Why is BC Ranked So Low?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston College
21

<p>I love how people assume that one school is just not as good as another universities without offering one iota of evidence because it's "Plain and simple?" Really?. I don't recall common sense ever offers quantitative data or qualifications to judge the education quality of of one institution over another. But instead of using street logic to debate, let's look at some hard numbers that prospective students care about to see in what way are these schools so "great."</p>

<p>Financial Aids:* (collegeboard.com)</p>

<p>Percentage of those applied for aids and got aids:
1) Cornell: 93.1% (1407 applied, 1310 received)
2) BC: 83% (1124 applied, 939 received)
3) Carnegie Mellon: 66.5% (1416 app, 942 rec)
4) JHU: 64.9% (1206 app, 783 rec)
5) Tufts: 54.1% (1400 app, 758 rec)</p>

<p>Percentage of Grants/loans
1) Tufts: 82%/18
2) JHU: 75%/25
3) Carnegie Mellon: 73%/27
4) BC: 71%/29
4) Cornell: 71%/29</p>

<p>**Student body<a href="Collegeboard.com">/b</a>
Student returning for sophomore year:
1) JHU:97%
2) BC: 96%
2) Tufts: 96%
2) Cornell: 96%
3) Carnegie Mellon: 95%</p>

<p>Percentage of incoming student in top 10th of graduating class:
1) Cornell: 87%
2) JHU: 82%
3) BC: 80%
3) Tufts: 80%
4) Carnegie Mellon: 73%</p>

<p>C/O 2012's SAT Range (25th Cr/M/W)-(75th Cr/M/W) (From each individual school's website)
Tufts: (690/690/690) - (760/770/770)
JHU: (660/690/670) - (760/780/760)
BC: 1950-2200 (No break down available)
Cornell: (630/660/-) - (770/730/-)</p>

<p>C/O 2012 ACT Range (25th)-(75th) (Schools' websites)
JHU: 30-34
BC: 30-33
Tufts: 31 Average
Cornell: 28-30**</p>

<p>*Prestigious Fellowships *</p>

<p>Rhodes Scholars in the past five years:
1) BC: 2
2) Cornell: 1
2) JHU: 1
3): Carnegie Mellon: 0 (last winner in 2002)
3) Tufts: 0 (None in this millennium, last winner in 1998)</p>

<p>Marshall Scholars in the past 5 years:
1) BC: 3 (2008, 2008, 2004)
1) Cornell: 3 (2008, 2007, 2005)
1) JHU: 3 (2007, 2004, 2004)
2) Carnegie Mellon: 1 (first one ever in 2008)
3) Tufts: 0</p>

<p>Fulbright Winners from 2004 to 2006 (only data available):
1) BC: 35
US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG</a> || Program Resources - U.S. Institutions - Boston College, Undergraduate
2) Cornell: 32
US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG</a> || Program Resources - U.S. Institutions - Cornell University
3) Tufts: 29
US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG</a> || Program Resources - U.S. Institutions - Tufts University
4) John Hopkins: 25
US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG</a> || Program Resources - U.S. Institutions - Johns Hopkins University
5) Carnegie Mellon: 6
US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG</a> || Program Resources - U.S. Institutions - Carnegie Mellon University</p>

<p>Please, can anyone objectively tell me where does BC fall short except for the SAT numbers (a poor indicator of students' future success according to 90% of the experts out there)? It offers comparable financial aids, it attracts comparable students, and its students win MORE prestigious fellowships in recent memory than the other "great" schools. Would someone who is terribly informed please tell me?</p>

<p><em>C/0 2011 data. Some 2012 data are available at some schools and not other so parallel comparisons are not possible. It should be noted some schools experience an increase in terms of SAT and top 10th percentile in their 2012 class.
*</em>C/O 2011. No 2012 available.</p>

22

<p>I don't think those BC SAT numbers are right. According to BC's website Math/Reading scores are 1230-1400. Somehow I doubt that 25% got a 800 on the writing section considering the average is 684.</p>

23

<p>^ You might want to post the link for that one:</p>

<p>"The test scores for the middle half of the admitted class of 2012 ranged from 1950 to 2220 on the SAT I, and 30 to 33 on the ACT."</p>

<p>Selecting</a> the Class - Boston College</p>

<p>When I thought about applying to BC, the 25th percentile was already 1260 (out of 1600). And that was six years ago. I should know, it was my goal to get at least that much.</p>

24

<p>BC is good, but also the student body that goes there isnt really the friendliest, id pick JHU, CMU, CU any day. if ur not were top line designers the kids tend to look at you funny.</p>

25

<p>Facts</a> & Figures - Boston College</p>

<p>Mid 50% range 1900-2120</p>

26

<p>^^That is a false generalization. I've never seen anyone ridiculed for the clothes they wear, especially considering many of the students don't mind going to class in sweats and/or pajamas. Do you even attend BC?</p>

27

<p>"Facts & Figures - Boston College</p>

<p>Mid 50% range 1900-2120"</p>

<p>The numbers are out of date (at least two years). I specifically said: "C/O 2012."</p>

28

<p>I have a hard time believing that in the span of two or three years the SAT scores have jumped up 100 points.</p>

29

<p>^Yes, but reality isn't subject to your beliefs. </p>

<p>Tufts's and JHU's SAT all jump more than 100 points within one year. The data are there for you to examine.</p>

30

<p>Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Boston College</p>

<p>Math- 694
Reading- 682
Writing- 684</p>

<p>2060</p>

31

<p>^LOL. You have got to stop using out of date info. Admittedly, the webmasters need to update the website.</p>

<p>Here's how you know the link you provide is out of date:
"(Last year only 6,000 of our 28,000 applicants applied as Early Action applicants.)"
Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Boston College</p>

<p>BC reached the 28k mark two years ago. Last year we had 31k applicants.</p>

32

<p>Johns Hopkins is less than half the size of Boston College. Carnegie is also somewhat, though not that much, smaller; Tufts as well. At any rate, the prestige award according to the numbers you report once the size of the student body is brought into consideration would fall firmly on the shoulders of Johns Hopkins.</p>

33

<p>how important are the us news report rankings anyways? it would probably be more beneficial to compare acceptance rates into graduate schools and statistics on job placements/average salaries of graduates. anyone have comparing stats on those?</p>

34

<p>"the prestige award according to the numbers you report once the size of the student body is brought into consideration would fall firmly on the shoulders of Johns Hopkins."</p>

<p>Then define the balanced formula to factor into student body, I am all ears. The quality of incoming student and academic standards determine how many students get fellowships, not school size. The fact that Tufts has produced a Rhodes Scholar in a decade doesn't say bode well for them regardless of the number of student it has.</p>

35

<p>Fair enough Reddune. Let me ask you this, do you expect RD applicants to go up this year thereby raising that SAT even more or do you expect RD applicants to do down this year lowering the SAT? Just from reading articles on this website, I have heard that RD applications are slightly down this year.</p>

36

<p>Reddune, I really hate to keep arguing over SAT scores with you, but I just noticed something. You said BC had 28k applicants two years ago. You said last year they reached 31k. Well in this link Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Boston College it has 31k applicants with those SAT scores meaning these are from last year.</p>

37

<p>I actually meant this link...Facts</a> & Figures - Boston College</p>

38

<p>BC being at 34 is actually high, I think.</p>

39

<p>^^Would you mind copy and paste the info. I don't seem able to find it. Thanks.</p>

<p>"do you expect RD applicants to go up this year thereby raising that SAT even more or do you expect RD applicants to do down this year lowering the SAT?"</p>

<p>I expect the number of app to go down. Students are flocking to state schools because they think they will be saving money. In reality, many private schools are actually spending more money (BC is planning $14-18 mil) on financial aids, but I doubt BC wants huge numbers of applications right now. I can't predict the SAT.</p>

40

<p>30,845 applicants
2,250 enrolled freshmen
Acceptance Rate: 26%
SAT Average: Composite (critical Reading, Math, Writing) 1991
Mid 50% SAT Range 1900-2120
SAT Average: Composite (Critical Reading, Math) 1326<br>
Mid 50% SAT Range 1240-1430 </p>

<p>Perhaps these ARE old, I honeslty don't know. Did BC actually surpass the 31k or did it come very close in 2008?</p>