<p>So, I got accepted to BC, WPI, BU and Holy Cross. I want to major in Physics and my goal is to go to Harvard/ MIT/ Tufts/ Caltech for my grad degree.</p>
<p>I talked to couple of BC alumni who went to BC about 25 years ago. Their first advice is-- DON’T GO TO BC, GO TO BU or WPI. When I asked why ,they told me that, BC isn’t that great school at all- at least not for science. They also told me that BC is only known in New England area and outside of NE area, no one know BC that much. When I told them that BC ranks higher than BU and WPI, they are astonished, they couldn’t believe it. </p>
<p>They told me, “If you want to get drunk and want to ruin you life, go to BC, but if you have passion for science and want to progress in life, go to WPI. You will get an excellent real-life education. All BC does is suck the money out of your parents and give you nothing. They told me that going to BC was the worst decision of their lives.” </p>
<p>Now, As a physics/ science (not quite sure yet, may be pre-med as well) major should I go to BC? Or should I choose WPI over BC?? How is BC’s science department compared to WPI/BU/HC science department??? (please put your honest opinion)</p>
<p>I think that it is just two people’s opinions compared to the thousands of other alumni from BC who absolutely loved it and would HIGHLY recommend the science programs. So basically, make your own choice.</p>
<p>Hmm… I don’t know what RPI is, but I know that Holy Cross has a great pre med program, but overall… the school is much lower than the others you mentioned. I think that Tufts, BU and BC are probably about on the same level. Over Holy Cross.</p>
<p>^^ Well, my other problem is that I really don’t want to go all the way to WPI and live in dorm. Do you think if i take my core courses at BC during my freshmen year, I can transfer to NorthEastern or Tufts as a science major?? (i know that I have be really awesome in my freshmen year) I often regret why I didn’t apply to NEU … :(</p>
<p>Dear SRB2006 : “I talked to couple of BC alumni who went to BC about 25 years ago. Their first advice is-- DON’T GO TO BC, GO TO BU or WPI.” </p>
<p>Seriously, the staff that many of these folks would have studied under are likely no longer with the university … or with us on earth. Twenty-five years back, BC was still shaking off the reputation of being a commuter school. Why don’t we consult with school rankings from a quarter century ago to see what you should be doing with your college education today - it is about as practical as these opinions.</p>
<p>Hi, i am also interested in physics. It is on par with many tech schools( they recently spent about 80 million renovating the physics department building) and have been working diligently to create a top department. For these reasons i have just made my decision to go to BC. Also, my dad who is a mechanical engineer(Villanova) was astounded by the facilitates qualities and the practicality of the program. </p>
<p>if you really want to get a good idea about the program talk to a recent grad. don’t forget to actually visit there is no way to get a better feel about a school.</p>
<p>^ Good advice. i second that. BC has changed a lot in recent year, especially in last 10 years. It’s not the same BC as it was about 15 years ago. So, talk to a recent grad.</p>
<p>NY0rker— WPI is a really good undergrad engineering and science schools. It’s known as WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE. I would say it’s almost same as good as MIT and Caltech for Undergrad engineering program.</p>
<p>NY0rker I hope you don’t attend BC because you really are the dumbest human being alive. Here you go, I think high school should have exposed you to the crazy world of google…Please click on the link below you infant</p>
<p>You are listening to someone who graduated 25 years ago? Most individuals back in 1984 could get into any college if they simply had a high GPA and said said they helped feed the poor during their summers. Teasing of course, but BC was a very different school back then and it has come a LONG way. Remember too that BC is ranked #17 in the nation for their business school for a reason. . .</p>
<p>^ I think that’s true, but that only answers about BC business department, not BC science department that the OP wanted to know. I also would like to find out about that.</p>
<p>25-30 years ago BC was a school that anyone with a B average in high school could get into. It has changed dramatically. Tufts, BU, and Holy Cross back then were far superior. Those BC alumni are looking at things from a 1970s perspective. BC has closed the gap. Many say it was the Flutie effect from the national attention from his famous Hail Mary pass in 1984. There is now a statue of Flutie on campus to commemorate this pivotal moment. [Flutie</a> Effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flutie_effect]Flutie”>Flutie effect - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>The only science area in which BC is weak is engineering, because it doesn’t exist at BC. Otherwise every program is very strong, faculty from the physics department just did something big with nanotechnology that I couldn’t begin to explain but from what i gather it was significant. Check out the BC website for more info. I would say of the schools you mentioned BC has the strongest reputation, BU is known for being the safety school of BC. It wasn’t nearly on the same level back then as it is now, and I wouldn’t trust a 25 year old opinion that has probably been deluded by a million other factors than the quality of BC’s science department. For pre-med, BC has a med school acceptance rate of 75%, just as an example.</p>
<p>I found this article from the Boston Globe in 2002. It seems to me that the natural sciences are becoming stronger at BC…I’m not interested in this specific area, but I do know that Boston College has changed dramatically in recent years. </p>
<p>In the sciences, Holy Cross has several notable alumni, including Nobelist Joseph Murray, HIV researcher Anthony Fauci, and MacArthur “genius” bioengineer Jim Collins (he was a physics major).</p>
<p>Bottom line is all the schools listed are currently high quality and highly rated. They have very different campus environments. The right match for you is the one you feel right with. Make a choice and don’t look back. Don’t count on transfer credits.</p>
<p>The BC bio and chem departments are decent, physics is smaller but has some very inspirational professors. You may want to check out the department academic pages, check out the types of classes offered and research they perform and see how they match your interest. In general a larger science school like Cornell or MIT will offer a broader range of science study, and perhaps more in depth study. Go to the admitted student days, talk to the department deans. </p>
<p>BU is probably stronger in most of the sciences than BC, WPI is noted for engineering and math, Holy cross is smaller. Smaller is not necessarily bad, especially if they do research in your field of interest. Its harder to use your AP credit for science at BC than most other schools. BC has a Jesuit foundation that requires a more rounded curriculum than a more technically focussed school like WPI or BU. I think BC feels undergrad studies are to explore all the sciences and find what you really want, and then focus while in grad school. A science degree from BC is not going to hold you back from getting into grad school.</p>