BU ($, honors) vs UCLA

poiplehippo
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:19:32 +0000

So I’ve narrowed my choices to BC, USC, BU, or UCLA. My first choice is Boston College based on “fit,” (medium campus, reputable finance department, Boston, alumni/job placement, school spirit, guidance counseling) but I won’t be able to go assuming they do not increase my financial aid (was given $5000 in loans - currently appealing). In this case, therefore, it comes down to financial assistance rather than the fit of the school (nor will I be able to attend USC if I receive no financial aid). Based on other threads that are in the same situation, I’ve come to accept that it’s not worth it to attend BC or USC, especially when I have UCLA. But between UCLA and BU, my feelings are not as concrete. On one hand, UCLA is a much better school rankings-wise, but it is also facing a budget crunch, overpacked class sizes, and I’m not in the major I want. Although I’m promised smaller class sizes at BU’s honors program, it does not have a campus “feel” and is academically much weaker than UCLA (albeit having a business school).

BU
pros: university scholar (half tuition), honors college (seminars, networking, week-long international conference, study-abroad guarantee, community service requirement), Boston
cons: large student body, little academic “prestige”, grade deflation, little alumni/job placement/internship reputation, business school not well-known, little school spirit

UCLA
pros: in-state tuition ($30,000), academic prestige
cons: large student body, unable to leave California, rising tuition, overfilled classes, little to no guidance, was put as a sociology major (not business econ like I requested - no business school).

Could anyone help me decide between BU and UCLA? Is a UCLA degree that much better (in terms of future job placements, etc) that I should forgo small-honors classes and a business degree (PS what can one do with a sociology major?)?