Hey guys!
I’m a junior level transfer who was accepted into both UMich and BU. The cost is the same (almost exactly) and I’m a psychology major who plans on minoring in either poli sci or public policy. I wanted to go to a bigger school in a more urban location. BU was my dream school for years but umich is considered to have a better psychology program which is a very important factor to me.
Any advice would be highly appreciated!
Have you drilled down on how your previous coursework will transfer, and what you’ll have left in terms of degree requirements? If one school gives you a smoother transition than the other in this regard, that could break the tie.
It’s almost equal the biggest difference is that umich requires ways more foreign language which is by far my weakest spot academically. Other than being behind on that requirement I have almost all core curriculum and half my major done at both schools!
Let’s see -
BU was your dream school.
BU is as urban as you can get. Michigan is not.
Cost is the same.
Michigan requires more foreign language which you aren’t interested in.
So i’m not sure why you have a thread?
The only pro Michigan thing you said is that they are considered to have a better psyh program. Better - by who? A magazine? A website? You are majoring in psych with a minor in poli sci degree - you are likely to end up in grad school or with a low paying job.
I don’t think it matters if you go to Michigan or BU, Iowa or Hofstra vs. your schools for your major.
You might look at the curriculum - does one offer something that interests you that the other doesn’t?
Otherwise, it’s pretty obvious that BU is the best place for you to spend your two years based on what you listed.
You want to be there. It’s a better fit in every way. But you think the other school is more prestigious. Not a reason to choose a school, especially when both are excellent.
Good luck.
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Agree with the other reply. Prestige is not that different between these two. Both will set you up for success. My current college kid ended up at a different place but these were here next 2 choices and she would have picked BU for the urban setting (not that Ann Arbor is rural). One would only know that UM has a “better” ranked psych program if one did significant research into that and even then I don’t know how you judge that as an undergrad.
This isn’t a choice between Michigan and some rinky dink little operation. BU is an excellent school which you are clearly drawn to.
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That’s said Michigan is superlative in psychology. It is also better all around school. Academically these schools are not peers. For equal money, I would definitely choose Michigan.
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That’s what I’m struggling with my parents are putting a lot of pressure on me to go to Michigan due to their perception that it’s much more prestigious and that I was accepted into a funded research program at LSA. But I much rather go to BU. I’m still waiting on northwestern but it’s very safe to assume that will be a rejection (which I’m okay with I have been very lucky to have great options). I’m just trying to figure out if prestige is more important than overall fit considering I only have two years left.
I did get into a research program at Michigan that would guarantee me a year of paid research and an accelerated masters program which are big reasons I’m still considering it (should’ve mentioned that initially). Additionally, I have gotten a lot of pressure from my family to go to Michigan as they perceive it to be a much better school and won’t even discuss the possibility of me attending elsewhere. That is also a factor when I know it shouldn’t be.
No - especially given your majors - and both have “prestige”.
Are you paying or are your parents? You have your whole life to live in the big city. BU prestige is not Michigan prestige. You’re going to need that masters, at the very least, to practice in Psychology. Your folks are correct.
Are you indicating that you’ll be accepted into the graduate program in Psychology at Michigan? If so, then this becomes a no brainer.
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Without threads, there wouldn’t be a College Confidential.
Why do we have a thread again? 
Out here in our little hamlet in the SF Bay Area (Silicon Valley) it’s not even close. Just picking up stats from our large local public HS, Michigan is selected nearly 4:1 over BU as an OOS destination in raw #'s.
That’s a BIG advantage IMO. But look, if you feel the fit is better for you at BU, then go to BU.
I’m sure plenty of CSUs are too. Or Arizona State. Or community college.
Where someone applies by volume does not necessarily equal prestige.
You speak in generalities, I know the actual HS’s having had two kids run through it and living in area of proximity to Stanford.
BTW, CSU’s and CCC’s are not OOS. I referenced OOS choices, not in-state.
Michigan’s LSA advertises 45 programs in the Top 10:
And LSA doesn’t include other top rated schools, such as CoE, Nursing, Kinesiology, Taubman, SMTD, etc. There’s more “prestige” across more programs at Michigan than BU.
But all that matters to the OP is Psychology, which Michigan has a better ranked program than BU.
I’m not saying Michigan is not a great school. But this isn’t Michigan vs Central Michigan. This is Michigan vs BU.
It’s the equivalent of Stanford vs Vanderbilt.
Anyway no reason to debate. You have your opinion. I have mine.
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To the OP, every ranking that I looked at had Michigan in the Top 10 of psychology programs. And as high as #3 in USNWR. QS has Michigan as #8 in the world. Niche has it at #10 in the US. There’s plenty of other rankings, with similar answers, so choose one that you like.
BU’s psychology program is not even close. However, most here on CC don’t follow, care for or like rankings. 
Bu is 32 in niche.
So what does one do with a psych degree? Likely grad school or entry level position in sales or training or you name it but low level.
Frankly if your gre is good it would matter little if you went to Mich, BU, or Morehead State.
Now OP has access to a research program at Michigan and that is an asset. That is not to say he can’t do research at BU.
The bigger issue is BU is the dream school but OP says he is pedigree hungry. The comments have been that both are prestigious. No one said equally but both are strong names.
Additionally OP doesn’t like the foreign language requirement if Michigan.
It’s up to OP to decide, not us. But there is justification both ways.
My thing is - if BU is the dream…school, environment, etc - that should matter. You have to be there day after day. OP certainly can forgo that if they choose.
This may be a heads you win tails you win situation.