<p>I was surprised to find that on this site under both Northeastern and Boston U that Boston was not considered to be a good college town. Are there any specific reasons for this?</p>
<p>Huh???</p>
<p>double huh??? Is there a better college town than Boston!!! You better go back and re-read what ever it was you saw…</p>
<p>I would rank Boston as one of the very best college cities (not exactly a college town) FWIW.</p>
<p>On the graphs where your preferences are matched to the college, under where the “great college towns” section is it on gives a little x near the % bar with the explanation bubble next to it, the little ?, and i read it and it says this:</p>
<p>"You may have heard the phrase “town and gown relations.” It relates to how well the local residents of a place get along with the students of the college(s) located there. Another aspect of a college’s location is how well the students like the city or town where their school resides. When they love it, it’s “a great college town.”</p>
<p>Most big cities are home to multiple colleges. But, our “College Town” list features thriving communities that are primarily fueled by the college(s) located there. These locations typically offer lots of artistic and culinary options in a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment. However, don’t rate great college town as “Important” if what you’re seeking is a major metropolis."</p>
<p>With no other explanation as to why Boston was not rated as a good college town because to me it seems like it would be nearly ideal.</p>
<p>Boston (considering Cambridge and Newton [BC] as well as any other college towns near Boston) is a GREAT college town. Harvard? MIT? (in Cambridge but just a few T stops). Cambridge is great and very geared toward the colleges (both professors and students).</p>
<p>Unlike Ann Arbor, Bloomington, Amherst etc., Boston does not exist to serve its colleges. It is a real city that offers so much for students to do. </p>
<p>The only real negative to Boston is the high cost of living compared to the midwestern college towns. (To a true Bostonian, Amherst is somewhere in the midwest!)</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about this ranking, but I know a few friends from home who thought Boston would be a bad “college town” because they live in places like Gainesville (UF) or that place in CT that UConn is (I have no idea). They see those towns where the entire place revolves around the college and think that Boston must not be a “college town” because there are people other than students in it.</p>
<p>But personally, I think Boston is THE college town. The population within the city itself is pretty young (students or young professionals), great research places, of course dozens and dozens of colleges…</p>
<p>I do agree with above though. A friend was talking about how rent in Tallahassee (I’m from Florida) was so much higher than in Tampa, and I was just like “uh… you have no idea what high rent is”. But I’m used to it by now, when I graduate I’ll have the funds to keep up with it, and I’m comfortable with the fact that I pay part of my soul for my rent.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s referring to the town and gown relations part? There can be conflicts between colleges creating loud partying neighborhoods and local residents who are not so into that…</p>
<p>I’m a Bostonian, and there’s certainly great college culture… it’s just spread out. I’d say it depends on the neighborhood. Northeastern is in the medical area. Which could be great if you want to be a doc. But you’re certainly a T ride from the heart of downtown and culture. BU isn’t far, BC is a bit further out. All have an urban feel*. Harvard and MIT are over in Cambridge, and Tufts isn’t far either. ALL can be reached by the T, you just sometimes have to take 2 or 3 different trains.
*I haven’t been to NE or BC all that much (although I drove past NE on Saturday), so I can’t really speak to them with all that much certainty.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Boston is a great city to go to college in – but like others have said, it’s not really a “college town,” it’s its own thriving metropolis. I think this creates more benefits than the “college town” type situation. For example (I live in Connecticut), UConn - which neuchimie mentioned - is in a “college town” where the whole community (Storrs) is basically the college. There is nothing to do in the area except on campus events and activities. Of course, I’m biased (especially against UConn, typical in-state student reluctance towards the big state university - it gets annoying when everyone reminds you every other second what a “good school” it is, even though it’s true) because I lovelovelove the idea of going to college in the city, but that’s my personality. Personally, although places like UConn are kind of cool in a way because they’re almost literally their own town, I would tire of that vibe quickly. Lots of partying, etc which is fine in moderation, but it would bore me after a while. Good thing for me I have several friends who will be at UConn who I can visit and reap the benefits of that kind of atmosphere with… and then go back to my (future) school, whose area will hopefully be a bit more diverse in activities. :)</p>
<p>We live in CO. When I tell people that my son is going to college in Boston, they often comment - “Boston is a great college town!”.</p>
<p>Boston is not the best place for college if a student wants a secluded rural campus. But many students really love it.</p>
<p>you guys are nailing it. classic/quintessential college towns are places like Lincoln, Madison, Eugene, etc. But there are some great ‘college cities’ and i’m guessing boston is one. One that isnt’…is minneapolis. the academics are good, but the campi suck, as does the weather. U of M’s campus is just awful, and Augsburg, St. Thomas, Macalester, Hamilin, Concordia…are no better. Just terrible to look at, and especially when you’re strugggling through 10 below zero for days at a time.</p>
<p>To the OP, you answered your own question in your post.
Boston is not a “college town”. It is a city. The paragraph you quoted should have made it clear to you that a city (ie metropolis) will not get high marks.</p>
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<p>I agree to a certain point. 99% of the time this is true, but ask any northeastern student and they’ll (most likely) say one of their favorite things is that we have a campus with grass and trees and frisbees. Granted it’s obviously not UConn-size, but we still love it.</p>
<p>Coop program + Boston + rising reputation of Northeastern = 43,000 applications. Hoping my younger daughter has a chance to experience this school.</p>