fordham, from some great families and schools, and these kids get hired. Or get into great graduate or professional schools, including many Ivies.</p>

22

<p>and for the record there are WORSE crime statistics at Vanderbilt than at Fordham. And the neighborhood around Vandy on two sides is not very good.....and they have to escort kids across campus at night, and its a locked gated campus. </p>

<p>Fordham is not a country club or "bubble school" or "finishing school for sorority girls." Its just a wonderful Jesuit school in a world class city, offering great academics, great sports, a healthy balance of activities and books, and the right size that the OP was searching for in her "search for something similar to BC".</p>

23

<p>Like I said...I'm not disputing your claim...all's I'm saying is that when I was there it appeared that all (and I mean ALL) the local Italians were "down the Jersey shore." I hope you realize how it looks to claim that a place is safe because it's safER than another place where they "have to escort kids across campus and night, and it's a locked gated campus." I'm still holding out hope that living in an urban area doesn't entail fearing for your life if you make a 10 p.m. dash for a burger. What the hell sort of country do we have where we accept a place as ok even if you need an escort if you dare venture out alone after sunset? Have we lowered the bar that far? I acknowledge that there are places like that, but I won't try to claim they are a necessary fact of urban life...I've visited and lived in too many urban areas around the world to know that "urban" does not = "dangerous."</p>

24

<p>Vanderbilt is in a very safe/wealthy area of Nashville. It is painfully obvious you have never visited the school. If you are talking about "Vandy Vans", they have them for convenience and not because there are security threats. </p>

<p>Second, calling Vanderbilt a "finishing school for sorority girls" is completely ridiculous. The last two Nobel Peace Prize Winners are affiliated with Vanderbilt. Muhammad Yunus who won the Nobel Prize for his work on microcredit often refers to Vanderbilt as his second home.</p>

<p>Also, there is nothing wrong with a school having social prestige. Yes, one of Bill Frists sons is at Vanderbilt, the CEO of Bain & Co. daughter, Ross Perot's son and grandson are Vandy grads, the youngest billionaire in the United States (John D. Arnold) is a Vandy grad, etc. So while you may see "bubble school", I don't really see a problem with having well-connected peers.</p>

<p>Finally, academically the schools aren't even close in terms of academics/prestige. Anyone with a basic ability to read and write and can get accepted to Fordham. At Vanderbilt, you need to be one of the top students in your class (3.8+ GPA, 1400 SAT/32 ACT, excellent ECs).</p>

25

<p>"Anyone with a basic ability to read and write and can get accepted to Fordham."</p>

<p>That's pretty harsh. Fordham is no Vanderbilt, sure, but it's still a selective institution (~42% acceptance rate, according to CollegeBoard) with an SAT average around 1250.</p>

<p>On the topic of the thread, the OP was looking for schools similar to BC but less selective - Vandy doesn't fit this bill, but Fordham seems to be exactly what he's looking for.</p>

26

<p>
[quote]
Finally, academically the schools aren't even close in terms of academics/prestige. Anyone with a basic ability to read and write and can get accepted to Fordham. At Vanderbilt, you need to be one of the top students in your class (3.8+ GPA, 1400 SAT/32 ACT, excellent ECs).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Have a similar argument:</p>

<p>Finally, academically the schools aren't even close in terms of academics/prestige. Anyone with a basic ability to read and write and can get accepted to Vanderbilt. At Harvard, you need to be one of the top students in your class (4.0+ GPA, 1500 SAT/34 ACT, excellent ECs).</p>

27

<p>I have no problem admitting the totem pole is Harvard>Vanderbilt>Fordham.</p>

28

<p>Your hyperbole describes applicants to community colleges. Fordham is one of the nation's most distinguished national universities, on account of its Jesuit affiliation, it's history, and its renown among Catholic families from all socioeconomic and racial backgrounds.</p>

29

<p>Thanks kwu. I dont even respond to people like that.</p>

<p>But fwiw, Vandy is a fine school and I have MANY friends who go there and I have been on Vandy's campus and to Nashville MANY, MANY times.</p>

<p>Escorts? That is what the Admissions Office in their dog and pony show told us when we visited and the tour guide REINFORCED, and ALSO told us about the dangers of going out in Nashville at night. I used it strictly as a comparison, to help set the record straight for that other person picking at Fordham and its location. Fordham is NOT in a pricey district of the Bronx, though Riverdale is just up the street about 2 miles...and that is VERY pricey. "The Cloisters".</p>

<p>Check the stats on crime and you may be very surprised what happens at places like Yale, BC, Michigan, Vandy, Duke, pick one...on and on. </p>

<p>USC (California) is in the Watts, for heaven's sakes. </p>

<p>Fordham is VERY safe. Its campus police have three former NYPD Police Captains. Kids go bar hopping across Fordham Road all the time. But its best to go with friends (and NOT binge drink). Crime happens EVERYWHERE. Being smart is very important.</p>

<p>Part of Fordham's "charm" is its location, its ethnic neighborhood. If its not for you, then fine. Some people are not looking for big city urban, or if they are and then "concerned" they need to readjust their lenses. Urban means closer to reality. Its NOT a bubble school or country club. I can recommend several others if you are searching for that experience.</p>

<p>People come to Fordham BECAUSE its Fordham. That includes its Bronx location. And these kids (the price tag is 47k a year) are NOT poor, though Fordham does have PellGrant kids on campus.</p>

<p>Fordham does not have any fraternities or sororities, as MOST Jesuit Schools have foregone that experience. Vandy has a HUGE Frat/Sorority scene and a HUGE percentage of kids who pledge. I am not picking at it, but it is what it is. </p>

<p>And to those who would criticize Fordham's stats, let me say that in my D's HONOR dorm last year, there were people up and down the hallway with 1500 PLUS SATS, and one kid with a perfect 2400. </p>

<p>Maybe we need to hand out bumper stickers that say, "I am better than you because I attend XYZ University!" LOL.</p>

<p>EVERY school is unique in one or more ways. Every school offers a different social scene. If you visit a school and its not for you, its NOT a value judgement, its just a recognition that you are searching for something else for your college experience. Whether that is Vandy, Fordham, Tufts, BC, Harvard, Duke, UNC, UVa, WashU, UChicago, Northwestern, NCState, Clemson, Furman, VirginiaTech, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, NYU, Columbia does not matter one bit....it matters only to YOU.</p>

<p>Good luck everyone and happy hunting.</p>

30

<p>Wow, a lot more replies than I had expected...thanks everyone for the suggestions! Looks like we'll definitely be looking into a lot of these. My sister is very excited about the list of schools, of course she will continue to research them, apply, etc., but I'm sure she will make numerous visits before the decision.</p>

<p>Thanks again for the help, and feel free to continue to post suggestions/tips if you have any.</p>

31

<p>College of the Holy Cross and Boston College are both run by the New England Jesuit Province. Many Jesuits have taught at both schools. Holy Cross' current president, a Jesuit, taught at BC for 6 years. The schools are very similar in many respects. Holy Cross is 20 years older than BC and about 1/3 the size and is the oldest Catholic college in New England and was traditionally the more prestigious until the 1980s when BC rose to prominence through the famous Doug Flutie Hail Mary pass in a football game with Miami. Holy Cross is 40 miles west of Boston and BC is 10 miles west of Boston.</p>

32

<p>Probably need to get the ACT up for Holy Cross.
I take it she doesn't want to go to Creighton?
People are probably tired of me talking up Marquette, but it has a great school spirit, very work hard/play hard, and is almost completely residential (doesn't empty out on weekends.) Has some extremely strong programs that are more competitive. 8,000 kids.
Obviously, Milwaukee has no cachet, but it's really not that bad and a fun place to go to school.<br>
I think Marquette and Saint Louis are a lot like Fordham and have similarities to BC -- or at least to BC before it got so insanely selective. Loyola Chicago was always a commuter school and while excellent in many ways doesn't have as cohesive a campus life. Gonzaga, Creighton, St. Joe's and Santa Clara are all smaller.</p>

33

<p>LOL Tourguide, FYI, NY's original little Italy is in the Belmont section of the Bronx, right near Fordham University. About a block south of Fordham Road. Some of the best Italian food and grocery shopping in the city!</p>

34

<ol>
<li>Notre Dame and Georgetown</li>
<li>Boston College</li>
<li>Fordham and LMU maybe</li>
<li>Irrelevant, as you can do better than anything in category 4 or below.</li>
</ol>

35

<p>St. Louis University, although SATs might have to come in higher than her ACT scores. Loved the campus atmosphere...and the Jesuit education. Nebraska residency might help, as at our prospective student day most applicants were from Missouri and Illinois (my son won a little award for coming the farthest...CT).</p>

36

<p>Good luck, Jimmy to your sister.</p>

37

<ol>
<li>Boston College-Martha's Vinyard Campus</li>
<li>Boston College-Fenway Park Campus</li>
<li>Boston College-Nantucket Campus</li>
<li>Boston College-Route 128 Campus</li>
<li>Boston College-House of 7 Gables Campus</li>
</ol>

38

<p>If you wanna compare Boston to New York, we can start another thread. LOL.</p>

<p>Just call me NOT Red Sox Nation!</p>

39

<p>May have missed it, but I didn't see any mention of Fairfield University in the posts above. This school would seem to fit most of your preferences. It is located in a suburb of Bridgeport, CT., with easy access to NYC, Boston, and all the larger Connecticut cities.</p>

40

<p>Re Boston college being "10 miles" from Boston...the main BC campus overlaps the Boston/Newton line. So no matter where you are on the main BC campus, you are either IN Boston or are a no more than a 3-wood and a 9-iron away from Boston.</p>

<p>P.S., there is no city of Chestnut Hill, MA...it's a neighborhood and a zip code. The various parts of BC are in Boston and/or Newton.</p>