Why is NYU considered a prestigious and better school than BU which is known as a tier below prestigious even though BU has a lower acceptance rate at 29% than NYU does at 31%?
Acceptance rate is a function of spots available and number of apps. It is not necessarily a measure of academic quality.
So than would you say that in terms of academic quality there is a big difference between the two?
in Business and performing arts NYU is better. In other areas there is no real difference.
Until a couple of years ago when BU decided to play the rankings game BU had a 45% acceptance rate. They eliminated the SAT II requirement and solicit applications broadly from international students most of whom will be denied admission.
You also need to look at the intended major. While Stern is certainly better regarded than BU’s “Questrom” b-school, I would say BU has a better engineering program by a large margin. NYU only recently merged with Poly to
offer engineering and Poly was not a top ranked ENG program like BU has had in place for a very long time.
NYU is highly regarded for Math and Comp Sci, but BU is pretty good in those areas too.
For Communications, pretty tough to beat BU. Some majors are only at BU.
There are many differences between the schools, depends so much on your major.
Student life is considerably different too, but you asked about prestige.
Both schools have a historical legacy of being mediocre schools for rich kids,
but both have been able to turn that around and make themselves into world class universities.
Prestige at either school is a relatively recent concept.
There was a saying years ago in NYC.
Poor and smart go to City College (CUNY).
Rich and smart go to Columbia
Rich and not as smart go to NYU
Not the case any longer for NYU, I know a recent HS valedictorian that is going to NYU
(though he was turned down by all Ivies).
BU had similar status in Boston, in comparison to Harvard and MIT, years ago.
Bottom line, do not pick based on prestige.
Pick based on suitability for you, both very good schools.