<p>Considering the extremely generous financial aid package I've been given, NU has become increasingly interesting as I narrow my search. I know the co-op program is a major draw for the university, and I've got some questions regarding the process. Any help would be great. </p>
<ul>
<li>How often is a co-op paid? How much on average?</li>
<li>Are a lot of them out of state or the U.S.? I'm majoring in international business with a minor in international affairs. </li>
<li>Where do students live during their co-op? </li>
<li>What happens to one's financial aid while on a co-op experience? </li>
<li>When choosing a five year program over four year, does financial aid extend to the fifth year? I've been awarded the Dean's Scholarship, but I'm not sure it's extended to a fifth year. </li>
<li>When does a student decide whether to take four or five years? I believe my major is a mandatory five. </li>
</ul>
<p>Any other relevant information is also really appreciated. I haven't had a chance to visit yet. Thanks!</p>
<p>Most of those questions can be answered by searching the forums but I can answer a few.</p>
<p>-Almost all Co-Ops are paid, someone put an average payscale per major in another post here.
-Most are in the US, but there are international opportunities I believe.<br>
-Depending on where the co-op is, you can live on or off campus during co-op.<br>
-You don’t pay tuition during your time working.<br>
-Yes, the dean’s(and other FA) will last for your duration at NEU unless otherwise stated.</p>
<p>As an international business major, you will actually be required to spend one semester studying abroad and have one co-op abroad. I’m in business also, and I can tell you I didn’t see any unpaid co-ops when I was looking. The range is anywhere from 10 - 26 dollars per hour. </p>
<p>As for financial aid, you don’t pay tuition when on co-op, so scholarships will only apply during semesters when you are in class.</p>
<p>If you do co-op in Boston, you can live on campus in dorms or off campus if you want to. If you are doing co-op anywhere else, you can find an apartment, or I think the university can help you find housing wherever you are going.</p>
<p>I actually have a question about housing with the co-op too. Doesnt it make Northeastern that much more expensive because you have to be paying for housing while you are working on co-op? So instead of having housing for 4 years, you have it for 5, which most likely means an extra 14,000?</p>
<p>I may be wrong, but I have been told that you can get co-ops anywhere you wanted… so for those who can’t afford to pay for housing you could get a co-op near where ever your parents live and just live at home.</p>
<p>You don’t have to do your co-op in Boston, you can do it in your home town or pretty much wherever you want. You only pay the housing if you actually use it.</p>
<p>And don’t forget that you actually earn money during co-op. You can use that to cover your personal expenses. Or save it to pay off your loans later.</p>
<p>Speaking as a parent of a student who has now done 3 co-ops (he graduates this spring), the 5 yr/3 co-op program has probably saved me money, since S has been able to pay for his own housing/living costs from his co-op earnings for the last 3 yrs, not only during the co-op periods but also when he was in classes. He has also been living off campus the last 2 yrs which has cost less than living in the dorms. In addition, the tuition payments I make have been spread out over 5 yrs instead of 4, which has been a little easier on my pocketbook, as well.</p>
<p>I doubt very that much he would have been able to contribute as much, percentage-wise, toward housing costs from summer earnings had he attended a traditional 4-yr college. But then, he also would have chosen a different college to attend, since the co-op program and the work experience he would gain were the major reasons he applied to Northeastern.</p>
<p>The fact that co-ops often allow one to earn a wage also really has me interested in the school. Scansmom, do you know how much your son earned while working?</p>
<p>I think S made about $16-$17/hr at his first co-op and about $24/hr at his last one? Also, GPA can greatly effect what jobs you will be allowed to apply for, and unfortunately S has some LD issues and has not gotten the best grades (but he is very much a hands on learner, another reason we looked so closely at NEU); I think he is sitting right below 3.0 which is commonly the gpa needed in order to apply for the best engineering positions so he did not even have a chance at some of the higher paying ones. But yes, unless you are very thrifty and have a well-paying co-op, it would be difficult to pay for expenses beyond living expenses.</p>
<p>As an engineer, can I expect to pay a year of room and board with each coop? I am comparing NEU to a school that costs 15k/yr less and am curious how much I should take the cost difference into consideration.</p>
<p>May I also point out that if you move off campus (like most people do), it’ll be an extra year of normal rent… which is the same as if you graduated and had to get an apartment like a normal person… Tuition stops when you graduate, but housing doesn’t. You’ll still have to pay for that year of rent no matter what-- well unless you move back home for a year. :)</p>