Is Georgetown really that much better than BC?

[Anonymous]

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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.

BC also requires extra essays which take down total number of applicants so that is why acceptance appears higher. BC wanted less apps.

Bus school is much better at BC. Not in same class. Look at hiring data.

I can assure you that BC’s administration justly considers Northeastern and Boston University to be its primary competitors. As for Tufts, not as much, but there is still more overlap than you think: kids are applying to 15 schools. Do the math. I think people here are losing sight of the fact that applicants still apply to several schools within a few hour drive from their home. Yeah, if you are from DC, you might only apply to 1-2 Boston area schools. If you live in New England or New York, even New Jersey, that number is 4-5.

Similarly, if we are talking BC for business, this creates its own regional problem for BC: it has to compete with Babson and Bentley for its regional (as opposed to DC) applicants, not to mention Northeastern. No, I am not saying that tons of people from DC apply to both Babson and BC for business. But what I am saying is that it is largely irrelevant what people in DC do. The admissions rate/yield game is played more in the aggregate: regional numbers dictate outcomes due to the sheer comparative scale of applicants. Ignore regional context — even if you are applying from far away — at your peril.

BC wins over Babson/Bentley hands down (unless you are talking getting aid to make school affordable)

I think generally, you are overestimating the crossover for BC to these other schools.

[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.

BC also requires extra essays which take down total number of applicants so that is why acceptance appears higher. BC wanted less apps.

Bus school is much better at BC. Not in same class. Look at hiring data.

I can assure you that BC’s administration justly considers Northeastern and Boston University to be its primary competitors. As for Tufts, not as much, but there is still more overlap than you think: kids are applying to 15 schools. Do the math. I think people here are losing sight of the fact that applicants still apply to several schools within a few hour drive from their home. Yeah, if you are from DC, you might only apply to 1-2 Boston area schools. If you live in New England or New York, even New Jersey, that number is 4-5.

Similarly, if we are talking BC for business, this creates its own regional problem for BC: it has to compete with Babson and Bentley for its regional (as opposed to DC) applicants, not to mention Northeastern. No, I am not saying that tons of people from DC apply to both Babson and BC for business. But what I am saying is that it is largely irrelevant what people in DC do. The admissions rate/yield game is played more in the aggregate: regional numbers dictate outcomes due to the sheer comparative scale of applicants. Ignore regional context — even if you are applying from far away — at your peril.

BC wins over Babson/Bentley hands down (unless you are talking getting aid to make school affordable)

I think generally, you are overestimating the crossover for BC to these other schools.

Yes. Crossover apps are Brown, Cornell, Duke, ND, UPenn, BU. For bus -- go to Harvard or MIT -- otherwise it is BC. People coming out of the bus major are not staying local after graduation for the most part. NY.

[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.

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.

You’re vulgar.

And these schools are mostly for Catholics so meh.

This may or may not be true if you are from the DC area. But I assure you, people living in New England — and internationally — who want to go to school in Boston consider BC alongside Northeastern and BU. Those 3 schools are in a competition blood battle (and Northeastern is winning), whether you are aware of it or not.

No one who wants BC is applying Northeastern. If they are they are idiots. They are not similar schools.

[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?

Sigh. BC has ED. Georgetown does not (nor does it favor it’s ED over EA applicants). That means, when comparing the two schools, Georgetown’s admission rate is even lower, and BC’s is higher. And not just by 1 or 2 points; probably closer to 3-4. In other words, BC’s adjusted admissions rate would be twice as high. It amazes me how DCUM readers continue to ignore this...

BC also requires substantive extra essays so that limits app numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purely anecdotal here. I come from a Jesuit-educated family, generations. Georgetown was, hands down, much, much tougher to get into. Many rejected from GU and attended BC. I am married to someone that graduated from Hopkins, got into an Ivy, but was rejected from Georgetown.

Both fantastic schools, btw. You can't go wrong with either. Boston is a great city to be as a college student.

BC alum and I agree with this. Georgetown is the harder admit, as is Notre Dame and many BC kids are rejected from both of those schools.

But if OP is talking about quality of education of Georgetown vs BC and they are local to DMV and their child wants to go away to college - going to BC is not some big step down from the academic experience of Georgetown (aside from unique SFS experience) and BC has many of it's own advantages that Georgetown doesn't have. Many of my BC classmates went on to Ivy or very prestigious non-Ivy programs for medical/law/PhD and then combine that with the BC alumni push in employment - they all ended up with just as much "prestige" on their resume as a Georgetown grad.

OP - if your kid wants to ED to BC - they will have a great experience and be prepared for whatever next step they want in life. Georgetown's prestige should not be a deciding factor here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Purely anecdotal here. I come from a Jesuit-educated family, generations. Georgetown was, hands down, much, much tougher to get into. Many rejected from GU and attended BC. I am married to someone that graduated from Hopkins, got into an Ivy, but was rejected from Georgetown.

Both fantastic schools, btw. You can't go wrong with either. Boston is a great city to be as a college student.

BC alum and I agree with this. Georgetown is the harder admit, as is Notre Dame and many BC kids are rejected from both of those schools.

But if OP is talking about quality of education of Georgetown vs BC and they are local to DMV and their child wants to go away to college - going to BC is not some big step down from the academic experience of Georgetown (aside from unique SFS experience) and BC has many of it's own advantages that Georgetown doesn't have. Many of my BC classmates went on to Ivy or very prestigious non-Ivy programs for medical/law/PhD and then combine that with the BC alumni push in employment - they all ended up with just as much "prestige" on their resume as a Georgetown grad.

OP - if your kid wants to ED to BC - they will have a great experience and be prepared for whatever next step they want in life. Georgetown's prestige should not be a deciding factor here.

And let’s not forget that Georgetown campus has its challenges. That is an understatement.

[Anonymous]

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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?

Sigh. BC has ED. Georgetown does not (nor does it favor it’s ED over EA applicants). That means, when comparing the two schools, Georgetown’s admission rate is even lower, and BC’s is higher. And not just by 1 or 2 points; probably closer to 3-4. In other words, BC’s adjusted admissions rate would be twice as high. It amazes me how DCUM readers continue to ignore this...

Wow. Your explainer is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Which is better? How about graduates achievement. It is hard to measure for sure but a list of famous alumni would be a good indicator and G’Town dusts BC so easily it is not funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is better? How about graduates achievement. It is hard to measure for sure but a list of famous alumni would be a good indicator and G’Town dusts BC so easily it is not funny.

Idiotic metric. Look at average outcomes because most grads are average. Focusing on outliers could be the single dumbest thing I’ve heard all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

BC also requires extra essays which take down total number of applicants so that is why acceptance appears higher. BC wanted less apps.

Bus school is much better at BC. Not in same class. Look at hiring data.

I can assure you that BC’s administration justly considers Northeastern and Boston University to be its primary competitors. As for Tufts, not as much, but there is still more overlap than you think: kids are applying to 15 schools. Do the math. I think people here are losing sight of the fact that applicants still apply to several schools within a few hour drive from their home. Yeah, if you are from DC, you might only apply to 1-2 Boston area schools. If you live in New England or New York, even New Jersey, that number is 4-5.

Similarly, if we are talking BC for business, this creates its own regional problem for BC: it has to compete with Babson and Bentley for its regional (as opposed to DC) applicants, not to mention Northeastern. No, I am not saying that tons of people from DC apply to both Babson and BC for business. But what I am saying is that it is largely irrelevant what people in DC do. The admissions rate/yield game is played more in the aggregate: regional numbers dictate outcomes due to the sheer comparative scale of applicants. Ignore regional context — even if you are applying from far away — at your peril.

BC wins over Babson/Bentley hands down (unless you are talking getting aid to make school affordable)

I think generally, you are overestimating the crossover for BC to these other schools.

Yes. Crossover apps are Brown, Cornell, Duke, ND, UPenn, BU. For bus -- go to Harvard or MIT -- otherwise it is BC. People coming out of the bus major are not staying local after graduation for the most part. NY.

Hmnnn, a kid from Massachusetts who wants to study business and is applying to BC does not look at Babson amongst his or her 15 applications? Gee, guess I was mistaken; that child will instead surely apply for Harvard’s esteemed undergraduate business major — and then move to NYC. Surely, BC business grads don’t stick around Boston — only lowly Babson and Bentley grads do.

[Anonymous]

I went to BC for business school (not from New England) and I looked at Bentley, Babson, Bryant while I was up there but only because they sent me brochures. I wouldn't have applied to or have gone to any of them. I did consider BU, but liked the community culture at BC better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to BC for business school (not from New England) and I looked at Bentley, Babson, Bryant while I was up there but only because they sent me brochures. I wouldn't have applied to or have gone to any of them. I did consider BU, but liked the community culture at BC better.

AND - being from the DMV, I did not ever consider Georgetown (so in OPs child's boat....)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

You’re vulgar.

And these schools are mostly for Catholics so meh.

This may or may not be true if you are from the DC area. But I assure you, people living in New England — and internationally — who want to go to school in Boston consider BC alongside Northeastern and BU. Those 3 schools are in a competition blood battle (and Northeastern is winning), whether you are aware of it or not.

No one who wants BC is applying Northeastern. If they are they are idiots. They are not similar schools.

No school is a customized fit.
My business kid had BC BU NU in the college list to apply.
Luckily got in Notre Dame REA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

BC also requires extra essays which take down total number of applicants so that is why acceptance appears higher. BC wanted less apps.

Bus school is much better at BC. Not in same class. Look at hiring data.

I can assure you that BC’s administration justly considers Northeastern and Boston University to be its primary competitors. As for Tufts, not as much, but there is still more overlap than you think: kids are applying to 15 schools. Do the math. I think people here are losing sight of the fact that applicants still apply to several schools within a few hour drive from their home. Yeah, if you are from DC, you might only apply to 1-2 Boston area schools. If you live in New England or New York, even New Jersey, that number is 4-5.

Similarly, if we are talking BC for business, this creates its own regional problem for BC: it has to compete with Babson and Bentley for its regional (as opposed to DC) applicants, not to mention Northeastern. No, I am not saying that tons of people from DC apply to both Babson and BC for business. But what I am saying is that it is largely irrelevant what people in DC do. The admissions rate/yield game is played more in the aggregate: regional numbers dictate outcomes due to the sheer comparative scale of applicants. Ignore regional context — even if you are applying from far away — at your peril.

BC wins over Babson/Bentley hands down (unless you are talking getting aid to make school affordable)

I think generally, you are overestimating the crossover for BC to these other schools.

Yes. Crossover apps are Brown, Cornell, Duke, ND, UPenn, BU. For bus -- go to Harvard or MIT -- otherwise it is BC. People coming out of the bus major are not staying local after graduation for the most part. NY.

Hmnnn, a kid from Massachusetts who wants to study business and is applying to BC does not look at Babson amongst his or her 15 applications? Gee, guess I was mistaken; that child will instead surely apply for Harvard’s esteemed undergraduate business major — and then move to NYC. Surely, BC business grads don’t stick around Boston — only lowly Babson and Bentley grads do.

For business minded people, Boston is many ways more attractive than NYC. It has a huge healthcare and tech industry. It also has A LOT of private equity and consulting, which are big draws for the MBA crowd. Sure, NYC has more corporate HQs than Boston, and more hedge funds and I-banks. But many, many top business students stick to Boston.

[Anonymous]

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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.

You’re vulgar.

And these schools are mostly for Catholics so meh.

This may or may not be true if you are from the DC area. But I assure you, people living in New England — and internationally — who want to go to school in Boston consider BC alongside Northeastern and BU. Those 3 schools are in a competition blood battle (and Northeastern is winning), whether you are aware of it or not.

No one who wants BC is applying Northeastern. If they are they are idiots. They are not similar schools.

Visited all those schools.

Kid 1 passed Boston College because the kid is a STEM and Art kid
Kid 2 is applying to business major and applied to all of them.

Similarities among Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern would be
1 All in Boston area
2 OK business programs
3 Selective and semi-prestigious after T25ish schools with acceptance rate 12-16% range

Kid 2 would have been fine with any of the schools. All has pros and cons.
Got accepted by a higher choice school than those.

Speak for yourself moron.