I am having an extremely difficult time deciding between BU and Tulane. I have done a lot of research into both schools and would be happy at either one, they are also comparable academically. I would also be going to BU with a close family friend who got into their law school, and I already have many friends at Tulane (I’m from Louisiana). Cost wise BU would be <$15k year max (I’d only have to pay Room/Board), while I have not received Tulane’s financial aid offer yet, only a $16k year scholarship. Something major to consider would be the acceptance of my transfer credits seems murky at BU but almost certain at Tulane (4 years v 3). I’m a Political Science major (political economy if I choose Tulane) and plan on going to law school after undergrad. It’s a toss-up right now, what do you guys think?
I don’t think that you are going to deduce the answer to the question you’ve raised. That is, I don’t think you’re going to come up with a list of pros and cons and decide it on that basis. You’ve probably already done that, maybe more than once, and it hasn’t worked out. I am going to recommend the “listen to your heart” method instead. Here’s how it works: flip a coin. That’s right flip a coin. Heads Tulane, tails BU. Think I’m off-base or just trying to be facetious? Try it, Go get your answer about where you’re spending the next four years, and then reply to this post. I am curious as to where you will attend college!
@karan04 please don’t flip a coin to decide. I don’t see how you can make a decision without a financial aid package from Tulane. You say you only need to pay for room and board at Boston, so you obviously received a large need-based aid package at Boston and money is clearly an issue for your family. If that’s the case you should pick the lowest cost undergrad option since you say you want to go to law school afterwards. You don’t want large debt for undergrad and then even more large debt for law school. This makes this decision seem easy in my opinion. I don’t understand how you say Boston is only $15,000 less. Tulane’s cost of attendance for you would be about $51,000 with your $16,000 merit scholarship whereas room and board at Boston is $15,000. That’s a $31,000 per year difference in cost. That’s over $120,000 more in loans/debt over 4 years. That’s a huge difference in cost. Am I missing something here??
@trackmbe3 I meant BU would cost overall less than $15,000/yr, not relative to Tulane. Money wise is interesting because my family is willing to take out $15-20k more in loans if it means going to Tulane over BU (proximity to family). I’m leaning towards BU atm, but thanks for your help!
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@karan04 , now for an explanation of my coin flip suggestion. Sometimes, if you give up your own power to choose, you’ll discover what you really want. If you flipped the coin and it came up BU and your heart sunk because you really wanted Tulane, that would tell you all you need to know. And vice-versa of course. I was kind of egging you on without giving you an explanation because I did not want to spoil the exercise for you. I suggested that with all due respect for you, as you seemed to have done a lot of research and were just going back and forth in your mind. You needed a short cut to your gut, not another explanation of how great Political Economy is at Tulane or how great a college town Boston is. (Both true, of course!) I know that some feel that the best decisions are made with the head and not the heart, but my life experience tells me otherwise. Anyway, best of luck to you!
In your shoes I would lean toward Tulane as long as the cost is in the same ball park. But I like the exercise above! ^^ 
Thanks for all your help, everyone! I ended up committing to BU as their financial aid offer was ultimately substantially better than Tulane’s.
Im late to this thread but first, congrats!
I think you made the right decision with Tulane not giving your financial aid yet and TOPS is so iffy these days.
As a fellow Louisianan but one who has lived all over with work travels, I think you will love Boston as completely different - but you MUST research and by proper clothing. The only thing you have from LA that has value is rain boots. Have you spent time in the winter anywhere besides LA?
Tons of history in Boston. Mass transit. Good food, but quite different. New England in Fall is spectacular.
@Sportsman88 Thanks! I’m originally from the Bay Area and grew up there so I’m used to living in an urban environment. I’ve only been to New England once, but I loved my experience. Thanks for your help!