Brandeis vs. NEU vs. WPI for Comp Sci/Physics

sassifiya
Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:21:16 +0000

I’m trying to decide between Brandeis, NEU (honours program), and WPI for a computer science major and possible physics double major. I got waitlisted from Barnard yesterday, which was my top choice because of the academics of Columbia but the small liberal arts feel of Brandeis. I’ll probably not go there if I get accepted, but I’m not sure. In any case, I’m trying to really be secure in my decision in another school just in case Barnard doesn’t pull through.
I’m leaning towards Brandeis right now, but I’m not sure how good their science programs are, and I know for certain that NEU and WPI would be more suited for computer science and physics. However, I like Brandeis for its larger campus (in comparison to WPI), its atmosphere, and its higher prestige. I know that the prestige of a school doesn’t matter and has nothing to do with your actual intelligence but, whether it’s because I grew up in a stricter family or because all my friends are going to ivies or near-ivies, the higher standing of Brandeis is attractive to me. I like WPI because of its academics and atmosphere, but it’s a really small school, and I am really not a fan of Worcester. I have no car and probably will not be getting one soon, so I wouldn’t be able to go wherever I wanted and would be stuck on a very very tiny, albeit gorgeous, campus. WPI also has a really cool pass/fail system and a lot of its academics are focused on projects as opposed to tests. NEU, of course, is right in Boston, which is a great location. I also got into the honours program, which gives me not much more except for better housing. NEU also gives me better job opportunities because of the co op program.
I’m just really not sure which to choose because all seem so equal in my mind. I think I would definitely choose Brandeis if I knew the sciences there were on par to the sciences in WPI and NEU and I could have the same peace of mind that I will have some job prospects after I graduate (I might move on to grad school, so that’s another story). I am just really really confused???