All else being equal: Boston College vs Colgate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the lowkey ED3 option for Colgate? Is it RD kids who are asked to change to ED2?

It is when you have applied RD to Colgate, get rejected by your ED2 school in February, and switch your RD Colgate app to ED2 by their March 1st deadline.
Or, Virginia rejects you EA in February and, likewise, you switch your RD Colgate app to ED2. Nice option to have…

Not a bad option, but this is why Colgate is a fallback school. Lots of kids there simply didn't get into the school they wanted. BC, however, seems to be more of an affirmative choice by its students. FWW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC grad here and I can’t even imagine considering Colgate. It has quite a frat boy vibe. No frats at BC. And as the other posters said: Boston!

BC has quite the frat boy vibe notwithstanding no fraternities, i.e.,walk around the campus of an all boys carholic HS in the DC metro area and you will get what I mean.

This is not true. BC alum here and my male friends were not fratty at all. They also didn't behave like the all boys students in DC metro area do.

Another BC grad here. Let's be honest: many Catholic schools that don't have frats have clubs that almost operate like them and the partying is just as wild.

I laughed at the comment about people wearing their HS stuff. I remember the most insufferable guys from Catholic Memorial that had the attitude you'd expect from someone who went to a Swiss boarding school instead of a boys school in West Roxbury.

But this was not my experience at BC at all. There was definitely partying, but nothing was exclusive or fratty. It was a strong community and we all hung out together. I can't even name a club that would have had any impact on social life.

[Anonymous]

If they're equal now, then BC: much less likely to outgrow it in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

My DD got into both last year. Acceptance rate for the class of ‘26 (current freshmen) was 12% at Colgate and 16% at BC. DD chose Colgate based on its curriculum, campus (didn’t like separate freshman Campus at BC), and overall “feel” and she loves it so far.

[Anonymous]

Boston College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD got into both last year. Acceptance rate for the class of ‘26 (current freshmen) was 12% at Colgate and 16% at BC. DD chose Colgate based on its curriculum, campus (didn’t like separate freshman Campus at BC), and overall “feel” and she loves it so far.

Congrats to her! I'm the OP. My child likes BC more on paper but likes the feel of Colgate more. Still trying to decide.

[Anonymous]

Folks saying the locations are so different-- I thought BC wasn't actually that close/accessible to Boston? I'm not saying it's in the middle of nowhere, but can/ do students take advantage of what the city has to offer?

No snark meant at all. I love suburban/rural schools. Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks saying the locations are so different-- I thought BC wasn't actually that close/accessible to Boston? I'm not saying it's in the middle of nowhere, but can/ do students take advantage of what the city has to offer?

No snark meant at all. I love suburban/rural schools. Just curious.

BC is not in the city (like BU or Northeastern) but the T comes out to both Chestnut Hill (T stop at the corner of campus) and Cleveland Circle (where the local bars and stores are located and many Juniors choose to live). It would be about 20 minutes to get all the way into Government Center on the T and less time to closer stops along the way like Fenway, Back Bay/Copley, Boston Commons.

I appreciated Boston and never felt that it was so far on the T. I wanted a beautiful college campus and to have access to Boston. If you really want to be living IN a city, BU is more like GW. I also lived on Newton freshman year and have not a single complaint (neither did any of my friends).

Someone noted earlier a difference between BC vs Colgate would be Boston drawing students away on the weekend vs social life on campus. This was not the case at BC. The primary party social life at BC revolves around activities held on campus, in apartments of off-campus students, or at local bars in Brighton/Brookline. Going into Boston was more about other things the city has to offer...history, museums, sports (but BC sports were FAR more affordable for things like hockey, football, basketball) and general tourist type things.
Sometimes to mingle at other schools if you have a friend there.

For me it was a perfect balance. (places like Tufts, Brandeis are a bit more difficult because T doesn't come to campus - so maybe that's what you are thinking of?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks saying the locations are so different-- I thought BC wasn't actually that close/accessible to Boston? I'm not saying it's in the middle of nowhere, but can/ do students take advantage of what the city has to offer?

No snark meant at all. I love suburban/rural schools. Just curious.

BC is not in the city (like BU or Northeastern) but the T comes out to both Chestnut Hill (T stop at the corner of campus) and Cleveland Circle (where the local bars and stores are located and many Juniors choose to live). It would be about 20 minutes to get all the way into Government Center on the T and less time to closer stops along the way like Fenway, Back Bay/Copley, Boston Commons.

I appreciated Boston and never felt that it was so far on the T. I wanted a beautiful college campus and to have access to Boston. If you really want to be living IN a city, BU is more like GW. I also lived on Newton freshman year and have not a single complaint (neither did any of my friends).

Someone noted earlier a difference between BC vs Colgate would be Boston drawing students away on the weekend vs social life on campus. This was not the case at BC. The primary party social life at BC revolves around activities held on campus, in apartments of off-campus students, or at local bars in Brighton/Brookline. Going into Boston was more about other things the city has to offer...history, museums, sports (but BC sports were FAR more affordable for things like hockey, football, basketball) and general tourist type things.
Sometimes to mingle at other schools if you have a friend there.

For me it was a perfect balance. (places like Tufts, Brandeis are a bit more difficult because T doesn't come to campus - so maybe that's what you are thinking of?)

BC campus is very good with a traditional feel. BU is a good school but like GW(NYU at least has Washington Square Park in the middle)

Northeastern is a great compromise with the best of both worlds - in the middle of the city and a nice cohesive campus with some green spaces especially if you are STEM oriented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks saying the locations are so different-- I thought BC wasn't actually that close/accessible to Boston? I'm not saying it's in the middle of nowhere, but can/ do students take advantage of what the city has to offer?

No snark meant at all. I love suburban/rural schools. Just curious.

NP. Different kids do different things, but I'd say on average, many will go into Boston roughly once/month just for fun. Some much more often - every weekend - while others prefer to stay in the campus bubble (like anywhere else).

Some decades ago, I had a part time job, on Fridays, at a financial institution downtown while living on the BC campus senior year. Downtown Boston is easily accessible.

[Anonymous]

I'd go with Colgate because it has a gorgeous campus (usually voted one of the best), great alumni and a great reputation.

BC is good too of course but I don't think it's as prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Boston College
proximity to Boston major plus
bigger school too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd go with Colgate because it has a gorgeous campus (usually voted one of the best), great alumni and a great reputation.

BC is good too of course but I don't think it's as prestigious.

The Colgate alum network is well known as very tight knit and supportive. One of the best in the NE. Plus in the NE the schools reputation is quite strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the lowkey ED3 option for Colgate? Is it RD kids who are asked to change to ED2?

It is when you have applied RD to Colgate, get rejected by your ED2 school in February, and switch your RD Colgate app to ED2 by their March 1st deadline.
Or, Virginia rejects you EA in February and, likewise, you switch your RD Colgate app to ED2. Nice option to have…

wait, is this an official thing? i mean can we count on it being an option this year? my dc is pondering Colgate as ED2, but would love the ED3 idea too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd go with Colgate because it has a gorgeous campus (usually voted one of the best), great alumni and a great reputation.

BC is good too of course but I don't think it's as prestigious.

I don't think that there is a difference regarding prestige between these two schools.