<p>I've read somewhere that NEU is a five year school. Does this only include students within the Co-op program, which I am planning to be in, or the whole student population?</p>
<p>Most of the programs at Northeastern have a four year option with co-op included. Co-op is also optional for the College of Arts & Sciences but many A&S students participate anyway. What do you want to study?</p>
<p>I'm thinking doing journalism. I'm into the globalism/foreign emphasis on the major. I'm currently a sophomore now and by the time I apply, NEU should be on the same tier and prestige as NWU's Medill, I assume.</p>
<p>Alan-
Does NE have a "commuter college" feel since so many students are rotating in and out of academic and work programs? Does it offer the real college experience that a more traditional school might have?
I'm also a little concerned that there are no real summer breaks after freshman year for my d to come home (it's a long way from Boston to AZ).<br>
Regarding co-op experiences: with the job market as bad as it is, are there really guarantees that a student can have a meaningful internship?
Thanks for your insight.</p>
<p>Hi Rbinaz,</p>
<p>Northeastern has a very traditional feel. While upperclassmen may be alternating between academics and co-op (frosh do not co-op and co-op is optional for A&S students), the vast majority of the student body either lives in on campus or within a two - three block radius (more like a village atmosphere). Students who are co-oping still have access to all the same facilities and services as everyone else and the vast majority still participate in student activities (at some level) in the evening and on weekends. As for summer breaks, if your daughter really gets home sick, she can always choose to do one co-op in her home town. She can stay connected to her friends through e-mail etc. But don't be surprised if she wants to stay in Boston, it is really a wonderful city (esp. for college students). Unlike a rural or suburban school, its nearly impossible to get bored here. However, it is not as overwhelming as NYC or L.A. The entire city is walkable.</p>
<p>Massachusetts has not had a serious negative impact on the co-op program. The program is nearly 100 years old (began in 1909) and has survived the Great Depression, several recessions, two world wars, and several other conflicts, including the current one. The majority of the companies (over 3000) are very loyal to the program. Most students have very little trouble finding a rewarding position. </p>
<p>By the way, if your daughter chooses to come to Northeastern, don't be surprised if she gets a permanent offer from one of her co-ops employers. The vast majority of the student body has a post grad position lined up by the end of their junior year. Some of the larger companies (Fortune 500s) will even reimburse students for the cost of tuition in exchange for co-op periods (provided the student maintains a good GPA). My junior year co-op employer paid for my entire senior year (which included a semester abroad in England). When I graduated, I had a nice job lined up at good salary and was supervising entry level workers with little to no work experience who graduated from what many people on this board would consider to be more prestigious schools. After a year at the company, I went to on grad school. The time I spent co-oping and the year of work gave me a huge edge in the admissions process The program is simply outstanding which explains why it is ranked #1 by U.S. News.</p>