I was accepted into both the University of Notre Dame and Northeastern University and I’m having a hard time deciding which one to go to so I was hoping CC might help me figure out what to do haha. I still have a month to make this decision but I’m honestly freaking out bc I just have no clue what I should do.
For both universities, I plan on studying civil engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering, and I’m hoping to pick up a language minor- either French or Italian. Notre Dame definitely has a better reputation, but I was accepted to the Honors Program at Northeastern. ND will give me pretty hefty financial aid which makes it almost the same as in-state tuition for me; I haven’t gotten my financial aid notification from NU yet but if my family has to end up paying over $30k I’d almost definitely pick ND.
I prefer the location of NU, the environment, and the student life there, and I also love the co-op of course, but I’m not sure if it will be worth it to pick that over a university that’s consistently ranked in the top 20. I’m also muslim (I wear the hijab) and black, and though I’d honestly feel out of place wearing the hijab in both universities, I think I might be more comfortable with the more liberal environment of NU. But again, I don’t know if I should choose that over a highly rated university that’s known worldwide.
I’m not sure if it’s relevant but I’m also planning on pursuing a Masters and I feel like NU might not be as great as preparing me for that as ND would (though if I’m wrong please let me know!).
Any and all help in choosing where to head to this fall would be greatly appreciated!
Have you been to visit? Can you get to the admitted student days? The two cultures of theses schools couldn’t be any different.
ND has a common first year curriculum and requirements for theology and philosophy courses. It’s still is strongly Catholic. It’s in the middle of nowhere. That said, they have a tremendous reputation, great school spirt, and alumni network.
NU has a very hands on approach to their engineering program that is very focused on career readiness, near a major city, with one of the strongest, most established co-op programs. Just a fantastic engineering program.
Obviously you need to wait to see what your financial aid package looks like but you have great options on the table.
Sadly, because of my mom’s work, I’ve been overseas since the beginning of senior year and won’t be back until summer so I can’t visit either
And yes, they are definitely quite different haha! There are parts I love about one that are completely different from the other and I just don’t know what I should put more weight on to help me make my choice.
I quite like that ND is religious to be honest; even though I’m not Catholic I think it would be nice to be on a campus where being a practicing religious person isn’t out of the norm and where an emphasis is put on using what you learn to help others. That and the amazing academics are what drew me to the school- even though I applied thinking there was no way I would get in- and the chance to go is amazing. On the other hand, there are some downsides: it’s far from my family (MD), in the middle of nowhere, you have to live on campus for 3 years and I’m personally not a fan of the dorms, the lack of diversity, and a few others.
Regarding NU, the “hands on approach” is why I loved it! It was a more realistic choice for me when applying to uni’s and I was pretty sure it’s where I would head. I love the dorms, the city, the engineering program, and all the other global programs they offer, but with my unexpected acceptance to ND I can’t decide if I should or shouldn’t give that up for a top 20 university.
This reply ended up being far longer than it was supposed to, oops, and I feel like I’m overthinking this but that’s pretty on-brand for me lol. I’m just afraid of making a decision I’ll regret later and I’m freaking out a little lol.
It sounds like you really want to go to Northeastern but the “prestige” of Notre Dame’s name is making you question your choice. Fact is, these are very different schools. One is a football powerhouse in the mid-west and somewhat conservative, the other an urban pre-professional school with no notable athletics and more liberal though not overtly political. And although ND’s rankings are high, the co-op experience at Northeastern will give you a professional leg-up which would at least even out any difference prospective employers might have in evaluating your degree from either of these schools. Notre Dame offers a more traditional American college experience. Northeastern offers unparalleled professional exposure, somewhat at the cost of that traditional college experience. (For example, at NEU many of your friends will disappear off campus for months at a time while they’re on co-op, so you’d see them only in the evenings and on weekends.)
Only you can decide which one is the right place for you, since both will have their pluses or minuses. I will add, though, that co-ops should really the number one reason you want to go to NEU, as they’re its defining feature.
I will definitely be taking your words to heart and talk with my family over the next few weeks to make my final decision! I do just have one more question: would you know if NU’s large focus work experience weaken or strengthen an application to a master’s program?
It might be worth your time to email both schools about supports and advising for applying to grad school. Some schools also have combined programs where you can get your MA in just one extra year. Not sure if that’s the case at either of these schools.
IMO though, work experiences strengths an application to grad school.
Hi @daydreamer373 - I lived in Boston for many years and while I didn’t attend NU, I have friends who did, and I know of it, and it’s a great school. I’m now living in South Bend as husb works at ND and I work at Saint Mary’s college, across the street. Yes, ND is a catholic university however it is also quite diverse in every way, including religious diversity. I know of students and professors from every religion, including Muslim, as well as those who are agnostic and atheist. To be honest, you will probably find that the majority of ND students (and Midwesterners) seem white and catholic - this is what my Saint Marys students of color/non-catholics tell me - but it is a big school with lots of people. It is determined to be a school that is not only top 10 in academics/sports, but also one that is diverse, peaceful, and committed to social justice. Just like anywhere, there are professors and students from all across the political spectrum, and I assure you that there are many progressive/liberal professors and students at ND. To call it purely a “conservative school” would not be accurate, as there are left wing Catholics. And the “conservative” people at ND that I know, their conservatism would more likely be referring to their religious beliefs, such as “pro-life” rather than anti-immigrant, etc. Of course Boston in general is profoundly more liberal and progressive than South Bend/the Midwest, but Boston certainly has its racism and ignorant elements, too. As a native New Englander (progressive, Caucasian, not very religious, female) living in the Midwest, it is challenging at times however there are many people around with whom I can connect. Our own Mayor Pete Buttigieg is running for President and he’s a great example of an educated, progressive person from South Bend who is very different than the stereotypical conservative Indiana resident you might hear about.
South Bend is in the middle of the country, but I would not say SB is truly in the middle of nowhere - it is a train ride from Chicago, and it is the same amount of time to get to the truly beautiful Michigan beaches from south bend as it was from Boston (about 45 min-hour, bc you can’t really swim at Boston beaches - you have to go north or south of the city). There are several good restaurants in SB and many cultural offierings (ND offers world class theatre and musical entertainment options - check performingarts@nd.edu and The Observer for info about things to do and to get an idea of the culture on campus) but there are absolutely nowhere near as many good restaurants & cultural events as there are in Boston. Northeastern is a great school in a city full of great schools but it’s not the top-ranked school in Boston/Cambridge (that would be Harvard), wheras ND is the undisputed top school in this area. I know students in the ND engineering program and it is an excellent program, with lots of industry connections and prestige.
Lastly, parking and driving in Boston is a nightmare, but even after living in South Bend for almost 9 years, I still get a thrill that I can park anywhere in SB that I want to go!! For free!!
Another factor is Notre Dame’s very loyal and strong alumni network. It is national/international and truly lasts a life time. Once a “domer” always a “domer.” Good luck!
It seems likely that your Northeastern financial aid offer won’t be as generous as ND’s. I assume you got some merit money with your Honors offer, but merit and need-based aid don’t stack, so your merit will be swallowed into your aid package and you will pay your EFC. When you run the Net Price Calculator for NU, is your EFC competitive with what ND is asking you to pay?
Money aside, I feel as if you are drawn to the more spiritually-oriented and cohesive community at Notre Dame. And the fact that you’re aiming for grad school makes co-ops less crucial. Also, the foreign language and culture offerings are a lot more extensive at ND than at NEU.
I like a lot of things about Northeastern - on of my kids almost went there - but I feel like Notre Dame is the better fit here, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the decision became a non-decision when your aid offer comes in.
