I’m pretty much awful at choices and this one’s really killing me. I know that UVA has much more prestige behind its name but I’m also mildly in love with Northeastern’s co-op program. I worry that UVA has too much going on with the frats and also that I’ll be much further away from home. Something keeps drawing me backing to NEU and I don’t know what it is. I was hoping for some outside option.
Also I live in Vermont and majoring in chemical engineering if that helps.
I’m sure UVA has astounding co-op programs and with their name comes heavy recruitment and unbounded opportunity. I don’t know much about NEU but I don’t think the co-op program should make or break your decision, you must be very smart to get into both of those schools in the first place so I’m sure you’ll succeed wherever you decide to attend. Also touching on the frats, no one is making you take part in that so I feel that if you strongly dislike that atmosphere you’ll be able to drown it in the surrounding academic powerhouses that are UVA students.
NEU student, so announced bias here.
My best friend here has a high school friend that went to UVA, and he complains about the frat environment all the time. He has found his niche elsewhere, but the frat environment goes beyond the frats into the student body. You won’t avoid it by simply not being in a frat.
NEU’s co-op program does not compare to UVA. I found a few in a few departments that are recently connected with a decent deal of companies, but NEU places thousands of students in co-op a year all over the country and world. The above poster is simply wrong there. On top of all that, you will be in a culture of students where co-op is a part of everyone, as with UVA you would be very much in the minority.
UVA does have very strong academics, but if you love the co-op environment go NEU all the way. It is the real deal and more. Co-op is as good of a reason as any to choose a school, it certainly factored into my decision. If you have any questions feel free to ask here!