<p>I wanted to get some input on this from both Northeastern and Tufts people.</p>
<p>I've already been accepted to Northeastern (Honors college, 80k scholarship) for engineering. I'm still waiting to hear back from Tufts (I believe it's April 1). My question really is if I should withdraw my application from Tufts and submit my deposits Northeastern now. My main reasoning for wanting to confirm Northeastern now is for housing -- I want to request a single, and I've heard I'll have better luck if I submit deposits early.</p>
<p>I'll probably do electrical engineering or computer engineering, and I definitely want to take some environmental classes if not double major or something.</p>
<p>I really love both campuses, although Northeastern has the benefit of being right in Boston. Still, they're both about equal for me.</p>
<p>I like the idea of Northeastern's co-op program, but that's not an be-all and end-all for me. </p>
<p>How do the two programs stack up? What are your thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>I feel that neu would provide you with more opportunities for engineering. Not only are coops awesome for engineering, but the Honors college is great. Don’t get me wrong, tufts is an amazing school, and you’d get a great education at either school, but I believe neu’s education will be more hands-on.</p>
<p>undertaker 1664-- are you in the honors program? Can you talk a little bit about why it is great? (My D got in as with an undeclared major and is waiting to hear from other colleges before deciding), She also applied to Tufts (not for engineering, as undecided leaning towards cognitive science).</p>
<p>I am an engineer. So is my husband and my dad. We all agree that co-op is a wonderful component of an engineering education. And NEU has an outstanding co-op program.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Tufts engineering program, but we toured there. The campus is lovely. It would be be a good choice if a student wanted to attend a more liberal artsy college. </p>
<p>My recollection is that Tufts only offers need-based FA, not merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Whoa, you hit upon a topic that I have a very strong opinion on. I am an EE in the Boston area, and I’ve interviewed a lot of recent graduates from both schools. I am so much more impressed with the Northeastern grads who have had good coop experiences than I am with Tufts grads who IMHO have really not been challenged enough and are not ready to work upon graduation. It’s not even close. Actually I am so underwhelmed by the Tufts grads that I’ve interviewed, that I rarely call one any more. I really feel that a Tufts engineering degree is engineering-lite and that the really bright students that Tufts admits are getting ripped off if they think they are getting a first rate engineering education. I actually find it pretty sad, almost criminal if they go in not knowing what they are getting. </p>
<p>I am concerned with Northeastern’s approach of not requiring coops any more. I think it’s a huge mistake. Nonetheless, I think Northeastern is the second best engineering program in the Boston area. Do the 5-yr coop.</p>
<p>Actually, Northeastern does require all students to complete at least one term of “experiential learning”, of which coop is by far the most common form. From the Northeastern website:</p>
<p>“Thus, unique among colleges and universities, Northeastern’s core curriculum requires all undergraduates to pursue at least one integrated experiential learning opportunity that includes formal reflection on how the experience expanded their knowledge and understanding. Students may pursue co-op to fulfill this requirement, but can also partake of dynamic opportunities in research, service learning, study abroad, clinical and professional practica, and internships.”</p>
<p>Northeastern has always recognized that in the arts and sciences, the traditional coop model may not be the only option. In my day (don’t ask) arts and science students could choose a 4 year non-coop option, although few did. I imagine that those who choose another form of experiential learning would be some students in arts and sciences. I am pretty certain that all or virtually all students in engineering, business administration etc. choose the traditional coop option.</p>
<p>My son is a Freshman engineering student at NEU. It sounds like they have an option to do 4 years with 2 co-ps, but they are encouraged to do the 5 year 3 co-op program. (We heard that they advertise the 2 co-op more now, so that students are not scared off by the 5 year commitment.) </p>
<p>To me it makes a lot of sense to do the 3rd co-op. It won’t cost any more in tuition, and the student gets more varied experiences. The hope is that the co-op salary will offset the extra living expenses.</p>
<p>NEU is not a top engineering program, but neither is tufts. </p>
<p>If you plan to stay in Massachusetts, NEU would be better than Tufts because of co-op. Tufts is not known for engineering- its much more liberal arts, international relations.</p>