<p>Hello everyone. This is the first post I've actually made of the forums so I'm hoping this is the right section for this. I've been stalking this website throughout my college admissions process however.</p>
<p>Anyways, the National Intent to Register deadline is rapidly approaching and I'm having a lot of trouble deciding where to go. I've given up asking my friends and family for their opinions as they've been very biased towards one school or another. So alas I turn to you all.</p>
<p>I'd like to study Cognitive Science as an undergraduate (or a Psychology & Computer Science double major if necessary). As of now I've narrowed down my college selection process to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (I was accepted to their honor's program), Northeastern University, and UC Santa Barbara. Northeastern is the only college to actually offer a Cognitive Science major. However, UMN offers a B.I.S. which seems to be somewhat of a "create your own major" type of deal. UC Santa Barbara on the other hand has neither. I would have to double major in Psychology and Computer Science (CS through their College of Engineering however).</p>
<p>So here's the thing. I have full financial aid at UCSB (with a 7k loan a year), full financial aid/scholarships at UMN (16k in scholarships & 12k in loans a year), and at Northeastern around 45k in scholarships with a 7k loan (which would mean another 8k out of pocket pretty much). So that's the financial breakdown.</p>
<p>I'd like to go to Graduate school and am unsure as to which college would be the best choice for me. UMN seems to be the highest ranked in psychology, however I really enjoyed both Northeastern and UCSB's campuses. Northeastern is a tad expensive.</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate if anyone can give some input on this situation. Thank you very much for your time, I know my post is somewhat long.</p>
<p>Before I answer, let me see if I understand correctly:
- Northeastern offers you $7K loan - per year? Meaning $21K for 4 years?
- Same for UCSB?
- And is UMN really going to cost you $48K in loans over 4 years?</p>
<p>No, Northeastern is offering a 7k loan per year plus 8k out of pocket, so essentially 15k a year to total out to 60k a year for 4 years. Meaning Northeastern is the most expensive, then UMN, and then finally UCSB is much cheaper.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification. Honestly, with graduate school in the picture, I would strongly advise against significant debt. Have you checked out UCSB’s College of Creative Studies? I don’t know if it could help you create a better mesh between psychology & computer science, but it’s a very cool and selective program which, as a prospective honors student, you could maybe get into. Northeastern’s big advantage is the co-op program which would enable you to do several paid internships & thus significantly enhance your resume. But it’s not worth the extra $$, plus the cost of living in Boston is very, very high. So I’d recommend focusing on UCSB & UMN. UCSB has the better overall reputation (plus, man, can’t beat that location or the weather!) but it does sound like UMN may be a better academic fit. It sort of boils down to the worth of the honors program & your commitment to the cognitive science as a major.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the reply! If I do attend UCSB I am planning on applying for their honor’s program after my freshman year. The biggest trouble I’ve had deciding between the colleges is just that, whether or not wanting to major in Cognitive Science is really that important. I’m sure as of now that i’d like to study Cognitive Science in graduate school (and i’m about 98% sure I’d like to attend graduate school).</p>
<p>However, does anyone know what other paths I can take in order to be able to study Cognitive Science at the graduate level? Would majoring in only Psychology or only Computer Science work for that? UCSB actually has a 5-year M.S. in Computer Science program which I thought I may lean towards if I attend there and cannot Double Major efficiently enough.</p>
<p>You might find some info here:</p>
<p>[Cognitive</a> Science Society : Study : Academic Programs in Cognitive Science](<a href=“http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html]Cognitive”>http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html)</p>
<p>I love Minnesota, but I don’t think I can really justify that much additional debt over UCSB.</p>
<p>ucsb is a better school than both…
northeastern used to be a commuter school and is not near the top of boston schools…
if ucsb is cheaper i would def go</p>
<p>So I guess either UCSB or UMN would be my best options. Unfortunately I was never able to visit Minnesota. I’m from the Bay Area in California, so I’m somewhat skeptical about whether UMN would really be my kind of a place.</p>
<p>I really appreciate all of the feedback though. If anyone else has any other opinions I’d be very grateful to here them.</p>
<p>Redskins is wrong, Northeastern was indeed a commuter school, but that was a long time ago. It’s a tier 1 school, more selective than a comparable school-like BU, and is well regarded.</p>
<p>Before you post next time, Redskins, please do some research beforehand…</p>
<p>Northeastern is the better university and the only school with your desired major, but it is also the most expensive. I would see if you can find ways to keep your debt down.</p>
<p>Minnesota is a good state school in the upper midwest. The weather is horrible, but Minnesota offers you the ability to be in doors most of academic year. Not sure if you should go to a school that doesn’t offer the major you want, even if you can “make your own” program. </p>
<p>UCSB is in a great location and has a pretty campus. Not as good academically as the other two options, but largely due to east coast bias by many. Good cost and good party school.</p>
<p>Conclusion:
Go to Northeastern if you can afford it. If you can’t, decide whether you can deal with Minnesota winters. If you can’t, go to UCSB.</p>
<p>If you are even considering Psychology as a major the University of Minnesota would be your best academic bet with the undergraduate and graduate programs being consistently ranked in the top 10 (depending on the rankings top 5) in the nation. Since as you stated you would have to create your own major which more than likely take classes from the Psych. and Comp. Sci. departments.</p>
<p>If you want a campus with a legitimate college experience in an urban environment then choose here as well. The weather is cold/not so great between November and March. The most brutal months are mid-December through early March. April can be a toss up. </p>
<p>It may be my “East Coast” (or Midwest) bias as well, but I don’t understand the allure of going to an UC that isn’t Berkley or UCLA. The Twin Cities are great cosmopolitan location and don’t necessarily assume that this area is a wasteland like quite a few Californians assume. </p>
<p>My opinion: UMN, UCSB, then Northeastern. Good luck!</p>
<p>According to the CS Society these are the top programs in CS. I don’t see any Northeastern. I think outside weather UMinn is a better deeper school overall. You might change your major too.</p>
<p>[Cognitive</a> Science Society : Study : Academic Programs in Cognitive Science](<a href=“http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html]Cognitive”>http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/study_programs.html)</p>
<p>I agree that going to a UC school other than UC-Berk or UCLA is a bit questionable, but in this case, the cost is low. It has the best campus out of the bunch in terms of weather. And it has a good greek/party scene. [GreekLife</a> Home](<a href=“http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl/greeklife/index.aspx]GreekLife”>http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl/greeklife/index.aspx) </p>
<p>I wouldn’t think going to school in Minnesota would be as bad as everyone says it is. Some people like the cold. I prefer mountains if I am cold so I can at least ski, but Minnesota has some good lakes if you are there in the summer (probably not the case for a student). Also, more urban than UCSB but less of a city than Boston. Also, have to deal with the state school reputation (not to mention the midwest stigma). </p>
<p>OP: Did you apply to any of the other schools often thrown in with the schools you mentioned: BC, Tufts, BU, NYU?</p>
<p>You mean the Midwest stigma of being smart, friendly, hardworking and not an a-hole?</p>