Anonymous
07/13/2025 15:11
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:which would your kid choose and why? little surprised to see parchment with a strong lean towards GWU as I believed BU was considered more prestigious. Reach schools are Lehigh and Bucknell, but looking to round out DCs targets and trying to get a feel for these two schools - thank you in advance
I don't think BU is really comparable to GWU, Lehigh and Bucknell. Certainly not today. BU has an 11 percent admissions rate. GW is at 44 percent. And BU is more solid in more disciplines than GWU, which is great in IR and poli sci but doesn't really distinguish itself in anything else in undergrad. Also, Boston is probably the best college city in America. And Foggy Bottom is Foggy Bottom. BU is more comparable to NYU than the other schools mentioned.
Well stated.
Not throwing shade on any other schools, but putting BU in correct context. No, it's not top 25 or anything nor is claiming to be. But compared specifically to GW and the other ones mentioned in this thread, it's a more competitive admit.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 13:48
Subject: Re:George Washington vs BU?
This is definitely personal preferences. Our kids would always pick Boston over DC if they wanted an urban school. It’s interesting that Lehigh and Bucknell are of interest because they are both the extreme opposite of urban schools. One of ours went to Bucknell so I definitely have nothing against small town schools. But they are not apples to apples comparisons with very urban universities.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 13:39
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:which would your kid choose and why? little surprised to see parchment with a strong lean towards GWU as I believed BU was considered more prestigious. Reach schools are Lehigh and Bucknell, but looking to round out DCs targets and trying to get a feel for these two schools - thank you in advance
I don't think BU is really comparable to GWU, Lehigh and Bucknell. Certainly not today. BU has an 11 percent admissions rate. GW is at 44 percent. And BU is more solid in more disciplines than GWU, which is great in IR and poli sci but doesn't really distinguish itself in anything else in undergrad. Also, Boston is probably the best college city in America. And Foggy Bottom is Foggy Bottom. BU is more comparable to NYU than the other schools mentioned.
Only because most applicants are trying to apply to BC and become confused.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 12:08
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:which would your kid choose and why? little surprised to see parchment with a strong lean towards GWU as I believed BU was considered more prestigious. Reach schools are Lehigh and Bucknell, but looking to round out DCs targets and trying to get a feel for these two schools - thank you in advance
I don't think BU is really comparable to GWU, Lehigh and Bucknell. Certainly not today. BU has an 11 percent admissions rate. GW is at 44 percent. And BU is more solid in more disciplines than GWU, which is great in IR and poli sci but doesn't really distinguish itself in anything else in undergrad. Also, Boston is probably the best college city in America. And Foggy Bottom is Foggy Bottom. BU is more comparable to NYU than the other schools mentioned.
NP. How is that determined?
Anonymous
07/13/2025 12:05
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:which would your kid choose and why? little surprised to see parchment with a strong lean towards GWU as I believed BU was considered more prestigious. Reach schools are Lehigh and Bucknell, but looking to round out DCs targets and trying to get a feel for these two schools - thank you in advance
I don't think BU is really comparable to GWU, Lehigh and Bucknell. Certainly not today. BU has an 11 percent admissions rate. GW is at 44 percent. And BU is more solid in more disciplines than GWU, which is great in IR and poli sci but doesn't really distinguish itself in anything else in undergrad. Also, Boston is probably the best college city in America. And Foggy Bottom is Foggy Bottom. BU is more comparable to NYU than the other schools mentioned.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 11:46
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:So weird. It is so person specific. Boston is a fun city, but really cold. DC is warmer...some will like that + some won't. Both BU + GW are fine + accept a majority of kids who apply. Career outcomes can be good from either.
^^Just kidding above. BU has a 10% acceptance rate + GW 43%
Anonymous
07/13/2025 11:44
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
So weird. It is so person specific. Boston is a fun city, but really cold. DC is warmer...some will like that + some won't. Both BU + GW are fine + accept a majority of kids who apply. Career outcomes can be good from either.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 11:35
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:BU, no question. (Even for IR. Their Global Studies school is awesome—great professors, great outcome, with a lot of personal attention and the small school within a big school benefit. It’s in a charming old building now but they are building a new state of the art facility.) Great education, diverse student body, and you get to live in Boston. Super popular. Harder to get into than all the others listed.
No.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 11:17
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
BU, no question. (Even for IR. Their Global Studies school is awesome—great professors, great outcome, with a lot of personal attention and the small school within a big school benefit. It’s in a charming old building now but they are building a new state of the art facility.) Great education, diverse student body, and you get to live in Boston. Super popular. Harder to get into than all the others listed.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 10:44
Subject: George Washington vs BU?
Anonymous wrote:which would your kid choose and why? little surprised to see parchment with a strong lean towards GWU as I believed BU was considered more prestigious. Reach schools are Lehigh and Bucknell, but looking to round out DCs targets and trying to get a feel for these two schools - thank you in advance
BU is more prestigious. The type to apply and be admitted to both might, say, want to do international relations. So of course GW would win those cross admits. Doesn’t really tell you anything.