Syracuse University vs. Boston University?

[Princess Ash]

Hi, I'm a senior in high school...and I'm deciding between these two colleges right now.

Both have great Communications programs. Both are very reputable schools...

BU is 1 hour from home.
Syracuse is 5.5.

BU has access to a city (and therefore, modeling opportunities)
Syracuse is next to a tiny little city.

BU is not super hands-on.
Syracuse starts having you participate in amazing things Frosh year (for communications)

BU is super-ugly...inside and out.
Syracuse is extremely asthetically pleasing.
(Note: I am a big asthetics person...)

BU is in New England...weather=warmer when Spring comes.
Syracuse = winter almost all school-year round.

BU is almost expected to be where I'll go...Mom AND Aunt both went there.
Syracuse is a new and exciting adventure

So basically...Boston has all the location/weather/etc. those factors going for it...
Syracuse has the best education and opportunities...

Idk what to do???
I can't ever decide on a PROM DRESS...nevermind where I'm going to spend the next four years of my life.

Looking at this list...it looks like BU has more "pros"....but I also haven't visited Syracuse...and I know more about BU...
We'll see where I am after I go visit Syracuse sometime this month...

I just kinda needed to vent...any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If sports are important ... SU has a better football team ... (no, SU doesn't have a good football team, but they have one), SU has a better basketball team, SU has a better lacrosse team, but BU has a much better hockey team.

Campus environmental factors ... as you mentioned, SU has a beautiful campus. BU has (from what I've seen) a lot of concrete, and maybe some grassy areas. However, BU is in Boston, which is a city that has a lot more going on, as well as a much better public transit system. Syracuse, the campus, is pretty well isolated, and to get nearly anywhere more than right next to the edge of the campus, you'd either need to drive, or rely on a reasonably unreliable bus system.

Intangibles: Syracuse (the city) has Wegmans, which is a grocery store that pretty much knocks the socks off all others. Boston (the city) has Mike's Pastries, without a doubt the best place to get a cannoli that I've ever been.

Other factors: If you go to BU, you'll always end up being compared to the relatives that went there before you. If you go to Syracuse, you'll have more of a chance to be your own person.

I'm a Syracuse alum, and gave campus tours for 3 years ... feel free to ask me any questions about the school that you like.

 

[iamsosleepy]

I'm a sophomore at BU, and I also had a tough time deciding where to go to college (final decision was between Stevens Tech in NJ and BU)... I'm a Business/Engineering major, so I don't know everything about COM, but here's a little of my input...


BU's communication school is pretty decent, and getting bigger. We just had a 1.3 million donation from DreamWorks, for instance. We have amazing study abroad programs, and great professors (author Elie Wiesel and ex-Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, to name two). I have a few friends in COM, and they all love it.

I've never been to Syracuse's campus, but BU doesn't have a lot of "grassy" areas. We have the BU Beach and the quad area behind Marsh Chapel, which is one of my favorite places on campus to be... That's the only part of the campus that feels like I'm actually at "college", rather than just living in Boston, but it really doesn't bother me. Plus, you can always head to Boston Commons for a spring picnic.

One of the things I love most about BU is the fact that I live in a city. I can get on the T and do practically anything for $1.25. I can completely escape all the stresses of college and studying and teachers anytime I want. Also, it's so big that you're ALWAYS meeting new and interesting people. I really love Boston, and BU.

Anyway, that's just a little input from a BU girl.

<3Niki

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I work near the BU campus. IMO it's a great place to be as a college student, loads of other colleges in the area, good eats, public transportation, etc. Is being closer to home important to you? What if you're lonesome at school and just want to go home for the weekend? Just some thoughts. Good luck with your decision.

P.S. FWIW, I'm a big believer that education is what you make of it, not necessarily what school you went to.

 

[meagan9848]

I go to Northeastern, and can't say enough good things about the school or the communications program. I actually have a Syracuse transfer in my class.

 

[mickeeemouse]

I actually live in Syracuse, my DH goes there right now for enginering management. My nephew is going to Oswego right now for the communications program and wants to transfer to SU. SU has one of the best communications program around. Actually the weather isn't that bad it does snow Dec. thorough February and it is cold Nov. - mid March. But you are only in school Aug. through May. Sept. and October are beautiful around here and April and May are pretty nice too. I also agree with Syracuse Wolverine we definately have a great basketball program too. Nothing like cheering for SU sports in the Carrier Dome another great experience as well. Well good luck in your college carrer. Just wanted to give you some positives about SU.

 

[Uuaww]

does tuition cost matter? i don't know how it is on the east coast but here in california nearly everyone stays instate because it is so much cheaper its rediculous. but the states are smaller over there so maybe its different, i don't know. you are going 5.5 hours to get to somewhere in new york, i can't get out of califorina from where i am in 5.5 hours i don't think. hmmm maybe i could.

 

[Megster]

I don't know that I agree with you about the weather thing. I go to school in NH and I'd say that we have about 2 months total of nice weather. When you get to school its still summer so its hot and disgusting. Depending on the year you may have a few weeks of "fall" but the temperature drops continously. Then winter sets in for months on end. In about April (again depending on the year) it may warm up and then you're done with school in mid-May. I guess what I'm saying is that you shouldn't let the weather be a deciding factor in your decision.

 

[Princess Ash]

Thank you so much everyone for your input and advice! I will be taking this all into consideration and thinking about it as I visit the colleges the next few weeks! Any other input, don't hold back!

 

[Megster]

I just wanted to add that having access to a city is something that I wished I had considered more in my decision process. Its not important to everyone but I've realized that its something that I want and need. Sometimes you just want to be able to escape college life and be around real people in the real world. BU has easy access to the city and easy access to wide variety of activies that do not/are not provided by the college. Just something to think about.

 

[KingKobra]

Hey,

I'm a sophomore com. major at BU. What exactly do you want to study in communications? I'm studying journalism, and I can say the education I’m receiving is top notch. One of the advantages of working for a student newspaper in a large city like Boston is the events I get to cover. I'm always on the phone interviewing House Representative and going to meetings at the State House and such. One of the other reasons I came to BU is the Washington Internship program, which is one of the few undergraduate programs in the country where students study for a semester in Washington and act as Washington correspondents for local newspapers. It's a great way to add professional clips to your resume that many students graduating from other schools wouldn’t get until they graduate or enter grad school. I'm not sure on Syracuse's program, but I know that it’s definitely in the top 5 or 10 in the country, and from the tone of your post it sounds as if you would rather go there. Ultimately the decision is up to you, but know that no matter where you end up, you won't be getting cheated on your education.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Look at the program strengths and curriculum in both programs, and make your decision on what school will give you the best education for whatever area in communications you are interested in. Don't base your decision on "modeling opportunities" unless that is your career choice, then perhaps focus on that instead. I would look at job placement of graduates from both schools and go for the one that will give you the best opportunity.

And it is not winter all school-year round, I used to go to Oswego-35 miles north of Syracuse, and remember quite a few beautiful fall and spring days on the lake. Syracuse still has "culture", even though it is a smaller city than Boston, there are plenty of things to do and see, as well as other colleges in the area. And sometimes it's nice to do something different than what your family "expects" you to do, it's your path in life, carve it your own way.