Type: Private
State: Massachusetts
Website: www.bu.edu

Quick Overview:
Sports facilities are good, the city is great, food outside campus is very good and the campus feels safe.

The word from: the Students

At Boston University students have a very wide range of choices then can make when it comes to academics. It's the perfect place for independent students to explore all the options they have with access to over 65 majors and to top-notch pre-professional programs. Boston University(BU) fosters independence, students do whatever they want, they just need the motivation to. academic wise it's very rigorous, maybe even having a hidden grade deflating policy, regarded as unfair by the student body of course.

BU doesn't have a traditional campus so social life doesn't revolve around the university itself therefor the city is the place to go, it's great and has plenty to do on weekends. Walking around is very enjoyable with lots of places to go to, downtown, the entertainment areas, Cambridge, Central Square or the river. Everything is really close to campus.
Parties are for the great majority held off campus due to the school's strict policy on alcohol and drugs. Bars and clubs are plenty so going out for a drink or dancing is a common thing on weekends. For the ones that don't enjoy parties and prefer school activities, Boston university tries to provide as much as possible, things such as comedy clubs, student concerts, several interesting lectures for every kind of interest.

There's no typical student per say, at BU, they tend to be liberal and political aware, still there are no types. The strong focus on athletics and strong arts programs creates a very good mix of people and everyone gets along. There is an amazing dynamic in class discussions due to the diversity. The great majority of people are rich, well dressed and snobby but still there is a broad array of nations represented in campus.

Type: Private
Website: www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu



Quick Overview:
Great library, diverse student types on campus, location is great, good off-campus food, safe campus, students are satisfied.



The word from: the Students

Columbia University provides an excellent educational experience combining the rigor of the Ivy League and the chaotic ways of New York city. The course work can be very demanding at times and studying about the world is encouraged to be done in new and sometimes uncomfortable ways. With inspiring professors, many who are brilliant in their fields, Columbia can boast its excellent education. They're enthusiastic and sometimes obsessed with their subject, some even have the scholarly air of arrogance and be though graders too but those are the ones that teach best. The core curriculum at the university focus on western philosophy, literature and fine arts. The administration is accessible although a bit bureaucratic.

 Studying is hard during the week but so is partying on weekends. Since its located in NYC there is a ton of things that can be done for entertainment, things like shopping, going to the movies, concerts, museums, clubs among many other fun activities. A word of warning its not a cheap way of living, things like dining out can end up being expensive. There's also activity inside the campus like group activities and dorm parties, students often organize themselves for various kinds of meetings and other gatherings.

Columbia is just like the city its in, composed of a huge variety of people with all sorts of interests, backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and others. It's possible to find conversations about everything and anything. Generally smart and dedicated people many aren't very wordly but still friendly.