<p>Daughter and both parents went to BU’s Open Campus for admitted students yesterday and were very impressed with how well run and informative it was. It was huge. They were selling the school of course, but they did a very good job of it. Naturally they emphasized the advantages of attending a large research university in a great city, but the highlight for me was the introduction to the small program called the Core Curriculum–which included a sort of sample lecture on Dante’s Purgatorio by Classics Professor Stephanie Nelson. I was bowled over by it really, not just as a college presentation but as one of the most insightful, thought-provoking talks I’ve ever heard. I never had a professor of anything that was as good as Prof. Nelson obviously is. There’s no way the average level at BU could be that high, but their having the good sense to choose Prof. Nelson as one of their representatives speaks to their wisdom. Anyway, I just wanted to tell anyone that’s trying to decide between BU and other schools, but not sure whether the Open Campus is worth attending, that our family found it very useful. There are several more scheduled.</p>
<p>We went yesterday too with D, but we went to the one for CGS. Which one did you go to? We thought the whole program was fantastic! They really did a fabulous job of selling themselves. We had something similar when they talked about the core corriculum for CGS, but they had a panel of professors that talked about it (their program is a little different for CGS, but they only have PhDs team teaching for the 2 years there). If anyone went in there feeling a little miffed about being referred to CGS instead of the school they applied for, I think most people came away very impressed with the program. Of course some people there had applied directly to CGS. My big concern with BU itself was how big and and overwhelming it was, but after the presentation felt it would be a good fit for our D (and more importantly she did too). They advertise CGS as a small liberal arts college experience within a large research university.</p>
<p>I also definitely advise going to one of the open campus days, very well organized, free lunch in their awesome cafeteria (food was great!) and access to any of their buildings. Of course formal tours are offered throughout the day.</p>
<p>We were at CAS. BU is too expensive (as they all are), but the facilities are great, so at least they seem to be making good use of the money. They definitely conveyed a convincing image of a school on the rise. What students we know that are already there love it. BU was already on our short list of schools we could stretch to afford, and now it’s a real contender for selection I think. There are a couple of other visits to go though at schools that might have an advantage by coming after BU, as well as being the initial favorites. Daughter starting to feel the pressure of having to make a decision.</p>