BU vs. Northeastern vs. Syracuse

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm trying to eliminate one of these schools from my list and would appreciate any advice. All three would be matches for me. I don't think I will have a problem getting into any of them (although you never know). The issue would be more affording them. None are my number 1 choice but I can see myself being happy at all of them if they were to give me enough financial aid. Pretty much what I'm looking for is a college in a big city with a nice green campus, good communications program, study abroad, and good financial aid (whether need based or merit). I'm considering pursuing PR.</p>

<p>BU
-great communications with a PR concentration
-in Boston= great city with lots of job/internship possibilities and easy for me to get to and stay close to home
-doesn't really have a green campus, more of a city campus
-meets 92% of need and has a few big merit scholarships but they seem very competitive and limited
-visited it and liked it</p>

<p>NORTHEASTERN
-has communications but no PR concentration
-co-op program is great
-again in Boston, this time with more of a green campus
-only meets 89% of need and very few merit scholarships
-visited and liked it</p>

<p>SYRACUSE
-haven't visited and probably won't have a chance to until after applying
-aunt/godmother is an alumni (not sure if there is any significance to this. she didn't end up graduating from there. she doesn't have any kids)
-seems to have a gorgeous campus
-amazing communications program and has PR
-based on net price calculators, it would give me the most money out of the three schools, meets 96% of need plus has several merit scholarships
-biggest drawback is the location- I don't know much about Syracuse but it seems like it's just a small city quite a distance from NYC and it's farther from home and more difficult to get to (does anyone know if I can take a train from Boston to Syracuse?). I'm worried about needing a car to get around and having limited access to the best jobs/internships.</p>

<p>Anyone have any input as to which school I should take off my list? Right now I'm leaning towards eliminating Northeastern</p>

2

<p>You can take a train from Boston to Syracuse.</p>

<p>But if you want to be in a big city, cross Syracuse University off your list. Syracuse is one of those cities that was nicer fifty years ago. It’s gone downhill since.</p>

<p>On the other hand, you can live in a big city after graduation. If the aid is far better, it certainly could be worth it to go to SU.</p>

3

<p>I don’t know what your stats are, but the average SAT score for Northeastern is about 100-150 points higher than BUs and Syracuse’s so that may make it less of a safety for you. They also have a substantial amount of merit aid (at least compared to BU), but again average scores may change how much you will get. Regarding a PR concentration, if I were you I would find a professor that teaches PR classes at the school and ask them, at any school I found that professors were more than willing to give you a fair assessment of the quality or if you are better suited somewhere else.</p>

4

<p>I don’t consider any of these schools safeties. My scores are either within or beyond the ranges for all three, so that’s why I don’t think I’ll have a huge problem getting in although I know it is a possibility. Based on the financial aid calculators, northeastern would give me much less aid than BU or Syracuse.</p>

5

<h2>All of them are equally comparable and peer schools - my personal preference would be 1.) BU 2.) Syracuse 3.) Northeastern</h2>

<p>BU has international name recognition which gives it an edge</p>

6

<p>I think you should apply to all 3 so you can compare offers of FA including merit aid. The communications school at Syracuse is very well known so I’m sure there are lots of internships (note that you don’t have to do the internships in Syracuse!).
I do like BU and Northeastern’s location a lot better.</p>