Northeastern - worth the money?

<p>I've fallen in love with Northeastern, but I come from a mostly middle-class background (about 90-100k a year, with another kid graduating in 2 years), and the tuition is a bit hefty. From the research I've done it doesn't seem like getting in would be too big of a problem. I love the co-op program and the location (Boston...<em>sigh</em>), but without significant financial aid and scholarships I would basically be plunging myself into an eternity of debt. I'm looking for a strong communications/journalism/masscomm or pre-law program, and possible law school after graduation.</p>

<p>Other schools I'm considering:
Drake
Mizzou
Kansas
Minnesota</p>

<p>With a 3.8 GPA and a 29 ACT are scholarships a possibility? Or is it not even worth spending that much money when I can get a decent education elsewhere?</p>

<p>Last year, all early action acceptees were offered some sort of scholarship (I got a $15,000/year scholarship with a 3.0 GPA). I think Northeastern is definitely worth it if you can get the cost down to $40,000 or so</p>

<p>I know 6 students at Northeastern. All of them have loved the school and the two that graduated have done well. One in Med school and the other has landed an excellent job. That being said I can not see paying a premium in comparison to the State U’s you have named. Do you want to stay in Boston? What do you plan to study?</p>

<p>I’m from Minnesota, so I applied to the U here as a close to home option if necessary, but I want to expand my horizons. Anywhere. Honestly. I love Boston, but going there is not a necessity, and currently at the price it’s out of reach. Private schools are not out of the question, but travel expenses are quite different to say, Des Moines, than they are to Boston.</p>

<p>I want to study journalism or mass communications, or pre-law if they have that as a major.</p>

<p>In today’s economy I would save the money and attend Minnesota. Missouri may be worth the premium for journalism but it depends what the price difference is.</p>

<p>I would apply to Northeastern and wait to see if you get any scholarship money (apply early action!) and then decide from there depending on how much you’ll have to pay up</p>

<p>pierre is correct if there is no substantial price difference Northeastern is fine. Just not worth a premium.</p>

<p>as to staying in minnesota: if you’re looking equally for a life experience as well as an education then I’d try to get out.</p>

<p>Were you in the top 20% of your class? I am applying Northeastern RD and I am in the top 30% of my class and I have a 3.4 w/1930 SAT’s (750 in math). I didn’t think I’d get in EA -</p>

<p>Minnesota is only a last resort option, such as if some sort of accident should happen that I need to stay close to home. Missouri offers automatic scholarships because of my ACT, plus the instate tuition option after the first year. Kansas’ OOS tuition is the lowest of the OOS options I’m considering without factoring in scholarships and financial aid.</p>

<p>I am not quite in the top 20%, about the top 22%. we are a very competitive public school.</p>

<p>I’m sorry - that question was meant for Pierre - I’m applying to the engineering school if that helps.</p>

<p>I was in the top 50% of my high school (I think i was ranked 130th out of 280 people) at a very competitive public high school (ranked #100 in the country by US News). I had a GPA of 3.06 (on a scale of 4.0), an SAT score of 2010 (Critical Reading: 650, Math: 780, Writing: 580).</p>

<p>I was accepted to the College of Engineering</p>

<p>Wow, thanks - I have a 3.41 GPA at a very highly ranked school in MA - many kids applied to NEU last year (like 90 and 60 or so got in). My high school is one of the ‘silver’ winners and at the first sitting of the SAT’s a 1930 (W 590 M 750 CR 590). I just took SAT’s again in October and don’t know the scores yet. On our Naviance anyone w/3.4 or so is low. The average accepted from my school is about 3.7. This is why I thought I would wait for regular admission. My GPA places me in the top 1/3 of my class. I’ve taken no AP’s but a good mixture of honors over the years. I am interested in the college of engineering too,</p>