<p>I'll make this quick... I was accepted to both and now I cant decide! Help me point out some things please? o.0</p>
<p>Both NEU and BU normally cost about 50k a year after room/board, tuition, fees, etc. </p>
<p>Boston University
--- gave me 40k of grants/scholarships; little undergrad debt
--- major in biology
(semi-low salary and/or grad school to get higher paying job)
(not too confident on the job market right now)
OR go premed (slim chance at med school + HUGE debt)
--- more diversity and better academically
--- Honors program
--- better fitness and athletic facilities </p>
<p>Northeastern University
--- gave me 23k of grants/scholarships; also required to find a way to take out 15k of loans on my own...; HUGE undergrad debt :(
--- major in Pharmacy; 0+6 program
--- Honors program + Honors suite housing :)
--- Co-op!!!!!
--- Already very familiar with the campus originally 1st choice</p>
<p>$$$$$
I would owe 150k+ if I went to NEU but would make around 100k a year if I became a pharmacist but pharmacists are needed EVERYWHERE.
I would owe 30k+ if I went to BU but would make 40k a year at first as a biologist. The debt would skyrocket above 160k if I went to med school but I would make 150k + depending on my specialty. Im not too sure about the job opportunities available in todays economy.</p>
<p>I would not mind being a pharmacist. I would like to be a biologist, though I dont like the paperwork involved in biology. I think I could handle being a physician, but I dont like the long hours, high stress and huge debt (and years and years of studying). Unfortunately, money plays a huge role; biologists salaries just dont compare to the other two.
BU seems more happy. But this is because my tour guide for NEU was more somber and at BU the tour guide was happy and hyper.
BUs surprisingly high aid amount and Northeasterns low aid (lowest of all my colleges) are the only things blocking my enrollment to NEU. NEU was my first choice.</p>
<p>Well… I’d say NEU. I’m in the same boat except I have to take out 13K and plan on going to med school through the Tufts Med EA program (if I get in that is :P). </p>
<p>I’d say NEU just on the fact that you’d be in the pharmacy program. You can get companies to pay off your student loans just by signing a 4-5 year contract as a pharmacist. You can’t go wrong in the field of pharmacy. So I’d say… in the long(er) run NEU would be cheaper. </p>
<p>Plus, NEU has more of a connected campus feel with the benefits of the city right outside. Heck there’s even a T-stop built into the school. </p>
<p>I would go with NEU they have excellent career services and if you decide to switch majors your coops will help you decide what you want to do in the future. NEU is also rising in the ranks and their reputation just keeps getting better. However in the end if finances are really hampering you then BU would be the smarter choice. Both are great programs so good luck.</p>
<p>What worries me is that you say you “wouldn’t mind being a pharmacist”. If you were absolutely sure you wanted to be a pharmacist, then I think it’s fine to rack up some debt to get the degree. Pharmacists make good money and you could pay off the loans without too much trouble.</p>
<p>But, as a biologist (I’ll probably work in biotech for a year or two after I graduate, then go to medical school), I would REALLY think twice before going $100K into debt in Undergrad. You can’t make much money with a bachelor’s in science, especially if you’re trying to pay off a lot of debt. You basically have to go to grad or med school… grad school will pay stipends (like 20-30k) so you don’t have to worry about debt too much, but obviously med school is going to be anywhere from 75k-200k in debt. Sure, after that you make bank, but getting there is a little *****.</p>
<p>Which school do you prefer? If you LOVE nu, and think you could stick with pharmacy, maybe it’s worth it. You can also cut costs by trying to get a good co-op job (make sure you have work experience before your first co-op, so that you can be competitive), live in Mission Hill, eat lots of Ramen.</p>
<p>if you go to NEU and major in pharmacy your debt will be over in 5-10 years, Pharmacy majors make a lot of money out of school</p>
<p>if you go to BU go premed, if you get a bio degree you might as well just go to med-school, no sense to take a year off w/ the job market, and i can’t say for sure but i don’t believe the bio majors are in high demand</p>
<p>The key words here are about the finances…you should go to BU. It doesn’t make sense to me to take on debt to attend NEU when BU is offering you a good education without the debt. Your career choices could change numerous times from now till when you graduate and even after that.</p>