Torn between crappy (but free) state school and awesome (expensive) private school

<p>maybe23:</p>

<p>A couple of factual errors from 2008 – Arizona and Northeastern are not ranked the same. UofA is currently ranked #120, and Northeastern is #69. That is a significant difference perceptually.</p>

<p>However, Arizona or Arizona St. HONORS would probably have a slightly higher testing/gpa cohort than Northeastern does. So it’s really a question of Northeastern v. UofA or Az.St. HONORS.</p>

<p>Seems like a coin flip to me. However, if you want to establish your career in Boston or NYC, that is, you don’t see yourself or want to continue living in AZ, then I can see how Northeastern is a good choice.</p>

<p>@LadyDianeski
What is IIRC? What I am looking at is the guaranteed NMF award, and would definitely go to Barrett.
@DunninLA
I don’t really want to establish a career in either state. I live more in the middle of the US, in a small-ish town, and would like to go to college someplace different from where I am now but probably return someday. So this is more about my college years.</p>

<p>For anyone considering Northeastern reading this thread - Don’t listen to anyone talking about Northeastern who hasn’t been there recently. Only about 10-15 years ago, Northeastern was pretty much a not very impressive commuter school, but they changed course when they got a new president, and from what I’ve heard is barely the same school.</p>

<p>Those posts complaining about the campus - probably applied in the 90’s early 2000’s, but when I visited last year it was beautiful, tons of new buildings/renovations, lots of green space, etc.</p>

<p>Their admission standards have improved dramatically - about the same/maybe slightly better than BU. Sure, its no Harvard/MIT - But really, in the real world (and not prestige obsessed CC) that means an entirely different thing.</p>

<p>OP also mentioned the c;limate in the pluses/minuses with an apparent disdain against the heat of the SW, and an apparent liking of the NE clime.</p>

<p>Then the question is - how important is climate in the college decision making process (vs , say, money,)</p>