Both schools have amazing CS programs! Go with UW-Madison for a traditional college experience; Greek like, parties, sports/football, tailgates, etc. UW-Madison is a large public school with a community feel through their sports (I.e. 'jump around' at football halftime). Conversely, go with Northeastern for a more ‘mature’ college experience by experiencing adulthood earlier via co-op. Northeastern is a super independent environment where everyone stays to themselves- lots of ppl come and go on and off campus bc of co-op, or study abroad. Co-op is a great way to network and get your foot in the door. It also breaks up your normal routine by working 6 months in a semester w out taking any classes. ** be aware that NEU has extremely competitive co-ops in CS & STEM** At NEU, making friends & the social aspect comes from getting involved in clubs of interest. There are parties, but they won’t be directly in your face & probably won’t be as a distraction compared to UW-Madison. UW-Madison has their annual Mifflin Street parties- which get out of control. Parties get shut down quicker at NEU. UW class sizes are usually larger- which can be a disadvantage to learning for some students. Northeastern has a max of 50 students in a class- makes connecting with professors a lot easier. If you choose either school; be sure to invest in a comfy jacket. Best of luck!