BU vs. NU (Boston, Cambridge, Brookline: rent, co-op, hotel)

[jessemh431]

I've been debating over which university to apply to for a while now. They both are very good in the areas that I plan on studying so that's why it is difficult.

However, no college prides itself on being a commuter school (usually), so it's hard to find such information. I don't want a commuter school, so which one would be better for that?

Also, after reading through this forum, it seems that NU isn't in the best location. Is it really that bad? And is BU in a better location. I'm not saying I'm like super sheltered and rich and everything, but definitely not used to having to watch out for myself. I enjoy being in groups of people though, so the safety in numbers theory may help me here.

I do have a car now since I live in LA and would probably bring it with me. I like PT, but not sure I could change from driving everywhere to walking/using PT to get anywhere so quickly. But which one has better PT options? Is one better for driving? I have family in Cambridge so is one much harder or easier to get to and from Cambridge?

Which one is seen by Bostonians as "better"?Like which is reagrded higheror which students are seen as "better"?

Lastly, as any college student would want to know, which has a better nightlife nearby?

Thank you for any advice and I can't wait to (hopefully) go to school in this amazing city.

[goyguy]

Bring a car and you'll soon regret it. Boston neighborhoods have resident-parking stickers which you have to display at the risk of being towed. And there's not nearly enough space for everybody's vehicles, residents' or not. The areas around NU and BU are densely populated, and the buildings have been there since before cars existed. Hence drives around the block that can take the better part of an hour simply to snag an open and legal space, paying big $$$ for garage (or even outdoor, off-street) parking, etc. Boston's MBTA is a good transportation system, with light-rail lines passing right through the middle of both campuses and running downtown. In many American cities, perhaps no more so than in Los Angeles, there's a social stigma against mass transit, but that totally doesn't exist here.

BU is situated closer to Cambridge (right across the river), but NU isn't much farther away. From either campus you can catch a bus that'd have you there in no time.

NU and BU both were mainly commuter colleges during much of their early years, as was BC, but all three schools now draw students from around the world. BU has the most international representation by far, though, as well as a larger percentage of matriculants from outside New England. Northeastern is still primarily just that, a destination for people from the Northeast. But thanks in part to its co-op program (five-year degree for which one declares a major, then lands an internship at an employer and alternates working and academic semesters) NU's getting more attention from more applicants than ever lately. The popular perception remains that BU is "better" in terms of both quality and prestige, but in many academic disciplines NU is actually at about the same level. One important distinction BU can claim is that it has medical and dental schools and NU doesn't.

Not to complicate things unnecessarily, but have you ruled out BC and Tufts? They have good reputations, and students from "all over," as well. A big part of college life is football games; BU axed its program, NU's is in no danger of being championship caliber and neither is Tufts', but BC's team is top-notch and enjoys strong fan support (as do its other sports programs, especially basketball and hockey.) BC would be the place to go if you like that whole rah-rah scene. Its campus and that of Tufts are also out from town in semi-suburban settings (tree-lined streets, quiet neighborhoods except for on weekends lol.)

Night life is soooooooooo not a problem in Boston, the world's biggest college town, no matter which school you wind up calling your own.

[ogre]

Very informative post by Goyguy, as usual. Regarding your question about the safety of Northeastern's location, it seems that sometimes the location gets a bad reputation because the campus is located around the edge of a section of Boston known as Roxbury, which has long had a reputation as one of Boston's less safe areas. This is a case, though, where a closer look is needed to find the truth. Too often, people think "Roxbury" and automatically assume the area must be dangerous. However, Roxbury is not just one small neighborhood, but a whole section of the city, with its own neighborhoods that vary in terms of safety. The vicinity of the Northeastern campus is okay. The areas around both BU and NU require the usual prudence that it's good to maintain anywhere in any big city, but neither stands out as a bad neighborhood.

Nightlife? BU is just around the corner from a few of the larger dance clubs, and Fenway Park, which means it is closer than NU to some of the larger entertainment venues. However, I wouldn't let the nightlife in the immediate neighborhood be a substantial factor in choosing between these two schools. Light rail/subway service gives convenient access to entertainment from either campus.

[jessemh431]

If I could get into BC, I would be be in heaven, but I can't. I'm not smart enough. And Tufts is too liberal arts for me.

Hmm...so I guess I'll have to sell my baby if I decide to move to Boston...just bought her with my own money in October. Or maybe I'll let my parents drive it and then when I move off campus I can maybe find a place with reasonable. That is if I don't take too well to relying solely on PT, which I am hoping I will though because then I will have no car expenses.

I'm currently leaning a little towards NU because I believe I have a better chance of getting accepted and the cost is lower. If I got in and could afford it, I would prefer BU. However, my family is having some personal economic difficulties, and my mom is limiting the number of applications she'll let me send out, so I want to narrow it down to one college in each city. That means I can't do both NU and BU. Maybe I will secretly apply to the other one and rub it in her face when I get into that one.

So I guess I won't be worrying about night life, which I didn't think I would have to. LOL.

And is anyone familiar with USC's location? USC is in a pretty bad part of LA and I would never live near campus if I went there. Are either one of these universities in comparable locations?

I'm sure there are many other that have been in this predicament. What was your decision? A good one or do you regret it?

[bigcats]

I attended BU from 1997-2001. I had applied to both BU and Northeastern (and Tufts and Brandeis). Ultimately I got accepted to BU, Northeastern, and Brandeis and chose BU because of a combination of prestige and financial concerns (they were offering me more aid than Brandeis, and I felt they were more prestigious than Northeastern, basically, !) So, that's my answer to the question "Which one is seen as better?"

I have to concur with goyguy on the car issue. To have a car in Boston is a handicap rather than an asset. It is so easy to get around on the T that, given the congestion, expense, and lack of available parking, you are far better off relying on mass transit. Besides, there's nothing better than hearing the T drivers call out "Ken-moa!" or "Gummet Cennah!" (Kenmore and Government Center stations, respectively).

Since I didn't choose Northeastern and spent no time on that campus, I can't really speak to it. BU is a very odd looking campus - 3 miles long and a street wide as they say. I guess it's just an urban campus, but it did not seem "campusy". I lived in several different dorms during my time there - Warren Towers (in the hub of the campus), Danielsen (way out to one end of campus), and a small dorm on Park (out by Brookline).

I never felt unsafe.

No one I knew (undergrad) was a commuter.

You basically cross the bridge to get to Cambridge. You end up at MIT when you cross the bridge.

I wasn't a nightlife kind of college student, but folks around me who were seemed satisfied. I don't think you'd find much of a difference between BU and Northeastern on that one though, as the T makes it so easy to get anywhere that it wouldn't really matter where you started, you could get there quickly, easily, and cheaply.

After graduating, I came to the conclusion that the prestige issue is way overrated. No one seems to care which university I got my BA from. I have one, that's all they care about. I could have spent a lot less money and been in an equally good situation post graduation, but oh well.

Good luck!

[jessemh431]

So I have to say, based on just posters on this site, the Bostonians seem much more educated and able to answer questions more thouroughly compared to Angelenos. LOL.

By hearing your inputs, I think I am leaning more towards NU. Besides the education and price, they seem almost identical and NU fits my budget a little better, while also appearing a little less difficult to be accepcted into. If I am going to apply somewhere expensive and out-of-state, I would like to make sure I can get in.

I am still keeping BU in mind and will hopefully visit Boston this summer or fall and check out these two universities. I can't wait!!

[goyguy]

Some of the area surrounding Northeastern is kinda sketchy, but South LA it ain't. RE your question about comparing Boston schools' city environments to that of the University of Spoiled Children. ;-)

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Some of the area surrounding Northeastern is kinda sketchy, but South LA it ain't. RE your question about comparing Boston schools' city environments to that of the University of Spoiled Children. ;-)

Okay good. So it's not as bad as University of Spoiled Children's location, but not as good as University of Caucasians Lost among Asians' location. Gotcha!

If I come to visit, would it be okay to stay in downtown Boston, or would you suggest staying in the vicinity of the colleges to get a feel for them?

[RemiJP]

Boston is not as huge and sprawling as LA. You could stay in downtown and get to both schools easily within 10-20 minutes on the T. If you want to stay within walking distance to both schools, try finding a hotel near Fenway Park or in Back Bay. And just as a reminder, don't rent a car for the trip!

[smarty]

I think this is one of those post that we can talk... and talk... and talk... but will not provide you with anything that will help you decide between the 2 schools.

I suggest looking at what you want to study. Say Engineering or business... what unique experience does each school provides? What special programs do they offer? Then, go with that.

In terms of ranking.... USC has moved farther up than BU or NU because of its ability to bring $$$ to its endowment. Just remember this is important as it affects a number of things like scholarships, teacher-to-student ratio, level of students accepted, niceness of campus, ... etc. For example, BC is quarter the number of students of BU but almost double the endowment. It also tells you BU alum are not donating... and worst with NU.... (may be another point to consider and ask yourself why)

List of colleges and universities in the United States by endowment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia