<p>Hi. I'm a high school senior who applied to way too many schools, Fordham and Northeastern among them. I'm dependent on scholarship money (aren't we all) in this search, my reason for all the applications. I just found out on Friday that I'm a National Merit Finalist (!!!) which means these two schools, both of which I've visited and liked, are very likely to give me full tuition scholarships. In fact, as long as I get in at Northeastern (I applied Regular Decision) I am GUARANTEED. Yes, this was a huge relief. I am in at Fordham, but don't know if their scholarship is contingent upon anything else.
Enough preface. These are two rather different schools- completely divergent educational models and opportunities, two awesome cities. As I said, I have visited both and liked them- but then with the fourteen schools I've visited you can imagine it is hard to have a distinct and strong reaction to each one. It is my understanding that Fordham is slightly more respected academically. I would imagine at Fordham I would get a more traditional liberal arts kind of education, whereas Northeastern has of course the coop program. But, choosing is hard. Throughout this process I was half-thinking that only one school would offer up the needed funds and so I would go there by default, but it appears I too will actually have to decide (heaven forbid).
Any thoughts that might tip the balance?</p>
<p>*I am in at Fordham, but don’t know if their scholarship is contingent upon anything else. *</p>
<p>Are you in the top 10% of your class? Have you contacted Fordham scholarships to find out if you’ll get their full-tuition NMF scholarship? Does Fordham have a deadline as to when you have to name their your #1 choice with NMCorp?</p>
<p>I would wait until I got the offer from both before I agonized over the decision. My son was heavily considering NEU, he loved the coop program idea, that he would get a chance to try out different potential jobs before he graduated. But I was concerned that the economy would affect the placements. I also didn’t like their inflexibility, even for the honors students. (I am a graduate of Rutgers, where the RU Screw is talked about, and I got the impression that NEU has something similar.)</p>
<p>I thought NMF notifications are off of your PSAT scores, so I am confused about this with you being a senior. Whatever.</p>
<p>Fordham reviews all applicants for scholarship potential. The ordinary cutoff is 1400/1600 on the SAT and normally top 5% of your high school class. There are exceptions.</p>
<p>Call Fordham admissions and ask them.</p>
<p>There are big differences between the two schools. Boston and New York are very different with different opportunities for internships and jobs after graduation. </p>
<p>Fordham is among the top 25 hottest schools according to Newsweek magazine. Lots going on there right now, though they stink in some sports. (Northeastern dumped football recently, I heard.) </p>
<p>Fordham is Jesuit and that has a special value to you as a student. </p>
<p>My bias is Fordham, but I am not you. </p>
<p>Congratulations on being named an NMF and being admitted to Fordham, and presumably to Northeastern. </p>
<p>I can assure you that you will be plenty challenged academically at Fordham. I presume you were admitted to the Rose Hill campus? </p>
<p>There are lots and lots of very, very smart kids at Fordham. They have an amazing faculty. And fewer than 1 percent of classes have more than 50 students with the vast majority of classes having 25-30 students. </p>
<p>You won’t be a number at Fordham. Its a great school.</p>
<p>I thought NMF notifications are off of your PSAT scores, so I am confused about this with you being a senior. Whatever.</p>
<p>The NMSF are based on PSAT scores. The NMF notifications are given senior year (this month).</p>
<p>Fordham gives full tuition scholarships to NMFs who are also top 10% in their classes.</p>
<p>To counter ghostbusters fact point Northeastern is ranked #2 up and coming school in US News</p>
<p>To counter katytibbs, What about other schools who don’t offer the coop or internship programs? aren’t they worse positioned than NEU who have thousands of connections to companies all over the world?</p>
<p>bottom line both are good schools and will provide you with a good education. I think it comes down to fit and where you are more comfortable. Good luck.</p>
<ul>
<li>I almost went to northeastern by the way</li>
</ul>
<p>I’d choose Fordham.</p>
<p>My concern about the coop program at NEU is that if students weren’t able to get a coop when planned, the system might not adjust well and the student’s graduation would be delayed.</p>
<p>To answer a few questions: I attend a very small private high school and am in a graduating class of five, so as I understand it, the top 10% critieria does not apply to me. That said, I plan to call and ask what exactly the deciding factors are. My guidance counselor has the papers that give the deadlines for notifying the schools. I think it varies depending on the school. However, there is a possibility I have to choose by March 1st, in which case this question is rather urgent.</p>