Transfer Decision: BC to Emory?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey everyone,
I was hoping you could shed some light on my situation! I'm currently a student at Boston College (A&S) who will be starting my sophomore year in the coming fall. I got accepted to Emory U as a transfer as well. The decision is turning out to be harder than I thought. I'm still waiting for the transfer credits and housing info to come through, but I have about a week and a half to decide. Any ideas?! </p>

<p>A little info:
International Student
major: Economics+Sociology, possibly Business side.
academic 'abilities': Deans list first honors at BC (~3.7)
What else, likes: big cities, diversity, entertainment, strong academics (good profs), ratings, ranks etc.</p>

<p>Any ideas would be good at this point, since there are strong opinions on both sides at the moment Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Skalaiv- First, my advice is to follow you what you feel inside...i know it sounds lame but it is usually is right. However, for more practical advice....I think you need to really figure out why you don't want to stay at BC and try to decide if Emory will solve these issues. Personally, I too was in the same situation. I was a freshmen at BC and was trying to decide if I should transfer...i even applied. However, after much thought...I realize that my problems with BC were more to do with myself rather than the school. So I chose to give it one more year...and see where I was at. I am now a rising senior and I love BC. There are of course many problems with the school but you find such problems at all schools. The truth is that freshmen year can be a difficult transition for some (it was for me) and these difficulties often don't allow you to enjoy the great aspects of the school. Emory is certainly a great school (I have several friends there who love it) but it may not solve your problems. I hope this was helpful...let me know if I can give you more advice.</p>

3

<p>Hmm, thanks for the advice Dela4, I completely understand and I'm glad your'e liking it there. BC is a great school and I did end up having a good time actually. Where were you thinkin of transfering? I came in thinking BC? how did I end up here. But now it's not so easy to leave my good friends, however few but extremely close. On the other hand, some people are saying that emory is 'not that great a school,' whatever that means. Others say its a clear choice, Emory. If someone could just step up and say, ranking, reputation, academics, prestige and atmosphere make school X the clear choice, that'd help a lot:)</p>

4

<p>I was thinking about transfering to Cornell....In my opinion both BC and Emory are great schools. Based on rankings/prestigue Emory has the advantage...but does that actually translate to mean a better reputation in the real world- I am not so sure. BC is certainly well regarded and its graduates find their degrees to be very meaningful in the job market. In regards to academics, Emory is certainly an extremely good school...but I only have amazing things to say about the professors at BC and my fellow students - actually this is one of the main reasons I chose to stay freshmen year- I loved my classes. In regards to atmosphere...well they are very different...you must decide which is where you think you will belong. I know you want someone to tell you which school is the best for you...but anyone that does will only be full of crap. You alone must make that choice. Make it based on your happiness and where you belong rather than rankings, prestige, and other people's opinions. In the end you can't go wrong...both schools are great.</p>

5

<p>If you want my honest opinion, transferring to Emory from BC based primarily on prestige (meaning the other factors are a toss-up or favor BC) is the wrong move. Most people are not going to drop their jaw when you tell them you graduated from Emory any more than they would if you say Boston College. The ranking difference may be 15 places, making people believe "Emory is clearly the better school," but when it comes down to it you can get the same education and opportunities from BC.</p>

6

<p>Emory isnt even that well known in the west coast. Bc is known though.</p>

<p>Its funny because low-ranked schools like NYU are looked at better here in california (especially los angeles) over a school like USC (which is higher ranked according to US news)</p>

7

<p>I was accepted to both BC and Emory when I applied for freshman admission a year and a half ago. For better or worse, I chose Emory.</p>

<p>
[quote]
big cities, diversity, entertainment, strong academics (good profs), ratings, ranks etc.

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<p>Atlanta vs Boston -- First off, Emory and BC are alike in that they are close to big cities, but not quite in them. Both campuses are traditional. Indeed both Atlanta and Boston are big, but they are very different from each other. Boston seems to harbor (pun intended) a more intellectual atmosphere than Atlanta. Perhaps, this is partly due to the large number of prestigious universities in the Boston area. Atlanta has a lot of universities, but it does not cater to college populations nearly as much as Boston does. The difference in taste (for lack of a better word) between Atlanta and Boston seems to be pretty pervasive. Boston has lobster and clam chowder, whereas Atlanta has fried chicken and waffles. Boston's social scence is found in old and historic areas, whereas Atlanta's hot spots are newer and have a suburban feel to them. Boston is a northern city with a rich history and Quincy Market, Atlanta was burnt down in the Civil War and has the World of Coke. Atlanta is much more car-dominated, as well. It does not have a transportation system that works as well as the "T." Of course, there is also geographic differences. Atlanta's climate is much warmer. Although it has a pretty liberal feel to it (especially on Emory's campus), it's still in the South so it's surrounded by very southern towns and people.</p>

<p>diversity -- I would say that Emory is more diverse than BC. At BC, there is a particularly large number of Catholic students who come Jewishfrom private high schools. At Emory, there is a particularly large number of students who come from Long Island, many whom are Jewish but secular. Emory also has a good number of Black students from the South, specifically Atlanta. And, for that matter, students from the South in general. Emory, in addition, has many students from Korea, many whom are international students. They are definitely a force on campus, sort of a tight-knit community. I'm pretty sure that Emory has many more Koreans than BC does. What I have said is what I think characterizes their student bodies, and overall I would contend that Emory is more diverse.</p>

<p>entertainment -- There is lots of stuff to do in Atlanta, but having a car is key. There is not much to do right by Emory's campus, and public transportation is merely adequate. When you do have a car, it allows you to access the different areas of Atlanta, which has has plenty to offer in way of sports, clubs, and restaurants. On-campus entertainment exists, but it is probably not as vibrant as that of BC. And, in addition to more campus life, Boston probably offers more entertainment than Atlanta.</p>

<p>strong academics (good profs) -- I would say that both universities are about the same in terms of academic strength, at least for liberal arts. Emory's b-school, however, is stronger than Carroll; ranked 4th in Business Week. For economics, though, BC is probably stronger than Emory. Emory's econ is not that impressive. In fact, it's known for being the major of many students who couldn't cut the b-school classes. The b-school definitely overshadows econ at Emory. For sociology, I reckon that both programs are roughly the same in terms of strength. So, overall, I think both universities are roughly equal for academics, maybe Emory having a slight advantage in lieu of its stronger pre-professional programs.</p>

<p>
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Most people are not going to drop their jaw when you tell them you graduated from Emory any more than they would if you say Boston College.

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<p>Yeah, depends on who you're telling. Where I am from (midwest), people are MUCH more familiar with Boston College than they are with Emory. In Atlanta, however, Emory is better known. In NYC, Emory has a really good reputation and holds it own. Among Catholics, BC of course is better known. And among Jews, Emory is. Nationally, I think that BC is more well-known, in part simply because of Doug Flutie and its DI sports. Among CCers and grad school admissions committees, I would say that Emory has the advantage in terms of reputation, but it's probably not significant.</p>

<p>Overall, two very different universities. Hopefully you have visited Emory already. If you haven't, you're taking a risk by transferring into a place that you might not like. If you like BC, then perhaps that risk is not worth taking. Good luck deciding.</p>

8

<p>Wow how interesting, why'd you pick Emory Blaze 991?
Thanks for the post, I've heard everything before and since I go to BC, its familiar. I'm surprised you say Emory's econ program isn't that good, that's worrying since that'll definetly be one of my majors unless I go to the b-school. BC's on campus entertainment isn't that vibrant actually, unless you've been there. BC's rep hinges heavily on Doug Flutie..and all things football. It's a little ridiculous, I even met a student who picked BC for that reason over U Chicago, I thought she was insane. BC is fast rising and has a lot of leverage in the northeast and otherwise. They do have good profs and good programs, but academically, it hasn't been particularly challenging. That was actually a big concern for me. While I like getting good grades, I don't think its worth that much money (I pay full tuition) to just breeze through. My hs courses were as challenging or more. I know I've only been there for one year, but I get a vibe from my peers too, what caliber the school is. I didnt take many intro courses as I did get a lot of credit, so I do have a feel for major classes. Though every school is somewhat similar in that regard,
how are the profs at Emory? Do grad students teach often? Do they have a tutoring center or something? What are the facilities. I heard somewhere they have a tie up with Georgetown, is that wrong? Any insight would be great!</p>

9

<p>Also, Atlanta has more opportunities for internships as more companies are stationed there than in Boston right?
Is it really that necessary to have a car? I have a friend who says the marta isnt bad, and no I haven't visited the place.</p>

10

<p>
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why'd you pick Emory Blaze991?

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<p>I was rejected by my first-choice. Haha</p>

<p>But other than that, one reason is that I really liked the location. Atlanta is a great city with much to offer. Like you mentioned, there are truly great internships and job opportunities available in Atlanta. The city is growing at a very fast rate and it has the third highest number of fortune 500 companies headquarted in it among all cities (behind financial capital NYC and energy-capital Houston). </p>

<p>Of all the campuses I visited, I was probably most impressed by Emory's. In terms of the quality of campus and buildings, it is really impressive. Beautiful weather, nearby parks (even one with a lake great for running), great residences, a very nice campus called Clairmont, and beautiful marble buildings. An overall enjoyable environment in which to live for four years. </p>

<p>I have since decided that I don't want to attend the undergrad b-school, but I was at one time interested in that option and Emory's b-school is great.</p>

<p>Then, simply, Emory was one of the best universities that I got into, in terms of small classes, academic strength, and prestige. </p>

<p>The reason I specifically chose it over BC is that I visited BC and was unimpressed. I didn't particularly mesh with the students I met. (though they are pretty similiar to those at Emory) And I didn't want to attend college in the Northeast.</p>

<p>
[quote]
how are the profs at Emory? Do grad students teach often? Do they have a tutoring center or something? What are the facilities. I heard somewhere they have a tie up with Georgetown, is that wrong? Any insight would be great!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>In my experience, the professors are pretty good. I've had mostly good experiences with faculty, with one or two exceptions. I mean, you're going to get a professor that you don't like; it happens. But in general, the professors are there to teach, and they aren't stuck up like many of the professors in the Northeast may be more inclined to be. Very down to earth people, for the most part, who are definitely willing to help you in any way they can. </p>

<p>Classes are small, in general. Think 10-25 students. Even the intro classes are usually small. Most of my intro classes had about twenty students, no more than 40 ever. Grad students teach only intro classes. It's not so bad to have a grad student, though. Some of the grad students I've had were great. I have no complaints with professors, and I think most students at Emory feel the same way.</p>

<p>Students are mostly pre-professional. They're smart, but generally not the type of students who like to discuss politics over coffee. They'd generally rather play IM sports, participate in ECs, or be active in some other way.</p>

<p>The academics challenged me (for whatever that's worth) -- but they were not particularly grueling. I managed about a 3.6 by working fairly hard, studying about 4 hours a day on top of classes, and proscrasinating papers until the last minute. So, they're somewhat hard, but not that bad. Considerably less difficult than a place like UChicago, for example.</p>

<p>I dunno of any program with Georgetown. I know of one summer program with American University, for like international studies or political science.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm surprised you say Emory's econ program isn't that good, that's worrying since that'll definetly be one of my majors unless I go to the b-school.
[quote]
</p>

<p>Well, it's more of a reflection of how strong the b-school is. Students who would otherwise major in Econ decide to major in business many times just because the b-school is so strong. It truly is a great b-school. Thus, many of the students who don't cut b-school classes end up as econ majors. But the department itself isn't bad. I've only had good experiences with the department; one professor contacting me to see if I was interested in doing rsearch with him because I did well in his class. And local companies will still recruit Econ majors.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, Atlanta has more opportunities for internships as more companies are stationed there than in Boston right?
Is it really that necessary to have a car? I have a friend who says the marta isnt bad, and no I haven't visited the place.
[quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, I think that Atlanta has more to offer than Boston in terms of jobs and internships. Plus, in Boston, you're competing against tons of different elite universities for local jobs and internships -- such as Tufts, Harvard, MIT, BU, and even places like Holy Cross. In Atlanta, there is basically Emory, and then Georgia Tech to an extent. The other universities in ATL aren't on the same playing field.</p>

<p>MARTA is good once you get onto the trains; they take you to basically anywhere in Atlanta proper that you would want to go.. downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, the airport, etc. However, it is often nice to venture off into the suburbs of Atlanta, or even to another city or town like Savannah. So, the trains are good and run on frequent intervals.. but the buses are kind of a hassle. They don't run on very good schedules, and they are pretty slow. In order to get to the trains from Emory, you need to get on a bus first.</p>

<p>Emory is not for everyone. Don't take what I say for more than it's worth. You could end up with Buyer's Remorse if you choose Emory. Tough decision for you to make, weighing how much you like BC.</p>

11

<p>
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Where I am from (midwest), people are MUCH more familiar with Boston College than they are with Emory

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<p>^ thats true, same with the west like i mentioned a few posts back.</p>

<p>Emorys reputation is only good in the east coast, and south.</p>

12

<p>Transferring from BC to Emory because of prestige is ridiculous not because it's not a valid reason, but the significance is almost too small to measure. One of my friend in high school was WL at BC and got into Emory and had to choose Emory, but when she got off the WL at BC she dumped Emory. She believes BC is more prestigous. And of course a daughter of my co-worker turned down Stanford for Emory, so trying to rationalize their decisions using prestige will give you a headache. If you're going for prestige, and only prestige, transfer to the Ivy-ish.</p>