No Northeastern for me.

Parents Forum
1

<p>I just learned that I have no shot at the Torch Scholars program at Northeastern (one of my top choices) because I don't meet two criteria: I'm second generation and I'm able to get into the school under normal admissions standards. Consequently, my teacher-mentor won't bother nominating me for the program. I have no chance.</p>

<p>Would anyone happen to know if Northeastern gives decent need-based aid? I've looked but I haven't found any information.</p>

<p>Can anyone think of some good small universities that offer good merit/need-based aid that isn't an Ivy League school?</p>

2

<p>Northeastern gives out very good money. Apply anyway!</p>

<p>What is your likely major? Is the co-op program what attracted you to Northeastern?</p>

3

<p>I don't have a likely major, just interests. I like engineering, business and economics. The co-op and Torch Scholars Programs, along with the location attracted me to Northeastern. </p>

<p>Northeastern gives out good money? I'm trying to go to a great place without taking out a lot of loans. Northeastern's great, but it's not work 80k of debt.</p>

4

<p>Between the good aid Northeastern gives out, and the very strong co-op programs where you can earn good money during school, you might be able to swing it. </p>

<p>Rochester Institute of Technology also has a strong co-op program and good money. And there are lots of other schools that might fit your needs.</p>

<p>What is your state university? How are your stats?</p>

<p>If you want to go into engineering you really have to apply for that as a freshman. It's not hard to transfer out of an engineering program - but it's very hard to transfer into one.</p>

5

<p>My state university is the University of Michigan. My stats are probably good enough to get in -- 3.8UW GPA, 28 AC -- but not enough to get any sort of merit aid.</p>

<p>I don't think I would get into the engineering or business program at UMich. But I could always do economics.</p>

6

<p>It will probably be tough to do Northeastern, any any other private school, for a lot less than your in-state will cost. </p>

<p>Have your parents filled out the financial aid calculator? It will give you a good idea of what your Expected Family Contribution will be. It's just a ball park - but chances are you won't be paying a lot LESS than that number.</p>

7

<p>My EFC is definitely 0. Aid is very important for me. I'm probably better off at a need-blind LAC.</p>

8

<p>Here are some basic stats on NEU's financial aid:</p>

<p>Financial Aid Statistics
Full-time freshman enrollment: 2,955
Number who applied for need-based aid: 2,303
Number who were judged to have need: 1,823
Number who were offered aid: 1,818
Number who had full need met: 302
Average percent of need met: 64%
Average financial aid package: $17,553
Average need-based loan: $3,715
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $13,660
Average non-need based aid: $12,281
Average indebtedness at graduation: Not reported </p>

<p>My son is a sophomore at NEU and loves it but I would have two concerns if I were you. The first is that the distance from your home state will mean that you have to figure on expenses for travelling home for Christmas, Summer and back to school in the fall. You have to assume that some stuff will be shipped. I spent about $200. this past fall shipping stuff back from our home on the West Coast. </p>

<p>You should also read the posts on the NEU forum. Many students at NEU go in declaring a major right away and are very focused on the coop part of the program. Given your diverse interests at this time, an LAC might be a better "fit" for you.</p>

9

<p>Those figures are discouraging. Northeastern's no longer an option.</p>

<p>I'll have a hard time justifying an LAC to my mom. She wants me to go to a big university and major in something practical. But I don't have the background to go into any of the math heavy high paying fields. </p>

<p>I want to go to an LAC, but I need a job -- a decent paying job -- out of college. Northeastern could give me that. A place like Bowdoin probably couldn't.</p>

10

<p>If a college is that "iffy" for you, it may not be a good choice especially if you want to go into something like engineering. Check out the number of seats in the actual program itself vs. those that start out (doubt you can get this info, but you can do a little extrapolating). If it's important to you at all, I would suggest looking at schools where you are at least in the 50+ percentile for engineering (not general studies). At large universities, they will narrow down the class via the almighty "curve" before the end of the frosh year, then even more by the end of soph year. You have to get through lots of math, Physics, Chem, and Bio- and you'll be in those courses with both engineering and pre-med wanna-be's. Be careful. Either go to a nurturing college, or go to a school where you KNOW you will do well, compared to the rest of the students.</p>

<p>OK, I just cross posted and read your post ^^^.
Whyyyyyy would you want to do engineering if you don't want to go into a math heavy field?</p>

11

<p>I don't want to go into a math heavy field because I don't feel like I can. My math background is terrible. A competitive engineering program would eliminate me very, very quickly.</p>

12

<p>UMich is a business powerhouse- it's in the top 5 business schools. If, and I'm taking you at your word, you really need to worry about a practical degree- consider a business major (you mentioned economics as an interest). </p>

<p>Edit: With a 28 ACT you are capable of doing the math for a business degree. You probably need some calc, but it's doable (LOTS more doable than the math you need for engineering).</p>

13

<p>GapYear: Do not consider going into engineering if it doesn't interest you! You'll be miserable. Are there techy areas that do interest you? Networking? Computer programming? Check this out: <a href="http://www.uc.edu/programs/findprog4.asp?college=32%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.uc.edu/programs/findprog4.asp?college=32&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Note: the fields called "technology" are more applied than regular engineering.</p>

<p>There are many advantages to doing co-ops, not the least of which is financial. Cincinnati is closer for you and has a strong co-op program</p>

14

<p>I appreciate your Mom's concern for practicality, but I don't think she is being entirely fair to you. I think you may know more about your options than she does at this moment.</p>

<p>Many students take their educations a step at a time, making the choice that's right for them at each juncture. If you feel strongly that you'll find better understanding at an LAC, and they take you and fund you, I think you'll also find a more sympathetic ear there whenever you experience adjustment issues than at a big university.</p>

<p>Following college, assuming you'll work hard and party minimally, you can figure you'll be eligible for a job in business or a corporation of some kind, which is a lot better prospect than faces you now!</p>

<p>Or you might decide you want to go to graduate or professional school. Or work a few years, then return for grad school (as I did). </p>

<p>If you go to grad school, in some fields you could get a fellowship or stipend that will support you (humble lifestyle, grad students still wear bluejeans not suits and live in shared student apartments, no sportscars...). As a grad student, you might find yourself employed as a paid teaching assistant for the undergraduates. With your unique journey, you might also find yourself employable on staff at the college, for example, in student affairs, housing, and other departments that service students. </p>

<p>While you're in grad school, the loans from undergraduate level are held off and with no added interest. That would take you up to your late 20's, learning all the while and improving your ability to earn after grad school. </p>

<p>It must take a tremendous "leap of faith" to take on this decision. I appreciate your Mom's immediate concern, but wish I could reassure her to trust you, sincve it's you not she doing all the research.</p>

<p>And yes, I think you've got a good idea about being where there is a coop program rather than isolated in a town in Maine. Trust your gut. Perhaps a suburban or even urban location will make you feel more connected to the real world while you're in college.</p>

15

<p>Check the merit aid threads at the top of the Parents Forum and Financial Aid Forum.</p>

16

<p>I'm not quite sure how I feel about post-secondary education. MBA's at top business schools cost a lot of money -- so much that I could just use the tens of thousands I'd spend on tuition and just start a small business. I'm not sure how graduate degrees work, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to be a PhD, and I can't afford to study anything that won't lead to a high paying job.</p>

<p>I have too weak a stomach for medical school.</p>

<p>I think I would make a good lawyer, but that would mean suffering law school.</p>

<p>I'm probably thinking too far ahead. I won't know what I'll want to do for a while.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
Can anyone think of some good small universities that offer good merit/need-based aid that isn't an Ivy League school?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Look up Brandeis University. It's in Waltham, Mass which is a suburb of Boston. There's a shuttle into downtown Boston, 20 minutes and free, I believe. It's a university but with the emphasis on undergraduates. I think, in total, around 5,000 students. High level of student satisfaction; professors who are nationally recognized in their fields because they publish.</p>

<p>The college has a population that is 50% students of Jewish background. This means the other 50% are from some other background. They value diversity, and give both need and merit aid. Some strong departments there include History, International Relations, Economics, Government, Psychology...very good on the social sciences. Your math background might be just enough to give you power in those majors, where you need to be good with statistics to handle that element of the course, but not a great mathematician. They also graduate many who go into law schools. The only department I've heard about there that sounds unpleasantly competitive is the pre-medicine group.</p>

<p>The campus itself is disliked by some because it's close-knit, meaning too many buildings for the amount of land. Others like it because it's more of an urban feel, with the buildings close-set together, but no big airy lawns. </p>

<p>You need to be open, yourself, about people of every background to thrive at Brandeis. They favor applicants who have researched them strongly, and express strong desire to attend there, so don't bother to apply if it's a throw-off application. If they appeal to you, I think you could consider them a
High Match or Low Reach, simply because they want to find highly motivated people from every ethnic background. </p>

<p>They were founded by the Jewish community in the 1920's when places like Harvard had quotas against Jewish applicants. They do not require any participation in Jewish services, even of the Jewish students. Of the Jewish students, they range from the orthodox to the ultra-liberal, so the place does not resemble Yeshiva University, although a segment of the campus does practice traditional Judaism. You need to be open-minded, as I say.</p>

18

<p>I think you are thinking too far ahead too. Think instead about the type of classes you enjoy. Don't know yet? That's OK. Most people don't know what they want to do when they're 18 either.</p>

<p>Even if your mom wants you to do a "practical" degree program, there are still many very respectable practical degrees in various fields out there. Do you like writing? How about Journalism? Do you like teaching? Obviously, Education. Lots of things fall under business- it's pretty all-encompassing...
Anyway, as long as you go somewhere that does have a pretty broad offering of majors, you have some time to figure out your path. </p>

<p>But here's one word of advise...if dollars and cents are an issue, and you're really not sure what you want to study, you may reconsider your public state university. At least there, you won't be boxed in by finances to such an extent that you can't change your mind about your major, or go an extra year. Just my two cents.</p>

19

<p>I agree about the state university both from the point of view mentioned above and from the other expenses issue in my earlier post. For someone to travel across the country to go to school, they have to consider the extra cost of everything associated with that. </p>

<p>As someone with a student on the opposite coast I can tell you it is a mistake to underestimate those costs. Here's just one example: our health insurance which would normally cover a child in college does not offer coverage/providers in the other state. We are therefore required to pay about $3,000 per year for coverage in the college state and another lump of money for coverage in our home state. Because we are already covering another sibling, we cannot drop the coverage in our home state. Plus even if we were able to do that, he would be without coverage during the summer months.<br>
Someone with an EFC of O should strongly consider schools closer to home.</p>

20

<p>D.E. Shaw and other similar firms recruit economics and math majors (D.E Shaw was founded by a math major at Harvard; he got his BA and MA there).<br>
I second Brandeis (which was founded in 1948, not 1920s).</p>

<p>A friend of mine got a Ph.D. in economics from Berkeley and began teaching. That same year, her younger brother graduated summa cum laude in math from Harvard, got snapped up by a Wall Street firm and made a starting salary higher than his sister's. I also know a young woman who graduated in Government and East Asian Studies, and went to work for an investment firm.
The common thread is that these folks were/are smart go=getters rather than holders of business type-degrees. They all attended college on full or nearly full scholarships, too.</p>