<p>Hey everyone, I would really appreciate some advice! I am torn between BC and Northeastern. Northeastern gave me 20k a year and entry into the Honors Program, while I got nothing from BC. I love both campuses, and locations.
I’m struggling to decide which option is better for me. I’m a prospective poli-sci major, although that’s subject to change. BC has a great reputation, national presence, and I know that I’ll receive an exceptional and well rounded education there. I love the big sport presence there, and while I won’t be participating in any, I love hockey and the school spirit that they bring.
I love Northeastern’s great co-op programs and internships. Also, because of the honors program, I’ll get to dorm in the new residential buildings, which are def. nicer than the dorms at Northeastern and BC.
Is either one more valuable for post college life? Actual work experience vs. graduating from a reputable college like BC?</p>
<p>I’ll really appreciate any suggestions or advice!</p>
<p>Northeastern is certainly a reputable school too. It may not be that well known outside the east coast…yet. Where will that $20,000/year x 4 = $80,000 cost come from: your parents or loans?</p>
<p>Probably a combination of the two. We have some money saved up, and I’ll definitely take up a job while at college, but I think I’ll end up having to take out some loans nevertheless, regardless of which college I attend.</p>
<p>If you will have to take out loans for Northeastern, even with a $20,000/year scholarship, how much do you and your parents plan to borrow for full pay BC?</p>
<p>I think you need to sit down with your parents and have a serious talk about this. Graduating from BC with $100,000 in loans would put you in a financial hole even if you get a high paying job.</p>
<p>D has admission in the BC Honors program and we are just wondering if BC is worth a Quarter of a million Dollar education. Haven’t quite been able to come to a conclusion.</p>
<p>cahsparent:
If you can afford BC and make the personal decision to do so for your D, I strongly believe you won’t regret it. </p>
<p>Our S is graduating next month. Aside from academics, his 4 years at BC exceeded his and our expectations for enabling and inspiring him to personally grow and thrive. He’s been involved in countless activities, volunteering in foreign countries (both leading & participating), numerous fundraising events for social causes, study abroad, the annual mud-volleyball games, and many more that I’ve forgotten. </p>
<p>He called us up last year after returning from one of the big weekend retreats (I think Kairos), and said “I am so glad I went to a Jesuit college” - and this is from someone who was “so done” with Catholic religious school in 10th grade that he never wanted to set foot in a church again.</p>
<p>When you read or hear that BC “educates the whole person”, they’re not kidding.</p>
<p>I hope some current BC upper class-members can chime into this thread and share their thoughts on some of the special added value they got from BC.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should look at Boston College as a $250,000 expense: unless you are comparing it to a completely 100% free college education covering - tution, room, board, books, and travel expenses. </p>
<p>Instead, if you compare it to a state school like Penn State - then Boston College is costing about $26,000 more per year. The difference is still substantial, at $104,000, but it is not $250,000 more. </p>
<p>You are paying for your child’s happiness and opportunities. Some parents start paying more for that as early as preschool, some for K-12, some for college and some never do. When your child is as happy as the previous poster described, then I believe that the extra money spent is worthwhile.</p>
<p>when you run the numbers, also factor in the extra term(s) at NEU. If I recall, the internship term is no charge, but still NEU has a five-year grad rate, not four. So, that means 5-years of housing, at least, and perhaps an extra semester of tuition. (My memory is fading, so worth checking on to compare apples-to-apples.)</p>
<p>Northeastern offers a four year or five year option in virtually all programs. You only pay for 8 senesters of tuition in either option. Coop earnings cover the cost of living while working on coop.</p>
<p>^^perhaps true, but in its federal filings (ipeds), NEU reports a 0% graduation rate at 4 years. Either no one gets out in 4 (which I don’t believe), or the number is so small that they don’t report it, or NEU just doesn’t think it worthwhile to report it. Regardless, before signing on the bottom line, it would be important to know what the odds are of only having to pay for 8 semesters & 8 semesters worth of housing.</p>
<p>bluebayou - the four year option at NEU was just instituted in the last year or two so none of the students have formally finished in four years.</p>
<p>Wow daftwhite we have almost identical dilemmas! I too am deciding between BC and the Northeastern Honors program as my top choices, I too loved the feeling of school spirit at BC and the presence of sports there, I too was offered far more money from Northeastern than BC, and I too am worried about real world experience and job opportunities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts everyone! and thanks for the link ThaKalp, it definitely lent some valuable insight. I think I’m swaying towards BC, because of the national name value, something that’s particularly valuable for political science. However, I am still torn financially, although I think that the chance of landing a job, maybe even a well paying job relatively soon after college would be easier with BC.
I’m the son of two Russian immigrants, so I’ve grown up witnessing first hand the struggles that loans can put on a person and a family. Even though my father has finally begun practicing as a doctor, he has over 200k of loans himself. I feel that while loans are not desirable, if I can build a decent career, than the loans would be manageable. So ThaKalp, I think I’m ultimately headed to BC, but nothing’s definite yet</p>
<p>What happens if I pay you $20,000 to try out any school you got into but BC for a year and you can transfer back to BC later if you wish. For each additional year you choose not to attend BC, I keep paying you $20,000. That’s what your choice is right now. </p>
<p>Or, imagine asking your future self four years later, will she/he hate you if you decide on NEU? Or would that person be just as satisfied with his/her experience AND be without the $80k burden?That $80k can go toward grad school, 2-3 years of traveling around the world doing amazing internships or projects after college, or a down payment to your first apartment. Yeah. $80k is serious money.</p>
<p>I attended BC three years ago and I love EVERY minute of it. But BC gave me a generous financial aid package and I didn’t have to worry about loan repayment after graduation. If I was in your spot and took $80k of debt, I’d be freaking out about my monthly loan payment right now. I’d not be not making enough money to cover all my expenses + student loans without cutting back on a lot of (frivolous) things that I so enjoy. </p>
<p>So, take NEU’s offer, transfer to BC later if you don’t like NEU.</p>