I’m a high school senior who is planning to be a computer science major and is accepted to both TCNJ and NJIT. I got merit aid from both, TCNJ - 5k/year and NJIT - 9k/year (however the estimated full COA is slightly higher for NJIT than TCNJ so its really only a couple thousand difference between them).
I know NJIT is more well known for CS, and provides a lot of opportunities and access to getting internships and jobs, is ranked #2 in NJ for CS by ■■■■■■■■■, so it logically makes more sense to choose it. However, I really like TCNJ more in terms of location, community, class size, and atmosphere, and it is ranked #4 in NJ for CS. TCNJ’s CS program didn’t seem bad and I saw students got opportunity to research and get internships. I also am accepted into the honors program for TCNJ, but in NJIT I missed the deadline to apply for the honors program.
Mostly, I am just really uncomfortable with the fact that NJIT is in the middle of Newark and I am scared/uncomfortable to live there, and when I visited there was not much sense of community and the atmosphere felt impersonal.
Should I just get over myself about the location/atmosphere of NJIT and just go because there is a better CS program and better access to jobs/internships? Or can I go to TCNJ because I am I more comfortable with a more traditional campus and really like the student community, but sacrifice the ease of access/opportunity/training for jobs/internships that NJIT offers?
Adding to the post above, I am also a member of the LGBT community, which of these two schools is more LGBT friendly?
@clouds123 my son is going through a similar dilemma, but his major is digital design/IMM. It is not an easy decision, for sure, especially when you are calculating money into it. I am not sure about the LGBT community, but we definitely saw a bunch of clubs at TCNJ during their Admitted Students Day (didn’t see anything at NJIT, but that doesn’t mean anything). I asked my kid where he really wants to go in his heart, if both schools cost zero… he said TCNJ. They both are fantastic schools from what we have learned. It is not an easy decision! Wish it was… good luck to you!
Easy decision, especially if TCNJ is less. TCNJ all the way!!! ABET accredited computer science, safer campus, smaller classes (njit freshman math classes are huge), classes will be taught by the professors, NOT graduate assistants. Any perceived advantage that you see with internships doesn’t outweigh the fact that even at this point you feel uncomfortable on njit campus. What other schools did you get accepted to? Did you apply to Rowan? (also abet accredited, nice campus, newer freshman dorms, generous with merit aid)
I would also suggest Ramapo college. Very up-and-coming very good business and computer science programs.
@njdadjets Actually TCNJ would be around 4k/year more than NJIT. The merit aid I listed above is the the scholarship I received, not what I have to pay in all. I’m sorry I worded it strangely. But thank you for your input, I’ll take that into consideration. Also, I did not apply to Rowan nor Ramapo.