Is Georgetown really that much better than BC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

Just because schools are close to each other geographically doesn't mean those schools are the "real" competition. To use just one example, I can virtually guarantee that BC's administration considers both ND and GT to be bigger competitors for students than Tufts.

Agreed - I went to BC and never considered Tufts and would not have wanted to go there. The culture and day to day life at these two schools are so different.

Can you elaborate on your perception of the cultural and day to day life distinctions between these two schools (BC and Tufts)? Both may be considered by our younger daughter and I'd be curious to read your thoughts.

For starters, Tufts is no one’s first choice, ever.

This is an interesting point - BC was definitely the top choice for many of my classmates. I know one Harvard reject - I never heard anyone else say they wished they had gotten in somewhere else. This may not have been the case when they first found out where they were going (back then Notre Dame, Georgetown would be likely candidates) - but honestly - Boston is such a great place to go to school - that everyone loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

Just because schools are close to each other geographically doesn't mean those schools are the "real" competition. To use just one example, I can virtually guarantee that BC's administration considers both ND and GT to be bigger competitors for students than Tufts.

Agreed - I went to BC and never considered Tufts and would not have wanted to go there. The culture and day to day life at these two schools are so different.

Can you elaborate on your perception of the cultural and day to day life distinctions between these two schools (BC and Tufts)? Both may be considered by our younger daughter and I'd be curious to read your thoughts.

Sure - I'm the PP who you replied to.

BC has a very very strong community and is very social. BC chooses smart students who are very well rounded. The kids are interested and accomplished in many things and are gung ho to try new things too - whether that be in class and outside of class. Even though the school approaches 10K students, the way housing is set up, the school shrinks a lot in effective size to focus heavily on your own cohort of ~2,500. By the time you are a junior/senior - if somebody says to you "Oh I know so-in-so at BC", if that person is in your same graduation year you will 99% either know the person or will have heard of them AND know who their close friends are. D1 sports (in football, basketball, ice hockey especially) create additional opportunities to be social and to bond as a community (even for non-sports fans). The Jesuits also promote a love of learning and the breadth of learning along with both internal school community but also to be a part in giving back to the broader community (whether it be Boston or the world). For housing, everyone WANTS to live on campus. In my day, among students who did not get 4 yr housing - we'd move off campus Junior year so we could be back on campus for senior year and in the most coveted housing. (I can't believe the MODs are still there!). This is very different from other schools where people move off campus as soon as they can. (I may? be that housing has a 4 yr guarantee now - as they have built new dorms over time and acquired property across Comm Ave). Getting downtown is much easier from BC than Tufts with the T being at campus. My friend group would go down into Boston often to enjoy all it had to offer....whether it be historical locations, museums, food, bars, professional sports (Sox, Bruins, Celtics). There's also the Boston Marathon that runs by campus in the spring. The BC community remains strong post-grad. Alumni network is strong for employment, reunion attendance is strong, and friend groups stay connected. (over 30 years for our cohort)

My friends that went to Tufts had a very different experience. I knew kids from HS, kids I met during travel abroad, and alumni at my first job in Boston after gradation. Tufts lacked the school spirit, liveliness, and curiosity of the BC campus. They never seemed to have that fond connection to their school. Their daily lives were more serious in nature - and I don't mean more studious - both groups were smart. They had their own traditions but these didn't tend to tie the community together in the same way. They also seemed to take less advantage of Boston as a "playground" for learning and fun.

These are not bad things about Tufts and I am certain there are many good examples of Tufts that are different from BC that I am not privy to. My main point above was that they are pretty different. The BC community is a special place. But it's not for everyone. For example, I personally think Tufts would probably be a better match for my oldest (although, they will apply to neither).

Another note - the community nature and love of learning focus at BC also meant that it wasn't a competitive environment academically. Students worked hard (or, some didn't) and were willing to help one another (hard working or not). This is not saying school was easy but that it wasn't a pressure cooker environment. Students were high achieving but it was collaborative and people competed with themselves not others. The feeling was that the professors wanted you to succeed and were easily accessible.

I felt like my Tufts friends were more burdened by grades and competition. But it's hard to say whether that was due to their own personality and serious nature or whether it was because students were competitive with each other and overly grade conscious. Someone else can speak to the "why" (For example, Tufts was definitely NOT like the undergrads at my graduate school who were cut throat, grade grubbers, and willing to cheat for it....)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

So when one is writing, he or she doesn't need to write "period" out. As your writing above exemplifies, it's already there, at the end of the sentence, to signify a declarative statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

The numbers bear that out. The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread.

No, the numbers show that there is tremendous overlap in the populations at the two schools. They are very similar.

Current acceptance rates for class of 2026:
BC 16%
Georgetown 12%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

So when one is writing, he or she doesn't need to write "period" out. As your writing above exemplifies, it's already there, at the end of the sentence, to signify a declarative statement.

I don't give a flying f*ck what you say, period. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I make more money than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

So when one is writing, he or she doesn't need to write "period" out. As your writing above exemplifies, it's already there, at the end of the sentence, to signify a declarative statement.

I don't give a flying f*ck what you say, period. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I make more money than you.

It’s PERIODT! And no one asked but since you brought it up, I’m sure Lizzo makes more than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

So when one is writing, he or she doesn't need to write "period" out. As your writing above exemplifies, it's already there, at the end of the sentence, to signify a declarative statement.

I don't give a flying f*ck what you say, period. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I make more money than you.

I didn't say anything. I wrote something.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown is ranked #23 on USNWR + BC is ranked 36.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

The numbers bear that out. The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread.

No, the numbers show that there is tremendous overlap in the populations at the two schools. They are very similar.

Current acceptance rates for class of 2026:
BC 16%
Georgetown 12%

And this implies a “better” school how?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

The numbers bear that out. The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread.

No, the numbers show that there is tremendous overlap in the populations at the two schools. They are very similar.

Current acceptance rates for class of 2026:
BC 16%
Georgetown 12%

And this implies a “better” school how?

Not sure where you're quoting "better from, but:
"The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

So when one is writing, he or she doesn't need to write "period" out. As your writing above exemplifies, it's already there, at the end of the sentence, to signify a declarative statement.

I don't give a flying f*ck what you say, period. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I make more money than you.

It’s PERIODT! And no one asked but since you brought it up, I’m sure Lizzo makes more than you.

It's About Damn Time someone set this pp straight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

Just because schools are close to each other geographically doesn't mean those schools are the "real" competition. To use just one example, I can virtually guarantee that BC's administration considers both ND and GT to be bigger competitors for students than Tufts.

Agreed - I went to BC and never considered Tufts and would not have wanted to go there. The culture and day to day life at these two schools are so different.

Can you elaborate on your perception of the cultural and day to day life distinctions between these two schools (BC and Tufts)? Both may be considered by our younger daughter and I'd be curious to read your thoughts.

Sure - I'm the PP who you replied to.

BC has a very very strong community and is very social. BC chooses smart students who are very well rounded. The kids are interested and accomplished in many things and are gung ho to try new things too - whether that be in class and outside of class. Even though the school approaches 10K students, the way housing is set up, the school shrinks a lot in effective size to focus heavily on your own cohort of ~2,500. By the time you are a junior/senior - if somebody says to you "Oh I know so-in-so at BC", if that person is in your same graduation year you will 99% either know the person or will have heard of them AND know who their close friends are. D1 sports (in football, basketball, ice hockey especially) create additional opportunities to be social and to bond as a community (even for non-sports fans). The Jesuits also promote a love of learning and the breadth of learning along with both internal school community but also to be a part in giving back to the broader community (whether it be Boston or the world). For housing, everyone WANTS to live on campus. In my day, among students who did not get 4 yr housing - we'd move off campus Junior year so we could be back on campus for senior year and in the most coveted housing. (I can't believe the MODs are still there!). This is very different from other schools where people move off campus as soon as they can. (I may? be that housing has a 4 yr guarantee now - as they have built new dorms over time and acquired property across Comm Ave). Getting downtown is much easier from BC than Tufts with the T being at campus. My friend group would go down into Boston often to enjoy all it had to offer....whether it be historical locations, museums, food, bars, professional sports (Sox, Bruins, Celtics). There's also the Boston Marathon that runs by campus in the spring. The BC community remains strong post-grad. Alumni network is strong for employment, reunion attendance is strong, and friend groups stay connected. (over 30 years for our cohort)

My friends that went to Tufts had a very different experience. I knew kids from HS, kids I met during travel abroad, and alumni at my first job in Boston after gradation. Tufts lacked the school spirit, liveliness, and curiosity of the BC campus. They never seemed to have that fond connection to their school. Their daily lives were more serious in nature - and I don't mean more studious - both groups were smart. They had their own traditions but these didn't tend to tie the community together in the same way. They also seemed to take less advantage of Boston as a "playground" for learning and fun.

These are not bad things about Tufts and I am certain there are many good examples of Tufts that are different from BC that I am not privy to. My main point above was that they are pretty different. The BC community is a special place. But it's not for everyone. For example, I personally think Tufts would probably be a better match for my oldest (although, they will apply to neither).

Another note - the community nature and love of learning focus at BC also meant that it wasn't a competitive environment academically. Students worked hard (or, some didn't) and were willing to help one another (hard working or not). This is not saying school was easy but that it wasn't a pressure cooker environment. Students were high achieving but it was collaborative and people competed with themselves not others. The feeling was that the professors wanted you to succeed and were easily accessible.

I felt like my Tufts friends were more burdened by grades and competition. But it's hard to say whether that was due to their own personality and serious nature or whether it was because students were competitive with each other and overly grade conscious. Someone else can speak to the "why" (For example, Tufts was definitely NOT like the undergrads at my graduate school who were cut throat, grade grubbers, and willing to cheat for it....)

Thank you for that thoughtful and informative response. Gibes with what I’ve heard about BC. Tufts is more terra incognita to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither are truly elite.

“Is” - must have gone to an “elite.”

DP, thanks for making me Google. Both technically correct but neither is considered singular and “is” more appropriate in formal writing. The more you know..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

Just because schools are close to each other geographically doesn't mean those schools are the "real" competition. To use just one example, I can virtually guarantee that BC's administration considers both ND and GT to be bigger competitors for students than Tufts.

Agreed - I went to BC and never considered Tufts and would not have wanted to go there. The culture and day to day life at these two schools are so different.

Can you elaborate on your perception of the cultural and day to day life distinctions between these two schools (BC and Tufts)? Both may be considered by our younger daughter and I'd be curious to read your thoughts.

Sure - I'm the PP who you replied to.

BC has a very very strong community and is very social. BC chooses smart students who are very well rounded. The kids are interested and accomplished in many things and are gung ho to try new things too - whether that be in class and outside of class. Even though the school approaches 10K students, the way housing is set up, the school shrinks a lot in effective size to focus heavily on your own cohort of ~2,500. By the time you are a junior/senior - if somebody says to you "Oh I know so-in-so at BC", if that person is in your same graduation year you will 99% either know the person or will have heard of them AND know who their close friends are. D1 sports (in football, basketball, ice hockey especially) create additional opportunities to be social and to bond as a community (even for non-sports fans). The Jesuits also promote a love of learning and the breadth of learning along with both internal school community but also to be a part in giving back to the broader community (whether it be Boston or the world). For housing, everyone WANTS to live on campus. In my day, among students who did not get 4 yr housing - we'd move off campus Junior year so we could be back on campus for senior year and in the most coveted housing. (I can't believe the MODs are still there!). This is very different from other schools where people move off campus as soon as they can. (I may? be that housing has a 4 yr guarantee now - as they have built new dorms over time and acquired property across Comm Ave). Getting downtown is much easier from BC than Tufts with the T being at campus. My friend group would go down into Boston often to enjoy all it had to offer....whether it be historical locations, museums, food, bars, professional sports (Sox, Bruins, Celtics). There's also the Boston Marathon that runs by campus in the spring. The BC community remains strong post-grad. Alumni network is strong for employment, reunion attendance is strong, and friend groups stay connected. (over 30 years for our cohort)

My friends that went to Tufts had a very different experience. I knew kids from HS, kids I met during travel abroad, and alumni at my first job in Boston after gradation. Tufts lacked the school spirit, liveliness, and curiosity of the BC campus. They never seemed to have that fond connection to their school. Their daily lives were more serious in nature - and I don't mean more studious - both groups were smart. They had their own traditions but these didn't tend to tie the community together in the same way. They also seemed to take less advantage of Boston as a "playground" for learning and fun.

These are not bad things about Tufts and I am certain there are many good examples of Tufts that are different from BC that I am not privy to. My main point above was that they are pretty different. The BC community is a special place. But it's not for everyone. For example, I personally think Tufts would probably be a better match for my oldest (although, they will apply to neither).

Another note - the community nature and love of learning focus at BC also meant that it wasn't a competitive environment academically. Students worked hard (or, some didn't) and were willing to help one another (hard working or not). This is not saying school was easy but that it wasn't a pressure cooker environment. Students were high achieving but it was collaborative and people competed with themselves not others. The feeling was that the professors wanted you to succeed and were easily accessible.

I felt like my Tufts friends were more burdened by grades and competition. But it's hard to say whether that was due to their own personality and serious nature or whether it was because students were competitive with each other and overly grade conscious. Someone else can speak to the "why" (For example, Tufts was definitely NOT like the undergrads at my graduate school who were cut throat, grade grubbers, and willing to cheat for it....)

Thank you for that thoughtful and informative response. Gibes with what I’ve heard about BC. Tufts is more terra incognita to me.

* jibes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with ND >= GU > BC > HC. Only on DCUM would anyone debate these points. Selectivity matters, because the quality of your fellow students has a tremendous impact on the quality of the education. Sure, it is not everything, but it is important, and the differences in selectivity are huge between these schools.
BC’s undergrad business program is not better than GU’s. Neither is ND’s (at best they would be equal).
BC is on the rise and has a lot going for it, including being fun.
HC is solid academically.

Since selectivity is important, let’s look at BC’s real competition: the other selective universities in greater Boston. Harvard and MIT are in a different world, of course. BC’s real competition is BU, Northeastern, and Tufts. Admissions data is from last year (currently on US News): BU and Northeastern are 20%, Tufts is 16%, and BC is 26%. BC’s selectivity is not “on the rise” compared to this competition. (Northeastern is the school “on the rise” there, and that rise will only continue.) I don’t think selectivity is everything either: BC in my mind is just as or more “prestigious” than Northeastern and BU (though not Tufts). I am simply making the point that the BC/Georgetown “on par” analysis has to factor in internecine battles for prestige where a college is located. (Call this a local battle over future selectivity in the face of a New England demographic crisis, which is exactly what it is.) On that criterion, BC does not fare at all well — and Georgetown does.

US News never has current acceptance rates. For class of 2026:
BC 16%
BU 14%
Northeastern 7%
Georgetown 12%


I agree with other PPs that BC is not a big overlap school for BU and Northeastern - too different. Usually, kids applying to all three don't really know much about them and just want to go to school in Boston. Georgetown and other Jesuit and Catholic schools at varying levels of selectivity tend to be much bigger overlaps for BC.

From these numbers, BC & GT appear closer than anyone here has said.

I don’t care what the numbers say. Georgetown is more selective than BC, period.

The numbers bear that out. The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread.

No, the numbers show that there is tremendous overlap in the populations at the two schools. They are very similar.

Current acceptance rates for class of 2026:
BC 16%
Georgetown 12%

And this implies a “better” school how?

Not sure where you're quoting "better from, but:
"The point is the numbers are not as disparate as one would think after reading this thread."

Well the topic of this thread is whether Gtown is better than BC and someone seemed to be pointing to admissions rates that either is better or they aren’t that different. It doesn’t matter which, it’s an irrelevant metric.