Is the school academically challenging? 2.) Is the food good? 3.) Is the social life fun? 4.) How are athletic events? 5.) How is financial aid? 6.) How are the dorms
-
Yes, the school can definitely be academically challenging. Like most schools, a lot is what you make of it. In many majors, you can take the easier electives, or you can push yourself to take upper level and graduate courses, complete an honors thesis, or add a minor in a different subject. I ended up doing all 3, and I definitely feel like I took advantage of a lot of challenging academic opportunities.
-
They like to show off the cool food options on the tours: a make-your-own stir fry bar in the Stetson dorms, a Tandoori oven and sushi in International Village. The food’s pretty good, but it’s not like you’re in for a revolutionary culinary experience. It’s also expensive, but you don’t have a choice on the meal plan when you’re living on campus.
-
There are a lot of opportunities for social life and socializing, whatever you’re into. One of the best ways to get to know people is by joining clubs on campus. There are loads of options from intramural sports to math club to volunteering to band. A lot of my friends came from clubs I was part of. Boston is also the ultimate college town (300,000 college students in the Boston area), so if you like to party and go out, there are a lot of chances for that.
-
Athletic events can vary. As you’re probably aware, Northeastern doesn’t have a football team. Instead, our big sport is men’s hockey. Attendance can vary, but for big rivalry games and tournaments like the Beanpot, the house is packed and it’s a great atmosphere. I played in the pep band and really enjoyed being a part of the enthusiasm. The basketball team has also been doing well - this past year we made it to the NCAA tournament - and that was really awesome to be part of. Hopefully the enthusiasm will carry over to this year.
-
Starting this most recent year, I believe, Northeastern is guaranteeing to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. There are a few caveats to that: they determine need, which may be lower than what FAFSA says, and some of this need may be met with loans. I don’t know how people felt about the outcomes to the implementation of this policy this year, though you may have some luck looking through the decision threads where people found out their financial aid. If you’re eligible, Northeastern also does have some pretty good merit aid.
-
The dorms are dorms, but they’re not bad. Students in the honors program live in International Village, the 22 story 2nd newest dorm on campus (unless they decide to move it to East Village, the newest dorm). Otherwise, you live in the freshman quad area in the older dorms. They’ve done renovations recently, though, so they all have new communal bathrooms and new modular furniture. It’s not luxury housing, but as dorms go they’re pretty decent.
to add to nano’s comments
Upperclass housing in West Village is very nice - modern and lots of options (apartment for 1, 4, 5, 6 etc.)
Outside of the dining halls, Rebecca’s on campus is a great lunch place as is Kigo Kitchen (a little pricey).
there are tons of clubs - you need to sign up for lots of them during the activities fair. Then pick and choose which ones you want to be active in (once you get on their mailing list the clubs will keep you informed with meetings, events, etc.) They have some different ones - a food club, a GO club (board game), a movie club, etc.
Hi OP! I’m currently a freshmen at Northeastern, love it here. To answer your questions…
I’m taking Calc 3, Gen Chem, and Engineering design/problem solving. Although Chem is a bit on the lighter side, Calc 3 is certainly challenging. Engineering design and problem solving is also difficult, although I know that some of the other students in my class who’ve previously learned computer languages find it a breeze. Overall, I’d say that yes, it is academically challenging.
In regards to food, it depends on what you like. There’s Rebecca’s Cafe (take swipes) which is great for freshly made sandwiches, grilled food and for breakfast. Also on campus in Curry is West End, which takes swipes. I really like West End Bc they have great salads, and you get a coupon for free beverages/food to a different place every time you swipe. The dining halls are hit or miss. I live in IV, but I often walk to Stetson East/West. IV is alright, it has just about everything you could ask for, however it does get repetitive. Stetson East is known for its cookies, but it also usually has a good selection of hot foods. West has stir fry, but it’s closed more often than it is open.
Socially, it also depends on the person. I’m having a great time here and even as a freshmen it’s gotten to the point where just walking around campus I recognize plenty of familiar faces. In IV, it’s a bit set off from campus but I have friends at Stetson and other buildings. Since it is Boston, you can always find something to do on a weekend and at night. Remember that Boston is filled with colleges :). It’s actually hard to be bored.
The athletic events, I must say, are a bit disappointing. I went to a few woman’s soccer games and then men’s this fall, and although the men had a decent showing I expected more. The hockey teams are the same way. The men’s team is doing pretty bad this year, and I was surprised by the lack of student body at the games. The women’s ice team is ranked 7th in the NCAA and just about nobody goes to those games. I’m hoping that at the Beanpot tournament this winter it’ll be different…
Sorry, but I can’t speak about the FA, no experience with it.
The dorms are regular college dorms, nothing special. Although I did have a friend visit from SUNY Bing and he asked why I lived in a hotel :P. IV is pretty nice and has AC, a big perk for the first month. I’m in a single so a bit secluded but keeping the door open during the first few weeks worked well. The Stetsons are doubles, and they’re way different than IV. I actually like being in Stetson more than IV. Everyone seems to just know one another and the crowd seems friendlier/more social in general. I don’t really know much about the other freshmen dorms (there are around 4 others I believe) but they are mostly near Stetson west and have suites with several rooms connected to a small common room. I’ll leave the upperclassman housing to another CC’er, not sure what West Vilage and EV are like.
Sorry for rambling a bit. Hope that helps!
We do have pretty fickle fans - if the team sucks, attendance drops.
Anecdotal evidence to support some claims
- Academically Challenging - Yes.
Anecdotal Evidence:
In my Honors Calc 1 for Bio class, everyone in the room did well in Calc AB, and we learn differential equations and linear algebra to the extent that I am able to do most of the computational problems (but not proof-based ones) from my girlfriend’s (2nd year math major, Yale) dif-eq psets.
Anyone who also did well in Calc BC gets bumped up to calc 3 for engineers, which I’ve heard is a pretty normal level
And more: My honors inquiries class (for people with Ap Bio credit) is pretty damn hard. Most of the inquiries classes are easy A’s. In this one, the majority of the students have lab experience, we learn chapters straight out of the biochemistry (3rd year science) textbook, and the average is somewhere around a 70 (curved).
- Stir-fry is really damn good. Steak and shrimp sometimes. All students get 150-200 dollars (depends on meal plan) as "dining dollars" and I burnt mine out on sushi in the student center, which is decent (and, as a resident of both San Diego, CA and Portland, OR, I have high standards).
- Don't come here for the social life. We have parties and such, but the great majority are off-campus and hosted by another school. It is a very large school, so you're bound to find people who like and who have similar interests, but we are not a party school.
Anecdotal: Lots of friends stories complaining about and/or commending MiT frat parties. I sometimes party it up with the meditation club and/or my research mentor.
- Dont come here for the sports. Our hockey games can be pretty good. Our soccer games remind me of high school. I also lived in the south (SEC domain) and I can say that Northeastern does not come close.
- Financial aid, like everywhere, depends. Ancedotal: International aid sucks, but that's everywhere. Have a few middle-income domestic friends who have everything paid for in need-based aid.
- If you are honors, dorms are wonderful. Private bathrooms, 24/7 security, dining hall in the building. I can tell you firsthand that is is significantly better than Yale's standard dorms. BUT - disclaimer: dorms are not guaranteed past first year for most people. Upperclassmen usually live off campus. Anecdotal: Nice apartment, close to campus, 4-rooms for 4 people, 1050/month each is a pretty good deal.
Long post, but hope that helps add to what is already posted.
Northeastern actually guarantees housing for all 5 years now thanks to East Villiage. For the first two years, you are actually required to be on campus, but they are apartment style after freshman year. The off campus description is very accurate though: it’s a very common choice to go off campus with good, cheap, close apartments.
Lucky you!
In New England the closest you come to big time collegiate athletics is BC, UMass and UConn and they pale compared to the SEC or say Penn State. Then again, no New England school pays its athletic coaches $3,000,000 plus per year.