<p>I was accepted to NEU Early action in late November. I am probably going to study Poli Sci and International Affairs. Was wondering if anyone knew much about the poli sci department at NEU in comparison to some other schools. Ive gotten into some 6 other schools, but I really like NEU.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I’m an IAF major, so I can’t really comment on Poli Sci, but I loooooove IAF here, so let me know if you have any questions about it!</p>
<p>my daughter wants to major in international affairs. do you know if there are good coops available for that major and would you recommend the 4 yr or 5yr program?</p>
<p>I’m just a freshman, so I’m not yet really knowledgeable about co-op. And I don’t see it all as 4 yr vs. 5 yr. I feel like I get to create my own schedule and do things as I want, unlike my engineer roommate whose schedule for the next 5 years with 3 mandatory co-ops is already planned out. I’m really excited to do co-op, even if that means working for a non-profit (which I’d be excited about). And people in the IAF department talk about how they’re job is to make sure that IAF majors spend as much time abroad as possible. I’m really glad I chose NU over Tufts for IAF, because I’m well aware that Tufts has a very prestige IR program, but at NU, I’m already going abroad (for five weeks in May/June), will eventually be doing a full semester abroad, and hopefully be doing a co-op abroad. And depending on how things go, I can choose if I want to do 0, 1, 2, or 3 co-ops.</p>
<p>great news. my daughter wants to spend a lot of time abroad, doing her coop there, etc. i’m glad that the department tries hard to have the students fulfill their international bent in this fashion.</p>
<p>Yes, they exact words said were that it was there job to get us “the hell off of campus” (I hope this doesn’t sound weird on the Internet… the guy talking to us is really awesome and really captured how we were all feeling :)). </p>
<p>The Dialogue of Civilizations program really sealed the deal for me going to Northeastern. These are the 4-6 week study abroad summer programs (although they are offering one in the spring). I’m so excited that I don’t have to just choose one other country to study in my whole time here (as I most likely would at most other schools). I’m going to Spain this May, hopefully Northern Ireland next May, a semester abroad in Latin America, hopefully doing the U.N. Dialogue in Geneva between junior and senior year, and also doing a co-op in either Europe or Latin America. And I can apply my merit scholarship to all these opportunities (except for co-op since you obviously don’t pay for that). So I get $7k/semester, which means $3500 for each Dialogue (the scholarship is good for whatever 8 full semesters you put it towards). And the Dialogues are designed to cost NU tuition. So I’ll be paying ~$8500 to go Sevilla, but this includes plane tickets, meals, housing, and tuition. And I’ll really only be paying ~$5000 when I apply my scholarship. </p>
<p>…can you tell that I’m pretty excited? :D</p>
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<p>Very doable. I know lots of people who have done co-ops abroad as well as dialogues. Study abroad is also an option, but a lot of people just do dialogues instead… it’s supposed to be one of the best opportunities NU offers academically, and they’re very, very popular. Between regular study abroad, dialogues, and co-op abroad, there are plenty of opportunities.</p>
<p>Whether to go 4 or 5 years, I (as well as basically any nu student) say 5 years, no question. It is absolutely, 100% worth it and awesome. It gives you so much flexibility to take advantage of all the opportunities available to a college student, and the cost is the same, so why not?</p>
<p>NU has been pushing to advertise the 4 year program more, and it’s resulting in a huge backlash from students–it’s one of our favorite aspects of the school… She doesn’t have to decide now, you can ALWAYS change your graduation year depending on your credit situation, but the large majority of us stick around 5 years because there are so few reasons not to.</p>
<p>I have a question kinda regarding 4 years vs. 5 years. I heard somewhere that you have to be studying at NU at least every other semester-- does anyone know if that’s true? That would mean that I couldn’t go directly from like a spring study abroad to a fall co-op, for example. (I know I’d have to have already taken the co-op class.)</p>
<p>Blinkangel, I think you can actually. I know I’ve heard of people setting up coops doing phone interviews from a study abroad, so I think it should work out. I’d ask your coop adviser though.</p>
<p>I’m a journalism major, minoring in poli-sci, and I think our poli-sci department is great. In my experience, the professors are extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Michael Dukakis teaches here, and he is extremely approachable and cares a lot about his students.</p>
<p>Are students from other colleges within NEU allowed to do the dialogues abroad? What is the exact title of the program? Thanks!</p>
<p>Dialogues of Civilization. Anyone can do them, but some are major-specific.</p>
<p>Thanks eireann!</p>
<p>And yeah, what Emily said! Although, I was talking with someone who knew a Sociology major who did the Civil Engineering one in the Netherlands. </p>
<p>On a side note, IAF majors are required to spend a semester abroad (this can also be accomplished by completing 2 Dialogues).</p>
<p>I am a senior Poli Sci major at NU. I have loved my time here. It is extremely flexible in terms of internships, going away for co ops, doing research. The professors have been outstanding. Dukakis was a must-take and we have a professor who has won the most excellence in teaching awards of any professor at NU (Wallin). The department is large enough that it really lets you find you niche in terms of specializing. You should find the professors doing research in the areas that you are interested in an latch on. I was published as an undergrad, which is pretty difficult for poli sci students to do at other schools. There are co op jobs available at top law firms, the UN, the CIA and DOD, as well as NGOs and think tanks. I think the Political Science department is so strong because its really important as a discipline to one have one foot in the real world. Whether that be in real life application of research or of policy questions it has been great to use what you learn in class to figure out real life problems. I am graduating in 4 years did 2 co ops, 1 internship, and got published. School really is what you make of it.</p>
<p>What is the exact difference between a coop and an internship?</p>
<p>Internships are usually, but not always, one term.
Internships are usually, but not always, in summer.</p>
<p>Co-ops are usually, but not always, multi-term; e.g. you might work fall semester, go to school in spring semester, work summer, go to school in fall, and work the next spring semester.</p>