TCNJ vs Drexel vs Stony Brook vs Queens - EE Major

Hey everyone,

My bf got into TCNJ, Drexel, Stony Brook, and Queens. Isn’t sure which to pick. What are pros and cons of each, and in your opinion, which is best?

(Also got into NJIT, Seton Hall, and Rowan with A LOT of money, basically full ride, if you want to consider those as well. Waitlisted for Rutgers.)

-Electrical Eng./CS major
-Received generous financial aid/scholarship at each school (Drexel was only half paid though)
-Financial situation is rough
-Wants to stay close to home (NJ)
-Wants an active student life (i.e. college must have lots of events/activities)
-Is considering transferring to a better school after freshman year

I decided to go to TCNJ and plan to do CS there even though I’m still sorta waiting for Stevens. Stony Brook was too far for me to even apply lol.

I first chose TCNJ out of the Jersey schools because honestly they put me in their honors program and gave me the most money (my fam is broke so that was important). But as I keep looking it seems to be the best for me academically; plus Princeton Review has some glowing things to say about it, #7 most beautiful campus (out of 381), #6 their students love the school, #13 happiest students etc. They seem to be beefing up their CS situation in terms of hiring new faculty and they have a new STEM building opening this year. Acc to them and anecdotal evidence, some of their CS kids have interned at Etsy and the FBI, get jobs at Google and Amazon or do grad school at Columbia and other decent places. Because the classes are small they have great research opportunities (so I’ve read). I have a bit of concern about activities, I heard it was in the middle of nowhere but I’m not a huge partier. I’m actually starting to really look forward to going and almost feel like I lucked into it.

Rowan from what I’ve heard has a great engineering program that might be better. Drexel was too expensive (I got in there also w/about half in merit ). Seton Hall/NJIT weren’t on my radar at all for nitpicky reasons (bad experience with NJIT rep at school fair for example), Princeton Review ranks NJIT #1 Professors Get Low Marks and #2 Least Happy Students.

@juliag18 The best is wherever he feels himself succeeding most (academically and socially) and getting involved. Understand that you may or may not be part of the future equation (or vice versa).

Why is he considering Stony Brook if he wants to stay close to home? Is it because of him, or because of you? Is it a better love if it’s the latter? I’m old, like grandpappy age, and if you two lovebirds don’t allow each other to fly and accept whatever destination happens, it’s not going to end well.

“Considering transferring to a ‘better’ school after freshman year”?! That is a very, very poor recipe, especially in engineering. Better not to go at all than to have that mentality. Putting yourself behind the 8-ball financially and timewise limits options after college. College might be a 5-year plan anyway if the student lacks focus. A place like Drexel has a paid co-op requirement (a notch above internship - more of an entry level temp job in chosen field) that makes it a 5-year undergrad program anyway. Why would anyone plan for/consider a 6-year undergrad degree program? That is nuts!

Drexel, Rowan, and NJIT are proven engineering schools. TCNJ aspiring, but it’s more of a computer science and management school. Seton Hall more of a lib arts/humanities/business school. Queens I dunno. I like Stony Brook OK, nice area (love Riverside - an old school Polish enclave) but it’s kind of a eastern LI Rowan without the engineering rep (that I know of). Don’t see any practical advantages of it over the others, but “feel” is part of the equation, too. Rutgers, no matter what they tell you, is likely to be a 5-year school. I know few students in my long life who get out of Rutgers in 4-years - needed/wanted class availability is usually a reason (along with the ordinary college pitfalls like changing majors or losing focus).

I wish both of you good luck, and allowing each other to fly.

Drexel quarter system is fast, furious and can be very stressful. 10 weeks, final, week off, 10 weeks, final…its great for some and not for others