UCLA VS. Boston College

bluebayou
Tue, 01 Apr 2014 15:07:00 +0000

My SoCal D had similar choices a few years ago, and chose BC. Could not have chosen better. But whether the cost is worth it is a decision for your family.

Couple of academic considerations:

Both are strong in premed, but UCLA will be more “competitive” – lotsa gunners in the STEM classes. Boston has a gazillion opportunities for research and ECs. Plenty of biotech/pharma firms in the area.

BC has a Core curriculum, so reading’ and writ in’ is expected. But that will help with the MCAT VR. Econ is strong, as is CSOM. Highly unlikely to transfer into CSOM – just no space, if that is a consideration.

UCLA’s biz econ program is excellent, and well regarded by employers. (Most top schools don’t even offer undergrad biz – just Penn Wharton and MIT, for example, but even then, the Wharton degree is technically a BS in Econ.)

fwiw: IMO, a liberal arts degree in Econ beats undergrad-biz. Then go get an MBA later.