<p>I an terrible trapped between Northeastern University and Boston College. I have an interest in biology and languages. I visited both colleges and I am still stuck! </p>
<p>Northeastern: Pros
1. $$ 28,000
2. Honors Program
3. $7,000 to pay for my travel expenses if I do an international co op
4. co op-opportunities!
5. center of city- (I love the city)</p>
<p>Northeastern: Cons</p>
<ol>
<li> Academics aren't as rigorous? and humanities based. </li>
</ol>
<p>Boston College: Pros and Cons</p>
<p>Pro:</p>
<ol>
<li>Fantastic teachers</li>
<li> Great job options when you leave the school</li>
<li>More humanities based</li>
<li>Lots of different programs</li>
</ol>
<p>Con:
1. $63,000!
2. Uniformity-not very diverse
3. Seemingly ordinary-J Crew- kids</p>
<p>The money sort of makes it hard to walk away from Northeastern…</p>
<p>My D and I visited both of these colleges as part of a larger tour. In general, I’d say that BU is better regarded in the larger world…northeastern was sort of where people went as their back-up…but evidently NE began changing 10 or so years ago…and now has strong students & faculty…and we were attracted by the 5-year coop program.
Plus, i actually liked NE’s campus better than BU’s. </p>
<p>If you are interested in coop opportunities, I think that Northeastern is the clear winner, particularly with the price differential. I have a D who is a junior and we visited both schools recently. She is also likely to be studying humanities/foreign language. I was very impressed with Northeastern’s programs for coop and research. It seemed to me to prepare kids well for employment right out of school (I believe we were told that 50% of the kids were offered permanent jobs from their coop placements) and for PhD programs as well, given the research opportunities. BC is of course a great school, and has a great reputation, but I think Northeastern is quickly gaining ground. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I found that at Boston College there seemed to be more diverse and intellectually rigorous programs, as well as more study abroad programs. Additionally, the teachers are fantastic (the biology teacher is from Harvard and has great opportunities) </p></li>
<li><p>However, at northeastern, being a scholar I will have a greater opportunity because I will have top priority. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Northeastern is just as rigorous as BC. NU is not as humanities based though.</p>
<p>What makes you think that BC has better “job options” than NU?? NU has “lots of different programs” too, whatever you mean by that. NU has 'fantastic teachers" too.</p>
<p>The one thing that BC has that NU does not have is the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, if that is important to you and you do not even mention that as a pro or con. </p>
<p>You seem to be looking for posters to tell you to choose BC for whatever reason although your arguments for BC (except the humanities point) do not hold water. </p>
<p>Like all the others, fools will go to BC to give up so much money from NU. Get the BC academics is MUCH stronger than NU idea out of your mind. At the best they are equal.</p>
<p>As a NEU commit (full disclosure), I am in agreement with everything here. The co-op program will get you amazing job prospects on par with BC, and the academics are of a very high quality. If you look over every single department, they have grads from tons of highly regarded schools. The school has changed a ton, and is only looking as if it will keep rising. I don’t think there is much of an education difference beyond the lack of humanities, which was a pro for me as a STEM minded student.</p>
<p>Even without considering money I think I personally would still choose NEU, though I chose between BU and a few other choices. The scholars program is apparently amazing from what I have heard, all the more reason to go. Factor in money and being directly in the city, I think you have your answer.</p>
<p>International Village where scholars stay at NEU might be one of the nicest dorms on the East Coast. For the money, NEU makes sense if you like the social atmosphere at both. BC does have alot of “J Crew kids” but i’m sure some pretty diverse kids as well. NEU certainly has alot of diversity and a fair number of international students. </p>
<p>BC is definitely not worth $125K more than Northeastern, especially if you are looking to do something science related. Northeastern receives $100M in federal research grants a year, BC receives a fraction of that. Northeastern students do internships and labwork at Harvard Medical School, all the hospitals in the Longwood area, and at BU Med, which are all very close to Northeastern’s campus. Boston College is not near those schools and has a very strict internship policy (almost no college credit available). To put it in another prospective Northeastern had 3 Goldwater Scholars this year, arguably the highest science award for undergrads, BC had 1. Since 2006 Northeastern has had 12 Goldwater Scholars, BC has had 5. I would also think that since NU is a larger school, they would have more language offerings.</p>
<p>Thank you! I sent in deposit for northeastern. I think it was the name that got to me (bc) but after reading these comments i realize northeastern will provide me with more resources and opportunities! Thank you!!</p>
<p>Oh, and you can totally disregard that BC is ranked 31 by Us News and NEU is 49 – it means absolutely zilch! Why, I am suprised to hear the two mentioned in the same breath. And, you know that the sciences at ANY catholic college are a joke – they just can’t seem to get passed the “god particle”! Imagine a school that places something ABOVE the human being. Oh, it’s just sickening… Now excuse me, I need to run, gotta plan my next personal conquest – ‘for the greater glory of myself’! </p>
<p>Congrats on your choice. While NEU is cheaper, and thus a better value, I think you are wrong in your assertion:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Just not true. That’s the beauty of Boston – enough opportunities for everyone.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As a parent, I believe that to be a good thing. Why should I pay thousands of dollars to a college who pockets the money and sends the kid out to work? (btw: it’s just not BC, the Ivies and other more selective schools give “almost no college credit…”)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Same as BC (and BU) students.</p>
<p>There are a lot of good reasons to pick NEU over BC, and $$ being a big one, but to assume that NEU students have “more resources and opportunities” is flat out wrong.</p>
<p>[Just trying to keep the facts out there for anyone who happens on this thread in the future.]</p>
<p>Northeastern does not charge any tuition while you are on co-op. In fact, students turn a profit over this period usually. The co-op program at Northeastern is a huge draw to many of the students. Why wouldn’t you want to incorporate experience in what you learn in the classroom instead of just winging it in the real world when you graduate?</p>
<p>While BC and BU do have comparable resources, the integration of the co-op program at NEU certainly differentiates it, as you will not be a minority in working while in college, but a majority. Also, few other schools offer 6 month co-ops like Northeastern. Those connections you will built really do have value. About 50% of graduates receive job offers from their co-ops.</p>
<p>Northeastern does not charge tuition for coop and does not award academic credit for coop. Students at NU earn 128 credits in the classroom just like any other school.</p>
<p>and btw: NEU’s 4 year grad rate is essentially nonexistent ( source ipeds) bcos most students take time off for their coop. Granted, NEU doesn’t charge for the extra time, and the college is working hard to figure out ways for students to graduate in four years, but as a parent I ain’t paying R&B for a 5th year even if the tuition is free. :)</p>