Northeastern University vs Stony Brook University (Honors)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm a senior in high school right now and I'm having a really tough time deciding between these two schools.
I really love Northeastern and its co-op program, but I received no financial aid so we would have to pay $60,000 a year (and I'm planning to pursue to BSIB program so that would most likely take 5 years). As of now, my family is most likely able to afford two years at Northeastern. It's really one of my dream schools, but it is very expensive. I live with my father and younger sister (going to college in 3 years) and my mother passed away when I was nine. I sent a financial aid appeal letter, but they rejected my appeal so I would still have to pay $60,000/year. My dad said he would somehow figure it out, but I know he's only saying that because he wants me to go to my dream school (I'm really blessed to have a dad like him). </p>

<p>On the other hand, Stony Brook University is a pretty good school and I originally applied with a Psychology major. I was admitted to the Scholars Program last Friday (which is what made me not so sure what school to commit to). However, I started to have more interest in the Business area and therefore I would like to go into International Business with a concentration in marketing (or something along those lines). I know Stony Brook is more known for engineering, but I'm not so sure if I am interested in that field. I know Stony Brook also has a co-op program, but I was told Northeastern definitely has a better one. However, Stony Brook is only around $36,000 a year and I received a $10,000 scholarship.</p>

<p>So my questions essentially are:
-Is my large debt (or dad's debt) in student loans, worth going to Northeastern (basically guarantees a job after graduation)?
-Would going to Stony Brook University for undergraduate and going to a school more known for business for graduate (if I decide to pursue) be better? If anyone knows what schools would accept me based on a Business Major at Stony Brook, that would be great!</p>

<p>Sorry for all of this rambling, but this is a huge decision in my life and I would love to hear everyones opinions! Thanks so much in advance! :)</p>

2

<p>As a NEU commit, I feel your pain. A few questions:</p>

<p>Is there money allotted by your dad for your sister? Would picking NEU affect her college choices?</p>

<p>A bit personal, so no need to answer this to us, but rather something to consider: What line of work and how much does your dad make? Is it a situation where he makes enough to save up and quickly pay off loans and not get in a financial hole (since he is generously offering). You certainly should not go to NEU simply because he says he will figure out, but if he has the means it may be a viable option. If he doesn’t have very easy means to quickly repay the loans, I think it would be really hard to do that to your dad when you have a respectable second option.</p>

<p>I do not know a top about Stony Brook, so I can’t help you there. I hope someone who knows Stony Brook better finds this thread.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Short answer: Stony Brook. Your one-income, two-child family probably cannot afford Northeastern no matter what Dad says. School is what you do there, not where you do it. Make SB your dream school and, as someone around here likes to say, have a dream life. Show your Dad you’re a man grown.</p>

4

<p>I was also accepted into the Honors program at UMass - Amherst where I received a $12,000 scholarship per year. Would this be a better choice compared to SBU, Northeastern? (It would be around $28,000 per year)</p>

5

<p>I think Umass-Amherst and SBU are fairly equivalent schools… which one is cheaper?</p>

6

<p>SBU is cheaper by like $2,000, but UMass has a better business program, but it’s a party school… (I’m not really a partier)</p>