Support for Freshmen in Engineering?

<p>My son is admitted at BU and Northeastern in Engineering. Concerned where he will likely have the most support structure in place (faculty advisors, etc) to help him be successful.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any feel for how much support there is at BU? And how NEU compares?</p>

<p>And is there any free time when you’re NOTstudying? He’s interested in EE.</p>

<p>I doubt that either school is going to provide a ton of support. BU has a support structure in each college and it’s certainly worked when needed in our experience but these are big programs - BU has 200 undergrad, 200 grad in the EE/CE dept. - and you’ll have standard advising about courses, etc. Beyond that, any of these schools will have groups, project groups, etc. that will create support relationships. Smaller departments - we had a question about chemistry earlier and that has 25 undergrads and a lot of grad students - have a different dynamic. </p>

<p>I’m not sure if you have a concern or if you’re looking for a basis for comparison. If the latter, the schools do have different philosophies; Northeastern EE is, I believe, committed to the co-op program of school-work-school, while BU’s emphasis - both in fact and in philosophy - is to connect students to research going on at the school. I can’t say for you which of these fits your son’s needs more, but I suggest you read the websites in depth. </p>

<p>Engineers work a lot. Even at Brown, where they’re the only ones who have to start taking classes in their concentration from day one because they have so many classes to take. (I say that with a smile intended because Brown generally has very loose requirements.)</p>