<p>Hi,</p>
<p>We're trying to decide between Boston University and Tulane. Tulane gave $30,000 and my son is in the honors program. BU didn't give us anything. We're from NYC but we go to the Cape every year so we have a strong Boston connection. </p>
<p>Help. I'd love to hear insights on both sides.</p>
<p>New Yorker.</p>
<p>Boston University is grossly overpriced and Tulane is grossly underrated…add to that BU gives so little merit aid and I think you have my opinion…save your money (for the Cape)</p>
<p>This is a page out of FallenChemist’s playbook (with all due credit). 2008 SAT/ACT entering class numbers are below for both schools. I have now visited both campuses – no comparison. I’ll be attending Tulane in the fall (full disclosure). With Tulane being more selective, cheaper, and nicer, I agree with Rodney… save your money for the Cape.</p>
<p>BU:
SAT Critical Reading: 580 - 670<br>
SAT Math: 600 - 690<br>
SAT Writing: 590 - 680
ACT Composite: 25 - 30 </p>
<p>Tulane:
SAT Critical Reading: 630 - 720
SAT Math: 620 - 700
SAT Writing: 640 - 720
ACT Composite: 29 - 32</p>
<p>c3: good choice, but even irregardless of stats, BU operates like a large public at the price of a Mercedes, IMO…while Tulane is pricey, $30,000 and honors brings the price down to an in-state public…even if someone has mega-bucks, could not rationalize a BU choice over Tulane…</p>
<p>rodney, well said.</p>
<p>I tend to be a believer in trying a new area for college to expand one’s horizons. I concur with rodney’s comments…if there wasn’t any money differences, it changes the game IMO. </p>
<p>FYI, from a “comfort” standpoint in heading to such a foreign destination as THE SOUTH, S is a senior at Tulane and 2 of his closest friends are from the NY area. THey acknowledge that there are LOTS of northeasterners at Tulane, so although it’s the opposite of Boston U in terms of location, there are plenty students from your part of the country.These northerners, in particular, are absolutely giddy over the winter weather in New Orleans.</p>
<p>I will add that I exchanged a lot of PM’s with a parent/student in the Boston area that was making this exact same choice. Not surprising, since a lot of Tulane kids come from the Northeast and BU is a common overlap school. He also chose Tulane for many of these same reasons as well as the opportunity to live and grow as a person in New Orleans, a totally new and exciting environment.</p>
<p>Oh, and I have had some correspondence just in the past few days with Dr. Luongo, head of the Honors program at Tulane, and also looked at the very recently revamped website for the Honors program. [Tulane</a> University Honors Program](<a href=“http://honors.tulane.edu/web/]Tulane”>http://honors.tulane.edu/web/) They are making some really exciting additions and improvements to what was already a very good program. I am really pleased as a parent of a new Tulane student, as well as being a proud alumus with regard to how they keep moving the school forward. Given that financial incentive as well…The only thing I would add as a fig leaf of balance is I hope he visited Tulane. If he did and liked it, then should be the choice I think. If not, then unfortunately there is no way to tell if the vibes were in sync or dischordant.</p>
<p>Let us know!!</p>
<p>My D is in nearly the exact same position. She is struggling with fact that she loves Boston and wishes she could move Tulane’s campus there. More likely, she is worried about the fact she will be so far way (we live in CT about an hour from Boston) and while she doesn’t have many friends going to BU, there are lots of kids from our area going to other Boston schools and many of them have poisoned her a bit on Tulane – southern party school, heavy greek life, etc, etc. so she is nervous about meeting people and fitting in at Tulane --although she had a great time on her visit and everyone was very, very nice. I thought BU was way too big and you needed to be very pushy to get anything there-- Tulane on the on the other hand seemed very friendly and accomodating from the Pres to the Advisors, etc. --everyone wanted to help. My husband and I would like to see her at TU as we feel it is the better fit and the better school – are we missing something – any thoughts on easing her fears. Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m happy to say that my S has finally made his decision and it’s Tulane. He too was trying to decide between BU and GW, where he received no money, and Tulane where he received $24K and the Honors Program. He did visit each school and actually loved all of them, but felt that Tulane’s academics were superior to BU’s and probably GW’s also. His only concern was that he might prefer the cities of Boston and DC over New Orleans. We’re from Los Angeles and he always thought that he would spend his college years in another big metropolitan city. He finally decided on Tulane because during his visit, he found that he really loved both Tulane and New Orleans and realized that none of the other schools were worth the additional $100,000. I think he feels the same as your D, CTHuskie. He has friends who will be going to BU and other Boston schools and is a little worried about fitting in, since there are few students from California at Tulane. I’m actually very impressed that he decided to take a bit of a risk because it just makes sense. He’s never had a problem making friends so I’m pretty confident that he’s made the right decision.</p>
<p>CTHuskie - No, I don’t think you are missing anything. I won’t tell you and LuckyMe or anyone else that EVERYONE loves New Orleans, but most people do and many find it absolutely fascinating. It is a small city for sure, compared to Boston, LA, NYC, etc. But that is part of the charm, and the food in amazing, and with food goes fun, especially in NOLA. BU has its plusses, but it is so urban! JMHO, but I think a real campus is part of the classic college experience. It has been like 15 years since I have actually been at BU (visiting, not attending), but as I recall, there were some trees and green and all but it was on a very busy street on one side and the Charles on the other (that part is nice for sure) and it wasn’t really a self-contained campus in the same way most others are. If I am not remembering this correctly I apologize. Anyway, I am digressing.</p>
<p>Tulane is about 27-30% greek, which makes it an important but not dominant part of campus life, and it definitely is not like there is a greek/non-greek divide. It was more greek when I attended and there was no significant divide, and students tell me that if anything it is even less noticeable. As far as a party school, well certainly Tulane students know how to have fun and there is drinking, but I would say no more than most schools, it is just more “honest” at Tulane. In fact, many feel that the laid back attitude about it coupled with the fact that the “thrill” wears off pretty quickly for most means there is less of a problem at Tulane than many schools, especially rural/college town schools where there is not as much else to do.</p>
<p>Tulane is pretty challenging academically for most students and it is just getting more so as the peer group gets better and better. And for those in the Honors program, as I posted above they are challenging the kids with some amazing opportunities. They appear to have made a committment to get back into the game of getting more Rhodes Scholars, Trumans, Goldwaters, Marshalls, and so on and so forth. Naturally they expect most of those to come from the Honors program.</p>
<p>So what can you tell your D, CT? I guess just that she will be with lots of other kids that are also far from home (you probably know the stat that Tulane has more kids from 500+ miles away than any school, or something like that) so there will be a lot of bonding. And that she will discover a whole new world by getting out of the Northeast, and that will help her grow as an individual as much as school itself. She should embrace that. Every kid worries about fitting in, and yet they virtually all do. Everyone finds their niche, sometimes more than one. Finally, as someone else said, there is a much better chance she would find a job in the Northeast after she finishes school than there is that she will live in NOLA. So she has her whole life to love Boston. Sure, college is unique, but still it is a great chance.</p>
<p>LuckyMe - $100K?? And you had to convince him??? LOL, kidding, it is an important decision, but I think you are right to be very thrilled about his choice, and not just because of the money.</p>
<p>My daughter received $24K and Honors from Tulane and half-tuition from BU. She ruled out BU because, even though she was admitted to the College of Communications, she felt it was too big. I agree with those who have said that BU is a state university with private school tuition. My D is still undecided between the $$ at Tulane and what is, at this point, no money at GW.</p>
<p>BU Is so overrated and expensive. BU is honestly not worth it. Tulane is a much better education. Please choose Tulane.</p>
<p>Tulane is not worth the money either.</p>
<p>dion: read the thread; OP got $30,000/yr…you don’t think it’s worth the equivalent of a public??</p>
<p>I have a disorder? News to me…</p>
<p>Lol so funny!!!</p>
<p>dion - of course it is</p>
<p>What disorder is that?</p>
<p>You win, you are a totally normal 10 year old. Anyone reading through your posts can see that.</p>
<p>Answer the question…</p>