I am currently really struggling to choose between these two schools, and would love any feedback/advice.
99% of my friends have told me to go to northeastern, but the adults that I have talked to told me that BC is a much better school. From my experience, I liked NEU’s social and urban atmosphere more than I did at BC, but I can’t deny the academic prestige offered at BC.
I have a close family friend who is a Econ professor, and he said that Boston college is a lot better in terms of applying for grad school and overall name-brand. Many adults that I have talked to have also stated how NEU cannot even compare to BC and that I should choose BC.
It’s no lie that CSOM is ranked a lot higher, but I am worried about the ‘preppy’ vibe at BC (coming from an asian, low-income family).
This isn’t about extremes. You can certainly do well from either as it’s mostly about what you do with your opportunities. That said, these two are quite different and will draw a different type of student. Urban pre-professional focused on co-op vs. suburban liberal arts core with tremendous sense of community.
I kind of think of it as kids go to NEU to get a focused education and get a job . Whereas kids go to BC to live the “classic college experience” while being very well prepared to get that job. Certainly there are students that cross the spectrum, but if I had to label them in one camp, I would do it as I described.
So, not a matter of better or worse, both great! Which one attracts your soul?
Both schools used to be far less prestigious, but BC became prestigious about 20-30 years before NEU. I’d bet a good portion of the difference in adults versus kids perceptions of prestige comes from that. The reality of today is that they are academically on the same tier and fit should absolutely be the factor you decide on, as @rickle1 pointed out. Go where you fit best and what experience you’d prefer given the large differences here.
I always say this to prospective Northeastern students:
The number ONE reason to go to NEU is that you want the co-op experience. You WANT to work in your field as early as your sophomore year. (Which also means you have a pretty good GENERAL idea of what you want to do.) You have no problem with the fact that starting in your second year, many of your friends will disappear off campus for months at a time while they’re co-opping – meaning you’ll see them only in the evenings and on weekends.
So when evaluating schools, don’t focus on NEU’s cool urban vibe. That’s not the main reason to go there. And don’t take rankings/prestige too seriously; both schools will be a stepping stone to good jobs.
Focus on co-ops and their appeal/minuses. NEU is all about co-op. And only you can decide whether that’s the right fit for you.
I don’t think my son’s number one reason to attend NEU was the co-op, but it was a factor. He liked the location better and the student body was more his “type”, less preppy white suburban kid. BC has a certain vibe and NEU has theirs. You need to find which “vibe” fits you better. Kids do well coming out of either school, as do most kids enrolling at Boston schools like BU,Tufts, H, and MIT.
As far as the reputation of NEU many of the top local employers really like graduates with actual work experience, like the kind you’d get with a co-op.
Good luck with your choice.
Where did you pick?
Daughter is a freshman at BC. We have been very surprised at how unpreppy and diverse BC is these days. It’s a real mix. All serious student types but definitely not preppy. And with over 1000 students from Asia alone out of 9000 total, you won’t feel out of place at all.