Apply to BU or Northeastern?

Taytolax31 · August 8, 2011, 6:55pm

Should I apply to BU or Northeastern if I'm interested in studying neuroscience/cognitive studies, prelaw, or marketing?
(I know, very different fields, I'm weird)

I'm going to need financial aid and my stats are as follows:

UW: 3.97
W: 4.33
9th- 0 honors/0 AP/6 regular
10th- 1 honors/0 AP/5 regular
11th- 3 honors/3 AP/0 regular
12th- 0 honors/6 AP/0 regular
A total of 13 advanced classes out of 24, 9 APs-all the advanced classes my school offers.

SAT:2050 (CR 730, M 650, W 670)

(good ECs including writing for 2 newspapers and a website, a job, lacrosse, coaching, and being a volunteer counselor for children who have been victims of domestic violence)

Thanks for your help!

shoot4moon · August 8, 2011, 7:01pm

our dd got accepted and is attending BU, and was wait listed for Northeastern. After attending orientation, learning more about the attitudes and culture of BU, and observing the logistics, I am continually more impressed. there is magic at BU right now that can't be described or bottled. Conversely, as I go through our travels in Boston, we have run into Northeastern students here and there. not a single one appears enthused. Go terriers!

LilyEmery · August 8, 2011, 9:59pm

Apply to both, nothing wrong with that. Personally I prefered BU; loved the location and the people I talked to seemed much happier than the people from Northeastern. Apply and visit both and figure out which you prefer.

shaedow · August 8, 2011, 11:28pm

Apply to both. That's what I did. Honestly, they're actually pretty damn similar schools. The main difference is Northeastern's Co-op program, and that Northeastern is more technical/career oriented, while BU has a more diverse spread and a tiny bit more focused on liberal arts.

Otherwise, both large, urban schools in Boston, around the same selectivity. Honestly the deciding factor between Northeastern and BU for me, that made me choose BU was that they gave me slightly more money. (And this is coming from a person who normally wouldn't have cared so much about the money, it was just honestly the best way for me to decide between schools.)

I also was pretty indifferent about Northeastern's coop program - It seemed good if it was there, but no big loss if it wasn't - whereas most people looking into the school seem to love it or hate it.

Anyway, apply to both, and wait until you have the decisions in hand before deciding between them, rather then trying to make the decision way earlier than you have to.

Sidthekidc87 · August 9, 2011, 2:13am

I personally like BU more because of the setup.

The best way I can put it is:

BU is more right in the city - the campus is pretty much intertwined with the main city area, like the shopping areas and restaurants.

While Northeastern is more of a branch off of the main city area.

Don't get me wrong - both are VERY CLOSE to the city, but BU is more a part of the city, while Northeastern is more off of the city.

Taytolax31 · August 9, 2011, 4:28pm

I would apply to both but I have a limit to the schools I'm allowed to apply to and I've already filled my other slots. I have one spot left and I want to use it to add an urban option to my list and BU and Northeastern have been my favorites I'm just having a hard time deciding between them. (BU is ranked higher but Northeastern has the Co-ops, northeastern has more of a campus feel but BU is apparently safer, etc etc)
Thanks for your help though!

shoot4moon · August 10, 2011, 11:28am

Have you read all the campus vibe reports and the info from college *******? Have you yelped both? When our DD was trying to decided bw BU and DePaul, we actually called the alumni office to find out about alumni support after graduation in our area.

I vote BU all the way, but do your research.

LilyEmery · August 10, 2011, 1:17pm

Have you visited both? You can't really make a decision without doing that.

BelleNiente · August 10, 2011, 1:28pm

BU has a nontraditional campus that is mostly along one street, bordering the Charles River.

Northeastern's is a more traditional campus - near the museums and sorta near South End (Little Italy). So yes, it's not as integrated into the city, but that might be what you like!