BU vs Northeastern

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston University
1

Hey guys, I’m posting this on the Northeastern thread as well. I have about a week until I have to decide whether to go to BU or Northeastern for engineering. The financial aid is dead even. Here’s my pros and cons for each school.

BU
Pros:

  • “prestige” (I don’t like saying the word, but BU’s reputation probably helps when going for jobs)
  • research (UROP, 60 lab rooms, Engineering product innovation center)
  • newer facilities and dorms seem better
  • being on the river is nice
  • with unlimited AP credit policy, I’d earn anywhere between 36 and 52 AP transfer credits (might get out in 3 years)
  • summer break
  • traditional college experience (more school spirit, more social)

Cons:

  • The few professors I met seemed to have a chip on their shoulders (I cannot stand people who are like that)
  • rare co-op program (not entirely sure)
  • rare study abroad (also not sure)
  • drawn out in a line (not much of a campus feel, which contradicts the “traditional college experience” point)
  • Maybe too much partying (I would want to go to some parties but wouldn’t want to join a frat)
  • with the larger population I could feel lost in the crowd

Northeastern
Pros:

  • Co-op (work experience, money, more time because of no studying)
  • Co-op (probably counts as two)
  • also has global co-op/study abroad/dialogues
  • Campus feel (not spread out like BU)
  • Up and coming (gigantic engineering complex, rising in prestige)
  • When I visited the faculty and students seemed nice
  • I’d get 32 transfer credits from AP classes (they capped it at 32), could knock off 1-2 semesters (not sure though because I’d have to take 5 hard engineering classes each semester instead of spreading them out over more semesters)

Cons:

  • classes in summer
  • my friends would be on co-op when I’m in classes (some northeastern vlogger on YouTube said it was pretty antisocial)
  • don’t know if I really want 5 years
  • from what I saw, BU had nicer buildings
  • apparently not in a good neighborhood
  • Not a traditional campus with less school spirit bc everyone is doing their own thing

Anyone with personal experience at these schools that could clarify, refute, or bring up new points, would be much appreciated.

2

I would say BU’s engineering is better than Northeastern’s. As well, BU is much more well known than NEU. Also, there’s not that much of a party scene at BU. There’s hardly any parties on BU campus the majority of parties are off campus.