Which is more supportive for undergraduate students: Boston University or Princeton?

Princeton is more likely to provide the consistently supported day-to-day undergraduate experience you describe. Its smaller undergraduate community, residential college system, and unusually extensive institutional resources make it easier for students to have identifiable academic and personal support contacts. Princeton students also tend to encounter faculty in small classes, precepts, office hours, and independent work, which can make professor relationships more accessible.

A student who values a close-campus environment and wants support built into residential life may find Princeton especially reassuring. Princeton also provides structured academic support, peer advising, writing help, tutoring, and health and counseling services; the practical advantage is that these resources are closely connected to a relatively small undergraduate population.

Boston University has substantial support resources, including academic advising within its schools and colleges, tutoring and writing assistance, accessibility services, and student health and well-being offices. It can be an excellent place for a student who is comfortable taking initiative, using office hours, and seeking out the right office or community in a large urban university. Many BU professors are engaged and approachable, particularly once students move into smaller major courses, but the experience can vary more by college, department, and individual instructor.

At BU, the size of the student body and the city setting create more independence: students often need to build their own network among advisors, professors, classmates, and student organizations. At Princeton, the residential and academic structure is more likely to make that network feel immediately visible. For a senior prioritizing approachable professors and readily available support over a bigger-city, more self-directed experience, Princeton has the clearer edge.