Thanks for the detailed explanation. I guess one thing this might indicate is the professors that might be available in the most advanced classes In the major, not, as pointed out, in the beginning survey classes - the payoff in a large research university for slogging through huge intro lectures in your first year or two. And yes, as you say, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. We know from personal experience that at the University of Washington, the uncertainty about ever getting that eventual payoff because of capacity constrained majors (Not getting to study what do you want) can make it not worthwhile for stem undergrads.
1 Like
Those are definitely among the practical issues I would consider when thinking about choosing to be an undergrad at a research university. Who will actually be teaching the intro classes and what will they be like? Will there be competition for certain special schools, majors, programs, lab positions, advanced classes, and so on? Something like EduRank isn’t even trying to answer questions like that, and often I think you really need to try to talk to current or recent students, in a context where they will feel free to just give you an honest opinion.
2 Likes
My youngest had a choice between BU and Pitt. He loved Boston and through BU would be great. However, he realized that the cost differential just wasn’t worth it and chose Pitt. He had a great experience and did well. The Pitt campus is nicer than BU in a lot of ways, because the park is next door with green space.
One of my other kids got into Northeastern with the first semester abroad requirement. In addition to everything else, the cost of that would have been even higher than regular Northeastern tuition. He also did not want to miss the first semester freshman experience and was not that comfortable going abroad right after HS.
I also agree that your son should make the decision with the idea that he will stay for all four years, but with BU (or others) as a backup plan. Good luck!
5 Likes
Update: heard back from BU that they would accept Northeastern study abroad for one semester for the guaranteed transfer program. So Northeastern freshman year + transferring across town to BU sophomore year is now an option.
So he’s leaning towards that, but has some hesitations because his first semester would be through NUIN. We visited Pitt and he has a hard time seeing himself there for 4 years - much to like there but came back feeling that way.
1 Like
Still doesn’t seem worth it, especially since you’re not gung ho about studying abroad. And settling down in 3 different places in as many semesters= 
4 Likes
It would be a pretty easy transition from NEU to BU - same social circles - would get to keep his friends. Plus he can see himself staying all 4 or 5 years for the coops if the academics prove decent. The thing that concerns him is that the first semester abroad would make him less competitive if he were to try to transfer elsewhere (not just BU) - something that would certainly be his goal if he went to Pitt. I know! Does not seem like a healthy attitude for the start of college- but telling…
1 Like
It also seems like choosing the most expensive option for just one year split into 2 before he transfers to BU would be poor ROI. 
What doesn’t he like about Pitt/Pittsburgh? Did he like UMass better?
1 Like
The reason would be is that he thinks he might want to stay at Northeastern for the duration, especially for the co-ops. The transfer option is just a back up. But once he considers that he starts thinking about expanding that option. He did like Pitt, but somehow couldn’t see himself there for four years. He liked UMass OK, but it felt just way too rural.
I know about the cost! Especially with the way college funds are doing right now…
So between us, my guess is there is a very good chance he would adapt to Pittsburgh and come to like going to college there. It has that effect on a lot of people over time.
But how much do you want to try to force the issue? It isn’t great for someone to go into college itching to transfer. It isn’t great for them not to be excited in general.
So this is really something you are going to need to work out for yourselves.
3 Likes
I think the transfer option is really muddying the picture here.
There’s ALWAYS a transfer option. But a really great freshman year requires a lot of work on the part of the student to make friends, join clubs, get involved, cultivate professors, take initiative. Who is gonna do the work if the back door is already open and they’re emotionally committed to somewhere else?
I think your choice is Northeastern (assuming all four years) or Pitt (same assumption). Are you going to prolong the current decision-making into next year as well (I have a few friends- do I stay or go? a professor has asked me to help edit a grant proposal- do I say yes or no? My music performance group is touring Western Europe next summer- do I tell them I’m leaving at the end of next semester or not?).
Rip off the bandaid and pick. Kids need to put in the effort to adjust no matter where they go, why do it twice if you don’t have to?
5 Likes
I understand there are reasons behind the NEU → BU option, but I just think it’s not a great idea to choose to go somewhere not expecting to stay. The adjustment to living away from home is hard enough already, but what makes it work is when the kid commits and leans in to all that is offered, makes friends, finds a new community. Assuming a transfer will really make that difficult.
I don’t think the education at NEU justifies the cost vs Pitt - not even close. In fact, I would choose Pitt even if costs were the same. I’m from Boston so I know it’s a fun college town, but I spent a bit of time in Pittsburgh and I think it would be a wonderful place to spend 4 years.
7 Likes
I don’t want to give a hard sell to ultimately the wrong person, but there is a reason Pitt has gotten increasingly popular in the OOS circuit! The city is historic and has a ton of fun, unique things to do, and there are also lots of nearby outdoor recreation options, and it is all very accessible, not necessarily that expensive, and so on. All what a lot of kids want in a college setting, at least if they are looking for an urban experience.
But how to make this vision work for the OP’s kid?
I don’t know, but I wonder if they have talked much to existing students. That can be very clarifying. Sometimes for good, sometimes bad, but I think actual students have a natural credibility that others would lack.
1 Like
If the performance of college funds will cause hardship for your family for a $90k+/year school (vs. a school like Pitt), then that is definitely something I think should be a consideration in this decision.
2 Likes
Thank you all for weighing in! Yeah letting him decide at this point - he does have to feel invested in this decision! He will talk to his sister who was a transfer at her current university, but is by no means advocating that for him. He almost ED’ed to NEU, and I was the detractor at that point, based on friends’ kids’ experiences. He decided he wanted to try for academically stronger universities. I arranged the last minute trip to see Pitt, and while he liked it, it was not the kind of thing where he thought - this is where I want to be for four years… So if he does go to Northeastern, it would be a place he can see himself at for four / five years. And if he finds the coursework less than challenging, he has the BU option, within the same social sphere. And yes, it is horribly expensive, but at least while on coop he can live at home and make money. And we would like for the economy not to tank and for our funds to actually grow, but we can manage for now…
1 Like
I should have known this would happen with his decision making - you should see his second thoughts when ordering at a restaurant before placing the order!
2 Likes
Note that the co-op could be anywhere in the country, not necessarily in Boston.
2 Likes
Yeah, obviously - only if the co-op happens to be local
1 Like
I feel as if your process is a case study in how guaranteed transfer offers do not do kids any favors, and are in fact for the benefit of the institution, not for the benefit of the students in question.
While your son might still be thinking, “Maybe I’ll transfer” without the BU offer, the guaranteed offer really keeps transfer front-of-mind, IMHO to his detriment. He has (at least) three great offers, and he can’t consider any of them wholeheartedly.
Honestly, if he’s going to go in with the intent to transfer already baked-in, why not save the money and just go to UMass? (And if he did, he still might end up loving it!)
4 Likes
Actually he decided to trust his gut and commit to Northeastern because it is the only school he was considering which he could see himself in for the whole 4 (or 5 years). If he finds that he wants a less experiential and more purely academic emphasis (which I doubt) he can transfer to BU. It wasn’t necessarily his dream school. I do hope he likes NEU!
That’s what he was pondering in the past couple of days and realized that If he were to pick UMass or Pitt both would be much cheaper, but he would be going there only as a stopgap for the chance to transfer to schools he did not get into initially.
8 Likes
Sounds like the right decision then, congrats!
It still seems to me that BU and the transfer offer made it more difficult and complicated to arrive at the right decision; but kudos to your kid, and you, for cutting through the added complexity and arriving at a choice that he can fully commit to. I hope it goes great for him!
5 Likes