NEU CS student here, made the same choice minus Trustee/Scholars part. Obviously I have some bias, but last year I was in the same objective state. Here’s my opinions:
BU:
- Name carries more prestigious
- Campus is a bit further from downtown Boston. Feels like that could give me seclusion from the city should I ever want it.
- Larger. More opportunities. (opportunities which, as I’ve been told, might make up for the lack of a co-op.)
NEU:
- Secluded Campus
- Co-Op means I won’t get the college experience.
- Co-Op also means that bonds between students and the school spirit won’t be as great.
I would dispute those.
NEU’s name is about equal at this point. US News has them equal with NEU rising if you look at rankings as an indicator of prestige. I would venture that by graduation the prestige could be reversed.
As far as locations go, I think they are about equal in distances. The campuses are significantly different but I feel like you have a good handle on which you prefer.
As far as opportunities, both are large research universities. They won’t differ that much in opportunities except for the co-op program obviously. Many clubs actually have chapters at both BU and NEU and work together or face each other in competitions.
NEU’s campus is hardly secluded. It has two T lines and within 15 minutes walking distance has tons of great restaurants, Newbury Street, Fenway Park, and the Prudential center. NEU has more of a campus space, but it’s still right in the middle of the city.
You don’t completely lose out on the tradition experience at NEU. There’s still freshman dorms, greek life (less than BU for sure but it is there), parties, tons of clubs and organizations, and all the things that go with college. The difference is that you transition faster to professional life. So the traditional college experience is here, it just lessens as you start to do co-op.
Many students are still on campus when on co-op. You don’t leave the community when you go on co-op in most cases. Students know that co-op happen, and friend groups stay intact over the years because of this. I would agree that BU has more traditional school spirit, but it’s not because of co-op.
Nothing will compare to co-op when it comes to opportunities. Especially in CS / Business, you will make $20 to $30 an hour or more for six months of full time work. No internship will offer you that. I think that is a true difference between BU / NEU. Also, NEU’s career services is ranked #1 in the US. You won’t get any better opportunities elsewhere beyond say alumni networks and prestige of Ivy Tier schools. BU is not in that category.
I have heard the same on grade deflation at BU. I don’t have any first hand confirmation, but that info isn’t something uncommon to hear.
I think you are overvaluing the 20 versus 120 comparision. In either scenario, you will be the primary focus of the school at an individual level. If anything, the 120 means that there will be more peers to participate in events with. Many people turn down ivies for NEU’s scholars program. While you may get very slightly more attention at BU based on the numbers, I think that in either scenario you will have all the attention you need/want.
Both CS and Business are top programs at each school, I would consider that a wash, though I do prefer CS here and is part of the reason I chose NEU over BU. I also think you’re right that Honors is inconsequential at either school with the better program trumping it. I would knock those off of not lists as pro/cons.
I think you are going about this the right way. Neither would be a regrettable choice. Personally I always advocate for the co-op / better opportunity route in general school choices, but that’s a personal preference. If yours matches, go NEU. If you want the full traditional experience, go BU.
Any questions feel free to ask! Hope that helps! If you want any info on the CS program, check the linked post:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18319035/#Comment_18319035