In three sentences
Northeastern is an incredible school. The professors truly want to see you succeed, the classes are far more interesting and engaging than I ever imagined they would be, and there is really a sense of community throughout the campus. From the amazing coop program to the University Honors Program to all of the clubs and activities in between, there is always something to do on campus, and, since the campus is the heart of Boston, the city truly is our playground.
Tips for prospective students
Really get to know the coop program, and find out if that is something in which you might be interested. Northeastern has one of the top job-placement rates of any school in the country, and it's all because of coop - many students are hired for full time jobs upon graduation by employers they worked for as coops during their time at Northeastern. Most students are on a five-year schedule, so you have to decide if that would be good for you, but I think it is definitely worth it in the end.
Academic Rigor
The classes are much easier than I expected, but mostly because I was finally taking the classes I wanted to take and learning from professors who really cared about their students and the topics they were teaching. I found that I learned more in one semester at Northeastern than I ever did in high school. The workload is certainly not unbearable, but there is definitely a fair amount of it. If you're interested in an even bigger challenge, the Honors Program offers honors classes, which are much smaller, more difficult classes taught by the university's top professors and reserved for honors students only.
Dorm Life
Housing is only guaranteed for your first two years at Northeastern; for the other three, you may be on your own. Freshman housing is decent, especially if you're in the Honors Program which has much nicer rooms and private bathrooms. The traditional freshman housing is not terrible; most freshmen live in Speare and Stetson East or West. Sophom*ores enter the lottery and are guaranteed housing, although it may not be great. If you get lucky, you can get a really nice on-campus apartment. Many people opt for off campus after sophom*ore year, because it can be cheaper, depending on how far off campus you are and which neighborhood you choose.
Food and Dining
The freshman meal plan is a little annoying and pricey, but the dining hall food is very good compared to other schools. There are three traditional dining halls - Stetson East, Stetson West, and International Village. Stetson East has a great vegetarian room, and an extensive salad bar, with many other options. Stetson West has a Stir Fry Room, with create-your-own stir fry that they cook to order so it is always exactly how you like it. International Village has many different stations, including sandwiches, salads, burgers, hot meal, vegetarian, sushi, soup, omelets, and pasta. The meal plan, which includes either 10, 15, or 19 meals per week, also comes with a set amount of dining dollars, which can be used at many of the on campus restaurants. Aside from the dining halls, there is Wollaston's (the grocery store), Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, Qdoba, Boloco, Au Bon Pain, Argo Tea, and an entire food court in the Curry Student Center.
What to do for fun
On campus, there is the Curry Student Center, which has pool tables for students and also the After Hours club, which frequently hosts live music and performances. There is also plenty of green space (which you might not expect for a campus in the city!). Luckily, Northeastern is in the heart of Boston, so when there's nothing to do on campus, there's an entire world to explore. There are two movie theaters close to campus, countless museums to explore, tons of shopping and an immense number of colleges in the Boston area, so when there's nothing to do at Northeastern, you can always skip on over to BU, MIT, Harvard, or Boston College to catch up with friends from home or check out a frat party. Finally, there is, of course, all of historical downtown Boston to explore! Between everything there is to do on and off campus, I have never once at Northeastern found myself uttering the phrase I'm bored.
Bang for the buck
Don't get me wrong, Northeastern is EXPENSIVE, but, in the end, it's worth every penny. Not only do they offer a generous amount of scholarship money, the way in which Northeastern prepares you for the working world truly is priceless. During two or three semesters of coop, Northeastern helps you find a job relevant to your major and you are actually MAKING money, rather than paying it. Ultimately, although tuition is very expensive at Northeastern, it is well worth the price. You will have a much higher chance of finding a job upon graduation, and you will truly be prepared for the real world with your education from Northeastern.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Rebecca's Cafe is THE BEST dining option on campus. They make sandwiches to order, and something about those sandwiches draws half hour lines and a lunch rush like you've never seen. From the Tuscan Turkey to the Bello Bello to the Southwestern Wrap, Rebecca's Cafe is a campus favorite.
Great for these types of students
Northeastern is great for students interested in getting a head start in their career. If you are a very hands on student who loves field trips and field research, Northeastern is for you. If you are interested in science or engineering, Northeastern is definitely for you. If you are interested in arts and humanities, but are also interested in learning how to turn your passion into a viable career, Northeastern is for you. If you are looking for a big school in the big city, but still want that sense of community and like to see a few trees here and there, Northeastern is 100% for you. I can't think of a type of student who doesn't thrive at Northeastern, especially if you are looking for an education that will prepare you for the real world.
Clubs and Activities
Every student group you ever wanted exists at Northeastern, and if it doesn't, you can make it. There are dance crews and teams, fraternities and sororities (although most don't have houses), countless a Capella groups, and more special interest groups than I can even count. There are many different religious groups, cultural groups, and community service groups. There are also groups that are just for fun, such as NU Eats and the Arts and Crafts club. Many of the clubs at Northeastern have dues (around $5 per semester), but it is worth it for the fun activities and new friends!
Campus Safety
My parents were very nervous for me to go to school in in the city; however, I feel just as safe on campus and throughout the city as I did back in my New Jersey suburb. The campus is very well lit, the NUPD is always present, and I never feel unsafe walking back from the library or student center alone at night. Even throughout the city, I feel safe walking around alone during the day or in a small group at night. When you first arrive on campus, you find out quickly, from upperclassmen such as your RA, which areas of the city are best to avoid, and as long as you are smart, you can easily keep yourself safe.
