Hi!! I need to decide if I want to withdraw my ed2 application to Lehigh and commit to Northeastern, or not. I got in for international affairs and criminal justice at Northeastern, and applied as a journalism major at Lehigh. I do not know what to do because I really like both of these schools, and I wasn’t expecting to get into to NEU. Does anyone have insight to which school might end up helping me more as a job applicant down the road, and also is best for a pre-law sort of path?
Well with Northeastern, you’ll get a lot of experience doing co-ops and stuff, which will be really helpful for your resume post-graduation. However, if you aren’t into doing co-op, and what comes with it (including friends disappearing for semesters and not a prominent social culture), then maybe Northeastern isn’t for you. it really just depends on how career-oriented you are?
1 Like
Northeastern is an amazing school in an amazing city but it is a very work hard school. If you’re looking for something with a little more of a college campus vibe, maybe hold out for LeHigh. That being said, I have never heard of anyone going to Northeastern and not liking it.
1 Like
Can you actually withdraw an ED2 application? I am not saying you can’t but that is pretty uncommon, assuming you are able. The two schools are the same level. Northeastern is hot. Lehigh is not cold. Journalism was an interesting choice for law IMO, but again, maybe I don’t know something. Based on Boston and Northeastern’s meteoric rise in reputation, I would choose that path. Your tests will drive your admittance to law school more than major.
I asked my CC, and he said I could simply email the admissions officer and request to either withdraw or change to RD since they haven’t released their decisions yet. Journalism was an interesting choice for pre-law, but im planning on minoring in political science, and theres always the possibility ill end up with another major. Thanks for your help!!
1 Like
Completely different vibes. Urban big city vs smaller city, true residential college experience at Lehigh (pop 7100) vs city campus at NE (pop 20,000). Coops which means you’re on and off campus as well as your friends. Different majors at each school.
As far as prelaw your major won’t matter: primarily grades and LSAT.
Can you request Lehigh move your application from ED2 to RD? That would preserve the most optionality for you.
Have you had a chance to visit either campus?
I am going to email the admissions office today and request to switch from ed2 to rd. Sadly, I haven’t been able to visit either campuses, but I have many connections to Boston and know the city pretty well (my Dad is a Tufts grad). Thanks!
2 Likes
I always thought COOP programs were productive mostly for engineering students.
Can one reasonably expect to place well when majoring in international affairs
and criminal justice? Maybe a more traditional school (without the coop angle)
is best?
Northeastern is specifically known for co-op for all majors, and has extensive connections with companies in all industries as a result. I know people who have worked at the UN for a co-op at Northeastern, on political campaigns for Polisci, at the Boston Globe for journalism, etc.
From people I know alone I can say with certainty that the non-engineering co-op’s offer a ton of value and relevance. I’d actually argue that co-op is actually a slightly larger advantage for majors outside of the ones who typically do well because engineering/CS students everywhere can find internships without co-op, though it of course does make it easier and can improve the choice pool.
1 Like
Lehigh is extremely rigorous. I can’t imagine NE being tougher than Lehigh.
1 Like