Boston University Prestigious?

blevine
Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:20:01 +0000

Perspective from a BU alum and now father of college kids. Graduated decades ago, but most of my profs back then had PhD from very prestigious schools, Harvard and MIT were common, and others also highly respected. The school helped me quite a bit out in the real world when I graduated, though I think at the time only helped regionally. Had no problem getting really good internships in the area as a BU student, often interviewed and hired at the same firms
that hire Harvard grads. Had friends at Northeastern back then, and frankly it was a much lower caliber school years ago. Much more of a local school and not particularly selective back then. Now it is as or more selective than BU, if you read stats (though I know someone who was recently admitted to NU but not BU FWIW). NU has come a long way, but I don’t fee as good as BU as an academic institution.

NU’s attraction is their coop program, which seems very good from kids I know there right now.
That said, you are paying a college for your academic education. What you learn in the classroom
should be the primary judge of the school, not how well they get you off campus to be trained by others, IMO.
I was able to get really good career oriented internships at BU, just structured differently than NU.
You would be surrounded by very smart kids at both schools since applications soared and they have top students
who could go to Ivy’s but choose not to (I was one of those back in the day and do not regret it).

NYU is fine too, don’t know much about Villanova.

IMO, whichever one you get into and can afford, they would all be good.
It’s what you major in, your grades, your internships etc that will determine what you do after graduation,
more than which of these schools you end up at.