Questions for Boston College alumni?

[Anonymous]

DH and I have a son about to start his senior year at high school and we've been narrowing down colleges for him based on how he has done. He plays violin and piano, has a 3.85 GPA, and a 2080 SAT. We went to NYC and Boston over the summer and he loved BC and practically has his heart set on it, but we're not sure of his chances of getting in with his SAT score. We also don't know if BC would be worth the hefty price tag (assuming he gets no scholarship money) versus a great state school like College Park (University of Maryland). DS likes the atmosphere at BC when we visited and he liked that it had a very preppy vibe, like his high school. DS is great at math and we are thinking of setting him up in a career in finance.

What are career prospects like for Boston College students? What kind of profile does the student body tend to come from? Is it very Catholic and rich? We are AA and upper-middle-class (and liberal and atheist).

[Anonymous]

Is he taking out loans to go to a school like BC? BC is an excellent school with a great business program, but taking loans for private school tuition plus living expenses in a city like Boston sounds excessive.

[Anonymous]

DH went to BC and he loved it. He goes back for the tailgates every year and he does fit the "profile" - Catholic family, went to a New England boarding school before going to BC, ended up a lawyer in DC. BC does VERY WELL in finance but their alumni are concentrated in New York and Boston, if that is where your son wants to work.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this really matters, but I have a family friend who is AA and middle class from Philly who graduated from
BC in the last five years and he absolutely loved it. So if that is a concern, it can be done.

[Anonymous]

My SIL went to BC. It is the frothiest school I ever saw that didn't have any frats.

[Anonymous]

frattiest. iPhone auto-correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I have a son about to start his senior year at high school and we've been narrowing down colleges for him based on how he has done. He plays violin and piano, has a 3.85 GPA, and a 2080 SAT. We went to NYC and Boston over the summer and he loved BC and practically has his heart set on it, but we're not sure of his chances of getting in with his SAT score. We also don't know if BC would be worth the hefty price tag (assuming he gets no scholarship money) versus a great state school like College Park (University of Maryland). DS likes the atmosphere at BC when we visited and he liked that it had a very preppy vibe, like his high school. DS is great at math and we are thinking of setting him up in a career in finance.

What are career prospects like for Boston College students? What kind of profile does the student body tend to come from? Is it very Catholic and rich? We are AA and upper-middle-class (and liberal and atheist).

With a 3.85 and 2080 SAT as an AA I'd be shocked if he didn't get in. I remember reading recently that the average SAT score for AA's at Harvard was about that. FWIW, everybody I have known who has gone to BC has loved it. Whether or not it's worth the premium over someplace like UMCP is something that only your finances can decide. One thing I would look at closely is graduation rate; BC's 4 year rate is 89% vs 63%. This might not be an issue if your kid is very disciplined, but UMCP might not seem like such a bargain it takes an extra year or so to graduate. I know that with my (highly distractable) child It would be a problem.

Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Mine got in with a 3.9 and 2200 (and no hooks) - he seemed to be at the high end of applicants so I expect yours would get in. Mine decided to go elsewhere but the BC alums we know seem to have done very well.

How do you set up a kid with a job in finance? Are you Goldman partners? Hedge funds? Private equity? If so he will fit right in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I have a son about to start his senior year at high school and we've been narrowing down colleges for him based on how he has done. He plays violin and piano, has a 3.85 GPA, and a 2080 SAT. We went to NYC and Boston over the summer and he loved BC and practically has his heart set on it, but we're not sure of his chances of getting in with his SAT score. We also don't know if BC would be worth the hefty price tag (assuming he gets no scholarship money) versus a great state school like College Park (University of Maryland). DS likes the atmosphere at BC when we visited and he liked that it had a very preppy vibe, like his high school. DS is great at math and we are thinking of setting him up in a career in finance.

What are career prospects like for Boston College students? What kind of profile does the student body tend to come from? Is it very Catholic and rich? We are AA and upper-middle-class (and liberal and atheist).

1) I agree with a PP that said that your child should have no trouble getting in as an AA.
2) Almost no chance of merit aid. A few full tuition grants and that's it.
3) Boston College is a liberal Jesuit school that will not push religion - some Catholics question whether it is still Catholic (or CINO).
4) Boston is not the most welcoming city for people of color, at least that has been the reputation of the city. This might be an issue post graduation.
5) Notre Dame, Penn and UVA are also options that might be stronger in finance.

[Anonymous]

Well, if he isn't accepted into Boston College, there's always BU. Go Terriers!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I have a son about to start his senior year at high school and we've been narrowing down colleges for him based on how he has done. He plays violin and piano, has a 3.85 GPA, and a 2080 SAT. We went to NYC and Boston over the summer and he loved BC and practically has his heart set on it, but we're not sure of his chances of getting in with his SAT score. We also don't know if BC would be worth the hefty price tag (assuming he gets no scholarship money) versus a great state school like College Park (University of Maryland). DS likes the atmosphere at BC when we visited and he liked that it had a very preppy vibe, like his high school. DS is great at math and we are thinking of setting him up in a career in finance.

What are career prospects like for Boston College students? What kind of profile does the student body tend to come from? Is it very Catholic and rich? We are AA and upper-middle-class (and liberal and atheist).

1) I agree with a PP that said that your child should have no trouble getting in as an AA.
2) Almost no chance of merit aid. A few full tuition grants and that's it.
3) Boston College is a liberal Jesuit school that will not push religion - some Catholics question whether it is still Catholic (or CINO).
4) Boston is not the most welcoming city for people of color, at least that has been the reputation of the city. This might be an issue post graduation.
5) Notre Dame, Penn and UVA are also options that might be stronger in finance.

Not "might"--they are stronger in finance. Much stronger.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I was actually interested in UVA for DS but wasn't sure he'd have a chance much with his SAT score, haven't really thought the URM advantage is a significant one - happy to hear otherwise.

Yes DH and I work in finance, but in mid-level firms, not a major bank/hedge fund (reluctant to specify further on whether we are buy-side or sell-side, for obvious privacy reasons). We have connections to get him a job and we have saved up money to pay 4 years of college, but obviously if BC is not the best option in terms of merit aid OR in terms of finance prestige, then I am going to tell DS to consider other options.

For what it's worth as an AA family we did not experience any discomfort in Boston, felt it was a very cultured and polite city, never felt any kind of alienation. We were only there for 4 days but it was a good trip. Wish DS had the SAT score for Harvard - that would have been worth the tuition money!

[Anonymous]

I went to BC and absolutely loved it.

The student body is made up of mostly upper / middle class white kids (almost 70%) from the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. It's not very diverse but I think your DS will find it to be a very welcoming community. The campus is gorgeous, academics are fairly rigorous, the sports scene is fun, and Boston is a great town.

The undergraduate business school is great (recently ranked #4 by Bloomberg BusinessWeek) and a lot of the graduates go into finance. There is a formal finance-focused network called the BC Wall Street Council that students can leverage for jobs, career advice, etc. All my good friends from BC have solid careers.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Northerners are no less racist than Southerners. Southerners are just more open and blatant about it. Northerners talk about equality while living in highly segregated communities, and sending their children to predominantly white private schools.

- Northerner who lives in the South.

(Sorry for the digression)

[Anonymous]

BC is a good school if you plan to get a well paying job in finance to make up for the outrageous price tag of $64,000 a year. I went to BC and think it is way overpriced especially if you get a degree from the school of education or nursing or go into another regular paying job. Is he sure he wants to go into finance? State schools offer the best deal for savvy parents. BC now costs more than Harvard. How can they justify this?