<p>After reading through this forum and talking to other people considering BU, I always hear that people like BU because of Boston. I definitely understand this and this is a major reason why I’m considering the school too, but what other factors were important to you?</p>
<p>smg is off the hook</p>
<p>there was a thread maybe even with this exact title a little while ago, lots of people posted so check that out</p>
<p>^^ okay, I'll do that. Thanks</p>
<p>-I love Boston
-I love the Red Sox
-I thought I could get through the CGS curriculum
-I thought I would have approachable teachers who would be there if I needed help on anything
-Not far from home
-I thought I would meet intelligent, interesting, cultured kids from many different backgrounds who had comparable interests
-SMG is a great school and could land me a good job
-Have a top team in something (hockey--not so much this year)</p>
<p>I was wrong about a lot of things...</p>
<p>Like what types of things were you wrong about, BO5TON?</p>
<p>Also, does the school have way too many parties for a moderate fellow who studies a lot and wouldn't mind getting drunk maybe twice or trice a month, but never more?</p>
<p>Also, is it always loud in the dorms, like if I wanted to study, but I was in a dorm where there are parties constantly, would I get annoyed?</p>
<p>Also, do the dorms on a whole stink? I've heard that the Princeton Review was incredibly incorrect on their assessment of the BU dorms, and that students were quoted in saying things like the extremely low ceiling drives them crazy and stuff.</p>
<p>Also, do people who graduate from BU undergrad get accepted into really good grad schools, or is it tougher for them?</p>
<p>Also, does BU give more financial aid if the student is academically stronger? Or is the financial aid purely need based? And how hard is it to get merit money?</p>
<p>Thanks, I had too much coffee by the way, and I'm studying for a gov/political science exam.</p>
<p>I'm transferring Tuesday actually. Almost everyone I knew relied on parties for their social life. I met a few kids who didnt or rarely did, but overall, it was overwhelming. My roommate along with 90+% of my floor would come back early in the morning drunk out of their minds. A couple times kids and even my RA knocked on my door drunk wanting to get their Halo fix in. </p>
<p>The dorms can be loud--people blasting music, walking around, etc. The RAs did a decent job getting people to lower their music, but sometimes they didnt. You'd probably be better off going to the lounges/library.</p>
<p>I had no glaring problems with smell. It's a dorm, so yeah, it's going to smell. Nothing lasted longer than a day or so.</p>
<p>For what it' worth, I'm not a square in the slightest. I enjoy partying, chillin, sports, etc., etc., but the overwhelming amount of partying at BU killed the experience for me.</p>
<p>Where are you transferring, if you don't mind my asking?</p>
<p>I don't agree about the partying situation. We live in the city of Boston and the school has over 400 clubs and organizations to occupy your time. There's plenty to do on campus and off and you DON'T have to get drunk to do them. There are also many types of dorms on campus, some quieter, some larger and a little louder. The large style dorms are patrolled by RA's on the weekend evenings to keep things okay and I always thought they did a pretty good job. I heartily disagree that there is an 'overwhelming amount of partying'</p>
<p>I think it depends on what program you're in and where you live. I've heard people say that, and I believe the, but my own experience has been altogether different.
I lived in specialty housing for one year, then moved off campus. That may have helped.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Where are you transferring, if you don't mind my asking?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Temple University.</p>
<p>I also disagree about the partying situation. Yeah, there are some kids who go out multiple times a week to party, but most people I know (myself included) only do that a couple times a month or so. Also, for the most part (at least on my floor) people are reasonably discreet about drinking (for a college, anyways), as most of the RAs will write you up for it. I would never say the partying here is "overwhelming." And like lostandfound5 said, there's SO much else to do in Boston.</p>
<p>I don't really have any gripes with the dorms, either. They're not great, but they're decent. My floor is fairly quiet, so I do most of my work in my room, but there's always a study room or lounge where it's easy to concentrate if I need it. </p>
<p>Financial Aid is purely need-based. Merit scholarships are awarded based upon performance, and at least in my experience, BU is fairly generous with these. </p>
<p>As for grad school admissions -- BU isn't in the same league as Harvard or Yale or anything, but I'd guess that a decent amount of BU's higher-achieving students are admitted to prestigious grad schools. I really doubt where you go to college carries nearly as much weight as your GPA, recommedations, etc. though. </p>
<p>I chose BU largely because of Boston -- I wanted a sophisticated, urban environment. I also liked that there seemed to be a good balance of partying/schoolwork/clubs, etc., that a fair amount of students seemed relatively socially conscious, blah blah blah. BU was also pretty generous with my financially. I think BU is worth applying to, especially considering that with its size, no matter what your interests are, there's something for you, and I really like it here -- but I think there are other places I'd be just as happy, too.</p>
<p>Thanks for the details spinscratch.</p>
<p>Oh, and BO5TON, when I asked about the dorms, I didn't mean if they stink literally, I meant stink as in are they good or bad, lol. The major complaint I've heard about the dorm is just that the ceiling is way too low.</p>
<p>Edit: Also, do the dorms have bunk beds, or single beds? Are they similar to these Berkeley dorms?: <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/%7Eearlabon/dorm-room.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~earlabon/dorm-room.jpg</a></p>
<p>The dorms are entirely blah. They're not awful, but for 50 grand, they should be MUCH nicer. I had no problems with the ceilings at all.</p>
<p>They're nowhere near as nice as those Berkeley dorms. I stayed at UCLA, which was much nicer than BU's.</p>
<p>The BU Student Union has a website with information/pictures of the dorms Boston</a> University | Student Union | </p>
<p>That should help you get a feel for them.</p>
<p>There are many threads about dorms. </p>
<p>They vary incredibly, from small, older buildings to very large. My kid has been in a small dorm in the Kenmore area. Large rooms, semi-private baths. The quality is variable. </p>
<p>They're pretty far along on the new StuVi towers. One of those will be more dorm style and the other more apartment style.</p>
<p>Partying situation? Please. If you're looking to get wasted every night, you'll certainly be able to do so at a local frat or a house party Ashford St. However, if you don't drink, you won't be ostracized! You'll find a decent sized group of like-minded people... Besides, there are always plenty of things to enjoy while staying dry...</p>
<p>The dorm situation varies. If you get stuck in Warren Towers, your room will be reminiscent of a prison cell. Fortunately, better dorms do exist- I'm living in Shelton Hall in a five-person suite and it's really nice. We have our own bathroom and plenty of space! It's really a luck of the draw situation...</p>
<p>I chose BU because of the financial aid package, the location, and SMG curriculum. I highly recommend BU's School of Management for business-oriented folks. It was the only school I applied to where I took business courses freshman year. In every other school, I'd have had to plow through two years of liberal arts stuff before I could take classes directly related with my major!</p>
<p>-The Dry Coot66</p>
<p>As a student at BU, I haven't really done much partying. I've gone out a few times with friends and yes, I have been drunk [much to the amusement of my roommate] but for the most part, it's not bad. </p>
<p>The dorms are small. Freshman dorms usually are. I specifically requested Warren because I wanted the opportunity to meet people and having about 40 people on the floor seemed the way to go. I've been woken up twice since september early in the morning from people being loud. In three full months, that's pretty good. Anywhere you go, there will be partiers, and the RA's do a good job of keeping things calm.</p>
<p>I'd recommend if the dorm wherever you go is a bit blah, decorate. It makes things much warmer. Leaving room on the floor to walk [i.e. clean] also just makes the room more bearable.</p>
<p>There's a lot to do at BU with any group of people, sober or not, so don't worry there. I'm sure in a school of 30,000 you can find some friends :)</p>
<p>I agree with pretty much everything in this thread. You can get drunk quite easily if you want to. And I know people do. Just walk down Ashford Street and the air will probably intoxicate you. However, I don't drink. I just think its the stupidest thing. I have a fine social life. Dorms are good. Like Coot said you can have a really nice smaller dorm like Shelton or Myles or one the bigger ones like Warren or West. Warren is a unique experience in itself. My floor is pretty crazy. Most people are up to 3 and it can be kinda loud. They like to party too. But this isn't the norm. Some people are actually being ejected from housing. So the RA's do keep watch.</p>
<p>Coming from one of playboys top 5 party schools in the U.S., BU is weak. While ashford has some frat and house parties this is by no means a big scene. Boston is a big place, you can find something to do regardless of what you are looking for. But I def. would not base a decision to come on the under 21 party scene...its just not very existent.</p>