For a kid who spent his first 18 years in California, going to Boston University was a big leap.

I chose BU because of its highly regarded programs at the College of Communication (COM), but also to take myself out of my comfort zone.

While most of my friends headed to beautiful sprawling campuses on the west coast, it took me a while to adjust to BU's very urban setting. However, once I settled in, I felt like I didn't belong anywhere else. From my freshman experience in the massive Warren Towers dorm to small interactive journalism classes at COM, I enjoyed almost everything about going to school at BU.

At times, I felt like the 100-level classes I took as a freshman and sophomore were not challenging enough, but my later journalism courses were incredibly valuable. I had the fortune of having professors who were also working simultaneously in the broadcast news business and I learned some great lessons that still help me to this day-- I've now been a TV news reporter for 11 years.

I also took advantage of BU's study abroad program and spent a semester in Madrid, Spain. During my time there, I became fluent in Spanish and made some wonderful friends. Having Spanish on my resume has also been extremely valuable.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoyed being walking distance away from Fenway Park and everything else downtown Boston has to offer.

One of my few disappointments was to see BU eliminate its baseball and football teams while I was there. Of course, just about everyone becomes a fan of Terrier hockey.

I highly recommend Boston University for undergraduates.

Eric Rasmussen, COM '99

Professors developed stimulating coursework that was both challenging and rigorous. Because of BU’s global profile, I interacted with classmates online across the reaches of the Earth, classmates who brought their diversity of thought, willing to cross-pollinate mutual growth and perspective. In the fiber optics and electrons that bounce through keyboard and screen, a multi-faceted array of diverse audio-visuals generated spirited debate.

Interactive discussions through mutual and compulsory postings created an elevated, academic dynamic, as did the more traditional (verbal) conferences online. The overall experience nourished a balanced academic environment – I felt constantly that I was a member of a productive, supportive, and vibrant body of faculty and students.

If anyone is interested in obtaining paper in exchange for money, he or she will soon drop out of this program. If anyone is interested in educational achievement, you will understand quickly why this program is rated number one.

I did an online undergraduate degree in Genetics, Ethics and the Law. It's great to be able to interact with faculty members online as this really helps with coursework. There's also a great variety of course material - interactive studies, online videos etc. The main thing is that you have to be very self motivated - much more so than if you were on campus full time. The overall experience was extremely good and I would definitely recommend online learning to others.