Hi everyone! It’s getting closer to decision time, and I’ve been lucky enough to be accepted into Northeastern and the Honors Program as well. I’ve been researching my options and trying to look more into the program, but I’ve sort of hit a dead end, as NEU’s website is very… vague.
I was hoping that I could hear some opinions from students or parents. I’m interested in the perks and drawbacks of the program. From what I understand, there are special honors sections of classes, and all honors students (freshmen at least) live in International Village. Opinions on that dorm in particular? Does the honors program offer any hidden perks, like early enrollment or advising?
I’ve gotten really lucky with my package at NEU, with a good scholarship for NM and this honors program invite, plus an invite to do the 3+3 law program - I think that’s new this year, but I’m not worried about it right now. But so overall, just looking for some other perspectives. I’m ready to get excited about heading to Boston in the fall!
There aren’t really any disadvantages to being in the honors program. You have to take 6 honors classes, including an honors seminar. Honors sections of classes are generally just smaller class sizes of the normal course, perhaps with a few extra small assignments. (One exception to this is fundamentals of computer science, which is a more challenging version of the course.) The honors seminar is the only full course that you have to take above normal university requirements, and they can actually be pretty cool; I took one on the history of espionage and a former CIA officer came and spoke to our class.
As you said, honors students live in IV the first year, and some people say it’s “so far away” from the other freshmen dorms. It’s really not. Campus is pretty compact. Nothing is more than 10 minutes away, and living in IV didn’t make me feel isolated at all. It’s also the nicest freshman dorm (though also the most expensive). A lot of the rooms are singles, and they all have en suite bathrooms shared with just one other room.
There’s no early registration with honors; registration slots are all determined by the number of credits you have, so if you come in with AP credit you can register earlier. There is advising in the honors department (and at Northeastern in general, you have a LOT of different advisors you can go to about different questions). There’s also an honors summer dialogue, and a lot of social activities. In a lot of ways, the honors program is what you make of it; there’s a lot you can get involved in if you want, but it doesn’t have to be the center of your social/academic life if you don’t want it to be.
Honors perks are - freshman housing in IV, upperclass housing in WV (sophomore and above housing has gotten more difficult this year with some new procedures in place so this is more important than in previous years), honors sections of intro classes which are smaller (and may mean you don’t need to take an extra recitation class that the kids in the large non-honors class take), honors only seminars (two kinds - ones for freshman only and ones for upper class students - see here for examples - http://www.northeastern.edu/honors/academics-3/honors-courses/), honors cultural events (tickets to see plays, etc.), honors book group, honors advisers (who can do whatever your academic adviser can do - but are an additional adviser), honors alumni network group, for first semester - honors bonding event and early move-in right before classes start
No early enrollment or early room selection for honors students. You can do as little or as much honors stuff as you like - so no drawback there (you can be in the honors program all your years but not get honors distinction at graduation if you don’t fulfill all their requirements) - you do need to maintain a certain GPA to stay in honors but I think they give you a semester to bring it up if you fall below their number.
For NM you will have a community service requirement (used to be 100 hours) - this can be difficult to do each year as you get busy with being abroad or on co-op - like the GPA they give you 6 months to make up any shortages.
I think one big advantages of NEU for pre-law is being able to do a co-op at a law firm. I have heard of at least 3 people who started pre-law, co-oped at a law firm, and decided that they did not want to be a lawyer. Think of all the time and expenses they saved discovering this early rather than after law school graduation!
My sense of the honors program is that it has been given less attention since they introduced the university scholars program. The honors program is currently without a director this entire school year (and the last director lasted only a year.) They are pushing scholars heavily and investing more time and energy in that vs. honors.
@nanotechnology got pretty much everything, but to add more on International Villiage:
IV is by far the nicest freshman dorm: it has its own mid-size gym, the dining hall right below it, great common room spaces with incredible views of Boston, semi-private bathrooms (1 bathroom per 2/4 people) and the location is still only a 5-10 minute walk to anything on campus like everything else.
Thank you @kiddie @nanotechnology and @PengsPhils ! All of that information is incredibly helpful.
I have another question. 
Is the Honors LLC optional after the first year? I don’t know if I want my options to be limited, although housing in WV does seem pretty great.
Yes, it is optional for Year 2 - that said, the housing selection process is a lot nicer for honors, not just the dorms. But yeah, if you wanted to room with people not in honors or wanted a cheaper option, you by all means can go for it
Thanks again @PengsPhils ! I’m about ready to send my deposit in.