Cornell vs Northeastern - I can't pick!

<p>I was recently accepted into Cornell, Northeastern University, Boston University, and UC Berkeley. I'm in the process of making my decision, and I have narrowed it down between Cornell and Northeastern. I want to major in CS and most likely minor or double major in Econ or Business. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, because I don't know which school to choose. Cornell has given me no money at all, so it's costing me about 65K a year (260K Total), while NU has given me 20K per year, costing me 35K a year (140K Total). I was accepted to their school of CS and the Honors Program, but I don't know truly how much to value it. NU saves me around 120K total, but Cornell is Cornell. Which one do I choose? I realize that Cornell is the better school, but how much is an Undergraduate Degree worth? Is a Cornell education worth that extra 120K? How important is it to graduate with low debt vs the prestige of your undergraduate Alma mater? I've visited both schools, and both are nice. I don't have anything against any one of them. I'm just unsure which decision to make.</p>

<p>In terms of CS, I wouldn’t say that Cornell is that much better than Northeastern. I would go with Northeastern in this case, simply because it’s cheaper for the same quality program. Plus, co-op would be useful in helping you get prepared for the working world.</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, how come you aren’t interested in UCB?After MIT and Stanford, it’s probably got the best CS program in the world. And UCB is cheaper. OOS pay no more than 55K ,which is 10K cheaper than Cornell. In state kids pay even less.</p>

<p>I have several friends who currently go to UCB and they tell me that the whole situation in terms of understaffing and Napolitano is a mess. At this point, If I was paying 55K for UCB, I’d rather go to Cornell for 10K more.</p>

<p>I also know that Cornell has an Engineering Co-Op, which makes me think - does it even matter for the Co-Op? If both schools offer that, and that is a major advocacy for NU, why should that be weighted more heavily?</p>

<p>In Business, are both schools similar? I hear that Cornell’s Dyson school is much much better for a econ degree than from D’Amore McKim.</p>

<p>Putting the money aside I would choose Cornell – but of course $120,000 is not easily put aside! </p>

<p>At the end of the day this is your parents’ income, savings and/or loans that we’re talking about here, not yours, so the decision really depends on your family’s financial situation. For some paying full tuition is an acceptable outlay; for others it means extreme hardship or the burden of large loans. Your parents need to guide your decision based on their income, savings, assets, employment, age etc. </p>

<p>Re: business at Cornell. ORIE includes business courses, but you would still be able to obtain a business minor as an ORIE major.
<a href=“Applied Economics and Management Degree Program | Cornell Dyson”>Applied Economics and Management Degree Program | Cornell Dyson;

<p>Bloomberg Business just ranked Dyson #3 U/G business school, but even I wonder about the methodology. </p>

<p>I do not know a lot about co-op but do know that students graduate in four years. I believe they accomplish this by taking a full course load the summer between sophomore & jr years, but I am uncertain of the rest of the program. </p>

<p>Congrats on your amazing choices and best of luck with your decision!</p>