<p>Hi, I've been accepted to both northeastern and binghamton and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to what school to choose. I was accepted to binghamton for the spring 2008 term because they claim they have no room for me for fall. I have my heart set on northeastern but they didn't give me much aid and I'd be in about $120,000 debt coming out of college since I'm paying myself. I've heard many negative things about binghamton but I would be paying a lot less since I am an in-state student and I would receive aid. I am really drawn to the co-op program at northeastern and I believe I'd just have an overall better experience...but is that experience really worth the $120,000? Or should I just suck it up and go to binghamton? And is binghamton really as bad as people say it is? Any input would help.</p>
<p>pooey, my son is at NEU and loves it but I would not recommend going into that kind of debt for an undergraduate degree for any student. Does that amount include things like travel to and from school? books? living expenses? etc.? Your estimate of $120,000. might even be a little low. As much as I think NEU is a great school, if I were your Mom, I would say, go to Binghamton.</p>
<p>Have you considered the fact that while on co-op, not only are you not paying tuition, but you're making money? I know when my boyfriend was calculating how much NU was going to cost him, he was multiplying the yearly tuition by 5- and it doesn't work that way. So you can get a head start on those loans before you're out of school. And you can work summers too.</p>
<p>If you like both schools, and money is a huge factor to you, then go for the cheaper one. But personally I'd be willing to make a lot of sacrifices to go to the school that would make me happiest in the long run.</p>
<p>Thank you ebee and hopeful for your responses. That cost has books, living expenses, and transporatation included. I really wish there could be a way to aquire more aid since the amount I received is substantially over my EFC on my fafsa. I've applied to scholarships as well.</p>
<p>also, I did calculate the tuition for 4 years. I heard that the chances for a co op aren't guaranteed. I realy am considering going to ne for a term and if I feel it isn't what I expected, I have the option of going to binghamton in the spring</p>
<p>Okay I will restate what I have said before regarding coops. Yes, you are making money but where are you living? If you are still living on campus, you are paying room and board. If you are living off campus, you are paying even more for apt, food, utilities, etc. Realistically speaking when you are making $13-$15 an hour, all of that money is going to be spent on work clothes, food, living expenses etc. Talk to any adult who makes $15. an hour: they don't have a lot of money left over. They are not saving money and you won't be saving money to pay for the next terms tutition.</p>
<p>Also: please go to one of the finacial student loan pages and use the loan calculator. Figure out what your monthly payment would be upon graduation.</p>
<p>I think it also depends on your major. For example the 6-year physical therapy or pharmacy majors might be worth the expense. PT and PharmD programs are much harder to get into as transfer or graduate programs at any schools so if you have the opportunity to get in as a freshman, you may want to consider taking on the expense. We know of two recent graduates (within the last couple years) -- one from the NU nursing program and another from the PT program who graduated with serious student loans, but have said they would do it again in a heartbeat! Both got excellent jobs right out the NU programs and say they have no problem paying off the loans.</p>
<p>I would agree with ebeeeee about many undergraduate degrees though -- I'm not sure I would commit to that much indebtness unless there was a compelling reason to do so!</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses..I realize I would be irresponsible to come out of college with that much debt. off to binghamton I go then..</p>