I got accepted into URI & NEU’s 0-6 PharmD programs (along with some other schools: LIU, Buffalo, St. Johns, Binghamton) and am really struggling with a decision between the two.
I visited both and loved both campuses, and I can’t really figure out if I want to be in the city (Boston) or on a classic college campus (15 mins from the beach!).
NEU is offering “$20,000 for your freshman year and $10,000 per full semester during your upper-class years while you are attending classes”. I haven’t received my letter from URI yet so I’m not sure about scholarships, but I’m sure they will give me something.
Just wondering your thoughts on the schools, if you attend either one please offer any advice!!
Hey! NEU student here - both programs are very well regarded as far as I know (I know more NEU than RI, but RI is a common comparison on CC for PharmD). I would focus on fit and price with two schools that will serve you well.
How much of a factor is cost? What can you/your parents pay per year? Will there be any loans?
Northeastern is really about the city life and co-op. It has the traditional campus feel while still being in the city, but the city is a big part of life here. Boston is an absolutely amazing city, and this is coming from a city lover. So many great affordable food places, very safe and has a good homey feeling. Not as tall as an NYC or Chicago but still offers plenty to do. Very academic feel in the city which is nice. Hopefully that description gives you an idea one way or the other.
I can’t speak as much to RI so hopefully someone else can there, but I would note that a beach in the northeast won’t be useful most of the time there - if you’re not there in the summer especially. Boston also has beaches (not as nice though) that are accessible if you really want to go - been a few times myself. A much more common thing is making a weekend day trip to the cape with friends, which I have also done.
Feel free to ask any more questions on specifics and I’d be happy to elaborate!
@skieurope could you move this to College Search and Selection to get more responses?
City vs. traditional campus. Boston will give you more internship opportunities and NEU is all about the co-op. But NEU isn’t a traditional, self-contained campus and there are cons to this for some. All finances being equal, I think it comes down to the campus.
I’m in the same boat. I was admitted to URI for Pharmacy and am currently waiting for NEU’s RD for their Pharmacy program. These are my two top schools and I have no idea how to choose between them.
@AvatarCo1 As mentioned before, I think focusing on fit and cost make the most sense. What are you looking for in college in terms of environment? Location? Co-op is another big difference of course, but I assume that you and OP are aware of that consideration.
@PengsPhils I think location/campus and cost are the major factors. I want to feel as if I’m part of a collective college environment and I want to be able to meet new people. How’s the social scene at NEU? Are there things to do on campus that don’t involve having to go out into the city itself? I get that being in Boston is a big part of NEU, but is life+fun focused entirely outside campus in the city? Cost is also an issue. On CollegeBoard, it says that the total expenses (tuition+fees+room/board+etc) are upwards around $66,000. Is NEU REALLY worth the super high price tag vs URI being around $44,000? Thank you for any words of knowledge.
The cost difference is absolutely not worth it. They are comparable programs, and unless you have the ability to afford either without loans or hardship, I think that’s a very easy choice.
Beyond that, I think that it sounds like you are looking for a more classic collegey campus feel, which would make URI make more sense. You’d certainly be able to meet people at Northeastern, but it’s not a place where on campus events and clubs are the focal point of the social scene. I would point out that in the city and on campus really blur together, so posing them as two entirely different places isn’t the best characterization. Again, though, it sounds like you want a place that is campus first. Go with RI unless you’re still waiting on other schools of course.
@PengsPhils Do you think the fact that Northeastern being in a city + the co-op program will render a better chance at landing employment after graduation than URI? Especially with the Pharmacy field being incredibly saturated, I’m scared that I’d be giving up a huge chance at a job if I don’t go to Northeastern - but, like you said, the debt I would be in doesn’t seem worth it.
Also, thank you for everything - you have no idea how helpful your words are. I’ll 100% be taking everything you said into consideration.
@AvatarCo1 I’m a huge advocate for Northeastern, and it’s career resources with co-op are truly top notch. That doesn’t mean there are not an infinite number of other ways to be successful. URI’s program is very solid - you can work to do internships there and make sure to gain experience before you graduate. It won’t be as easy to do as at Northeastern, but it’s certainly doable.
@PengsPhils
I received a $54,000 scholarship to URI over 6 years - so $9,000 a year. That would bring my total expenses down from $44k a year to around $35k at URI. For a 6 year pharmacy program, I’m gonna have around $210k in student debt. I haven’t received a decision from Northeastern yet, but I’m sure they won’t give me as much.
I got $96,000 at MCPHS, $96,000 at ACPHS, $90,000 at USciences, and $84,000 at St. John’s. However, USciences is a garbage school, ACPHS is a 2+4 pharmacy school which is a nuisance and I’d rather go to a 0+6 school, MCPHS doesn’t have an actual campus and I’ve heard bad things about the school + no social life, and St. John’s is basically as expensive as Northeastern (expenses are $59k-ish a year).
I have a dark future ahead.
I’ll be sure to let you know how much Northeastern gives me. I applied regular decision and should hear back by April 1st. I’m planning on visiting NEU later this February.
You are planning to borrow the full amount for all 6 years? You can’t do that. The maximum you can borrow on your own for freshman year is $5500. It goes up a bit from there but nowhere near the numbers you are talking about. You can borrow more if your parents cosign, but that depends on whether they are able to get credit to borrow that much.
@me29034 Not sure how the taking out loans situation is going to work, but the numbers above are merely rough estimates based ONLY on total expense figures on CollegeBoard. These are numbers before financial aid (besides merit) and external scholarships. I didn’t say how much I was going to be borrowing, but my math above is just approximations and looking into the future theoretically based on what each year can cost. To be completely honest, I have no idea how the financial side of things work, I’m leaving that to my parents to handle. Regardless, I’m going to have 6 figures of debt after I graduate no matter where I go to school. (Also, sorry if I’m misinterpreting the question or situation)
I would look into financials now before you find out that all of your options are unaffordable. You will only be able to borrow that much if your parents cosign - are they going to be okay with that? Are you okay with them being on the hook for your debt if things don’t work out?
