<p>Hi!
So I got accepted, and NEU is absolutely my number one choice. I'm thrilled, but I received no merit/no need-based aid (since I filled out the CSS Profile).</p>
<p>I am going to try to appeal for more aid, but the chances of that working are slim.</p>
<p>So I ask, is it worth it?
I am going in as a behavioral neuroscience major. I want to do scientific research, and there are a lot of opportunities to get paid for grad school in that field...if you have done well. So on that note, Northeastern is one of the top research universities and I would have better opportunities for that than at my state school (colorado state u).</p>
<p>Here's my positive thinking:
I go in with a decent amount of AP credits. I participate in two co-ops where I get paid something and don't pay tuition for a year. With my AP Credits, I could still possibly graduate in 4 years. I would then graduate with a fantastic resume and have already started getting paid through the co-ops.</p>
<p>So if that all works out, then I feel that taking big loans for Northeastern would be totally worth the risk.
But if it doesn't, I'll be struggling a lot.So I ask you, is it worth the risk?
I have a big decision to make, and I would love input. Thank you.</p>
<p>This comes down to your philosophy. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be burdened with a huge debt if I could avoid it. Better opportunities don’t mean guaranteed opportunities. You could end up doing as well over the long term at your state university. And if you end up in grad school, it won’t really matter where you go for your undergrad. But ultimately only you can decide if NU’s greater opportunities are worth the extra cost.</p>
<p>I don’t typically comment on these issues, as mine was a personal decision that I never doubted. But I wanted to make an important comment. </p>
<p>Absolutely under no circumstances should you consider “co-op pay” towards “how I’m going to pay for tuition”. In most co-ops, the money barely lets you survive every month, let alone making any significant contributions to savings or tuition. But I’ve known people who had well-paying co-ops, and STILL couldn’t make all their bills. Some are lucky and have their parents still pay for an apartment/dorm, so they pocket that amount. And yet everyone finishes co-op with a lot less money than they expected to have at the end. Co-op can buy you that jacket you wanted, spending money for NYC, a few concerts or maybe even (if you’ve saved) a trip to California your senior year- but it would barely make a scratch on your tuition bill if you don’t have aid.</p>
<p>To be fair, you can’t actually make this decision. Your parents may not literally be able to handle the spillover. Without aid or outside scholarships, there are federal student loans, parent’s pocket cash, parent federal loans, and then private student loans. The last one should be an absolute last resort. So you need to sit down with your parents before making any decisions or assumptions. Hopefully they’ll be able to help with the second and third choices. But if it’s just federal loans (that have a max) then you’ll have to take out private loans… which is the fastest way to die a painful loan death.</p>
<p>Also side note- I’m not 100% sure because other people may of had different situations, but for any parents looking at this I wanted to point it out. Your first year, the federal student loan offer is pretty much just parent’s pay (because most students had no money in high school). I think I got around 10k my first year. But now, after working two co-ops and multiple part-time jobs, I was offered 2k for my entire senior year. Just keep that in mind a little when you are planning things out.</p>
<p>I would have to agree with Totoro66 on this one.
If your plan is to go to grad school, try to find a big research school that offers you more money and go there.
My English teacher went to the University of Nebraska a loooonng time ago (ok not that long) and she said she had $20,000 of debt and she’s still paying it off.
My cousins are both surgeons in the Atlanta area and went to the same med school together (that’s how they met) a looooong time ago (have 3 children, a really nice house etc) and are still paying off there med school debt.
So I think it is really up to you and how long you want to have to handle the burden of paying of loans.
But if you do go to Northeastern and graduate with $224,000 debt, chances are you’ll still be paying off loans when your children are paying off loans.</p>
<p>The answer is no, it is not worth it (in my opinion). Your co-op pay will have to go for housing, food, commuting, clothing, and personal expenses. Don’t forget the cost of commuting home to Colorado in your expense calculations. Look for coop opportunities in Colorado and save your money for graduate school. Otherwise, you could find yourself at the end of four years with a very large debt and unable to afford to cost of going to graduate school.</p>
<p>I graduated in may as a science major and will continue on to grad school for a bio phd at some point.</p>
<p>Is it worth the cost? Meh. Is it worth a lot of debt? No.</p>
<p>I had fabulous research experience thanks to co-op. But there are very few great labs actually at NEU… it’s bio grad department is meidocre. I found a research job right after graduation without much trouble, and someday I’ll get into graduate school thanks in part to my research experience in college. I definitely owe NEU for that.</p>
<p>But really, all (ok, most) schools have biology labs. You’ll be able to do research wherever you go. Find a lab as a freshman, work hard, do well in school, get good letters of rec, and you can go to grad school no matter what school you come from.</p>
<p>But debt sucks. I don’t think your “dream college” is worth spending your 20s paying off student loans. College is fun, most people can be just as super happy at an affordable school as they would be at an expensive school. What’s NOT fun is making huge monthly loan payments at 23, when you’d rather be spending that money on beer, skydiving, and traveling. And shoes, in my case (although I’m lucky, my debt is minimal).</p>
<p>You can PM me if you have any major/science/research specific questions… but in general, I say, Lower Debt >>>>>> Lots of debt, in pretty much all cases.</p>
<p>Although I agree this should be a personal decision, I have to say that if you can’t afford it, it’s a gamble. </p>
<p>Last year there was an article about a woman ridiculously in debt after mismanaging financing of a Northeastern education. I’m a parent, not a student, and no way would I see my child in that much debt, no matter what the school, not even for an ivy. There is no guarantee that the investment will pay off.</p>
<p>However, if you can afford it and your parents will back you, it’s another story. But if it’s a stretch - look into other options. Debt is just NOT the way to go. Unless you have help (guaranteed) to pay it down quickly.</p>
<p>When I began receiving acceptances to schools and started to have to figure out exactly which I was going to attend, I ultimately decided that money was going to be the deciding factor. I was more fortunate than most in that regard, but I still think the general idea applies to everyone. If you can anywhere for free, go there (assuming it has a program for the major you’re interested in). Simple as that. If you choose to pay, even if you wind up going to a better school than you would have otherwise, the debt probably won’t be worth the degree.</p>
<p>That student and her parents were fools, to be blunt. It appears that she borrowed virtually the entire cost of her education with little or no grants/scholarships or parental contribution. Now she is trying to find someone to blame her recklessness on.</p>
<p>I believe 20+% get merit scholarships at NU. There is no guarantee that you will get grant money in grad school. Grad school s more competitive than NU. </p>
<p>You should go to State U and try to get high honors.</p>
<p>I’m struggling with the same type of thing…but listen here’s a suggestion that might work. Go to your state school for a year and transfer into neu. They may not change your aid but you might qualify for a type of merit scholarships? If not then check on some other great co op schools. Neu is great but it’s not the only one!</p>