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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DD applied to NU, really just because everyone else was and there was no supplemental essay. To our surprise, she got in - for NUin. At first we were super excited for her but then came to the conclusion that she should not go to Europe her first semester (for a variety of reasons) so I was sure that NU would let her just take first semester off and start second semester. I figured why wouldn’t they? I mean if she won’t be on campus first semester, why would they care? And with so many kids coming and going to coops, it seems it wouldn’t matter. Well, they wouldn’t let her and that was disappointing and convinced me that they are a money making operation. That’s not to say they aren’t attracting good students and don’t provide a good education, but I worried that it wouldn’t be the best experience. DD turned it down for a lower ranked school that gave her lots of merit aid. [/quote]

They have marketed the NUIn and NUBound well and they are money makers fro them.  A guaranteed flow of spring start and fall transfer students, who pay $~35-40K/semester while abroad for the experience.  Most other schools do allow students to select where they take courses, or if they take a semester off, before starting in the spring.

You researched and decided it was not for your DD.  Rankings do not matter that much.  Your DD is at a school that's affordable that allows her to have the full 4 year experience.  That can go a long way towards a successful college experience. 
[/quote]

Tha ms for those kind words.it was an agonizing decision for her (made at 10:30pm May 1) but it was definitely the right one. Although her chosen school is lesser ranked, she’s in into their two best programs, ones that are highly regarded and which have very good job placement. I also think she will have a better experience there than at NU. Not to dump on the school, I just don’t think it was the right choice for her.[/quote]

Rankings do not matter that much.    Kids should go where they will fit in and that's for a variety of factors (including Cost)  Kids who are happy at college do better---the more involved you are at college the more you get out of the experience in every aspect.  My own kid knows they want the traditional experience of not living abroad any part of first year; they were excited about the coop experience at NEU but recognize as an engineer they can do that at almost any school they attend---they are not an extrovert and were concerned about fitting in on campus essentially as a transfer student soph year (got NUBound).  Even before getting the decision my kid had decided that the campus might be too large for them and that 5-6K undergrad size is a better fit for them. Ultimately my kid is attending a school that is ranked ~20 higher, but also seriously considered WPI (not ranked nearly as high as it should be---amazing school)   The attraction of Boston as a location was tempting, but my kid smartly (for them) choose a better fit, better ranked, smaller school despite the "not the best location".  Each time we visited campus my kid lit up and I could just see something I did not see on any other campus (except their ED school which ultimately rejected them in RD).  So Fit is extremely important.  
If the parents have a positive attitude I find that goes a long way towards a kid being successful as well.  So many kids think they are disappointing their parents because they didn't get into the "elite/perfect" school.  And that's sad, because these kids with 1350+ SAT will do well wherever they go, if they choose to[/quote]

This is good to know. Mine was initially interested for the coop aspect, but we are turned off by the over enrollment, the abroad situation and the crazy boosters who think it's an Ivy League rival.  I'm all about being "true to your school," but there is some craziness out there.  Can you share what school your kid chose? Also, can you add to thoughts on WPI? Thanks![/quote]

WPI and RPI were on my kids list. 
Never applied WPI. Not a good part of Boston area, and clearly a step down from Northeastern.
Liked RPI better. Variety of good tech favored programs, but location is not good and looking kind of drepressing. Got in.
[b]No need to consider these schools after getting in Northesatern[/b](direct main campus).  
I udnerstand the hesitation if got in as NUIn.  
[/quote]

Nutty boosters like you are part of the reason we are turned off by NEU. Seriously?[/quote]

WPR RPI are good solid schools but they are clearly a step or two down from Northeastern.  
Their acceptance rate is around 50%. There are reasons they are much less popular and selective.[/quote]

WPI is a fabulous school and is not a step down from Northeastern at all. Acceptance rate has little if anything to do with the quality of the educational experience. Academically there is no difference among NU, RPI, or WPI. In fact, if a student wants the academic experience of a smaller college, wants a beautiful self-contained campus, and doesn’t want to have to deal with crap like NU Bound or N.U.in, then WPI in particular is a far superior choice.[/quote]

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