Transfer to Northwestern University

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the decision-making process of a student who has been accepted as a transfer to Northwestern University while considering staying at UMass Amherst. The focus is on the implications of this transfer for their education and career in Computer Science, exploring factors such as financial aid, housing, transfer credits, and the reputation of the respective programs.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster expresses surprise at being accepted to Northwestern and weighs the potential financial aid against the costs of attending.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of relocating to Illinois, including housing affordability and the renewal of scholarships for senior year.
  • The poster questions the value of a Northwestern education compared to UMass Amherst, specifically regarding its impact on their future career as an AI researcher or programmer.
  • Some participants inquire about the reasoning behind applying to Northwestern if the poster seems inclined to stay at UMass, suggesting a need for clarity on motivations.
  • One participant notes that Northwestern is generally regarded as a better school, while acknowledging that UMass Amherst has a strong Computer Science program.
  • The poster seeks insights into the reputations of the Computer Science departments at both institutions to inform their decision.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the motivations for applying to Northwestern and the comparative value of the two schools. There is no consensus on whether Northwestern would significantly enhance the poster's educational and professional prospects.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various factors influencing the decision, including financial considerations, transfer credit policies, and personal preferences regarding location and school reputation. Specific details about the programs and their rankings are not provided, leaving some assumptions unverified.

BicycleTree
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I just got a letter today accepting me as a transfer to Northwestern University, with potential financial aid that would make it about as cheap as going to UMass Amherst. It has been my main plan for a month now to go to UMass Amherst--it's in my state, it's in the UMass system, it has a great Computer Science department. I am a Computer Science major. I had actually given up on getting any kind of reply from Northwestern one month ago, so it was a surprise when I got this in the mail.

It would be a big fiasco to go to Northwestern University. It's halfway across the country (Massachusetts to Illinois) and maybe I couldn't get affordable housing there anyway. Also, maybe I couldn't get the scholarships renewed for senior year--I could not afford to do senior year at full price at Northwestern, which would be about $45,000. Another consideration is that since I'd be leaving the UMass system, I would likely get less transfer credit at Northwestern, thus perhaps entering as only a sophomore.

So my question is, how much work is Northwestern worth? If I go there and get everything to work out, how much of a difference is it going to make on my educational and professional career when compared to UMass Amherst? I either want to be an AI researcher or a professional programmer.
 
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What was your original reasoning behind applying as a transfer student to NW to start with? (Hey - there's always NorthEASTERN, pretty close by to you :smile: ).
 
I don't know--either I never wrote Northeastern down on my list of colleges, which I doubt, or the application deadline passed too soon. My standards for applying to schools are very strict: specifically, I must get around to applying to them before their deadline passes. No exceptions, no matter how much they beg and plead.


My original reasoning for Northwestern was, hey, Northwestern's deadline is June 1!
 
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I actually don't understand your response at all. My main question was - why did you apply as a transfer to Northwestern? You make it sound like you really want to stay at U Mass, but what was the point of even applying to Northwestern then?
 
OK - I see the edit. That doesn't seem like much of a reason.
 
Well, mainly I wanted to see if I could get in. I had a list of great schools that I was going to apply to along with UMass Amherst, but their all deadlines except Northwestern's went by without me applying to them. So now I'm wondering just how much better of an education Northwestern can give compared with UMass Amherst. If I knew it would really make a difference in how competent I am in my field, then I'd head to Northwestern with no questions asked.

I'm looking for someone who knows about the reputation of the computer science departments of both schools and might be able to say if it would make a big difference.
 
NWU is considered a much better school overall, but the UMass CS program is "supposed" to be real good.

Find out what you can, about the teaching at NWU. Talk to students. And check out : http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp
 

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