UW Madison vs. Boston College (help me decide!)

Compare College Acceptances
,
1

Hi everyone! I’m really struggling to decide wether to go to Boston College or UW Madison! I love them both but need some input. I am applying as a History major but plan on double majoring in Communications or Psychology. Cost is not really a factor.

Pro UW: school spirit!, everyone I know that goes there LOVES it, the lake is beautiful, big school so so many opportunities academically and socially, great history program, greek life is an option but can still have fun without it, great sports, Madison is supposed to be great (I haven’t visited yet but am planning to go to an admitted students day in April).

Con UW: far from home (NJ) and not the easiest to travel too, worried its too “party,” pretty big, cold?, housing might be tough

Pro BC: also great school spirit, I love Boston!, very smart community driven students, perfect size, beautiful campus, easy to get to, also a pretty good history program, housing is easier, seems more personal, I like some of the Jesuit values.
---- also, my best friend of 13 years is going to Tufts and while I know I can’t make the decision based on her, I can’t stop thinking about being able to see her in Boston frequently (could use some advice on this too!).

Con BC: I’m Jewish and really worried I would feel out of place, too preppy/stuffy?, no greek life, Boston is pretty expensive.

Thank you!

1 Like
2

When you say I am applying as - are you a Junior?

In that case, apply both. But since you are going to admitted student day, I’ll assume you are in at both.

Wow - you just (except for the lake and greek life you don’t see) described BC:

Pro UW: school spirit!, everyone I know that goes there LOVES it, the lake is beautiful, big school so so many opportunities academically and socially, great history program, greek life is an option but can still have fun without it, great sports, Madison is supposed to be great (I haven’t visited yet but am planning to go to an admitted students day in April).

Add in its Jesuit and there will be religion and religious symbolism - does that bug you?

I see you covered all these positions.

As a Jew and with your concerns, why did you apply to BC?

UW has a huge Jewish population - and while youd’ be away from home, it’s not a long flight (albeit a likely stop over in Chicago).

If the religion stuff bugs you (it would me), then Wisconsin is a no brainer here - and you can visit your friend or vice versa.

That you applied to BC makes me think you knew something up front though.

Why not do this - ask BC to speak with a student ambassador who is Jewish and pepper them with all your questions/concerns - and get to campus. You will be on campus. Yes, you can get to Boston but you will still be on campus - and Madison can be fun - and Chicago isn’t far for a day/weekend trip. Per Hillel, there’s 500 Jews there and another 500 graduate students - so you can even contact the Hillel of New England and ask to speak to a BC student.

Obviously, pick what’s best for you. I’m not you but the Jesuit imagery would bug me. But only you can determine your comfort - and once you make that choice, it will be there for four years - and I would take your friend out of it. She’ll still be your friend - but even close by you might not see her. My son went to school with his high school best friend and rarely saw him. That happens as you each get involved.

Best of luck.

Hillels of New England

This Hillel serves: Bentley University; Boston College; Curry College; Emerson College; Simmons University; Suffolk University; Berklee College of Music; Endicott College; Lesley University; Roger Williams University; Salem State University; Southern Maine Hillels; Stonehill College; Wentworth Institute of Technology; Wheaton College; Worcester Polytechnic Institute; University of Massachusetts, Boston Harbor

info@hillelcouncil.org

2 Likes
3

BC has a very active Hillel and Boston in general and Brookline in particular has a large, vibrant Jewish community. The Jesuits who “sponsor” BC are a social justice, inclusive oriented order of priests. It’s a great school with small classes, active clubs, fun sports, and nice people. Visit both and see. Best of luck in the process!

5 Likes
4

I’d consider the two schools to be academic peers. Visit both and go with your gut.

I would, however, look through the core curriculum at BC (Jesuit colleges typically have large cores) to be sure you are OK with all of the requirements.

3 Likes
5

This. Jesuit colleges are generally very welcoming and as a Jewish family my D19 was happy to consider a few of them. I’m
sure Hillel would be happy to talk to you as well? The preppiness is something you’d need to consider fit-wise. Also agree to look at the core requirements to see if that works for you.

2 Likes
6

Personally, I don’t view this as a con. This is the stage of your life to break out of your comfort zone. It would take a tremendous amount of effort not to enjoy Madison and your experience at Wisconsin. I didn’t go there, but I really like the place.

4 Likes
7

As a history major at BC, would you be able to take classes led by Professor Heather Cox Richardson? If so, that would be quite the experience!

6 Likes
8

As a parent of a HS junior who will apply as a history major at BC next year, I have had this thought and hope many times!! I’d want to sneak into class as a fangirl :smile:

9

She is married to a lobsterman, lives in Maine, and describes herself as a “Lincoln Republican” although she is not affiliated with any political party. An interesting person who cannot be easily categorized with the usual labels - although there are certainly haters who try to do it. Her books are very scholarly.

2 Likes
10

I agree with Lila!

11

as does Newton where BC is:) I think it is like 20-30% of Newton is Jewish.

That said, I think what happens on campus is likely more important for a student.

1 Like
12

True to Newton. (As a CA resident who is new to so many “towns” bordering on each other I’m guilty of thinking Newton + Chestnut Hill + Brookline are all pretty much the same “neighborhood”.) My West Coast-ness is showing …

2 Likes
13

That area is confusingly named and viewed IMO, not just that you are new.

Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood of 3 municipalities depending on how define it…but it is a “village” of Newton…there there is Brookline, which, on map, looks like it is part of Boston, but isn’t. It’s all wacky - even for MA:)

Regardless there is indeed a large Jewish population within a couple of miles:) And the whole area is beautiful IMO!

Honestly everyone I know that has gone to BC or UW Madison loved both.

1 Like
14

For sure – both are super great schools. Our son is a sophomore at BC and our neighbor is a first year in Madison. Both having a great time academically and socially. Can’t go wrong with venturing away from CA. College years should be spent soaking it all in and that can include life in a new state!

1 Like
15

May come down to a decision between Madison versus Boston as both schools are great, but U Wisconsin is a heavy party school with solid academics.

16

I think you should choose Wisconsin. I am a bit biased because I went there. However, the history department is excellent with deep coverage on every topic you could imagine. I took many classes in that department. As a huge university, there are resources to study literally anything. There is a diversity of opinion in classes which makes for lively and engaging discussions. I love the Jesuit tradition but I think BC might be more homogeneous in its viewpoints because of the demographic. Madison is economically and culturally diverse. The university has a vibrant Jewish community. As far as the weather goes, it’s a toss up. Buy a warm coat and you will get used to it. The people are very warm and friendly. It’s go to class, study hard, go to game, go to party, repeat. But you can also find anything there. I used to study in the Art History Library which was quiet and beautiful, hang out at Memorial Union and attend the free film screenings. My husband is from NJ and went to a small LAC in the Northeast, but he has adopted UW-Madison and loves it too. Too bad our kid didn’t get in. Enjoy!

2 Likes
17

I think there may be some stereotyping going on here. What is the “demographic” that’s being referenced here at BC? The fact that it’s a Catholic college? Are we saying that all Catholics think alike? No left wing pinkos in that group? Well, actually there are.

The core population at UW is from the state of Wisconsin, hardly a model of diversity. 70% of the population of Wisconsin identifies as Christian just as 70% of BC identifies as Catholic.Just as all people in Wisconsin are not Bible thumpers, many nominal Catholics at BC are not particularly religious.

The University of Wisconsin in Madison has the reputation of being a left wing haven. As a lefty myself I like that. But to the extent that the stereotype fits, does that really represent diversity? Or is it an homogenization of thought?

The fact is that U of Wisconsin is 65% white and BC is only 55% white, so there’s obviously some diversity at BC.

And as far as the comment that Madison is socially and economically diverse, let’s remember that BC is in Boston, which is certainly socially and economically diverse and does not take a back seat to Madison in this regard.

There are real differences between these two universities, which are both centers of academic excellence. I’m sure that the OP will make her decision based on which one is a better fit for her and not based on stereotypes.

4 Likes