I was accepted to the honors programs at both schools for bioengineering and I am really not sure where to attend. Both schools have their pros and cons. Any advice?
How do you see pros and cons for each school? What’s the COA for each?
I received merit scholarships from both but Northeastern would be about $10k more per year. Pros for Maryland is the gemstone honors program, beautiful campus, and well established engineering program. Cons are the surrounding area and the fact that it is below my academic level. Pros for Northeastern are the co-op program, great honors housing, living in Boston, and it is a more reputable school. Cons innclude the city environment and the fact that this is their first year doing bioengineering so the curriculum has some issues, and the small, packed campus
If you feel UMD is below your academic level and NEU meets your needs better, I’d say go to NEU.
Seriously? Maryland is below your academic level? Based on what? Are you aware that many students at Maryland were admitted to ivy league schools and turned them down to attend Maryland…?
Are you basing your assessment on USNWR Rankings? Are you aware that Northeastern gamed the system to increase their rank? http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/article/2014/08/26/how-northeastern-gamed-the-college-rankings/ http://www.wbur.org/2014/09/09/northeastern-college-ranking-system
But hey, if Maryland is so beneath you, why are you even considering it?
whoa whoa whoa I’m not trying to put down Maryland here, I’m actually visiting today so if I wasn’t serious about it I wouldn’t be here. All I am saying is that the average student admitted to northeastern tends to have better grades and scores than one admitted to Maryland. Of course, grades and scores hardly determine the quality of the student body. I did have to turn down an Ivy and some other top schools because of the cost, so I am looking for a learning environment that is as similar as possible. That is why I made that observation.
Ok, sorry I was snappish in my hasty response this morning. Understand the observation about profile of average admitted students having higher stats does not automatically equate to a higher level of academic challenge. I have no doubt you will be challenged by Maryland’s engineering classes.
Honestly, the bigger issue is whether you want a coop based program or not. The most important things are fit of school and program. Fwiw, to me, Maryland has much more to offer in terms of the quintessential college experience…but, hey, that may not make a difference for you. I also have found, in looking at different schools with my younger one, that no school offers the variety in a breadth of courses as well as Maryland. Look not only at courses offered to meet your major’s requirements, but also courses offered to fulfill the gen eds for the university itself. My son (engineering student) was relieved to not have to take a literature-based English class (only academic writing and professional writing) but if he had to, there is actually a course specifically on science and technology literature! Check out all the options on https://ntst.umd.edu/soc/. While many are offered both spring and fall, there are some unique ones that rotate to give even more variety.
@maryversity thanks for the insight! I am on the way home from my visit right now and I really enjoyed basically everything about the school. Their bioengineering program is awesome (compared to Northeastern’s which is in its first year and only has three full time faculty compared to Maryland which has twenty). I am 90% leaning towards Maryland at this point but I will sleep on it before making a final decision. After understanding the program better I know I will be very challenged at Maryland which I honestly was not sure about before.
I’m so glad you had such a positive visit! It’s really a great school all around and I hope you got to talk to some students while you were there. There is so much pride at Maryland because students are truly happy to be Terps 
Hi mmj133:
Can you shed some more details on the Northeastern bioengineering program? We just came back from accepted student day at Case Western who has a great biomedical program. Seems the choice is now between Case and Northeastern. Thanks