<p>I am just curious. Which university would be the best in subjects like engineering and computer science as well as getting a job in any of these fields? I know that some people might think that Harvard trumps NEU on these subjects, but NEU has a co-op program. I'm told that the co-op program gives NEU the edge and gives their students instant and good job prospects in engineering and computer science as compared to Harvard - but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>I was just wondering that if you had the choice to pick between these two universities choosing as your major engineering or computer science, which university would you pick and why?</p>
<p>Two names - Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. No, they didn’t graduate, but which school did they go to? And rumor is, they’re involved in the computer field.</p>
<p>There’s no point in comparing these two if you don’t have the option to go to either in the first place. That said, have you been accepted to either?</p>
<p>IF you have the choice, it isn’t close…Harvard. You can get summer internships or part-time internships during the school year if you go to Harvard. But unless you get accepted, it is a moot point.</p>
<p>If you can get into Harvard you would probably get some massive scholarships at Northeastern, it really comes down to debt load/career path/etc not every situation is the same.</p>
<p>This is not your decision to make. If Harvard accepts you, and your only 2 choices are Harvard and Northeastern, then you go to Harvard. Period.</p>
<p>That said, Northeastern is a great school with an excellent regional reputation. You will get a great education there and be in the middle of an amazing college town. Northeastern has a very strong alumni base in the northeast.</p>
<p>And I am not saying Harvard because the quality of education would be better… at the undergrad level, I honestly don’t think there would be a huge difference in the quality of the classroom component of the education. It’s just that the quality of your peers, networking opportunities, and overall reputation of Harvard trumps Northeastern.</p>
<p>If you were asking BU or Northeastern, that would be different. It’s highly unlikely you will get into Harvard, even if you do have great stats, ECs, etc. So why not apply to both, and then decide after you get your decisions?</p>
<p>I asked this question because my cousin thinks that going to Northeastern would be better than going to Harvard simply because of the co-op program that Northeastern provides. He wants to get a job in either engineering or computer programming and thinks that the co-op program will help him to get a job more easily than going to Harvard.</p>
<p>I obviously thought this was absurd. A person who graduates from Harvard, shouldn’t have a problem getting a job - especially if that person does internships. I want to persuade him to go to Harvard instead of Northeastern. Money is no object, so his family can definitely afford it. But he’s worried about his job prospects in the future, especially in this precarious economy. </p>
<p>As for me, I already applied to Harvard but I’m hoping to get in UC Berkeley or Stanford. I think an opportunity for Harvard shouldn’t be missed. With your help, I hope I can persuade him to pick Harvard, if he get’s in. </p>
<p>P.S. He’s already applied to Harvard and Northeastern.</p>
<p>MrMom - one additional name: Sean Fanning. Didn’t graduate either but attended the other school.</p>
<p>OP - I would go with Harvard over any other school in the country nine times out of ten. In this case, as others have said, the decision will likely be made for you, but if you or your family member gets into Harvard, I would still attend Harvard.</p>
<p>Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford (MIT/CalTech for some programs) are in a category of their own as far as universities go. While you can compare Northeastern to other top 25 programs (even lower ivies), I don’t think you can realistically compare it with the elite top 5 or 10 schools.</p>
<p>I would compare Northeastern to Cornell for the co-op program (not for all majors, obviously) but a Harvard degree will open doors during college and after college, including for summer internships.
As others have said, though, the decision will be made for him. With the Early Admission rates, right now his odds are roughly 96% denied.</p>
<p>Where do H engineering graduates usually end up? Just curious.</p>
<p>I’ve met Stanford eng’rs, Cornell Eng’rs, Columbia Eng’rs, MIT eng’rs, Cal Tech eng’rs…and so forth. I have never met a Harvard engineer. Do they usually end up in academia??</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - Just a guess, but I would suspect a large percentage become patent lawyers - nearly all patent lawyers are engineers, and anyone taking engineering at Harvard probably has JD, MD, or MBA written all over them.</p>