Boston University

The gastronomy program here sounds like a dream come true for anyone who wants to become a restaurant owner, food business owner, food writer/editor, or media creator. Unfortunately, the support just isn't there.

This is a master's program, however there's a lot of inequality at work here. They assume that just because you're in a masters program- you know everything there is to know about getting things done within the field. If that were the case, none of us would be in the program- we'd already be out working. As undergrads, not everyone had the means to overachieve like some of the masters students in this program, either financially or privilege-wise. If students come to the administration, for guidance, they may get a one or two sentence reply without any additional assistance or information. Forget about getting a mentor. Forget about people sharing their own experiences through graduate school.

The program is open to pretty much everyone with any sort of background. There are many students who, without much or very old college experience, transfer over from the culinary program. It is assumed that they know how to write papers right out of the gate, and are already thinking about the concepts presented in the program. This is such an exclusionary practice.

Speaking of which, the program heavily teaches liberal concepts (which is fine). What happens is you have a giant group of white women talking about oppression and privilege, pointing out other people's lack of awareness on these topics, all while their parents pay their way and while they don't advocate for POC in the program or external. This program isn't very diverse, and carry's with it a large echo-chamber of out-of-touch ideas. Yelling and debating about how every single practice within the field is racist, while doing nothing to change it, is really tacky. The administration contributes and clings to those students who behave in that way, rewarding them with special attention and opportunities. I had found out from my classmate who is a WOC that she had run into some admin members after graduation and they didn't even know she had graduated. There aren't that many students to not know that one of their paying students had been out of the program for a year. I'm thankful for what I had learned, but I should have gone to NYU or Italy.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

Just had a lot of super negative experiences. My parents went to BU and its nowhere near the quality it was at back then. BU has been going downhill the last few years and I would not recommend attending.

2nd Year Female -- Class 1922

Campus Aesthetics: A-, Scholastic Success: D