<p>Thank you guys so much for all the responses. It sounds interesting, but I got scholarships at comparable schools academically, so I don’t think i’m going to do it largely because of the money, and my mom would be freaking out the whole time when I was abroad. Thanks :)</p>
<p>Going to jump in and speak from a parent perspective. Nuin always creates a flurry of strong opinions because most prospective students just don’t have it on their radar. Northeastern probably has more fluctuations in residence halls/on campus classrooms than any other residential college or university due the coop program. It is not just due to students flunking out or transferring as mentioned upthread. NUin was one option of a spring admit that folded a study abroad experience in the fall. While study abroad and coop abroad are both options later (as well as “Dialogues” for shorter trips) it can be a challenge to fit in all the experience one desires while also meeting program requirements and being available for the coops. So a study abroad as a freshman, while meeting gen eds and introductory level course requirements is one option. </p>
<p>My D did the NUIN Greece and absolutely loved it. Not to say she wasn’t unsettled by the admission decision, but with more thought and questions, she decided to embrace it. She had all course credits apply directly to NU, we had ample opportunity to gather information, she was free to travel on weekends both independently and with NUin programming. She visited Milan, Rome, Barcelona and Turkey as well as other locations in Greece. As a business major, the economic climate of Greece was folded into classroom discussions. The group had a strong bond, and a smooth transition to Boston in January. Most students received excellent housing assignments in the winter, most better than the incoming freshman in the fall. When she moved into IV in January it was like a reunion, not at all like a typical freshman move in. She did well in courses in the fall, but the grades are on a separate transcript from the issuing college. She is also moving forward with her current class schedule and doing very well academically. Both her academic and coop advisors say she is on track to start coops in the spring of sophomore year. </p>
<p>We did not qualify for need based aid, but my understanding is that federal aid does not apply.<br>
Spring admit without NUin was also not an option. With 45,000 applications my understanding was that there was very little movement off the waitlist so I would not count on that as better than NUin. </p>
<p>Yes, finances have to be taken into consideration whichever colleges admit you. Even without NUin, there are parents and students on many forums whose aid does not make attendance possible. There are very few “meets full need” colleges and those are the very most selective. NU does offer merit aid and the coop program which makes a difference to those that difficult area of not qualifying for need based aid. </p>
<p>If anyone has further questions, I would be happy to try to answer them.</p>
<p>Oh, and my D rec’d regular fall admission to BU and Tulane among others, so I doubt she was considered a less viable admit. She chose NU with NU in over her other choices.</p>
<p>That was by far the best and most educated parent response I’ve ever seen… Kudos!</p>
<p>To the person above who said that they doubt very many people will go, because of the finances-- There will always be people who can afford it. There are plenty of people at Northeastern who take out huge loans, there are plenty who only went because of full scholarships, and there are plenty whose parents call them every few days to complain about the size of their Parent Plus loan that they had to take out. But there are a LOT of students whose parents pay for the full thing. Even people who you wouldn’t suspect it! My first year roommate was classic CT (no offense), whose parents didn’t blink an eye at the money. But a close friend of mine worked three jobs, bought his own car, and didn’t have anything expensive… and then I found out his mother spent 20 years of child-support payments to pay for his college.</p>
<p>So yeah, a lot of people can’t go. I wouldn’t have been able to go. Parents definitely would not have let me go. But there will always be plenty of people who can and do.</p>
<p>@bhmomma</p>
<p>I was admitted to NUin, and I’m trying to stay positive about it. Is there anything you can tell me about housing/people in transit back to Boston? I’m curious what type of housing we’d get and if we’d be with other kids coming back from study abroad? Thanks.</p>
<p>I was admitted into Nuin as a nursing major so my study abroad would be in Melbourne. I’m worried about the transition back to Boston in the spring. Won’t everyone already be all settled in from the fall and then awkwardly new students come in second semester from being in other countries? And it’s just weird that the study abroad is your first semester of your freshman year in college.</p>
<p>@bulldogleader: Please read bhmomma’s post above.</p>
<p>Not to be argumentative here, but colleges group applicants into pools by using an academic index, which rates the relative strength of the applicant compared to his/her peers. Those not offered placement on NEU’s Boston campus for freshman year would be considered less desirable admits. Just like the person offered 4 yrs. of housing at BC as opposed to 3, or merit aid/scholarship at you-name-it school would be more desirablethan those applicants who weren’t awarded money. Some schools are even offering guaranteed transfers after completing 1 year at another accredited university.</p>
<p>I think it’s random. I have a friend with perfect stats and she was offered a spot in this program just like me. They wouldn’t admit you if they didn’t want you. They just don’t have enough space and that’s it. You are guaranteed a spot in the spring anyway.</p>
<p>Well, all I can give the perspective of our family and second hand those of the families we met predeparture at informations sessions and upon moving into the dorm in Jan.<br>
First-regarding housing-placement in the fall study abroad is done by NU. My D could not request a roommate even if she met someone she felt compatible with at an info session or online. The NUin staff do have alot of details to nail down include pre-departure information and orientation session with addition of compliance with visa and travel requirements of some sites. Each site has differing housing set up. Greece was in a hotel (so two students to a room), private bath, 2 meals provided daily. The equivalent of RA’s onsite. Costa Rica had a home stay, some sites had apartments. Just like any freshman experience, some room mate became became fast friends, some compatible friends, some just ended up co habitating. My D felt like since everyone was in a totally new environment, their group all ended up supporting each other and often went out at night as an entire group. </p>
<p>Housing in Boston was assigned while they were abroad. It varied by all the available housing in Boston. A lot ended up in International Village, but many ended up elsewhere. I know my D was asked to rank her preferences while she was over seas. Some students asked to room with someone they met at NUin and were accommodated. I know she said at least one student asked to moved to a lower priced option and that was accommodated. In Jan there was a new orientation for parents and students and as I said above, it was like a reunion! They had social events for the students, tickets to events in Boston and everyone settled in nicely. My D said her suitemate is friendly, but she does hang out more with friends from Greece as well as other NUin sites she met during orientation. </p>
<p>I would imagine it would totally depend on one’s personality and how well one handles change. Even with traditional fall move in every year at most campuses there are absolute failures with roommate matches, sometimes best friends from home hate living together, or don’t match with sleep, noise or study habits. </p>
<p>Each site has programs that are set up to most smoothly offer and accepts the courses from that site. My D said there were nursing students in Greece, and when I checked this years site nursing is still offered there. </p>
<p>I will not debate the merits of those in the program vs those offered fall admit. There are simply too many qualified students to admit in the fall and we were not present in the admissions room. </p>
<p>Each site has a global experience class required which also ensures that the NU students are not living only in an American housing environment. There is required service learning in which students interact with the host community at an intimate level. Also, keep in mind that the drinking age is usually lower at host countries and parents and students have to realistic, smart and good ambassadors of Nu and the USA. </p>
<p>Lastly, there was a FB page for each site last year, and on youtube a requirement of the Global Learning class was production of slideshows with each students experience. So on youtube search NUin Greece 2012 or NUin London 2012 etc and you may see more from the students perspective.</p>
<p>I was accepted into the NUin program. However, I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing like some are making it out to be. I think it really depends on your academic goals for the next four years. Yes, you aren’t going to be on the BC for the first semester, but you are guaranteed housing for the spring semester. I think it also depends on if you are planning on studying abroad later.</p>
<p>I will say, the only unfortunate thing is the price. It seems very expensive for only one semester. </p>
<p>@bhmomma Your posts are well thought out, and very appreciated.</p>
<p>Oh, and there was also a blogging requirement that allowed parents to follow not only their own students activities, thoughts and feelings, but those of their fellow NUin students. I felt like I got to know some of them!</p>
<p>I got into NUin. also, and I think people should be happy that they even got off the deferred list. Usually NEU doesn’t let many EA people if deferred. Two of my friends who absolutely loved NEU were also deferred, then rejected last week. I feel pretty lucky, even though I have to study abroad first. You’re still a NEU student, you just have to study abroad first.</p>
<p>I’m actually pretty excited. It’s been a dream of mine all my life to go to England, and now I’m kind of forced to go, if I want to go to NU. I’m not complaining though. Dream school plus lifelong dream? Yes.</p>
<p>5 people in my class got into NUin. In a class of 330 kids, with 20 or so having applied to NEU, this is a lot. One of the girls is brilliant, has done a ton of research, won national competitions, and received a likely letter from Cornell, and a full tuition scholarship from NYU. I’m wondering if people are put into this program based off of whether the admissions committee believes that they could benefit from a more worldly experience right off the bat? Idk. I don’t think it’s Tufts syndrome, because NEU has the university scholars program, and a lot of people who used NEU as a safety would reconsider.</p>
<p>bhmomma I need to echo EVERYTHING you have said from another mom’s point of view…Only I have a Son who went to Austrailia in the fall of 2012. I think he truly benefitted from having a smaller community in Austrailia to work with and then room with now in IV. Academically he has intimated that it had little impact on the second semester at the Boston campus. The courses in Austrailia were well matched and the students neither “waste” their class time abroad nor get “left behind” when they rejoin the Boston campus. This was my concern as a parent. Also it was great seeing him greeting his pals in January as they moved into International Village together. A really nice set up for any college freshman. He went to a highly ranked prep school and had good creds. He also had other options including another eastern co op school but had chosen NU on the strength of the Co op placement program where the “hope” is that the placements will be matched in a more skills based and personal way than in the more HR oriented way the other schools seemed to offer. We will see if that part holds true after next year. But so far so good. And honestly when evaluating the money the Abroad program DID/DOES cost more but not that much Really considering he now has an overseas ‘living’ experience that perhaps may make him stand out if he chooses to work abroad at some future time.</p>
<p>To your Cornell likely friend-- maybe her Northeastern essay bombed. Maybe she came for a tour and was horribly rude to an admissions officer who blackmarked her file. You never know.</p>
<p>Northeastern only had the common app essay… And you’re right- anything could have happened the reason she wasn’t admitted, and I cannot read the admissions officers minds, but I was just spouting ideas.</p>
<p>Hello everyone.
My son has been recently admitted to NUin.
Being an international student quite interested in Architecture, he should fly to Ireland.
I understood the I-20 form will be sent him while abroad and that the entire process for obtaining his F1 visa will take place there.
Based on your experience, is the administrative team on site skilled and helpful enough? I did the same process last year for my other son here where we actually live (UAE) and I found it not quite easy for a non-accompanied minor.
It would definitely be better if we could receive the I-20 and process the F-1 Visa here during the summer…
Anyone knows any international parent who already faced this issues?
Wise suggestions?</p>
<p>GiacomoB–I think your situation is more unique, so I would recommend talking to the NUin staff directly. There was a good communication between the staff onsite and the Nuin office in Boston, but I cannot speak to your issue. If your son is minor, make sure whomever you speak to is aware of this, as I know in the orientation sessions, they spoke frequently about some differences if the student was under the age of 18, and they were required to be 18 on some sites. My D was 18 when she travelled so I did not take specific note of which countries or what additional steps/procedures had to be followed.
The phone number is: 617.373.6447
And by email: <a href=“mailto:nuin@neu.edu”>nuin@neu.edu</a></p>