<p>Here are reviews of both schools from The Princeton Review:</p>
<p>Northeastern University</p>
<p>"Northeastern “is all about mixing classroom-based instruction with real-world experience” via a robust, justly renowned co-op program (which places students in real-life major-related internships and jobs for up to 18 months) that provides “meaningful work and life experience” to nearly all undergraduates. While some may quibble that co-op “isn’t the best thing for all majors, only those oriented toward business, journalism, communications, engineering, some sciences, and architecture,” most here insist that “the co-op program is Northeastern’s bragging right” and “without any doubt the school’s greatest strength.” As one student explains, “Experiences on co-op lead to better discussion and learning in the classroom as professors tackle real-world applications of their subjects with the knowledge that we have been there before, rather than stay in the theoretical realm.” As an added bonus, “Northeastern students have some of the strongest post-college resumes in the nation” as a result of their co-op experiences. As you might expect, Northeastern’s strengths lie in such solidly pre-professional programs as business, health services, engineering, and computer and information sciences. Students caution that it’s the type of school “where you get in what you put out…if you sit around and complain about not getting a good job and not having much help from advisers or professors, it’s probably because you didn’t try very hard. If you put in the effort, you will find many, many people are willing to do a great deal to help you succeed and doors will fly open to ensure your success, and you’ll meet a lot of great people (classmates and faculty) and make a lot of friends along the way.”
"“Because of our highly attractive location, there is no ‘typical’ Northeastern student,” undergrads here insist, informing us that “Students come from the local Boston neighborhoods, ivy towns in Connecticut, countries around the world and cities across the country.” The university’s “wide range of courses to study” further ensures “a wide range of students” on campus. Finally, the school’s large population practically ensures a diverse mix, as evidenced by the “250 or so clubs ranging from anime to the Caribbean Student Organization, from fraternities to a gay/lesbian/transsexual organization. You find virtually every race/gender/religious/political type of people here and they all fit in and generally get along.” The enticement of co-op, of course, means that most everyone here is “looking to obtain a solid education and prepare themselves for the working world.” You won’t find a lot of ivory-tower intellectuals here.
"“There is always something to do, either on campus or around the city” at Northeastern, and understandably so; the school is located in Boston, perhaps the nation’s preeminent college town. Boston affords “unlimited amounts of things to do like shopping, walking around, movies, etc.” Boston is especially accommodating to those over 21, since “there are plenty of bars to enjoy” all over town. For sports fans, “Fenway Park and the TD Banknorth Garden are a short distance away for athletic games,” and “Matthews Arena, home of Husky hockey and the men’s basketball team,” are nearby. On campus, Greek life “is on the rise,” and “Greeks…are extremely involved on campus, planning service events, educational speakers or fun events, such as bringing former Red Sox players or popular comedians to campus.” Extracurricular clubs “including but not limited to sports, newspaper, religious groups, social awareness, diversity groups, and more” are widely available to students, and “The campus has much to offer as far as recreation from an ice rink to multiple gym facilities. It also has a large student center, multiple outdoor quads, and dorm activities. There is never a dull moment on campus, there is always something to do.”</p>
<p>University Of Maryland - College Park</p>
<p>"The University of Maryland—College Park is a major research institution and students see this as a mixed blessing. Undergrads gain exposure to world-class scholars doing cutting-edge work in their fields. Unfortunately, some of those same professors would rather be doing their research or teaching graduate students instead of delivering an introductory lecture to freshmen. One student warns, “These professors are paid to research and told they have to teach. Many of them don’t have teaching degrees and obviously have no idea how to teach.” While the problem is most pronounced in the sciences and mathematics, it is by no means universal; even in the aforementioned areas, students report some “amazing” teachers among the duds. Still, most here note that, at UMD, “You are responsible for your own education. No one will hold your hand as they did in high school.” Some believe this “prepares you for the real world. You are a number, but that make[s] you try harder to stand out.” Those hoping for a warmer and fuzzier education need not abandon hope, provided they can gain admission to the “living-learning programs—i.e., Honors, College Park Scholars, [and] Civicus,” which all “provide opportunities for smaller classes and meeting people.” College Park’s many outstanding programs include the “amazing journalism program” and strong departments in education, engineering, political science, criminology, and business.
"“The great thing about a big public university is that there’s no such thing as the typical student,” explains a sophomore. “Lots of Jews, Catholics, African Americans, Muslims—it’s a very nice melting pot,” confirms a junior. UMD’s College Park campus also hosts “a good mix of returning [i.e., nontraditional] students” who “seem to add to the environment.” Undergrads here report that “it’s common to see students of every race and background in a discussion class.” When classes are finished, however, “Many students socialize and interact” only “within their ‘clique,’ whether it be religious, cultural, etc.” While it is impossible to define a typical student on a campus this large, undergrads spot the following trends: Maryland students usually have “tons of Maryland shirts, sweatpants, and hoodies,” “were in the top quarter of their high school,” and “take classes seriously,” but also “love to support the football and basketball teams. They party pretty hard on weekends, but buckle down when Sunday comes.”
"The Big Three of campus life at UMD are “Greek life,” “bars and/or house parties,” and “football games”—both “tailgating and attending.” But with “tons of things to do” here, there’s more than just “a lot of parties” at College Park. According to one student, the campus “is like its own little town. We have a movie theater, tons of dorms, a huge gym, athletic fields, convenience stores, many restaurants, a bowling alley—all on campus!” UMD students also enjoy hundreds of student groups and an active intramural scene. While a student could easily fill his or her hours with campus activities, the more adventurous take frequent advantage of the school’s proximity to Washington, DC, which students confirm “is not a boring city—it has a fantastic nightlife and a great subway/metro system. It’s easy to get around.” The city of Baltimore is also easily reached by rail. It’s not surprising that many here feel that UMD’s “location is a big strength.”</p>