Umass Amherst vs. Northeastern University (Computer science)

<p>I've been accepted to both universities as an undergraduate in the computer science program. I am an international student and am REALLY confused as to where to go.
Umass offered me admission to the Honors program
Northeastern offered me a scholarship. But money is not an issue in this comparison. </p>

<p>Things to consider:</p>

<ul>
<li>Prestige</li>
<li>Academic environment</li>
<li>Changes of getting to graduate school</li>
</ul>

<p>I really like how UMass has 10 specializations for the CS undergraduate program. It gave me the impression that CS is very distinguished in UMass Amherst. On the other hand, Northeastern is very prestigious according to what I heard, and it's not easy to get admitted there. I've been told that studying at Northeastern is a great opportunity and that I would be out of my mind if I miss it. </p>

<p>I really don't know how to decide. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>"Things to consider:</p>

<ul>
<li>Prestige</li>
<li>Academic environment</li>
<li>Changes of getting to graduate school"</li>
</ul>

<p>Northeastern is much much better for everything you mentioned. Since money is not a issue in this comparison, Northeastern should be the obvious choice. </p>

<p>“It gave me the impression that CS is very distinguished in UMass Amherst”
Don’t kid yourself. Northeastern is also very good for engineering and sciences.</p>

<p>Northeastern since cost isn’t an issue and it seems like you are implying it is cheaper anyways.</p>

<p>I am not implying that. I am just saying that since I am international student the cost of attendance at both universities is pretty close, yet Northeastern’s is a bit higher.</p>

<p>UMass - Amherst appears to have a significantly higher prestige ranking for CS than Northeastern, even though its overall prestige is lower (especially in the northeastern US, where many people tend to think that private is always better than public). But what may be more relevant prestige-wise is how they are viewed in countries you have the legal right to work in after graduation.</p>

<p>However, what may make this decision is the fact that Northeastern’s degree programs are built around the co-op jobs. You want to find out if this is something you definitely prefer, or are not sure about (at most other schools, co-op jobs are optional). Also, as an international student, you want to find out how difficult it is to get hired into co-op jobs, due to visa limitations.</p>

<p>The honors program at UMass is a big perk, plus they will open brand new housing facilities for honors at the start of the 2013/14 school year.
<a href=“https://www.honors.umass.edu/honors-residence-life[/url]”>https://www.honors.umass.edu/honors-residence-life&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Northeastern is a different type of program. Their main objective is to prepare you for the work world, so you will be doing internships as part of your undergraduate program. Even though UMass still gives you the opportunity to pursue internships, it’s not the main means of preparing you for a job as it is at Northeastern.</p>

<p>UMass has more of a campus life than Northeastern.</p>

<p>UMass has *different *campus life than Northeastern due to its location downtown.
I would prefer NEU’s environment, but that is a personal decision. NEU has done a lot to enhance their campus in recent years.</p>

<p>Northeastern is a much better school than UMass Amherst, so unless you can’t afford Northeastern, you should attend Northeastern.</p>