Parents across the country have finally figured out what students at Boston College have known all along: BC is great place to go to school.
In a recent nationwide survey released by The Princeton Review and published in the book The Best 361 Colleges by Robert Franek, BC ranked sixth as the university that parents considered a dream school for their children.
Topping the survey was Stanford, followed by Princeton, Harvard, Brown, and Notre Dame. Boston College surpassed MIT, Northwestern, Yale, and Georgetown.
BC was not counted among the top 10 colleges that students consider as their dream schools. At the top of this list was New York University, which beat out the likes of Harvard for the number-one spot.
Two Ivy League schools, Dartmouth University and the University of Pennsylvania, failed to make either list, thus placing Boston College above two of the most revered institutions in the nation.
"I think a lot of it tends to deal with student formation. All of these schools are academically rigorous, but BC offers a value-based education that focuses on the formation of the whole person," said University spokesman Jack Dunn.
This year, however, the opinions of parents and of prospective students were not counted in the same pool. For the first time since its inception, the Princeton Review divided its dream school survey into two separate evaluations.
This distinction was necessary, said Franek, because of the disparity between what parents and students look for in a school.
Commenting on why he believes BC to be a compelling choice for parents across the nation, Dunn said, "Parents make the sacrifice to send their students to the best colleges because they want them to get an excellent education, but they also care about their children's formation. That combination of academic preparation and student formation is an area in which we excel as a university."
One of the most important factors in a student's search for the perfect school is location.
This could by why NYU ranked so high on the list of schools that students dream of attending. The city life, though often terrifying for parents, expands a students boundaries. The city becomes their classroom.
"There are some urban schools that parents might be apprehensive about," said Franek. This is why BC seems perfect in the eyes of a parent.
"Newton, however, is a beautiful place to live. The campus is contained and parents can see the University as a safe place for their kids, but there's still easy access to the city of Boston," said Franek.
Living near such a thriving city also affords other opportunities.
"NYU and BC beat out several Ivy League schools, which reflects a growing preference for urban campuses because of the opportunities that exist for internships, job opportunities, and cultural enrichment, " said Dunn.
Other factors that make BC so appealing include access to Division I sporting events and the extensive alumni network.
BC's inclusion in such a well-read survey also attests the University's ever-expanding pull.
"The survey serves as an affirmation of Boston College as one of the most desirable universities in the nation, which is also reflected by the number of applicants we receive each year from students in 50 states and more than 60 countries," said Dunn.
Unfortunately, gaining access to the dream schools included in the Princeton Review survey is becoming increasingly difficult as the applicant pool increases in size. Of those surveyed, 51 percent report that financial aid will be "extremely necessary."
Perhaps this is yet another reason BC appeals to so many. Though tuition rates are skyrocketing, BC remains one of the 20 schools in the nation with a need- blind application process and a financial aid program that promises to meet the full demonstrated need of its students.
BC's rank on the Princeton Review survey does more than affirm the University's growing prominence in academia: Often, surveys such as this one have great sway with those preparing to transition to the world of higher education.
"We believe that surveys are one of just many tools that prospective students and parents can utilize in their decision-making process, but ultimately, it comes down to whether or not prospective students feel the strong connection when they visit and apply to their selected schools," said Dunn.
Franek took a similar stance. "Surveys are important indicators to students to do smart research. Students are much savvier these days simply because they have more access to information, and they're smarter about the practical advantage of their liberal arts degree," said Franek.
What it comes down to, though, is that prospective students and parents must choose the school that fits.
"I hope our message resonates … find the school that's right for you, that fits you, not just a school that's competitive," said Franek. n
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