I am currently one month in at Northeastern through the study abroad program (NUin – which is for the first semester of freshman year) and I know I am already behind because the academics offered are definitely not equivalent since many courses for my major are not offered and the academics are not very challenging. I have heard that seniors who participated in NUin are still struggling and many of my friends are already considering transferring. If I want to catch up, I would have to take summer classes (NU term) basically the whole summer because you can only take 3 at once. I also feel behind because I am not getting a good foundation in classes such as biology and chemistry. How have NUin students dealt with the transition academically back to the Boston campus??
What location are you at? What is your major?
@student653 What NU Path classes are you taking and what major related classes are you taking. First, I would like to say as a current 4th year student, right now I am in spain studying abroad and education abroad in my opinion and in my friends opinion have not been anywhere close to the difficulty classes at northeastern were. That being said, you should not be behind regardless, if you are taking bio 1, and chem 1, you will be taking the next set of those in the spring when you return to northeastern. Northeastern advisors would never let you take a class abroad that won’t transfer back, trust me as a 4th year i tried to take tourism as an elective this fall and they said “no, that’s not equivalent to anything here”.
As far as you struggling socially, I want to remind you that Northeastern students for the most part are always welcoming to new faces and students. The spring after NU in is always tough for students in getting involved and stuff, but I highly recommend you join clubs and participate in as many activities as possible. Due to the high amount of co-op cycles and study abroad opportunities the northeastern shuffle is crazy especially with friends so most of us have learned to adapt to new friendships as many might not line up for all 4 or 5 years of undergrad. My best friend and I were lucky to be able to match our study abroad plans, but we have different co-op cycles so these next 2 semesters we won’t be able to stay in touch which is not a big deal, over the four years at NE i have made great friendships and some of them are actually visiting me abroad. Academically you should be fine because most majors have 4-6 electives regardless and if you came in with any AP classes that should also help open up more spots. Let me know if you have any specific question.
P.S NU IN students sometimes get upper class man housing in the spring with A/C and full kitchens which is definitely a plus. I myself was not an NU in student, but all honestly unless you bring it up during a conversation nobody will be asking you directly.
@TomSrOfBoston I’m in Greece studying at the American College of Thessaloniki and majoring in neuroscience. My academic advisor said that “depending on my goals” I might need to take summer classes and I feel like I have to anyway. Also someone told my friend that she couldn’t transfer credits from the northeastern campus in California so I’d have to spend my whole summer in Boston which would be very expensive plus I wanted to intern somewhere.
@raulhumber2 I’m taking global experience, greek life and culture, calc II, chemistry I, and principles of biology. I’m mainly worried that because the classes lack in challenge that even if I take the next level of chemistry or biology, I will not be able to keep up because I hadn’t taken the first level in Boston.
I don’t know about Northeastern specifically. Those courses seem like standard entry level college courses for a science major. Even if they aren’t that challenging, do the very best that you can in them. If they aren’t that challenging then extend yourself through study of other resources to make sure you are prepared for the next level. If you do well you keep transfer options more open should you decide that route. If you do well you’ll likely be okay at the next level. Enjoy Greece. It’s also a special learning opportunity. Work with what you have rather than panicking about what you are missing, especially since you may not be missing anything.
@student653 , okay now i understand the neuroscience major is very specific, my sister is in that program now and she’s a year below me. I want to let you know that the northeastern satilite campus in california,( seattle) is not the same as studying abroad. Those programs give you a set of classes that will be offered and depending on your major may or may not count but that is told to you way ahead of time before you decide on those short programs which r usually during summer months. Your classes right now will all transfer back, now cal II is pretty universal and won’t be needed as much later in your studies of neuroscience so that might work in your favor, as far as chem and bio, just do your best, when you get back to NE we have great proffessors and resources if you feel as though you are behind but honestly i think you are overthinking your spring semester. Studying abroad is a great learning experience and you should do your best to get as much as you can from it. Study hard get good grades and the rest will sort itself out. Your advisor saying you might have to do a summer class later on comes from the fact the neuroscience majors sometimes pick a double or something else to go along with it. This is because the options for students in that major are usually research or med school and sometimes students change their mind.
Hope this helps.
As others have said, I think you’re very much worrying. As mentioned, all of the classes are specifically picked to transfer back to campus and is nothing like any satellite campuses, which are as far as I’m aware aren’t really undergraduate-focused. I don’t know a single undergrad who has taken classes at a satellite campus but know plenty of NU.in people. Given how everyone is always on a different cycle anyways, it’s very hard to be “behind”, especially if you’re taking courses that will specifically transfer and work for your major such as calculus. It’s pretty typical to take general requirements not specific to your major in your first semester, and even being a semester behind on your major path shouldn’t make a big difference - do Fall co-op cycle (which is what your advisors should recommend) and you’ll be on the same track as everyone by the time co-op’s start up. I’m sure there’s some selection bias from my personal experience, but everyone I know that did NU.in was just fine academically and in terms of co-op. Usually the bigger worry is the social side rather than the academic, though again most I know did just fine, especially as friends from NU.in are a good starting base socially.
Most students usually take 2 classes over the summer, not 3. 3 would be overloading. But you also won’t be behind, so you could probably fully “catch up” by doing just a single summer session. But if you can get an internship worth your while after freshman year that’s far more worth it than classes. That said, I don’t think after a single year you’ll really be ready for a meaningful internship regardless of NU.in. Why not just wait until your first co-op?
Well, what I can say to make you feel better is I don’t really like it here either, and I’m in just the regular program in Boston. The academics have been very disappointing, not to mention the people I’ve met here. I see only 2 alternatives for myself, get into Honors for next year or transfer out of here. I’m leaning towards the latter.
Northeastern was not my first choice, and in fact, I’ve barely met anyone for whom it was. It was everybody’s #1 safety because of co-op. I am a business student personally, and the classes I’m taking right now are extremely boring. The topics are completely uninteresting, and the course load is comically small. (I know this depends on the major, my CS buddies here are a lot busier)
I feel very bad wasting $$$$ of my parent’s money on this, to be honest. I also really don’t like many of the people and the overall atmosphere around me, especially in terms of the business LLC housing, which is full of rich, frat, d-bag types. Also, the nightlife SUCKS, and the only option is off-campus parties, which are very hard to get into as a guy.
Most of the nice people I’ve met here are considering transferring just like me. I just wish I redid everything and spent more time getting to know other schools I got into.
Feel free to message me btw, always nice to hear from similar minded people.
“The topics are completely uninteresting, and the course load is comically small”
The course load at Northeastern is like the course load at any other college. The business program is the same any other business program, so perhaps you chose the wrong major.
Open yourself to being positive and meeting new people.
I personally know a lot of Northeastern students who gave up admission to higher-ranked schools to attend there. The merit scholarships together with the great academics, fantastic location and #1 coop program and job placement make it a very desired school.
I am also a freshman business student at Northeastern. The academics for me have been disappointing. I have minimal homework and my classes are all easy group projects.
Northeastern was also not my top choice, like it was not for most people. I am in the business LLC dorm and I agree that I don’t like the people in the dorm and spend most of my time in other dorms. I actually did decide to transfer next semester. Partly because the night life has been terrible like you said as it is impossible for guys to get into frat parties unless they are in that specific frat. I have talked to many frat members who say their parties refuse to let guys not in the frats in. That really isn’t fair to guys but I get it since they are not allowed to have frat houses. It just sucks. I wish I would have known better before I chose this school. Next semester I am going to the school that I chose Northeastern over. So pretty much just a waste of a semester, socially.
And I have heard of a lot of good people transferring as well. Not a surprise when the school puts no effort into helping kids integrate and enjoy their social lives.