An Insight to Northeastern University

Northeastern University provides a unique balance of campus and city life that I’ve rarely seen equaled. Not only does the university offer an exceptional academic experience and incredible employment opportunities, but it’s also walking distance to the Museum of Fine Arts, Fenway Park, Boston Common, the South End, Newbury Street, and more. 

In other words, you will NOT need a car as an undergraduate student.  And to make you feel even more at home among your peers, when combined with Harvard, BU, MIT and others, more than 25% of Boston residents are students.

Northeastern carefully considers the return on investment (ROI) for its students and wants graduates to be ready to succeed in the workforce after college. The university offers 175 majors, including more than 120 combined majors. 50% of students choose more than one, and the most popular areas of study include Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Nursing, Psychology, and Law. 

Admissions reviews for freshman applicants are based on two primary factors, academic record, and personal traits. While the overall admit rate at Northeastern is 19%, they offer considerable flexibility in terms of how and when to apply. High school seniors have the option to apply either Early Decision I (which is binding) or Early Action (which is not). The deadline for both options is November 1^st. However, if you are not ready to commit to NEU as your top choice at that time, Northeastern also offers Early Decision II with a January 1^st deadline, the same deadline as those who will apply Regular Decision.

Northeastern emphasizes innovative thinking and encourages students to apply what they are learning in the classroom in real-world settings. To help students along this path, they have an experiential learning requirement, which can be satisfied in four different ways: Cooperative education, Global experience, Service-learning, or Research. On tour, I even heard about one student who took part in a research internship in Antarctica.

Co-ops are offered starting in sophomore year, and they enable students to integrate classroom study with up to six months of full-time employment. Students do not have to take courses during the Co-op, and there is also no tuition cost during this period. How cool is that? In addition, students will typically take a course the semester before to educate themselves on the process and learn to build resumes and cover letters, interview, and research opportunities that will provide the best fit.  And here’s a stat that will make parents smile – 54% of Northeastern graduates WILL receive a job offer from a co-op employer.

Students at NEU enjoy a broad range of social and organized activities. There are over 400 clubs on campus, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, it only takes 12 students to create your own. The main gym is open from 5 am to midnight to accommodate every student’s schedule. Many students enjoy Broom Ball, and nearly 2000 students participate in the annual underwear run on parents weekend.  Yes, you read that correctly. When the weather is nice, you will see many students relaxing in colorful Adirondack chairs spread all over campus.  The President’s Public Arts Initiative has resulted in amazing outdoor murals that add to the inclusive environment, and each fall many students take part in the Husky Hunt, a city-wide scavenger hunt throughout Boston.

Northeastern provides a different experience than most colleges, which is a major part of its appeal. I’d encourage anyone who’s considering Northeastern to schedule a visit at your convenience. Finally, for parents who are concerned about sending their child to an urban university, know that Northeastern not only uses the SafeZone mobile app, but they were also the very 1^st college in North America to use it.  In more ways than one, Northeastern is a leader.

All the best, 

Zach Pava and Team Insight