Last minute (post in Northeastern forum)

Redyps
Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:22:57 +0000

So,
Right now I hope to major in business management, undecided between finance or marketing.
I also have a passion for political science, and hope to minor in it.

I have 2 schools left:

Boston University:
This school from what I understand can give me the best business education from the two, and has the city feel which I love for reasons which I don’t really understand. The reputation of Boston University far surpasses the other two from what I understand as well, and I feel like I could gain a leg up in the work place. Also, if I chose a graduate path in the future, I would think that a successful completion of undergrad studies at BU would help in my graduate placement into the programs at the school of management.
However, this school would leave me with the most calculated debt of about 50,000 before interest at the end of 4 years. This is before working or internships or anything of the likes I would be doing during the 4 years to cut off a chunk of debt before it accumulates.

Northeastern University:
This school is also in Boston, so would give me great connections and internship possibilities, plus the coveted Co-Op program (at least it sounds like it’s desirable) which would hopefully land me some pretty good internships while I’m at school by default. However, Northeastern from what I understand is not really looked at with much of a reputation, nor does it seem to have the business studies of Boston University’s stature.
The campus is pretty, but I feel like I would enjoy the city feel at Boston more. The Co-Op program as advertised by the university seems like it would land me a job straight out of college, though. But would I get the same from having Boston University attached to my credentials? This school would leave me 30,000 in debt before interest and working during the college years, internships, etc.

–
I feel like I want to go to Boston University, but that may be because I know at least 10 people that are going there, 3 of which are friends that I know I could spend time with, and one of which I would room with. I like the campus better, too.
However, I feel like I am unfairly biased to having Boston University placed next to my name on a piece of paper, whereas Northeastern seems to be a safety school to Boston University.
I’m concerned about the debt.
Part of me feels that 50k vs 30k is not that big of a difference, but the other part of me realizes that it’s cost of a new car…
Part of me also feels that this would be the only age in life where I can truly take a risk, and rise to a higher standing for my future life, but I don’t truly know if these two colleges would make a difference between their degrees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, the sooner the better.