<p>Please help! I'm narrowed my colleges to these two schools, (I'm aware they're basically opposites) but I'm not really sure what I want or where I'd fit in the best. Girl from south-east Pennsylvania. Planning on majoring in bio-medical engineering. I'm not sure if I'm going greek, however I am a very social and would love to go to a school with an active social scene (ie. sports games/house parties/ student organizations etc.) Also very into out-reach and volunteering. hoping to study abroad one semester.</p>
<p>Bucknell: 60K (appealed for scholarship but will hear in a week),
very rural, 3,500 undergrad, low teacher-student ration, ranked #32 in LAC's, strong alumni network, strong engineering program </p>
<p>Northeastern: 60K (14K engineering scholarship) so about 45K w/ scholarship
Very large city,13,000 undergrad, higher student-faculty ration, ranked #49 in National Universities (rising quickly), amazing co-op, strong engineering program</p>
<p>Visited Bucknell during winter semester; it was snowing but I still loved the campus. Students seem very preppy/well-off but still down to earth, very hardworking and friendly- felt like I would fit in easily. Visited Northeastern during the summer so I can't say much about the students (any input??), yet the campus was very nice with great facilities, and a campus-y feel despite the location. It seems Northeastern's location and co-op could offer me a variety of opportunities that Bucknell's remote location would not be able to (professionally and socially). At the same time, Bucknell being a LAC could offer me much closer relations with my professors and more a more hands on education, especially in a difficult field like engineering, and the strong alumni network provides a very high job placement for engineers.</p>
<p>Bucknell is a stronger school academically. However the student body is more homogeneous than Northeastern. And Boston is an awesome city for college students. Though I personally love Bucknell, the difference in COA is probably not worth it. NEU has a strong engineering program. As long as you’re not intimidated by the much larger size, you will be fine.</p>
<p>How much does that cost difference mean to you? The difference comes out to $60,000 over the course of your time there, which is a lot more money. How much can you afford?</p>
<p>what is the basis for saying that Bucknell is stronger academically - just curious how one makes that assumption. I have 2 kids at NEU both in engineering. The school is big, certainly bigger than Bucknell but at any one time there are not 15K kids on campus - it is an extremely vibrant community with something happening all the time - both kids love it. </p>
<p>concerned123: Thanks for you’re input! Do you find that in the engineering program you’re kids are still able to meet with professors/ get extra help despite the large school? Also, do they have any problems with social life/ finding a niche simply because its a large school in a very urban environment?</p>
<p>My daughter’s experience is that all professors have office hours (as do TAs). She has also been able to find a great group of friends that have really bonded.</p>
<p>yes - all professors have office hours and are very clear about posting times etc. I remember my son’s first semester chemistry class…chem for engineers. The professor actually held a review sessions for the students on a Sunday afternoon - which to me was incredible. My older son has also formed study groups with other students, which is a great way to study. </p>