Boston University vs. Northeastern

So the dust has settled and my ultimate college choice is between BU and Northeastern. I would be in the business school for both and BU is cheaper by a few thousand a year but both are doable. I like both schools but have reservations about both as well. I feel like BU will be a better social fit for me and I love the campus, but I also like Northeastern’s co-op program a lot. Does the 1 co-op track make it difficult to graduate in 4 years? Can anyone give insight into which school is “better” for business majors and will provide the best college experience and post-grad employment opportunities?

I can’t tell you which school is “better” in business, but I can tell you that it’s possible to do 1 co-op, summer school, and graduate in 4 years from NEU.

With AP/IB credit, you can even get 2 co-ops in if you want at NEU. I would recommend staying for 5 years frankly at NEU - many come in with the mindset of getting out in 4 no matter what and end up choosing to stay to do more co-ops. If you do choose the 1 co-op 4-year path, graduating in 4 years is easy - you still have the exact same number of academic semesters, just some are summer classes.

Both have almost exactly equal business schools in terms of quality and rank, both specifically in Business and overall.

What are your reservations exactly about each school? Is it just social fit vs co-op?

Northeastern has the edge I think.

What are your reservations about BU? Perhaps I could provide some insight. In terms of the business schools and opportunities, I’m not sure you’ll get much on this forum other than anecdata and biased conjecture. I went to BU, so I’m going to tell you that Questrom is amazing and BU has an alumni network full of people who work for pretty incredible corporations (true), but, I mean, I was a COM major so I can’t give you a story about how BU Questrom got me my dream job LOL. (frankly, I don’t think anyone who has graduated in this economy will give you an Cinderella story) Anyone who went to NEU will tell you that co-op is the best thing ever (it’s a pretty sweet program) and will tell you it’s going to give you a much better edge for jobs. I don’t know if that’s true; honestly I’m skeptical that this magical program has jobs that grow on trees. I certainly know none of my NEU friends, when we were graduating into a recession, graduated with jobs. It happens for some, but not for the majority (b/c most businesses that have a budget for an intern, don’t have one for a full time employee). It’s basically an internship program (again, a good one), and it’s not like BU doesn’t have those connections (or other schools), you would just use them at another time. It’s a summer internship or an internship on a study abroad program (BU’s strong suit) instead of working FT during a school semester. Apples and oranges. Both fruit, though you may prefer one over the other.

I think you should concentrate on fit, because I don’t think choosing one business program over another is going to ruin OR make your entire life. You’ll have similar outcomes going to great schools and great business programs. Thus, social life, fit and campus become important variables, IMO.