Trading in the typical college experience for co-ops?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northeastern University
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<p>Hi all! I originally applied Early Action to Northeastern because my mom encouraged me to, but I wasn't really interested. However, it has grown on me and is definitely one of the schools at the top of my list. I visited and loved campus and Boston! The co-op program is outstanding and is definitely an amazing opportunity that I would hate to turn down.
Where my concern arises is the "college experience." I'm from Texas, and although I have never been a huge football/greek life advocate, I don't know anyone who has gone to a school that doesn't have that presence. Basically, the college experience that my friends always describe is the sorority life and the tailgating and football games.
My parents and I are concerned that I'll be jumping into "the real world" and not enjoying my college years. I'm conflicted because I take academics seriously, I like to plan ahead, and I want to gain experience in my field. However, I still want to enjoy my college years.</p>

<p>My question is this: Do you feel like you traded in the "college experience" (aka football games, greek life, parties) for your co-op experience? or were you able to find fun things to do to make Northeastern worth the time and the money even if the co-ops hadn't been available?</p>

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<p>The greek presence on campus is small and the school spirit revolves around the hockey team (no football team). I don’t think it is the typical college experience, but that does not mean that you won’t have fun, join clubs, make friends, go to social events, explore the city, etc. I consider it more of a gradual transition to “the real world” - you get to work in a real job while still living on campus. While on co-op many kids still participate in campus activities - clubs, sports, etc.</p>

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<p>4th year here. If that’s true, then NEU is the school for you. You will never find more experience or chances to gain experience, knowledge, and meet people more than you will in Boston at NEU. Just having Harvard across the bridge, international companies with HQs in downtown (always hiring students!!), 52 other colleges and 25% international students? The sold me! If that doesnt sound like it matters to you, then dont come here. </p>

<p>You will be minorly giving up your “college years”, your first three semesters will be “college”-y, there will be frat parties, plenty of red cups, you can pre-game the hockey and basketball games (We don’t have a football team, so if that matters, dont come here, but most of the school doesnt care). We have a small greek life. One of my best friends is in a frat on campus, and does tons of frat stuff, parties, meetings, bake sales, the like. He was still very active in his frat while on co-op. </p>

<p>You won’t find the college experience here in full as you will in a 4 year school, But thats ok, because after the first 2 semesters you don’t even WANT the college experience. You just want real-world experience.
At NEU I did two co-ops. My first one was unpaid and I had to pick up a waitressing job to pay the bills. I was working 70 hours a week at 19. THAT was the real world. The second one I commuted out of town for a 9-5 that I loved and helped me choose a career field. THAT was the real world. </p>

<p>I find I am academically challenged at all times. If I don’t focus on my schoolwork, I fail. Simple as that. There is no “sliding by” at NEU, so if you’re looking for the less difficult academics and the partying portrayed in movies, go to a state school. And let me tell you, frat parties get boring after the first year. In Boston, you can have a social life on the town, like an adult. </p>

<p>All in all I found NEU made me grow up, and I love it. I am sooo far ahead of my peers at “normal schools” in terms of maturity, all while getting a fantastic education, opportunities to go abroad, a year of work experience on my resume, and great friends.</p>

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<p>Personally, I don’t feel like I had to trade a college experience for the real world experience I am getting at Northeastern. Mind you, my college experience involves less parties and frats and more late night Disney movies.
When you are on co-op, you’re working, like an adult. But even then, you can stay really involved. I kept playing in the pep band while on co-op, for example, so I still got to have the college experience while being a grown up. And when you are in classes instead of on co-op, then it’s college, and you can do all of the normal college-y things.
I wouldn’t trade out my co-op experience for any other college set-up. Having the chance to work in my field did help me mature, but I don’t feel like I have been forced to grow up past the college experience. Seeing the applications of what I learn in class has also been a boost to my academics. I don’t think co-op has to cause a compromise on being a college student.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the responses! I think Northeastern could be a good fit :)</p>

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<p>Let me add that being on co-op means no classes, no homework, no exams to study for. So for 6 months, you get a break from that side of the “college experience,” which ends up giving you lots of free time to enjoy the funner college experiences (having your weeknights and weekends completely free).</p>

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<p>I’m currently on an international co-op, and it’s really nice that when I am done with work, I can enjoy this environment instead of having homework hanging over my head.</p>

<p>Sometimes, when on co-op, I think, “I wish I were in classes so I didn’t spend 9-6 in the same room at work.” And when in classes I sometimes think, “I can’t wait until I am on co-op and don’t have homework.” But the reverse is also true, when you get done on Friday and realize you can spend the entire weekend making paper snowflakes and watching terrible Christmas movies.</p>

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<p>Keep in mind too that at most urban universities a student’s life will not revolve around campus to the extent it would at a university in say Amherst, Ann Arbor or Bloomington. There is simply so much to do in the city. This is true at Northeastern, BU, USC, Columbia etc. </p>

<p>For example, you would not experience the Red Sox World Series mania if you attended school in Urbana-Champaign, IL.</p>

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<p>^Coming from the tri-state area, that does not matter to me… go Yankees! lol</p>

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<p>i too came from the tri-state area… but they converted me up here, it’s do or die. Don’t say you’re a Yankess fan out loud!</p>