One of my nieces started at Boston University but found that it was, indeed Big and Ugly. She transferred to Eugene Lang for the next three years and got a spectacular education. After getting a MA there also, she parleyed that into a very successful career in Conflict Mediation.
Her brother went to U. VT for HIS first year and then transferred to Parsons. He, too, has a big and successful career as a photographer and ad designer. He is now considered “famous” in his field at 35.
Nephew