We are NJ in-state. DS would dorm:
DS leaning towards NJIT or RUTGERS, not 100% certain about CS. I am thinking best choice is Rutgers SOE and take it from there…
Thanks
Does money have an impact at all?
If not, then to me it’s - where will I feel comfortable.
If not 100% on CS, maybe NJIT comes off - as their majors are definitely more STEM oriented.
Rutgers and Stony Brook - being on campus, which does he prefer? Both are close to home and you say it’s the same cost as Rutgers - so two people could easily pick two different ones. SB has a reputation on here about being a suitcase school but there is probably some element to that at Rutgers and Rowan too.
Then there’s Rowan - obviously going to be a more regional name - and similar in size to a SB but smaller than Rutgers.
Most would eliminate Rowan but it doesn’t mean your student should - if they feel best there.
I can see, with hesitancy on a CS or maybe tech role, that NJIT doesn’t fit. Environmentally it’s very different than the others.
And I can see a student wanting a big time collegiate experience saying no to Rowan over the other two but I can also see someone taking Rowan - it’s cheaper, maybe they feel more comfortable there - and all that is great too.
But between Rutgers and SB - you can go either way. I read a lot on here about Rutgers having multiple campuses and buses. So that would be a no no for me but obviously I’m me and not others.
You should visit, figure out what your day to day would be (with buses, etc.) and ultimately where the student feels most comfortable.
While students can ask where they should go, truth is, our opinions are all for us - but no one but your son can answer for him.
Best of luck and congrats on the great choices.
Thank you. He seems to not be leaning towards Rowan. Stony is risky due to non admittance into major and distance. Agree with your observations about NJIT as well. Leaves Rutgers but wondering whether SOE or SAS. He has visited all these schools and we will re-visit.
Going to college is about growing - and none of these are that far - and today there’s facetime.
In some ways if you purposely go close to home with the intent of going home, you might not be experiencing college for all that it is…or should be.
Of course ,there are kids who go 15 minutes away who never go home.
Best of luck whatever he decides - he can do great from anywhere!!
Depends on whether he leans CS/other sciences, or engineering. It’s possible to transfer from one to the other, so you’re not locked in. My understanding is that SOE->SAS transfer is easier than the other way around.
Thank you for the insight! 
I would take out Stony Brook with no direct admit to the major. My leaning would be towards Rowan or Rutgers. If money is an important issue, then I’d move towards Rowan, if not I would revisit his top choices and then decide.
Congrats on his success in this process!
I’d pick Rutgers or Rowan. Both really good, Rutgers more competitive/weedout.
Definitely easier to go SOE->SAS than the reverse but CSE is quite different from CS so if he’s interested in CS he should pick SAS.
Thank you so much. Yep I’m not sure about engineering!
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