You can’t choose the dorm - the LLC determines the dorm and changes every year. There is lots of help to be found for CCIS in West Village H (where the CS department lives.) I would say pick PPE.
I would second the above - you’ll have plenty of interaction with CCIS without the LLC.
Thanks, will pick PPE
Hi, I got accepted to NEU and applying as a CS freshman. I got 22 credits transferred from my IB diploma. I know @PengsPhils is also CS student/graduate, could you please help provide some advice for a CS freshman? What LLC to choose, what classes to take, what professors to look for,… I am also very keen to do research as an undergraduate. And also I am a keen swimmer, can you tell me stuff about sports as well?
What AP credits will count toward CS major?
I applied as a transfer for my sophomore year fall 2018 and got into the school of business. Is it true theres no on campus housing? This means I will have to get my own place and pay rent and all other expenses?
CS Major Advice
Fundies 1 (CS2500) is the grounding of the entire curriculum, and it’s easy to get behind. For those with prior programming experience, it’s actually easy to fight against it. Drop everything you know about CS and programming for Fundies 1, and slowly pick it back up later as you exit freshman year. Your freshman year, Fundies 1 should be where you devote most of your time. Start assignments early, and if you need help, get it! There are tons of office hours available freshman year. Going 2-3 days before the assignment is due will usually mean you get more attention than right before the deadline.
CS2500 Professors
You will be enrolled in a section automatically, but you can change it at orientation. Some notes, more or less ordered by my recommendations in order:
Alan E. Mislove - one of the best, specialty in networks which he also usually teaches
Benjamin Joe Hescott - new but rave reviews. Dean of students as of Fall, very student focused. He is the head professor for the course next semester I believe.
Amal Ahmed - very good for most
Nada Naji - solid, taught the course regularly
Nathaniel Derbinsky - new, the jury is still out. Second-semester teaching
Thomas Wahl - usually middling reviews
I would try for the top 3 listed above if possible, but everyone there is pretty decent.
General notes of professors to look for
Matthias Felleisen - the head of the CS program more or less. Designed the intro curriculum and is a top name in CS generally, specifically in programming languages (PL). His classes are super tough but very worth it.
Ben Lerner - recently revamped the curriculum under Felleisen, is very good at explaining things. A bit sassy but very much cares for students. Typically he teaches from Fundies 1 to OOD in the intro sequence and then PL/Compilers.
Kevin Gold - AI specialty, teaches many areas. Incredibly good at making hard concepts understandable. Also an incredibly pure person.
Christo Wilson - Networks professor doing amazing research from ad tracking to Uber surge pricing, and also an amazing teacher
Eli Barzilay - PL professor very well liked by most
LLC’s
CCIS is great if you want to be immersed in CS, but something else can serve to better balance your social circle and life. I recommend the latter for most but it depends on the person.
Classes
Most of the curriculum is pretty structured and you won’t have much choice until semester 4-5. AI is a must these days, but I think this question is best to defer until after freshman year.
Research
The professors I listed are a great place to start. Matthias or Ben in particular are always happy to talk to students about research interests if you don’t know exactly what area you want.
Swimming
I don’t know too much there, but I believe the club swim team is really competitive and a tight-knit team here. It’s also a big time commitment though. I’d reach out to them first semester.
AP credits can be used for NUpath and things like Math/Science but not any CS courses. AP CS will count as elective credit.
@blueocean3608 Yes. About half the school does this after the second year, so it’s not uncommon. Housing is all around campus so living on campus isn’t really important. Facebook groups (via Northeastern groups with verified husky email) has a ton of posts for roommates and sublets.
hi! what’s the social/party scene like at NEU?
@geliza116 See post #55!
@awefawefawef RE NEU Club Swimming – you need to tryout but it is a great group of mainly past competitive and high school swimmers. Not a major commitment but you do need to commit. They have practices available 4-5 days per week but you do not have to go every day - maybe a couple days a week. Seems to be a fun group all in all. Def check into it when classes start as tryouts are soon thereafter each semester.
How is living off of campus?
Can you guys please link me reputable off campus housing groups or other links?
Thanks
Living off campus is usually pretty good - a bit more complex but typically cheaper and not far from campus with a few different main options. Most live in Fenway/Symphony (a bit more expensive but typically less than some on-campus housing still) or Mission Hill/Roxbury/Jamaica Plain (less expensive, a bit farther).
Facebook links can’t be posted here, but the main groups are called “Housing”, “School Housing”, and “Northeastern University Off Campus Housing”. There are also some for roommate finding specifically. The most important thing is joining the Northeastern group set called “Northeastern Community” on Facebook.
@begosgas A desktop is not enough, because you need something to take to the labs. Any old laptop will do, even a 10 year old clunker, but obviously having a light laptop with a healthy battery helps. And don’t get a Chromebook. A $100 Dell Inspiron would work.
And yes, lots of laptops get stolen in September. New students from small towns who leave things lying around. Even just a bathroom break is long enough for a laptop to disappear from the library.
@idmitham Not AP Calculus. But others like Psychology could count as electives and NUPath (core) courses.
@Totoro66 AP Calculus does count towards the major math requirements:
https://ugadmissions.northeastern.edu/transfercredit/TransferCreditevaluatedstudent2.asp
@PengsPhils I think you are right. Sorry, I was probably thinking about AP CS. Anyway, even AP CS could still count as an elective.
hi, so orientation is coming up and I just wanted to know what you do? they sent a little booklet but they only stated things you’d be doing such as paperwork and getting your id
It’s a bit summer campy - basic intro activities, you’ll go to a few college specific presentations for your college, do a scavenger hunt around campus/Boston, some social events, etc in addition to meeting with your advisor to set your schedule for the fall semester.
On my Blackboard i see a list of courses that i’m already registered for! And i don’t like it. How much say do i have of changing it when i go to the orientation on the 11th?