I am a female, senior in high school currently, and will be undergraduate majoring in biology. I plan to live on campus, but visit home often. These are my pros and cons for both schools:
NJIT
pros:
closer to home (.5 to 1 hr drive)
close to city (20 min train)
less cost to attend (24,000 a year w scholarship)
smaller campus = easier to get to class
cons:
unsafe neighborhood
male to female ratio
less clubs/activities
few eating options
not a party school
Rutgers:
pros:
more well known/higher ranked nationally
diversity in people as well as race
better professors
lots of food options
more social atmosphere (?)
many people I know already go there
cons:
further away from home (1.5 to 2 hr)
big campus = more difficult to get to class
not much personal attention
certain parts unsafe (?)
cost slightly more (26,000 v 24,000)
Both:
racial diversity
good employability/recruitment
I am having a really hard time deciding between these two schools. Which one do you think I should choose, and why? I am generally a very social person and I really like being involved in various school activities. Are my pros and cons valid, or are some of them not true? The size of rutgers intimidates me, but the location of njit (newark) also intimidates me. Am I just worrying for no reason when it comes to these things?
Will you want to do research?
Most likely, yes, and in the future plan on applying for med school
Would you be commuting to Rutgers or living on campus ?
If you can live on campus at Rutgers for only 2K more than NJIT, definitely do it. Newark is far worse than even the worst parts of New Brunswick (and Busch, Livingston, Cook, Douglas and most of College Ave outside of the NB city itself are much safer than some people here are mentioning).
1.5 to 2 hour commute is wildly too much.
I went to both, but NJIT was only a commuter campus in the late 80s, don’t know what it is like now. Newark is slightly better than in the worst days … but not much. It is not a good option.
I think Rutgers is far nicer experience and would think you should consider borrowing up to 20K to make it happen for you. TCNJ … would also be a consideration, as would even a lower tier NJ school with a transfer to Rutgers.
I think a two hour commute is ridiculous, especially as we live in the most urban state. I think you should live on-campus.
Rutger’s campus actually seems more dangerous than NJIT’s. A student from my high school stabbed two people on-campus last month.
Considering the whole city, though, Rutger’s is in a safer area. My boyfriend lives near Newark, so I’ve gotten lost there a few times, and I’ve seen some scary neighborhoods. NB is nowhere as dangerous as Newark!
I’d choose Rutger’s. I know tons of kids who go there, and they enjoy it. As long as your smart, you’ll be fine.