Boston University

Date: Dec 22 2007
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
Boston University is definitely what you make of it. I was honestly miserable there for my first year, although that had to do with the culture shock of coming from a very small, poor town in the Southwest and spending a week in the hospital during my first semester. However, now that I am almost two years removed from my undergraduate studies, I have come to appreciate what I gained at BU. You're definitely not going to have your hand held here. Perhaps I would have been happier at a small liberal arts college, but I believe going to a large research university provided more opportunities for personal growth and prepared me better for the real world than an insular liberal arts college in rural New England would have.

NYU was actually my first choice when I was applying to colleges in high school; I was admitted, but I ended up going to BU because they provided a very generous financial aid package. I believe Boston and BU were better for my undergraduate experience than New York and NYU would have been, ao I definitely do not regret my decision.

One thing I love about the school is how international it is. You won't encounter that in many schools no matter how high they are ranked. And speaking of rankings, definitely take them with a huge grain of salt (and don't base your choice of college solely on its rank). Sure, according to US News, the self-appointed authority on college admissions, BU isn't highly ranked (apparently this is mainly due to the administration's refusal to participate in one part of the survey), but if you look at the THES global university rankings, BU is one of the top 50 universities in the world (several American schools ranked higher than BU by US News don't even make the top 100). Still, the university should do more to fight its image as a rich kids' school. Many students and alumni agree that CGS should be done away with to improve BU's statistical standing, but it is a huge money-maker for the school, so that probably won't happen any time soon.

Overall, I think I am a stronger person for having gone to BU. I had actually considered transferring after my first year, but I came to the conclusion that there really is no "perfect school" and stuck with it (I have friends who attended Ivy League schools who were disappointed with their experiences, so happiness and rankings don't go hand-in-hand). Granted, BU isn't difficult to get into, but it is respected. I am currently a graduate student at LSE, and many people here think very highly of BU.

My only wish is that the grade deflation wasn't such a reality. Sure, some of the complaints are due to A-level high school students not prepared for the caliber of work expected in college, but when one sees the rampant grade inflation at schools like Harvard, concerns about admission to good graduate programs are valid. Also, even though BU's economics department is well regarded and has great professors, I wish the undergraduate curriculum was much more rigorous than it is (econometrics isn't even required for graduation, thus not enough space is alloted for everyone).

Overall, I think BU is a good choice for anyone who wants to go to school in an urban environment and won't be overwhelmed by a large student population. It provides a lot of opportunities that one might not find at a smaller school, and the international student body provides a very cosmopolitan atmosphere. So if you're the type of person who needs his hand held and opportunities handed to him, then find another school. But if you're the independent type who can make her own way, then definitely consider BU.