Is Boston University or Emory better for undergraduate psychology research?

Both schools give undergraduates real paths into labs, but neither automatically places every student in a position; early outreach and persistence matter at each.

At BU, psychology students can pursue work across cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, developmental science, social psychology, and health-related research. Its connections to the BU Medical Campus and Boston’s broader hospital and research community can be especially valuable for students interested in mental health, brain science, or clinical research.

Emory is particularly compelling for psychology students drawn to neuroscience, clinical science, health behavior, cognition, and research connected to medicine. Its proximity to Emory School of Medicine and the Emory National Primate Research Center creates distinctive possibilities for students interested in biological and behavioral research.

For undergraduate psychology research specifically, Emory has a slight edge for a student who wants close mentorship and hopes to become deeply involved in one lab over several years. BU may be the more attractive choice for someone who wants the widest menu of labs, a large urban research setting, and possible exposure to Boston-area clinical and medical research beyond campus.