<p>Hey everybody! I'm trying to decide between Northeastern and Tulane and I need help deciding. I got a scholarship to each school which makes the price about equal. I am majoring in chemical engineering and I am from New England. I liked Northeastern's co-ops but I'm not sure if I will fit into the school. At Tulane, I liked the engineering program but heard that it is a big party school. Can anyone help by telling me more about the social life/academics at either of the schools? Are the co-ops at Northeastern worth the extra year? Thanks so much! </p>
<p>First, let’s put the whole party school thing to rest. Yes, Tulane is a party school. So is Northeastern, Harvard, Duke, Penn State, …You get the idea. Tulane truly has no more or less partying than any of these schools, and whether you choose to party all the time (which will only last a semester or two because you would flunk out), not at all or, as is the case with the vast majority of students, somewhere in between is entirely up to you. No one at Tulane or anywhere else will look at you funny if you have to finish a project or study for an exam instead of going out. Tulane students take their academic success seriously, as can be seen by the number of winners of Fulbright and similar fellowships, the number accepted into excellent medical schools, law schools and graduate schools, and that get solid jobs after graduation. But you take several thousand 18-22 year old students and put them in a concentrated environment where they have all the amenities, easy access to entertainment spots, and little responsibility outside of academics so they have a lot of free time, and guess what you get?</p>
<p>I can’t tell you much about Northeastern except that the overall atmosphere of the school is quite different than the environment at Tulane. Both are in great college towns, but obviously NE is a truly urban school with no real green space, while Tulane is in the Uptown section of New Orleans with large quads, a huge park across the street that might as well be part of the school, and a campus that is beautiful with large oaks, magnolias, etc. It has been used in various movies when they want that “classic” campus look. Which do you prefer? Where can you see yourself more easily?</p>
<p>You will obviously get a very different, very new life experience in New Orleans, while in Boston you remain in the same environment you are in now. That is up to you if that is important.</p>
<p>So that is really what it comes down to. Both schools will provide you with a great education. What you have to decide is which overall college experience you want. NE and Tulane couldn’t be more different in terms of location, campus style, weather, sports, cohesion of the student body, etc. If the only thing holding you back from picking Tulane was the party reputation, then pick Tulane. You will find plenty of classmates that properly balance school with a social life.</p>