So I got curious recently about how Loyola Maryland stacks up against Boston College academically. Both are private East Coast schools, right? But totally different vibes and sizes. Figured comparing their majors and departments could be super useful for anyone trying to choose between them. Here’s how I went about digging into it.
Starting With The Basics On Their Sites
First thing I did? Hit up each university’s official website separately. You gotta go straight to the source, right?
- Loyola Maryland: Scrolled straight to the “Academics” tab. Their list of majors is kinda compact and focused, mostly under the liberal arts umbrella. Think English, Poli Sci, Business – especially their solid Finance and Accounting rep. Psychology and Communications seem really popular there too.
- Boston College: Headed to BC’s “Schools & Colleges” section. Bam! Immediately saw way more options – a whole undergrad college AND separate schools for Management, Nursing, and Education. More moving parts for sure.
Digging Into Department Vibes & Faculty
Lists are one thing, but how big are these departments? How much attention do students really get? Pulled up the departmental pages next.
Loyola: Class sizes jumped out. Saw tons of 20-25 student seminars listed, especially for upper-level courses. Feels like you wouldn’t just be a number there. Faculty bios showed lots of professors really focused on undergrad teaching.
Boston College: Found bigger introductory lectures, especially in popular majors like Econ, Psych, or Biology. BUT, the professors… wow. Saw way more big-name researchers listing grants and publications right on their bio pages. Huge plus if research excites you.
Peeking At Resources & Requirements
Okay, majors are important, but what tools do they give you? Poked around university resources.
- Loyola kept emphasizing experiential learning – internships built into programs, strong study abroad push (they own a center in Rome!), undergrad research opportunities starting early. Seems structured.
- BC has powerhouse career centers attached to each school (like the big-shot business career office). Alumni networks feel massive and active. Found less mandated “you must do X” compared to Loyola’s core, though BC has its own core requirements that looked broad.
The Final Scoop
After clicking around all afternoon, here’s the gist I put together:
Loyola Maryland feels smaller, more focused on the undergrad teaching experience right now. It’s ideal if you want that tight-knit community vibe, smaller classes from day one, and programs that really push you out into the world via internships or study abroad. Their core curriculum is substantial, keeping you well-rounded.
Boston College is bigger and has way more specialized schools. You get access to powerhouse resources, star professors (especially if research interests you), and massive alumni networks. Big intro classes happen, but access to high-level stuff and faculty later on is real. More bells and whistles, perhaps a bit less mandated hand-holding than Loyola.
Honestly? It boils down to feel. Want a focused, intimate liberal arts base with strong professional grounding? Loyola might be it. Want bigger resources, specialized schools, and maybe dive deep into research? BC shines there. Both got the goods, just packaged different!