<p>Hi, I've been accepted to both northeastern and binghamton and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to what school to choose. I was accepted to binghamton for the spring 2008 term because they claim they have no room for me for fall so I'd have to go to stonybrook and then transfer. I have my heart set on northeastern but they didn't give me much aid and I'd be in about $120,000 debt coming out of college since I'm paying myself. I've heard some negative things about binghamton but I would be paying a lot less since I am an in-state student and I would receive aid. I am really drawn to the co-op program at northeastern and I believe I'd just have an overall better experience...but is that experience really worth the $120,000? Or should I just suck it up and go to binghamton? Is binghamton really as bad as people say it is? I was also wondering if internships are easy to come by. I'm planning to major in either communications or business. Any input would help.</p>
<p>pooey - I work in higher ed in the Boston area and went to Binghamton. I have to tell you that no one I talk to has good things to say about Northeastern, particularly the administration. And, in terms of educational quality, Binghamton is a much better school. Not sure what sort of negative things you have heard about Bing, but my experience there was outstanding (I'm actually going up for a reunion of a number of friends next weekend) and the students I talk to who are there now say the same thing. Northeastern is definitely not worth the HUGE extra cost. Do yourself a favor, go to a local school for the semester and enroll at Binghamton in the spring. You won't be sorry.</p>
<p>thank you for your input binghamtonalum. I will be going to binghamton in the spring.</p>
<p>There is no college experience worth 120k... NOTHING. That's a lot of money an not worth it. Go to Binghamton just on that alone.</p>
<p>However, you should realize you can pay some of your tuition costs off at NE with co-op since you often get paid to do it (and get credits as well). However, that varies and dunno if it's even guaranteed.</p>
<p>In the end, go to Binghamton and leave knowing that you spent 4 years of your life (whether it was good or bad, but doubt it'd be much different than NE) to spend the rest of your life NOT having to have 120k... because most graduates don't even make 40-50k after college. Let's say you are lucky and make 25k after taxes. You can't put this all towards your debt (which grows with interest, especially if it's a bank loan), so you have to pay it off over lots of years. If you do wanna use a majority of your first years income towards this you'll have to live with your parents (no living costs = cheap living). Do you wanna do that? And even if you do, you still probably don't have it paid off in 5 years... unless you devote every cent you earn towards it. Then you still need to gather money to maybe put a down payment on a house. If you don't do it right away, you just have that bill for years and years. I know people in their 30's and 40's who are still paying off college debt.</p>
<p>Was it worth it? Some say it was, but many don't... and those who do think it's worth it are just deluding themselves to make it more bearable. </p>
<p>So, all in all, f&^* having to pay 120k for college. That's completely outrageous and ridiculous. It's going to be even more than that with interest and unless you wanna spend YEARS and YEARS paying it off, you should go to Binghamton.</p>
<p>And you said that was your choice, but just making you feel better about it and ranting a bit cuz I'm bored, lol.</p>
<p>Glad that you chose Stony Brook---> Binghamton
Good choice!!!
We're a public ivy remember haha</p>
<p>my son has had a similar situation...between bing and nyu.
He too is going to stony brook in the fall. How are you dealing with the split year? What's your impression of stony brook?</p>