<p>Hey everyone. I am torn between these two schools, trying to decide with a major in ECE for both.</p>
<p>On one hand, Villanova has a great engineering program and academics, but the surrounding area isn't so good, and the party scene is sub par. </p>
<p>On the other hand, Northeastern (from what I understand) doesn't have as good of an engineering program, but the surrounding area is FANTASTIC and I love Boston. Plus they have their world-renowned co-op program, which is a huge bonus.</p>
<p>They are both giving me almost the exact same amount of aid, accurate to within a few dollars. Basically its a matter of whether Villanova can provide a comparable social atmosphere, or if Northeastern can give a comparable academic program. Anyone with any advice kindly add your opinion. It will be greatly appreciated, since I am honestly on the fence, not leaning one way or another.</p>
<p>no opinions from anyone?</p>
<p>I’m biased Northeastern admittedly, but the facts were that the average engineering student made more coming out of school than a M.I.T. engineering grad when I went there. Admittedly it’s a bit apples and oranges as most Northeastern grads come out in 5 years versus 4 and have just under 2 years of work experience. </p>
<p>That said, Villanova is a fine school but a NU grad will just be operating at a higher level coming out of school.</p>
<p>I just got accepted to Northeastern, Binghamton, Villanova, Fordham and Loyola_MD I got a 12K a year scholarship from NU. Still waiting to see if I get any Merit Scholarships from Villanova, Fordham, Loyola. STill trying to figure out which school to go to. I was deferred to regular decision for Boston College, waiting on TCNJ, Boston Univ, Colgate, Lehigh and Hamilton. VU ranked 20, NU ranked 32, BU ranked 35 Fordham/Loyola around 45. Heard Fordham might be ranked alot higher next year because of the big investment in the business school. Someone said they got a scholarship from NU and Villanova. Wondering what your scholarship was from both schools and your grades/SATS were to get the scholarships. Any thoughts on the schools to help me make my decision. Of course merit awards if and when they come in will help me decide. Oh and I will probably end up going for an MBA. Help me decide</p>
<p>This should be a no brainer: Villanova. It is a better school with a better campus. The idea that there is no social life is a myth (based only on an easy morph of the name). Northeastern isn’t a bad school but it really isn’t anything special. If you are set on going to school in Boston look at some of the better options: BC, BU, Tufts.</p>
<p>Also, look at Tulane (may be too late though). There are good academic programs (somewhat limited engineering, though) and plenty of parties.</p>
<p>No brainer? Northeastern is a lot more prestigious than Villanova in general. And Northeastern has a great Engineering program, believe it or not. Ctyankee explained that quite well. I know many people that chose Northeastern Engineering over Villanova and other places, and also Northeastern Pharmacy over Rutgers or Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>“Northeastern isn’t a bad school but it really isn’t anything special.” Your definitive conclusion is based on…? BC doesn’t even have an engineering school by the way.</p>
<p>Northeastern engineering has a full range of engineering majors through the doctorate and is ranked equal to Tufts and BU for undergraduate engineering.
<a href=“http://www.uscollegeranking.org/engineering/best-undergraduate-engineering-university-ranking-where-doctorate-is-highest-degree.html[/url]”>http://www.uscollegeranking.org/engineering/best-undergraduate-engineering-university-ranking-where-doctorate-is-highest-degree.html</a></p>
<p>I agree that Northeastern is a better program. Boston is also a better city to live in, but that is a matter of preference. Take advantage of the co-op program as well. Northeastern engineering grads do very well after graduation.</p>
<p>Northeastern is not a very good school. It just isn’t. And as far as prestige, it has absolutely zero prestige. It is Drexel University in Boston. </p>
<p>Informative, check the rankings. Northeastern is not a better program.</p>
<p>RisingChemist wrote "Northeastern is not a very good school. It just isn’t. ".</p>
<p>Well, the oracle has spoken. I guess we have no choice but to believe him in his wisdom! (Even though he thinks that Boston College has an engineering school.)</p>
<p>I know quite a bit about the Boston schools and respect everything Northeastern stands for. I don’t know anyone who would say that Northeastern is not a good school, except maybe the Boston University admissions office. lol.</p>
<p>Quick google search about how Northeastern compares to other universities nationally says that other people disagree greatly with RisingChemist, which wasn’t surprising in the least:</p>
<p>[Northeastern</a> University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“Northeastern University - Wikipedia”>Northeastern University - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Probably just a BU ■■■■■.</p>
<p>I am not a BU ■■■■■, I just don’t understand why people try to push a school by providing false information. I am not saying that Northeastern is terrible but it is historically a local commuter school. It has gotten better but it is still about the 7th choice in the Boston area. </p>
<p>Here is where it ranks:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cefns.nau.edu/Academic/CS/misc_docs/UG_engineering_ranking_08.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cefns.nau.edu/Academic/CS/misc_docs/UG_engineering_ranking_08.pdf</a></p>
<p>Yes, tied with Boston University, which you indicated was a better school in your earlier post. History is in the past, get with the present reality.</p>
<p>BTW, do you know a CC’er named SJUHawk?</p>
<p>Here are the current rankings, as your rankings are from 2008:
[Best</a> Undergraduate Engineering Programs - Best Colleges - Education - US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-engineering]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-engineering)</p>
<p>I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I really wouldn’t care if a school was a local commuter school twenty years ago. Today, it is considered one of the better programs nationally. Not sure from where your hatred stems. </p>
<p>I also don’t think that engineering ranking (56 nationally now) is something to scoff at. Sure, it is probably the 4 or 5th best engineering school in Boston, but that is because Boston has Harvard, MIT and Tufts. So yeah, if it were located in some other city, it might be the best in its city. I don’t really think that is something to hold against it, especially considering these engineering schools share resources. An engineering student at Northeastern can audit classes at MIT precisely due to having these schools in the same city, something Villanova, probably the second or third best in its own state, cannot. Of course, Northeastern has NASA right on campus. Pretty sure Villanova doesn’t have employers working directly with students like that. Or offering internships like the heralded Northeastern engineering co-op programs. Just saying.</p>
<p>I did notice that you are a Nova student/alum. It is a great school and you should be proud you went there. I personally think either option are outstanding.</p>
<p>I am a Tulane alum but my son’s best friend goes to villanova and, as a result, my son looked closely at it. I am pretty familiar with the school as a result. But the weather and other social factors led my son to my alma mater.</p>
<p>I won’t say anything bad about Northeastern, but I will say something good about Villanova.</p>
<p>Villanova is in one of the richest suburbs in PA. It is along the Main Line, which is not a faceless suburb, but an interesting set of older areas along a historic commuter railroad line. It is like a whole set of college towns in a row, with interesting shops and restaurants along a long stretch.</p>
<p>The commuter rail line and a light rail line each have stops on the Villanova campus. From there, it is easy to reach Center City Philadelphia, where there is more to do than in all of Boston. Along these lines, you also can quickly connect to the Tower Theater, other concert locations, pro sports stadiums, U. Penn, Drexel, Temple, the Airport, and many other places. You also are a short train ride from connecting to the Amtrak system. </p>
<p>There actually are more college students and more colleges in the Philadelphia area than the Boston area. There are 5 colleges close to Villanova.</p>
<p>Villanova’s President has placed a strong emphasis on community service by students, which has met with incredibly high participation rates.</p>