feedback about Boston University

[Anonymous]

BU has become DD's first choice. She's been but I never have. Anyone have a current student there and if so, what do they like and not like? BU doen'st come up on this board as much as many other places.

[Anonymous]

DD is at BU, and she loves it there. There’s not much to complain about (maybe the winter weather?). The biggest advantage is definitely being in the heart of the city, surrounded by all the happening spots. That makes college life more fulfilling and vibrant. Additionally, many of her positive experiences come from having a great social life with her friends and being involved in clubs. Her friends are supportive, smart kids from all over the U.S. and other countries. The school also offers many excellent programs for students, so I recommend doing some research and making the most of them.

The campus is unique—you’ll find the large Commonwealth Avenue running right through it. However, if you head toward the Charles River side, you’ll experience more greenery and a traditional campus atmosphere. For her second year, DD is living in a brownstone, and it’s beautiful.

Transportation is another big plus, as she can get around easily without a car and travel home conveniently using public transportation. Classes can be challenging depending on what you take. She was well-prepared in high school by completing the IB program and is doing quite well, though she works hard to maintain good grades.

I wonder if BU isn’t as popular here because it wasn’t as competitive when the older generation on this board attended school. However, I see a rising trend for BU, and it seems to have huge potential. Another factor is that many people here are from the DMV area, and a lot of students prefer attending in-state schools due to cost or other reasons, as the state schools here are excellent.

DD chose BU over UVA and W&M, and I believe it was the right choice for her. I also have other children who went to UVA, so I can confidently say I’m not biased.

[Anonymous]

BU received nearly 80,000 applications this year. It's hardly flying below the radar. It's a great school for those who want to be in the heart of Boston.

[Anonymous]

BU and NYU are also still 40-50% intentional students so they aren’t usually the ones on here nor donating.

[Anonymous]

The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

[Anonymous]

My son loved it, graduated last year.

The weather isn’t much different than DC, just windier.

Follow Boston on a weather app and compare each day you’ll see not much different. You might get 2-3 weeks that are colder,

It has a bit of a chip on its shoulder so grade deflation is huge but my son isn’t freaking over B ‘s and C’s, so it’s fine,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

That's probably Warren Towers. It's a well known atrocity that most freshmen endure. Even REM was singing about it 100 years ago.

The brownstones are very nice though. And those should be accessible for most students by sophomore/junior year if they choose to stay on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

That's probably Warren Towers. It's a well known atrocity that most freshmen endure. Even REM was singing about it 100 years ago.

The brownstones are very nice though. And those should be accessible for most students by sophomore/junior year if they choose to stay on campus.

Do most/all freshmen stay in Warren Towers? Any other options for freshmen housing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BU and NYU are also still 40-50% intentional students so they aren’t usually the ones on here nor donating.

BU is closer to 25% than 50% 🙂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

That's probably Warren Towers. It's a well known atrocity that most freshmen endure. Even REM was singing about it 100 years ago.

The brownstones are very nice though. And those should be accessible for most students by sophomore/junior year if they choose to stay on campus.

Warren Towers is going to be renovated.

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2025/warren-towers-multiyear-renovation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

That's probably Warren Towers. It's a well known atrocity that most freshmen endure. Even REM was singing about it 100 years ago.

The brownstones are very nice though. And those should be accessible for most students by sophomore/junior year if they choose to stay on campus.

Do most/all freshmen stay in Warren Towers? Any other options for freshmen housing?

For sure. There are a couple of other bigger dorms for freshmen. And I think the honors students get brownstones. But Warren Towers is the biggest one. Sometime in the 1970s, architecture went horribly wrong. I think Warren Towers is the last legacy building from that era at BU. It does house a lot of freshman so I can see how it's difficult to replace. It's so ugly it's almost iconic at this point. But no one stays there for longer than 9 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BU received nearly 80,000 applications this year. It's hardly flying below the radar. It's a great school for those who want to be in the heart of Boston.

And an 11% acceptance rate, so pretty selective admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only negative kid has found so far is eom some of the dorms are down right disgusting. They're historic (read old) buildings but the upkeep on them leaves a LOT to be desired. DD is in one of them. That said, they guarantee housing for 4 years so they at least have a guaranteed place to live for 4 years.

She loves being in the heart of the city, crappy housing and all.

That's probably Warren Towers. It's a well known atrocity that most freshmen endure. Even REM was singing about it 100 years ago.

The brownstones are very nice though. And those should be accessible for most students by sophomore/junior year if they choose to stay on campus.

It's Danielson.

[Anonymous]

the grade deflation is real

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the grade deflation is real

Probably more of a myth.

Did/do you go to BU?