Boston College (BC) with Gabelli scholarship vs Georgetown

Compare College Acceptances
1

Hello, my daughter has been accepted to the prestigious Gabelli scholarship at Boston College. This comes with a full tuition ride and includes fully paid international programs. So the net cost per year would be about 20 K.

She has also been admitted to Georgetown and has her heart set on it since sixth grade .However we would have to pay full tuition here. As of now she wants to go into law after her undergrad . looking for opinions, specially, from those who have been in similar situations and what they chose.

She is not into sports and so does not care too much about the sports environment in BC either . She is also thinking if the culture is open minded enough in BC.

Appreciate any thoughts.

2

BC alum here who also happened to work at Georgetown for 4 years. I would without hesitation attend BC. She will have a phenomenal education at either school, but especially with law school on the horizon, I would take advantage of the free undergrad to help afford law school. Have her go back to BC for a day and really immerse herself in the campus. She is being given an mazing opportunity.

12 Likes
3

Son is a sophomore at BC.
He also liked Georgetown quite a bit but does care about sports so BC is a much better fit.
He has two close friends who are Gabelli scholars and it is an amazing opportunity.
The academics at BC are amazing – engaged professors, interesting assignments, small classes.
Also, the culture of service to others and involvement in clubs is excellent. While DC is a great town (I lived there for six years), it’s not really a “college town” while Boston is arguably one of the best places to live as a college student.
I think passing up a “free” BC education would be a mistake, but I am biased …
Save the cash for Georgetown Law. :slight_smile:

8 Likes
4

Thank you ! Yes we asked her to register for the admitted students day mid April and we will go with her . She stayed there for 3 days fo the Gabelli interview but was quite stressed at that time

5 Likes
5

Thanks ! Great perspective from someone who is currently enrolled . I am going to have her read these replies :slight_smile:

1 Like
6

Could not agree more.

1 Like
7

So you have 7 years of school ahead.

You can look at the top law schools - Harvard admits from over 140 in the first year class. Penn over 200 in its school. So the where won’t matter for that. And these are two elite peers anyway.

Gtown tuition and fees are about $69k. So that’s with inflation probably $300k you’d save (which will pay for all of law school if she does go that route).

So for 99% of people, the answer is made right there.

But obviously you can afford Gtown, so the question is - do you want to ?

Also were you planing to pay for law school ? If not, that might be the discussion - honey you were on the hook for law school but with this savings, we can cover it.

Or help you buy a home later.

Or allow you to take a lower paying job and provide you support financially as you start your career.

To me it comes down to you - your willingness (and desire) to spend the extra $300k.

One thing I’d note - all schools have issues - bad profs, bad roomies, bad food (gtown for sure unless it’s changed the last few years). There are no perfect colleges.

At the same time, there is not just one college students can do well at. There’s likely many.

Your daughter is clearly exceptional.

Best of luck to her.

1 Like
8

BC is not in Boston (sorry BC fans but it’s true).

And Georgetown is completely integrated in a vibrant walkable neighborhood with nightlife and quick access to all of DC. Work/internship opportunities will likely be more abundant in DC.

BC does not have as diverse or international a student body as Georgetown, and it has a far higher concentration of students from the New England area. Both schools will be bound by some of the same values of a Catholic/Jesuit university but the culture may be more open minded at Georgetown just by virtue of its location and international nature.

However the Gabelli opportunity (over and above the cost savings) makes a very meaningful difference, so that is what I’d have my child focus on in this scenario.

3 Likes
9

Yes I was just thinking about that today . We could help her pay for law school with the savings .

2 Likes
10

Agree Gabelli is the differentiating factor. She has the same concerns as you point out in terms of culture . But I am just not sure it is enough of a difference given the cost differential

2 Likes
11

Why wouldn’t BC be open minded. Many Jews attend (both) and in general, we are a liberal group, Heather Cox Richardson teaches there etc.

I see the geographical differential. Weather. Activity differentials in the cities themselves - yes you have to go into Boston to do things but Gtown is no different - you have to get over to other parts of DC other than shopping/eating. I don’t see the openness differential.

And the stats on niche would agree or favor BC. In fact, over 20% of Gtown students describe themselves as conservative or very vs 12% of BC.

BC says
29.6% New England
30.9% Mid-Atlantic
8.2% Midwest
10.9% South/Southwest
10.4% West
1% Other US
9% International

I don’t see a breakdown from Gtown but college factual (3rd party) shows the top states are NY, CA, NJ, MD, MA, VA, PA

so seems similar.

BC says 16% Asian, 14% Hispanic, 6% black

Gtown says 26% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 9% black.

BC says they placed second in # of Questbridge enrollees nationwide.

Not sure there’s a vast difference culture wise in regards to openness or diversity etc.

BC is more gender balanced.

$300k buys a lot vs maybe some slight cultural differentials.

Easy for your daughter to spend your money but who will pay back potential law or grad school loans if she pivots ?

If you’re not able to pay $700k over seven years, short of risking unnecessary loans and the stress they bring, there really isn’t a decision here in my opinion.

From what you wrote above, your last name isn’t Gates, Bezos, or Buffett.

3 Likes
12

The Boston College T stop is steps from my student’s dorm … He can be anywhere in the city quickly and easily. Also easy walk to Cleveland Circle and Newton where son often goes to eat, go to CVS, get a haircut, etc.

I do adore DC and the Georgetown neighborhood – I lived there for six years.

I just think DC is a bit of an intense place to live when you’re 18 - 22 years old. Boston is more fun IMO.

2 Likes
13

Au contraire. Part of the lower campus is inside the city limits. (sorry, but its true)

BC is definitely “more Catholic” than Georgetown, but it still a very welcoming place. Plenty of non-Catholic faculty, for example.

With law school a possibility, the Gabelli is a no-brainer, unless she absolutely hates BC when she visits.

3 Likes
14

Both great cities and great schools!

15

Piling on:

Unless money is no burden to you, I would suggest taking advantage of the great deal at BC for undergrad… and then kick butt on the LSAT and get the T14 law degree at Georgetown.

3 Likes
16

Actually BC IS in Boston. I paid 4 years of tuition there, so I should know.

Boston has one of the weirdest maps of any city in the country, making it confusing to know what’s within the city limits and what isn’t. The fact is that BC’s main campus straddles the city line with half in Boston and half in Newton. When you are sitting in the bleachers of Alumni Stadium at a BC football game, you are in fact in the city of Boston.

1 Like
17

My daughter spent 4 years at BC and it’s where she made life long friends She loved her 4 years there and has had a very successful career since.

I’d suggest that you visit both campuses and see which one you like better. We’ve heard a number of complaints about dorms and food at Georgetown.

5 Likes
18

But it is a very easy T ride along Comm Ave to get into the city

19

Thanks for all the comments . We will be visiting both campuses soon .

4 Likes
20

BC. Essentially free and will be $60,000-80,000 cheaper than Georgetown each year! Boston is a great college city. Although not in downtown Boston and about 30 minutes away, it’s pretty close. The campus is beautiful and the opportunities are great. Sure, Georgetown is a great school and is in a nice town and is so close to the heart of DC, but I doubt that is worth $300,000 more than BC. And BC has so much school pride. The sports are great fun. Georgetown, not so much, not since Patrick Ewing left! Georgetown from my understanding is also very preppy and has that type of vibe which, depending on some students, could be a turnoff. Of course BC seems to have that similar look, but I believe less so. I vote BC.

1 Like