Help---NEU or BU?

who-knew · 05-10-2008, 09:38 AM

D all paid deposit at Northeastern (arts & Sciences), when moved off wait list at BU this week. She likes NEU more for campus and feel, but knows BU has better rep. Any thoughts? Is it so clear that BU is head and shoulders above NEU that she "has to" grab BU?? Thx for any feedback.

RedSox2007 · 05-10-2008, 09:56 AM

NEU. BU does not have the reputation that you think it has. People are going to tell you acceptance rates for the two which mean nothing (even though the stats favor NEU).

nope89 · 05-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Hmmm, well is there a financial aid difference? What exact major is she going in to?

who-knew · 05-10-2008, 11:07 AM

Nope- fin aid identical. Likely Journalism, English and maybe for lang. as double major.

who-knew · 05-10-2008, 11:09 AM

RedSox- Are you a NEU student? I confess that it may be D thinks BU has a more recognized name brand, but maybe you are right on reputation.

RedSox2007 · 05-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Yes, I am a NEU student. I mean BU might have a slightly better reputation, but it's not as big as you may think it is. Also, if your D like NEU's campus a lot more, then being comfortable at NEU 5 years far outweighs the slight prestige advantage BU may have.

who-knew · 05-10-2008, 05:35 PM

RedSox- thanks for the input-- how would you say A&S aregenerally viewed? Seems like NEU is big on business and technical majors, and the liberal arts are a little overlooked?

RedSox2007 · 05-10-2008, 06:40 PM

I'm not too sure about A&S. I know plenty of people who are in CAS and are satisfied with it, but I have no clue about its reputation. I think with a liberal arts major, you eventually need to go to grad school so as long as you can go to NEU and do well, its reputation doesn't really matter. I could be totally wrong, but thats what I have concluded.

whereto? · 05-11-2008, 01:50 PM

D is in the same boat as yours. Accepted NU then got off BU waitlist. C A&S. Loves BU and is aware of it having a higher ranking based on USNWR - but after hashing this around for a week has decided to stay at NU. We have lots of family who went to grad school at BU and suprisingly they don't recommend it. A neighbor who went for psych to NU speaks very highly of it. If you're proactive and use the co-op for all it is then you'll find yourself able to get a job with a bachelor's. I think also we may see NU climb the USNWR rankings over the next several years.

lje62 · 05-11-2008, 05:38 PM

My daughter got accepted to both ( Bouve at NEU, Sargent at BU ) right from day one, she loved NEU and hands down chose it over all of her schools.
We realize BU has a stronger reputation, but NEU is on the rise and the co-op put it over the top for her.

Emily2007 · 05-12-2008, 10:10 AM

Liking the school > reputation

If she "loved NEU and hands down chose it over all her schools" I think the decision is made.

And all the points made about reputation (the reputations are/will be soon about equal, we're climbing, blah blah) are right.

who-knew · 05-13-2008, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the feedback--end of the day (literally end of yesterday), D decided to stay at NEU. Her feelings and ours, same as many posted here. Have to go with what makes you comfortable.

whereto? · 05-13-2008, 09:30 AM

My D made same decision a few days ago....and it feels like a better and better decision with each day that passes.

NJNP40 · 05-16-2008, 11:24 AM

Reputation is retro-active and it lags behind performance.

BU has historically been 'better' than Northeastern.

That is no longer the case.

It is significantly harder to get into NU than BU [higher SAT, nearly identical GPA, much lower acceptance rate].

Now, if you visit BU and fall in love with it, that's fine, by all means go there, but I certainly would not let BU's past reputation supremacy over NU act as a repellant.

Reputation is overrated and it's fluid.