Trying to compare Boston Colleges for DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tufts seems like a nightmare. Every person DC knows who’s gone there talks about how unsupportive it is and how competitive it feels. We did a tour and the guide told us that she felt students were obsessed with putting others down academically. It was not DC’s choice, and he instead went to Harvard

This is concerning. This is not the first time we have heard this. What were the circumstances in which the tour guide felt other students were being put down academically? Was it because the students being made fun of had an "easy" major, didn't do well in class? This really sounds like a WPI situation of a toxic environment.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you're considering BC, they are still test optional for next year, but if you have above a 1350, they really want you to submit it, especially if that score is high for your community/high school.

To be fair, only 28% of freshmen submitted an SAT score. With other colleges going test mandatory again, look for BC to change in the near future. A metric that isn't published, but should be, is the admission rate for those NOT submitting an SAT score. For BC, I bet it is lower than those who did submit.

For BC Freshman fall 2023, 44% submitted scores, 28% (SAT) + 16% (ACT). DS will start next week but we’ve been given the impression that many more submitted scores this year.

Yes, we were told that many more submitted scores last year at an info session this summer. Also implied that might be going to test required for high school class of 2026.

We were told something similar at both BU and NEU tours. These crazy high SATs, where a 1490 doesn't get submitted makes zero sense. We just look at pre-covid scores and base submit or not on that.
One thing we were told over and over at BU and NEU that if its your top choice, do ED. Most of the q & A revolved around that.

i don't know if it is true or not, but BC has more student athletes because of football, so more ED slots are taken by recruited athletes than at Tufts, BU or NEU.

Yes, BC has D1 athletes, but they don't gobble up the ED spots.
For BC, absolutely go ED1 (or ED2) if it's your top choice. (We're full pay, so I can't say how this actually works but BC says you can get out of the ED agreement if you can't get the FA you expected.)

You can totally get out of ED contracts if the reasonably expected FA isn't there.

It's still annoying that the BU/BC kind of schools are pushing for ED.

I get it for Chicago and Northwestern and Duke and so on. But Tulane and Northeastern?

Goodbye.

I don't love anything I don't know. BC/BU being very presumptuous.

There are ton of smart high stat kids who don't have fancy ECs, exotic sports, rich dads, ALDC status.
A lot of these kids are like F the BS and ED to schools like Emory, NYU, CMU, Tufts, BU, BC, Northeastern these days.

CMU, Emory, and NYU Stern ED are still very difficult compared to the others listed especially NE. High stats only will not cut it, we have this same convo about these schools and people act shocked in December when DC doesn't get in.

High stats only won't cut it for all these schools when they have single digit acceptance rates.
However ED boosts a lot for these schools.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you're considering BC, they are still test optional for next year, but if you have above a 1350, they really want you to submit it, especially if that score is high for your community/high school.

To be fair, only 28% of freshmen submitted an SAT score. With other colleges going test mandatory again, look for BC to change in the near future. A metric that isn't published, but should be, is the admission rate for those NOT submitting an SAT score. For BC, I bet it is lower than those who did submit.

For BC Freshman fall 2023, 44% submitted scores, 28% (SAT) + 16% (ACT). DS will start next week but we’ve been given the impression that many more submitted scores this year.

Yes, we were told that many more submitted scores last year at an info session this summer. Also implied that might be going to test required for high school class of 2026.

We were told something similar at both BU and NEU tours. These crazy high SATs, where a 1490 doesn't get submitted makes zero sense. We just look at pre-covid scores and base submit or not on that.
One thing we were told over and over at BU and NEU that if its your top choice, do ED. Most of the q & A revolved around that.

i don't know if it is true or not, but BC has more student athletes because of football, so more ED slots are taken by recruited athletes than at Tufts, BU or NEU.

Yes, BC has D1 athletes, but they don't gobble up the ED spots.
For BC, absolutely go ED1 (or ED2) if it's your top choice. (We're full pay, so I can't say how this actually works but BC says you can get out of the ED agreement if you can't get the FA you expected.)

You can totally get out of ED contracts if the reasonably expected FA isn't there.

It's still annoying that the BU/BC kind of schools are pushing for ED.

I get it for Chicago and Northwestern and Duke and so on. But Tulane and Northeastern?

Goodbye.

I don't love anything I don't know. BC/BU being very presumptuous.

There are ton of smart high stat kids who don't have fancy ECs, exotic sports, rich dads, ALDC status.
A lot of these kids are like F the BS and ED to schools like Emory, NYU, CMU, Tufts, BU, BC, Northeastern these days.

CMU, Emory, and NYU Stern ED are still very difficult compared to the others listed especially NE. High stats only will not cut it, we have this same convo about these schools and people act shocked in December when DC doesn't get in.

High stats only won't cut it for all these schools when they have single digit acceptance rates.
However ED boosts a lot for these schools.

ED provides a big boost for NYU non-Stern, NEU, BU, Tufts (I think Tufts has the biggest boost). CMU I don't believe gives a very big bump at all. Last year, 4515 applied ED, and only 615 were accepted. That's a 7% acceptance rate. NYU's is rumored to be something like 38%. It stopped publishing its number, much like Tufts did. Probably to "hide" the higher rate.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're considering BC, they are still test optional for next year, but if you have above a 1350, they really want you to submit it, especially if that score is high for your community/high school.

To be fair, only 28% of freshmen submitted an SAT score. With other colleges going test mandatory again, look for BC to change in the near future. A metric that isn't published, but should be, is the admission rate for those NOT submitting an SAT score. For BC, I bet it is lower than those who did submit.

For BC Freshman fall 2023, 44% submitted scores, 28% (SAT) + 16% (ACT). DS will start next week but we’ve been given the impression that many more submitted scores this year.

Yes, we were told that many more submitted scores last year at an info session this summer. Also implied that might be going to test required for high school class of 2026.

We were told something similar at both BU and NEU tours. These crazy high SATs, where a 1490 doesn't get submitted makes zero sense. We just look at pre-covid scores and base submit or not on that.
One thing we were told over and over at BU and NEU that if its your top choice, do ED. Most of the q & A revolved around that.

i don't know if it is true or not, but BC has more student athletes because of football, so more ED slots are taken by recruited athletes than at Tufts, BU or NEU.

Yes, BC has D1 athletes, but they don't gobble up the ED spots.
For BC, absolutely go ED1 (or ED2) if it's your top choice. (We're full pay, so I can't say how this actually works but BC says you can get out of the ED agreement if you can't get the FA you expected.)

You can totally get out of ED contracts if the reasonably expected FA isn't there.

It's still annoying that the BU/BC kind of schools are pushing for ED.

I get it for Chicago and Northwestern and Duke and so on. But Tulane and Northeastern?

Goodbye.

I don't love anything I don't know. BC/BU being very presumptuous.

There are ton of smart high stat kids who don't have fancy ECs, exotic sports, rich dads, ALDC status.
A lot of these kids are like F the BS and ED to schools like Emory, NYU, CMU, Tufts, BU, BC, Northeastern these days.

CMU, Emory, and NYU Stern ED are still very difficult compared to the others listed especially NE. High stats only will not cut it, we have this same convo about these schools and people act shocked in December when DC doesn't get in.

High stats only won't cut it for all these schools when they have single digit acceptance rates.
However ED boosts a lot for these schools.

ED provides a big boost for NYU non-Stern, NEU, BU, Tufts (I think Tufts has the biggest boost). CMU I don't believe gives a very big bump at all. Last year, 4515 applied ED, and only 615 were accepted. That's a 7% acceptance rate. NYU's is rumored to be something like 38%. It stopped publishing its number, much like Tufts did. Probably to "hide" the higher rate.

Noope, doesn't sound right. 7% is lower than its regular rate.
CMU was one school that encouraged switching my kid's application to ED2 from regular app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're considering BC, they are still test optional for next year, but if you have above a 1350, they really want you to submit it, especially if that score is high for your community/high school.

To be fair, only 28% of freshmen submitted an SAT score. With other colleges going test mandatory again, look for BC to change in the near future. A metric that isn't published, but should be, is the admission rate for those NOT submitting an SAT score. For BC, I bet it is lower than those who did submit.

For BC Freshman fall 2023, 44% submitted scores, 28% (SAT) + 16% (ACT). DS will start next week but we’ve been given the impression that many more submitted scores this year.

Yes, we were told that many more submitted scores last year at an info session this summer. Also implied that might be going to test required for high school class of 2026.

We were told something similar at both BU and NEU tours. These crazy high SATs, where a 1490 doesn't get submitted makes zero sense. We just look at pre-covid scores and base submit or not on that.
One thing we were told over and over at BU and NEU that if its your top choice, do ED. Most of the q & A revolved around that.

i don't know if it is true or not, but BC has more student athletes because of football, so more ED slots are taken by recruited athletes than at Tufts, BU or NEU.

Yes, BC has D1 athletes, but they don't gobble up the ED spots.
For BC, absolutely go ED1 (or ED2) if it's your top choice. (We're full pay, so I can't say how this actually works but BC says you can get out of the ED agreement if you can't get the FA you expected.)

You can totally get out of ED contracts if the reasonably expected FA isn't there.

It's still annoying that the BU/BC kind of schools are pushing for ED.

I get it for Chicago and Northwestern and Duke and so on. But Tulane and Northeastern?

Goodbye.

I don't love anything I don't know. BC/BU being very presumptuous.

There are ton of smart high stat kids who don't have fancy ECs, exotic sports, rich dads, ALDC status.
A lot of these kids are like F the BS and ED to schools like Emory, NYU, CMU, Tufts, BU, BC, Northeastern these days.

CMU, Emory, and NYU Stern ED are still very difficult compared to the others listed especially NE. High stats only will not cut it, we have this same convo about these schools and people act shocked in December when DC doesn't get in.

High stats only won't cut it for all these schools when they have single digit acceptance rates.
However ED boosts a lot for these schools.

ED provides a big boost for NYU non-Stern, NEU, BU, Tufts (I think Tufts has the biggest boost). CMU I don't believe gives a very big bump at all. Last year, 4515 applied ED, and only 615 were accepted. That's a 7% acceptance rate. NYU's is rumored to be something like 38%. It stopped publishing its number, much like Tufts did. Probably to "hide" the higher rate.

Math doesn’t add up. If 615 were accepted out of 4,515, that would be a 14% acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

For Tufts, international students numbered 206 in 2023-2024, which is less than 12% of the overall student body. They now make up almost 25% of Tufts applicant pool.

A lot more apply and get rejected. Only 379 out of 7935 international applicants were accepted. That's an acceptance rate of only 4.7%!!! It really has become a top destination for Chinese students. In 2018, there were only 159 international students. In 2013, only 127 students were international students.

This explosion in international students in my opinion is because so many international students are familiar with Tufts' prestige and outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BC doesn't work if you're not Catholic (we're not);
Tufts doesn't work if hour kid wants to be in the city (it's in the burbs on a hill - FWIW, my kid thought Tufts would be #1, but after visiting, didn't like the vibe);
BU doesn't have much of a campus (full city college);
NEU has the best of all - city campus (inbetween 2 T-stops), excellent Econ (my kid is an Econ major at NEU), but I'm not going to lie, this is our third kid, and their admin is a hot mess. Billing is a disaster, always late and always wrong, and housing is a joke (your kid doesn't find out whete they'll live until mid-July if you're lucky, but possibly as late as mid-August). Makes planning difficult

I'm not Catholic, went to BC, and loved it. It's an amazing community, very school spirited, Jesuit approach to education is great. Teachers are strong and act as mentors. Students are happy, well rounded, outgoing, and make life-long friends. Because of all of the above - alumni network is amazing for jobs, social outlets, and local volunteer opportunities when/if these are ever needed.

Tufts is devoid of most of this personality....but we looked with one of our children. I was really surprised at the lack of care and updating Tufts put into their campus structures. They looked run-down and in need of repair. BC maintains everything on campus to be nice and is always thoughtful with architectural and campus flow choices when adding/renovating/removing buildings.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:BC doesn't work if you're not Catholic (we're not);
Tufts doesn't work if hour kid wants to be in the city (it's in the burbs on a hill - FWIW, my kid thought Tufts would be #1, but after visiting, didn't like the vibe);
BU doesn't have much of a campus (full city college);
NEU has the best of all - city campus (inbetween 2 T-stops), excellent Econ (my kid is an Econ major at NEU), but I'm not going to lie, this is our third kid, and their admin is a hot mess. Billing is a disaster, always late and always wrong, and housing is a joke (your kid doesn't find out whete they'll live until mid-July if you're lucky, but possibly as late as mid-August). Makes planning difficult

Why do you say BC doesn’t work if not Catholic? It’s my Jewish nephew’s first choice. Seems better than some Pro-Hamas campuses.

Your Jewish nephew might want to really think about it.

With 70% of the student body Catholic, it will be hard to relate if he doesn't share that experience. Obviously someone is going to say their Jewish friend, etc loves it and the students don't go to Mass, etc. But the reality is that they have been to Mass, went to a Catholic high School, want to raise their kids Catholic, etc. and it is a Catholic school regardless of the fact that it is a Jesuit Catholic school.

Disagree - unless your primary goal is to attend a college with a large Jewish population....then BC won't fit. People should go see for themselves - and then decide.

Also - note that BC is not a very political campus. Friends at other schools in Boston had protests for various reasons but we never had a single one at BC while I was there or while I worked in Boston for years afterwards. They are more - "go out and do something types....who volunteer in the community" - not "have a protest march or sit-in types...who try to raise awareness for a policy issue".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BU at least has hockey.

Huh? Tufts is the only one lacking hockey in this group. The others all have strong programs and rabid fandom. Northeastern won the Beanpot this year. BC won Hockey East and went to the NCAA Championship game. BU also had a great year and lost in the NCAA semis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Notre Dame which is known for one of the best 'school spirit' and a kid in Northeastern.

Sure Northeastern's 'school spirit' can't be compared to schools like ND, but better thing about Northeastern is that you get little bit of everything in a diverse environment at one of the best locations.

This is the whitest group of men I've seen in a Looooong Time.

They are ice hockey players.....a notoriously non-diverse sport (for reasons that include, it's a very expensive sport)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Notre Dame which is known for one of the best 'school spirit' and a kid in Northeastern.

Sure Northeastern's 'school spirit' can't be compared to schools like ND, but better thing about Northeastern is that you get little bit of everything in a diverse environment at one of the best locations.

This is the whitest group of men I've seen in a Looooong Time.

Imagine Tufts and BC

NP. Among these schools, the differences are primarily in numbers of Asians and internationals. Fall 2022 from IPEDS:

Northeastern: 19% Asian, 5% black, 11% Hispanic, 42% white, 14% international
BU: 19% Asian, 5% black, 10% Hispanic, 33% white, 23% international
BC: 11% Asian, 5% black, 11% Hispanic, 58% white, 9% international
Tufts: 10% Asian, 6% black, 10% Hispanic, 44% white, 12% international

23% international at BU
WTF 1 out of 4 students is an international student WTF

It's expensive and attracts many wealthy internationals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BC plays in the ACC so there are more school spirit events already laid out for the student body. Tailgating for football, especially when ND comes through, or Florida/Clemson are a big deal.

Now, they kind of suck at all sports except hockey, which is played in Hockey East, but they also have the Beanpot Tournament with BU, Harvard and NEU.

BC's womens' lacrosse team have been NCAA Champs 2 out of the last 4 years and BC has been in the NCAA final game for the past 7 championships (ie runner-up 5x and champ 2x since 2017). They also have a very strong sailing program. Maybe football and basketball haven't hit big - but other ACC sports have also been strong in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from a wonderful vacation visiting friends and family in New England.

We did many tours, my opinion:

Harvard was overrun with tourists, MIT was bland, but you could feel the geek in everyone. BU was weird. A Red Sox game was that day, so Kenmore Square didn't seem at all like a college square! The buildings were meh, I get where people say its campus is a bit disjointed. NEU seemed more like a campus. Impressive new buildings. Lots of international students. BC was a hot day, but was a nice mix of traditional and modern architecture. Didn't seem to be too many international students.

Obviously if DC gets into Harvard or MIT, the look of the campus won't mean a thing!

Kenmore Square is never a "college square" - it's the stop for the Fenway. What made you think it was a ever "college square"?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My dd had planned to apply to Tufts, when we went to visit the campus though we were so turned off by the setting/location that we cancelled her appointment.

+1 as we drove onto Tuft’s campus my daughter was instantly turned off. She wouldn’t even get out of the car. She hated the environment.

Again, Tufts is spending a ton of money on capital improvements.

Capital improvements don't help the suburban location. Tufts is not in the city of Boston

BC is mostly in the suburbs and is farther to Government Center than Tufts. By the way, Tufts is only 6 miles to Gov't Center.

Yet so much harder to reach than it is from BC where the T comes all the way to campus.

Areas resident here.

Actually they just extended the Green line to Tufts too.

BC is also only 7 miles from Govt center.

But driving from either location or taking the T easily can be an hour depending on traffic and MBTA issues. My son used the Tufts stop this year to commute to an internship in Boston and tons of delays.

In any case, both good schools.

Tufts housing has roaches (my son did a summer program there)

BC no roach reports I know of but yes, crucifixes in classrooms. And huge school spirit.

I’m advising my kid to apply to both. But he wants the west coast.

All schools have roaches. Living in a dive is a rite of passage. If you deprive your kid of that, you will suffer the consequences.

Never had roaches in 4yrs at BC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC doesn't work if you're not Catholic (we're not);
Tufts doesn't work if hour kid wants to be in the city (it's in the burbs on a hill - FWIW, my kid thought Tufts would be #1, but after visiting, didn't like the vibe);
BU doesn't have much of a campus (full city college);
NEU has the best of all - city campus (inbetween 2 T-stops), excellent Econ (my kid is an Econ major at NEU), but I'm not going to lie, this is our third kid, and their admin is a hot mess. Billing is a disaster, always late and always wrong, and housing is a joke (your kid doesn't find out whete they'll live until mid-July if you're lucky, but possibly as late as mid-August). Makes planning difficult

Why do you say BC doesn’t work if not Catholic? It’s my Jewish nephew’s first choice. Seems better than some Pro-Hamas campuses.

Your Jewish nephew might want to really think about it.

With 70% of the student body Catholic, it will be hard to relate if he doesn't share that experience. Obviously someone is going to say their Jewish friend, etc loves it and the students don't go to Mass, etc. But the reality is that they have been to Mass, went to a Catholic high School, want to raise their kids Catholic, etc. and it is a Catholic school regardless of the fact that it is a Jesuit Catholic school.

Brandeis is close to BC and was founded by a Jewish organization after WW2. It’s about half Jewish but that doesn’t mean that non-Jewish people would feel out of place. Same with BC and Catholics.

Brandeis used to be about half Jewish, now 35%. Still a high percentage, but not 50%

On a good traffic day, Brandeis is 45 minutes from BC; not close at all.

This is not true. ^^ more like 15ish minutes

But it is harder to get into Boston from Brandeis because you need the commuter rail vs the availability of the T at BC