Hello, I have my top two choices for next year: Northeastern University and Rutgers University (Finance Major)
Rutgers Perks:
Honors College
5-year MBA program
With friends and SO
Great school spirit and reputation
Northeastern Perks:
Co-op program
Located in Boston
Will be about 15-20k cheaper after fin aid.
Honestly completely torn between the two. I keep getting told to not worry about the money but that seems impossible. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
15-20k is very significant. That’s 60-80k by the time you graduate. NEU has a well ranked business school, is in Boston, and has the co-op program. If all three of those are positives and it is 15-20k cheaper, I don’t see any reason to pick Rutgers over it. Even without the money I think their reputations are about the same at this point.
It looks like friends and SO is a big perk for Rutgers. It may be a nice level of comfort but you will make plenty of friends in college no matter the school you go to. Any truly important friends you can still keep in contact with, and you can try distance with your SO if you feel it is that serious. However, the likeliness of SO’s from high school working out is incredibly low and is not worth 80k.
Full bias disclosure: I am an NEU student in a serious relationship that I entered once I got to college. I came here with my former best friend (by chance, didn’t attempt to match up). We have since drifted apart and I actually keep in touch more with friends in schools hundreds of miles away more than said former friend.
Hope some of that helps! If you have any questions about NEU I would be happy to answer them.
I actually meant 15-20k over 4 years, I apologize for not clarifying. And I’m still torn between the business program at Rutgers. I don’t know if it’s worth it.
I know that Northeastern has a great co-op program, but I am also in love with the potential opportunities stemming from the Rutgers Honors College. I feel like it’d still be worth it to go to RU.
Who is telling you this? They are fools. Have them give you the extra money so that you don’t have to worry.
I plan on appealing my Rutgers aid package before making a final decision.
15-20k isn’t anything to write off but yeah, that sounds a lot more reasonable. Where would the money come from and how much total would you be in debt for each?
Overall I think NEU / Rutgers are pretty comparable. If Rutgers has as many opportunities as you say (I don’t know Rutgers well) then it would be somewhat comparable to co-op. If you can afford the difference then I don’t think choosing either one over the other would be a mistake.
That said, make sure Rutgers has equal opportunities to NEU’s co-op. NEU has the #1 ranked career services department and that is a big leg up.
Boston>>>>>>>>>>>>New Brunswick, NJ.
But you seem to be a homebody, wanting to stay around your high school friends and SO so staying in NJ may be a better option. Have you ever heard of the Thanksgiving Dump?
Yes, considering an awesome public university for an accelerated MBA program and seeing my SO as a big perk to going there makes me a "homebody. I’m from CT by the way, I was just wondering if I can still be considering Rutgers. Thank you PengsPhils!
@PengsPhils What is the average annual cost of living (food, accomodation, daily expenses) during school and during co-op?
Boston living is pretty expensive. All of this is for full school year not including summer. Co-op really wont change your living expenses besides travel. If you really pinch you can reasonably hit the low numbers, if you want to live well but not splurge the high numbers will be your cost (nicer housing, better food).
Given in (minimum possible - maximum reasonable format)
Freshman Year In School:
8k housing (dorms) +
6-7k food (meal plan and food out / snacks) +
0-1k other expenses
= $14,000 - $16,000
Sophomore Year+ and Off Campus Living (in school or on co-op):
9k - 11k housing
3k - 5k food (no meal plan required anymore)
0-1k for travel
0-1k for other expenses
= $12,000 - $18,000
Do note that about 14k is assumed in the school sticker price of around 60k. So if you go the high end, the cost per year will be 64k. If you go the low route, it will be 60k year one and you can probably shave off 1-2k by not doing the meal plan which may end up coming back on for travel / other expenses.
Oh, so are you paying tuition and fees during your co-op year?
OP, one thing you really want to be careful about is that 5 year MBA program. Generally speaking, an MBA is most useful once you have a good 3+ years of work experience under your belt. Therefore, if i was in your position I would wait on the MBA and not factor it into my decision. As for the other aspects, the co-op, location, and price of NU are preferable. On a purely logical basis, I’d say go to Northeastern. However, that being said, the most important thing is going where you feel you will be most able to succeed in all aspects. Nobody can determine THAT but you.
@jebby41 You don’t pay tuition/fees during coop!
@Qwerty568 is right, my bad for the lack of clarity. On co-op only living expenses should be counted.
Thanks everyone for your help! I was hoping I wouldn’t be gunned down as immature for some of the factors I listed and I appreciate your understanding for an anxious high school student. I will certainly give both schools consideration. But just to conclude, do you guys think the additional PLUS loans that my parent would have to take out (probably between 20-30k over 4 years) are manageable if I’m helping to pay them off and my father makes about 55k a year? Thank you.
^The PLUS loans would be for Rutgers, just to clarify. And I’m hoping I have a shot at getting more money from them.
bump?
DS in same boat. Rutgers Honors College or Northeastern. Cost will be the same unless something happens with finances next year then grant could possibly lessen at NEU. Both schools have great business programs but are completely different campuses. Syracuse is also an option as is Fordham, Penn State and Stevens but cost will be much more. Not interested in going into debt for school. DD already cost a fortune at Syracuse. Anyway, visiting both campuses to see which is the better fit then take it from there.
Grant and scholarship aid will not decrease at Northeastern:
http://www.northeastern.edu/financialaid/grants-scholarships/promise.html
Merit aid requires a minimum 3.0 GPA to be renewed.