<p>how does villanova compare to other similar catholic schools, namely, boston college and holy cross?</p>
<p>my totally biased opinion...</p>
<p>BC: so overrated. snobby. but they have good sports. and i dont really like the campus. most impersonal of the three.
HC: best academics of the three. great community. on the outskirts of a city, not the best locations but once youre on campus its great.
VU: great place, fun suburban atmosphere. and good sports.</p>
<p>choose BC if you want the larger university, fun, and school spirited experience. HC if you want great academics in a closer-knit and fun-loving environment. and VU if you want something in between.</p>
<p>my somewhat biased opinion...</p>
<p>BC: not overrated, good sports, actual campus with boston at its disposal, good atmosphere, best academics out of the three. Less impersonal than HC because more kids.</p>
<p>HC: Not a bad school at all. Very good academics. Great close knit community...campus isn't bad but area is- which is where I have a problem with it.</p>
<p>VU: Okay place, decent sports, probably a little lower in terms of academics than HC. A bit warmer than Mass.</p>
<p>I applied to all three and am going through the same process you are going through rollz4.</p>
<p>Be aware that HC and BC are very similar in many ways because they are both run by the New England Province of Jesuits and the Jesuits move from one institution to the other fairly often. The main difference is size BC's 9000 versus HC's 2800 and and location Worcester versus Boston. But Worcester is only 40 miles from both Boston and Providence and there is now MBTA service with 10 trains a day from Worcester to Boston.</p>
<p>My D got accepted to both Villanova U and Loyola College in Maryland (Baltimore). I know that VU is ranked # 1 Master Universities in the Norh, and LC in MD is ranked # 2. VU offered $25,000 scholarship & grant, LC offered full tuition (~ $35,000). Tough choice.</p>
<p>Your opinions are greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>in my opinion it goes notre dame, georgetown, bc, villanova, holy cross with ND and GTown being on pretty much the same level above the other three, Bc slightly above villanova but this year the difference is negligible.</p>
<p>You are spot on but I perceive BC and HC to be very different. HC is more like a Catholic Williams/Bowdoin/Colby. I think their "average" enrollee has stats closer to GTown and ND. I went to BC and loved it. Don't forget that Providence is really making strides as well. All solid schools.</p>
<p>HC is strictly undergraduate unlike the other schools. All teaching is done by PhDs. No grad assistants.</p>
<p>jesernio - Could you continue your rankings of Catholic schools. What catholic schools would you rate under Providence, Villanova, holy cross?</p>
<p>Don't forget the University of San Diego. The most beautiful Catholic campus I have ever seen, high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.</p>
<p>I hated the campus of HC. You have to really like hiking up and down hills all day. And Worcester - ughhh.</p>
<p>I personally liked HC campus. anyway, the notable catholic schools after the ones i mentioned would probably be (in order by my opinion)</p>
<p>Marquette, Providence, Fordham, Loyola maryland, fairfield, Siena, Stonehill
Sacred heart is also catholic but is not very selective</p>
<p>Is the 25,000 the presidential scholarship?</p>