<p>I'm an international student going to the USA from London in Fall 2011 to study Neuroscience
I've been accepted to NYU, Boston U and Northeastern U and I can't choose!</p>
<p>Northeastern have offered me a $15000 scholarship (per year) and an invitation to their honours program, whereas the other two have just offered regular admission. Without this aid all three have about the same costs per annum (approx. $55k) </p>
<p>I love the idea of living in New York and NYU is an amazing school but I don't want to pass up either of the Boston opportunities either! No matter where I go I have to take out a student loan and I have an uncle who said he will be my US-citizen cosigner for it. Is it better to have graduated as an honors student from a slightly less recognised university than it is to have a regular BSc from NYU or BU? Northeastern still looks like a fabulous place to go but my parents are put off by it being a new-age university and that alot of people haven't heard of it!</p>
<p>I haven't been able to visit any of the colleges so all I know about them comes from college fairs and websites and I have to make a decision by the end of April or I forfeit my scholarship.</p>
<p>I believe that Northeastern’s reputation is above that of Boston University, and only slightly lower than NYU. Considering the money being offered and you personally financing the rest through debt (this seems a bit ambitous?), then Northeastern is a no brainer, IMO.</p>
<p>I agree with Hinsdale1. Boston is a great college town. While NYC is also a lot of fun, it is like London in a lot of ways (size, crowds, expense) so Boston will be a different experience for you. Also, the honors program will look good on your CV.</p>
<p>Do you understand that you are asking your uncle to agree to pay something in the range of USD 160,000 to USD 220,00 if you can’t get a job and pay these loans off? Please communicate with him about this and find out how he feels about that.</p>
<p>When you graduate, if you do not find a sponsor for an H1B visa you will have to go home and look for a job there. How long will it take you to pay down this kind of debt if you are not earning in USD? Do you not have any more affordable options in the UK or elsewhere?</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys! I think I’m now deciding between northeastern and nyu…
Do you think its worth visiting both before making a final decision?</p>
<p>Also my uncle is aware of the responsibility but I will definitely clarify every detail with him before he commits officially.</p>
<p>If you can, I would advise that you visit them both.
The next four years will be a big investment for you and your family and it seems unwise to make that investment without knowing all of the details.</p>
<p>BTW, there’s nothing ‘new-age’ about Northeastern. It’s well known for it’s co-op program and it’s strengths for undergraduates. Both schools are quite urban, but Northeastern has more of a centralized campus.</p>
<p>Perhaps you might consider the money you save by attending Northeastern for undergrad a way to save for grad school at NYU, if you’d still like to consider living in NYC.</p>
<p>Do figure out how much debt you are going to have to take on, so that you can figure out how long it might take to pay off. There is a huge difference between student debt in the range of USD 30,000 total, and students debt in the range of USD 200,000 total. The first is reasonable for someone to pay off in the standard ten years working in the US. The latter would strangle someone working in the US, and would be impossible if that person were working outside the US and not earning in currency that had a favorable exchange rate. Run your numbers through the loan repayment calculator at [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Prepayment Calculator](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Prepayment Calculator - Finaid) and see what this could look like.</p>
<p>I think you’re all probably right Northeastern is probably the right choice especially with the scholarship and honours program considered. I’m just worried about making the wrong decision because I chose my last university here in England because of practicality and was really unhappy there. I don’t want to make the same mistake again :(</p>
<p>As a transfer student, to be admitted with any scholarship money at all is huge! You are truly fortunate! Do you have an idea of how many of your credits will transfer? You may cut a year or more off of your studies which would reduce your final costs.</p>
<p>I know someone in the exact situation. And from London as well.
Are you a guy or a girl?
Check their academic and choose the one that suits you the best with what you wanna do.
Are you going to take a loan for the full cost? that would be extreme!</p>
<p>I’m a girl! And also though I went to university here in England, I was doing undergraduate medicine (MBBS) for which you don’t earn credits. It’s only pass/fail. However because I did A Levels here (Grades AAAa), Northeastern have offered to consider them a AP classes so it’s possible to get up to 7 credits for those! I’ve emailed NYU to ask if they would do the same but no response yet. The truth is my dad honestly cannot afford to pay anything towards tuition, he said he can pay for flights and may some expenses, but that’s probably all and in reality I have two younger siblings so I wouldn’t want him to contribute either. So I will definitely be using loans for the whole lot…</p>
<p>Please, do not do this to yourself. You cannot afford either of these universities. You may not even be able to get an F-1 visa if the visa officer doesn’t believe that your uncle is really going to pay for your education.</p>
<p>$200,000 or more in private debt to pay for your undergraduate education will absolutely destroy your life. If you run the loan repayment calculator at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.FinAid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.FinAid.org) you will see that in order to repay this amount of money in the ten years that most student loans are expected to be repaid in, your monthly loan payment alone would be more than $2,300. What kind of job do you think you can get right out of college that will leave you $2,300 each month after taxes, rent, groceries, transportation, car payments, clothing, etc.? </p>
<p>Take a year off from your studies, and work for a while, and think about your long-term goals. Find a good university somewhere that you and your family can afford.</p>
<p>^ I agree. It’s dangerous to get into so much debt so young. I think it’s great young people aspire to schools that inspire them. But sometime practicality has to be respected.</p>
<p>Also, I am wondering are there really student loan lenders who are willing to give out 200k+ to applicants in situations like this?</p>