<p>I have no clue what to do!!! I was accepted at NYU Stern, but did not get any money from them so it’s completely out of the question. Now, it is between Boston U. and NEU…</p>
<p>I got about 28,000 a year in grants from BU and 16,000 a year from NEU (i still don’t know how much for financial aid, the 16k is for only academics). I am going into international business with a double major in entrepreneurship or business admin., and a minor in spanish. </p>
<p>I can’t decide if I should go for BU because of the stronger academics, or go to NEU because of the honors program and great (ranked 13th) international business program (plus the co-op!)… What do you think??? Help meeeeeee!!</p>
<p>Hmmmm. Why don't you wait until you get your full financial aid package from NEU before deciding? Based on the experience of other posters on this board, it should come in a few days. And yes, Northeastern has an amazing IB program+co-op. But they are both fine schools. Pick the one that best suits your needs and financial situation.</p>
<p>Perhaps this link will help if you are exploring Intenational studies. Look into the various study abroad programs offered through BU and NE keeping in mind you can do programs not neccessarily associated with your college. Did you get into SMG at BU? Which campus felt like a better fit where you'd be happy to spend 4 years? Is that merit aid and if so did you call to be sure that you aren't getting into Honors at BU? Evidently many kids like the co-op program at NE but the new SMG building at BU is incredible and BU has good internships instead of co-ops.. SMG sounds like an intense program though so you have to be prepared to work hard.
Under sectons for "all students" they list specific management program intenships and if Spanish is your minor there are study abroad programs in several Spanish speaking countries including Spain, Ecuador, Belize.
NE probably offers similar opportunities.</p>
<p>I would pick the school that has the strongest academics for your interests. Have you reviewed the placement rates of these schools for top MBA programs. If you did, BU would win hands down.</p>
<p>You really can't go by placement rates to top MBA programs because BU has a much larger student population (i.e. more people to apply). Look at the numbers:</p>
<p>Size of BU's graduating class: 4500
Size of Northeastern's graduating: 2800. </p>
<p>Does this mean that your chances of getting into a top grad school are are better if you graduated from BU, certainly not. </p>
<p>The OP should also consider that BU has a grade deflation policy, which means that it will likely be tougher to get top grades.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that the Northeastern IB program offers students an opportunity to earn a joint bachelor degree from a European B-school. This means that not only would you be able to co-op with an international company in Europe and study abroad, but you would receive two degrees. This would easily make your application stand out to top MBA programs.</p>
<p>hey mickeymore,
i kind of have the same dilemma since i like both schools and althought BU is my first choice, they didn't give me any money, so that really sucks and i'm hoping neu gives me money.
i am also going for intl business but french. BU's SMG is a great school. i could feel it when i visited and students have told me that it is not easy, which is actually a good thing and i really like the project they get to do on junior year and they have a campus in brussels which sounds awesome.
on the other hand, NEU has won the business beanpot for 8 consecutive years. <a href="http://www.nupr.neu.edu/2-06/businessbeanpot.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.nupr.neu.edu/2-06/businessbeanpot.shtml</a>
i love co-op because by the time you graduate, you have a good job experience and it's a lot better than an internship and well of course that maximus said.
plus.....the honors program kids get the brand new suite style dorms!</p>
<p>"You really can't go by placement rates to top MBA programs because BU has a much larger student population (i.e. more people to apply). Look at the numbers"</p>
<p>I'm not sure I understand this comment...if you're talking about rates, size doesn't really matter.</p>
<p>"The OP should also consider that BU has a grade deflation policy, which means that it will likely be tougher to get top grades."</p>
<p>BU certainly does not have a grade deflation policy. It may exist in certain classes (and I believe that it does), but the school does not have an official policy of deflating grades. I also don't believe that it is a great idea to avoid a school just because you expect it to be more challenging.</p>
<p>"i love co-op because by the time you graduate, you have a good job experience and it's a lot better than an internship and well of course that maximus said."</p>
<p>I like Northeastern and all, but I'm not as enthusiastic about the co-op plan. I don't see what advantage there is from doing a normal four year program and interning the summer after your sophomore and junior years.</p>
<p>Northeastern has a four year program with co-op included only it is more flexible than your typical internship program. Basically, under NEU's program you can co-op for longer periods of time and are not just limited to working in the summer. </p>
<p>As for grade deflation at BU, there are plently of articles in the BU Daily Free Press about it (student newpaper). I also recall seeing an article in the Bostons Globe discussing it. You're right though it is not a written policy but does exist. </p>
<p>I should be noted that grade deflation does not necessarily make a school more academically "challenging", rather it just limits the number of top grades that profs can give out. The reverse of grade deflation is of course "Grade Inflation" where basically everyone gets tops grades. Northeastern practices niether.</p>
<p>"Northeastern has a four year program with co-op included only it is more flexible than your typical internship program. Basically, under NEU's program you can co-op for longer periods of time and are not just limited to working in the summer. "</p>
<p>I understand that NU kids have the option of co-oping during the semester while BU kids are generally limited to the summer; however, my point was more that the co-op program doesn't provide a distinct advantage in the job market. Experience is experience, no matter what time of the year you do it and there are few jobs (particularly in business, which is the focus of this thread) that co-op students have access to that do not offer internships in the summer. </p>
<p>"As for grade deflation at BU, there are plently of articles in the BU Daily Free Press about it (student newpaper):</p>
<p>By that article's own admission, grading varries greatly from class to class. Additionally, every article I've seen in the Freep (and I do read it every day during lunch) says the same thing: there is not official policy, but students are concerned about specific professors and the administration is looking into it. </p>
<p>"I should be noted that grade deflation does not necessarily make a school more academically 'challenging', rather it just limits the number of top grades that profs can give out."</p>
<p>Which would make it more challenging to get a high grade...</p>
<p>The major difference between co-ops and internship programs is that co-ops are treated like real employees which means that: (1) they get to work on more real projects; and (2) are paid a salary. By contrast, most internship positions are unpaid and don't last long enough to garner any meaningful work experience. Obvioulsy, if a company was choosing bewteen two candidates, the co-op would have a huge edge simply based on the fact that the co-op has been with the company longer (i.e. more experience). So co-op does provide a distinct advantage over internship programs. </p>
<p>Here is an explanation of the differences between co-ops and internships:</p>
<p>"The major difference between co-ops and internship programs is that co-ops are treated like real employees which means that: (1) they get to work on more real projects; and (2) are paid a salary. By contrast, most internship positions are unpaid and don't last long enough to garner any meaningful work experience. Obvioulsy, if a company was choosing bewteen two candidates, the co-op would have a huge edge simply based on the fact that the co-op has been with the company longer (i.e. more experience). So co-op does provide a distinct advantage over internship programs. "</p>
<p>That's just simply not true. Accounting interns, for instance, perform the same tasks that first-year associates do AND get paid similarly (somewhere between $20-$25 an hour). Most business internships are paid (with the exception of most marketing and human resources) and I don't know of many serious internships where you do not work on "real projects."</p>
<p>Accounting is an exception. But most summer internships are unpaid. But what makes co-op superior to a summer internship is that co-ops last twice as long. This means that a Co-op student will be able to work on twice as many projects as any summer intern. This extra period also gives the co-op student more time to network with professionals in his/her field and make an impression. In fact, most co-ops lead to a permanent job offer. Some employers even have tuition reimbursement programs for students who participate in the program.</p>
<p>"In fact, most co-ops lead to a permanent job offer."</p>
<p>So do most of the internships my friends have taken.</p>
<p>"Accounting is an exception."</p>
<p>I don't really think so...I don't know very many business students that would actually work for free. Every internship I looked into--in finance and accounting--paid. All of my friends who have gone into other fields--with the exception of some marketing and human resources--have had paid internships.</p>
<p>"But what makes co-op superior to a summer internship is that co-ops last twice as long."</p>
<p>And that holds true even if you do the four year plan?</p>
<p>See post from about two days ago, under "BU Deflation?" It included CURRENT link/info out this week describing changes. BU is instituting a policy denouncing deflation and researching any classes that use it. While the Globe article was from over two yrs. ago this is as of this month that they are finalizing the new policy. Even though there was not an actual policy before there had been some professors that were very tough graders and the BU group in charge of the "no deflation" stand, out of the new Provost's office, is conducting research to determine which professors are involved in deflation resulting in a new BU web site where you can check each professor's stats pertaning to grading history. (or ask upper classmen what classes to avoid, same as at any other school) </p>
<p>This is a BU Board so there's no reason to sing the praises of other schools that have their own board for that. Cetianly BE and BU are both excellent schools. BU's SAT/GPA/ACT score averages suggest it has higher standards but that isn't really a big deal so go where it feels like a good fit.</p>
<p>Taken from on-line StudentUnion minutes. At last, BU is taking a concrete stand to rid itself of any last vestiges of this evilness!</p>
<p>Chairman: Erica Homan, Brooke Feldman
Members: Jason Myers, Sydnee Wilson, Elka Perkuhn
Summary:
The Academic Provost has been meeting with the new Academic Provost at Boston University to tackle several issues. The Committee is working to get course syllabi, books, and course evaluations online so that students will have easy access to them well ahead of choosing their classes. The Committee also met with the new President Brown in order to tackle the issue of grade deflation. A formal policy to officially denounce grade deflation is currently being developed, and campus-wide research is being conducted to find individual courses that deflate grades.</p>
<p>Maximus,
In glancing over your previous posts it seems you are on many, many different college boards singing the praises of NE vs. whatever school board you happen to be on. We know Ry is a current BU Senior at SMG but I am just curious, do you attend or work for NE?</p>
<p>Me too. When I glanced over earlier posts he said he used to work at NE's work study or something like that so it seems he is an adult not a student since I can't imagine a student having time to troll to this extent and locate two year old articles while ignoring current info. I just think prospective students on the site need to be aware that there are certain individuals that look for the school they are associated with on other school's boards and bash the other while providing the good side of the school they are promoting. Some threads have suggested some of these posters are paid by some school's admissions departments although I find that hard to believe. Still, its important that people that read these posts have a sense of what the person's background is that is providing such info. RYB is clear he is a Senior at SMG studying for his CPA exam so his thoughts are based on that experience.</p>
<p>"Still, its important that people that read these posts have a sense of what the person's background is that is providing such info."</p>
<p>I agree. I do try to be balanced in what I say because I know BU isn't for everyone and I think I've been pretty honest in terms of what is good and what is bad about BU. I do think that we students are the best resources for high schoolers to learn about each program they are applying to (which most students don't seem to really do); however, there is a tendancy to cheerlead a bit, particularly since some people on these boards love to bash certain schools (and majors, for that matter). I think it's a bit sad...the whole college application process has been ruined, IMHO.</p>
<p>I certainly don't want to bash NU, BTW--I think it's a great school and the co-op program works well for some people--I just don't want the OP to think that the co-op would provide him with access to jobs the BU students don't have access to, which would generally not be the case.</p>