<p>I have narrowed my choices down to BU, Rutgers, and UCONN. Obviously Rutgers and UCONN are alot cheaper than BU. I am not qualified for financial aid, but the tuition at BU is nonetheless still quite an expense for my family. I was not offered any scholarships either. However, I was accepted into the school of communications at BU, and at the other 2 state schools I was admitted as undecided. I am not sure if BU is worth it compared to the other two schools…it is not impossible for us to pay for BU, but I know it will cost my parents a lot of money. I know both of the state schools are probably almost as good (if not equal to BU)…so what do you think I should do? I really like all three schools, but right now I am sort of leaning towards BU (I am not sure why…maybe location is a factor?) I just can’t decide if it is ultimately worth it. What do you think?</p>
<p>I don't know too much about those schools (or anything actually). Consider the location, which is a major factor to me. I would also check usnews's top 100 list to see of those other colleges are on there, and how they compare to BU.</p>
<p>Personally, I am going to get loans if I have to no matter where I go. I've come to grips that the education is worth it.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Don't pay any attention to rankings. They are garbage. If you can visit, do that. Each of those schools is very different and they're in very different kinds of places. If you're in COM, they have a couple of visiting days during the decision period and you can learn more about that school. I have to tell you they weight the sales talk toward jobs because your parents are likely most interested in that.</p>
<p>Lergnom, are you in the COM program? Or if anyone else is...do you like it? What can you tell me about your experiences there?</p>
<p>Rankings are sorta pointless. Even though BU isn't high up for me... I wouldn't take Rutgers over most anything :P</p>
<p>Seriously, it's Boston. If you can figure out a way to afford it and you know you'll make the most of the extra money invested... it's worth it.</p>
<p>i feel i am in the same position as you are. BU didn't quality me for much fin. aid and i didn't get merit aid either. i got a scholarship at clark university (and am still waiting on three other schools.) so what i think the best thing to do is revisit the schools again. it seems thats the best thing to do at this point anyways.</p>
<p>My daughter is in COM, but honestly much depends on what your concentration is: journalism, film/tv, PR, etc. I suggest you look at COM's bulletin - all the bulletins are on the BU site - and look at the curriculum guideline. BU's philosophy - other than in ENG, SMG and CFA - is that you need a liberal arts education with an emphasis on writing. That's pretty traditional, so though COM is a pre-professional school you have distribution requirements, mostly in CAS, which you do during your first two years. You can place out of some of these and many classes satisfy the reqs so you can take a fairly wide variety. (BTW, COM has no math requirenment at all, thus "College of Optional Math.") In other words, COM functions a lot like a traditional major in any school except the classes become much more directly pre-professional. If you're doing advertising, for example, you can work in the AdLab doing work for clients.</p>
<p>I am considering Broadcast Journalisim. How good is that specific major at BU? Is COM's broadcast jounralism program as good as some of the other COM programs at BU or as good as other broadcast journalisim programs at other universities?</p>
<p>Oh, and fengshuibundi...what don't you like about Rutgers?</p>
<p>"BU's philosophy - other than in ENG, SMG and CFA - is that you need a liberal arts education with an emphasis on writing. "</p>
<p>Small correction: Half of the courses you take in SMG are liberal arts and the curriculum as a whole has a heavy emphasis on writing. I would not include SMG in that list.</p>
<p>Sorry, ryan, I meant that SMG's core is structured differently but wasn't specific. SMG loads more of its core up front, while COM follows the more traditional structure of other reqs first. In any case, interested people can easily check the BU websites for each school. All the info is laid out.</p>
<p>Broadcast journalism at BU, like all the COM majors, has a webpage. [url=<a href="http://www.bu.edu/com/jo/broadcast/undergraduate.html%5DHere%5B/url">http://www.bu.edu/com/jo/broadcast/undergraduate.html]Here[/url</a>]. BU has its own TV facilities. They do news broadcasts and stuff like a sitcom, both for the BU community, Boston's cable access and MTVU. Like all the BU COM programs, they have a strong intern program; I think they have a broadcast center in DC. Info is on the page.</p>
<p>As for comparing to other schools, no one really can except maybe the professors in the field. If you can, I'd suggest visiting. You get a speech, meet with some kids and professors and then get a presentation from the faculty in your area - where you can ask questions.</p>
<p>Hey-take it from me, the loans are not worth it. I have been accepted to BU, but I cannot justify, as hard as I try, to go into massive amounts of debt and will probably end up going to Wayne State University (free), even though the reputation is far, far, far below BU's. (You've probably never even heard of it). Do not be a slave to a name.</p>
<p>Wayne State, huh? My dad taught there. Are you a Detroiter?</p>