I know there’s a number of threads about Northeastern but I was hoping to get the short version of the school. My daughter has found it has the perfect major/minor for her. We are visiting in about a month. From what I hear it’s in city (which she says she likes) but does it have a real “collegiate” feel ? I also see a lot about “co-op” in regards to Northeastern… is that a college which partners with a lot of companies to get their students hands on experience. Also, kids with very good grades and test scores are being turned down. How selective is it ? She’s finishing her sophomore year so she/us have a little while to figure things out but any help is appreciated. Thank you
Northeastern is definitely an urban university but unlike some (e.g. BU, NYU) it has a mostly defined campus which was recently named an arboretum.
Experiential learning and especially coop have been the focus of Northeastern for over a century. All students are required to complete at least one 6 month period of experiential learning. In business and engineering that must be a period of coop employment. In other fields it could be coop, research or an international experience or any combination of them.
Collegiality is a vague term. Northeastern is not the traditional college experience. The comings and goings of coop means that there is no 24/7 campus experience. But being in Boston is a collegiate experience in and of itself.
Northeastern and most colleges do not like being a student’s “safety” school. If from the application the adcoms feel that it is being used as a safety it may result in a denial or a wait listing. Also if they feel that awareness of Northeastern’s experiential focus is not present in the application there may be a denial. Northeastern is a school that considers “showing interest” as important.
S17’s best friend is finishing up his first co-op within the month. He has stayed in his on campus housing since his is in Boston. He spends a lot of time with friends at MIT, which is right there as well. Next year he’ll be moving off campus, which is pricey (not surprising!). A little over $1k a month for a 4 br with 4 guys living in it, but great location.
He was in the top 10% of our small school (250 grads), a 35 ACT. I think it’s gotten harder to get into in the last 2 years. He got every little merit - maybe $5k? I know the net cost is in the $55k range for his parents. They didn’t qualify for need based so can’t speak to that.
My daughter had liked that NorthEastern definitely has a more of a campus feel than BU. Also, really attractive Honors program/housing/perks and merit-based aid.
As a parent, I had heard about the co-op program, but didn’t make what to do of it. But, once I went along on the accepted-student visit and got the details, and thought it was an ingenious concept. Quite different from the regular internships, you essentially take a 6 months paid/full-time “apprenticeship” break from college (your college fees are paused) somewhere in the country, or even abroad. Because it’s a full-time, long-term arrangement, you are more likely to take on the role of an employee, and get a good sense of a certain area of business/profession. It might help you confirm your thoughts regarding a major, or realize it’s not for you.
You can do more than one co-op. So - you could be “finishing” college in 5 years, having paid only for the usual 4 years, but having had two paid positions for 1 year total, and potentially a job offer waiting for you!
Of course, after I was sold on the concept, she decided to go elsewhere without any of those perks… 