Hello, I’ve been accepted to both Northeastern University & UMD Honors College - College Park, for Mechanical Engineering.I’ve recieved a $5,000 yearly scholarship for UMD (no finacial aid) and $18,000 yearly scholarship for NEU. (Finacial aid not yet determined). I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on which school is better for my major? Also if anyone who is currently enrolled or graduated from either university could recommend (or not recommend) their respective school, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance!
What are the net yearly costs for each with scholarships considered?
Both will be very solid for engineering. As a Northeastern student, I only have positive things to say about it from what I know of my friends and my own limited experiences (I’m CS, not Engineering). The big difference between the two is of course co-op. Fit really is the bigger difference here in my opinion, as well as net cost. Overall, they are comparable academically.
Their tuitions are comparable, but UMD’s room and board is 5K cheaper. UMD is the higher ranked engineering college without question. If you want an urban campus or are attractive to the co-ops maybe NU. But UMD also has a pretty robust internship and co-op program…
http://www.careerengr.umd.edu/students/co-ops-and-internships
Train makes DC easy reach.
Have you visited both? If not I would. Ask lots of questions, evaluate faculty and laboratory resources and such especially in your specific engineering submajor. Look at the total list of majors and minors in the engineering and computer science area. Talk to students at each. Do tenured teachers teach or grad students/TA’s?
NU just opened a brand new engineering building which was sorely needed resource. But it is on the Roxbury side of the orange line. City has effort now to clean up the projects along Tremont, but it is not the safest area of the city.
The new ISEC building isn’t really that sketchy of an area. Northeastern has basically taken over those couple of blocks on that side of the orange line, and the new building is across the street from the NUPD headquarters. No, it isn’t the absolute safest part of the city, but I never felt unsafe in my 5 years at Northeastern.
Isn’t the Boston police department over there too, near IV?
Yes, the Boston PD are also there. That neighborhood is in an big upward push. Ruggles station is scheduled to be redone by the state/city, Northeastern is not finished with their work besides the engineering building ( the building is not really finished - construction all around the site still) more plans for that block with improved rec facilities for the neighborhood, changing the bridges back over to the other side of campus, etc, there is a plan for a privately owned dorm complex (pretty big will include shopping, a museum, a hotel), and I have read of at least a couple more developments approved for that immediate neighborhood.
I think in maybe 5 years you won’t recognize that area as it will be dramatically changed. I will admit my daughter never liked to walk from IV to the package pick up location on Columbus at night (even though it is housed in the NUPD building).