Northeastern Business Major

People believe that Northeastern students attend this school because they were denied admission to "better" schools: Boston College, Boston University, or other "top-notch" schools. Also, people believe Northeastern University is a safety school and lacks academic clout.

While Northeastern is, as of right now, number 96 in the nation (a 3rd tier school), this school has a lot to offer. People do not understand that Northeastern is number 1 in the nation for internships and most of its colleges rank somewhere in the top. Students that attend this school are ambitious and determined to make something of themselves. People go here for a reason: to succeed in the real world.

Northeastern University is number 1 in the nation for internships because of its world-famous co-op program, which places students in 6-month internships (paid or non-paid) that correlate to their major. Once you come to this school you will notice the Northeastern Shuffle. It can be difficult to get the exact information you need to do something. The administration loves to move students from one office to the other to get an answer. There is also the Northeastern Hussle because students here are on their own individual track and have no problem of pushing you out of the way. The environment here is very cutthroat so if you are unsure of what you want to be, this is not the place for you. Nobody here will coddle you. When I tell people that I attend Northeastern, they give me a confused look like "What? Where is that? Oh, really?!" Some people just don't comprehend that this school is fantastic because the masses only know of Tufts, BU, BC, and the Ivy Leagues. Boston is definitely a college town. I believe there are 65 schools here so there are a lot of young people here with whom to socialize. There is no apparent school pride so no one is going to nag you if you do not know the Huskies (the school mascot) stats.

In my experience, Northeastern's academics are rigorous, but fulfilling. The business program is no joke as well as the Sciences, Architecture and Engineering programs. Professors love class participation and it can take you a long ways. Students here are very competitive and will sometimes speak in class for no reason. Some students will show you up just because they can. Most students speak with professors outside of class, it is a norm here. I keep my intellectual conversations inside the classroom where they belong. I spend a lot of time studying because college academics move fast. There is no such thing as "going back a day."

I would say that Northeastern's student body is: stylish, in-shape, intelligent, ambitious and wealthy. The campus is diverse but there have been days where I have seen 99% Caucasian people. It's not a problem for me, but, if you are looking for a diverse crowd, you may want to choose somewhere else. I have not seen nor experienced any prejudice. Tolerance is something you expect here. I cringe when I see students show up to class in sweats (even to an 8am class); it's just not right. There are a few students who come from low-income backgrounds, but be prepared to meet people who have bank accounts filled to the brim. Therefore, students here love to talk about money whether it is how much they earn from their co-op job or how much allowance they receive from their parents. Most students are liberal and make it known, but I have met a few conservatives. Most students are from the Northeast.

When it comes to partying at Northeastern, there are two kinds of students. One kind is completely straight-edge while the other is a full-blown alcoholic. Most students here are alcoholics and love to party until dawn. When I party, I party hard. I drink until I cannot stand or throw another ping-pong ball. However, if you are not a party fiend, there are several fabulous restaurants, theatres, etc. to go to. The shopping in Boston is extraordinary. People love to hook-up and I have only encoutered a few couples. There are so many people here that you can definitely find what you are looking for when it comes to romance. Guest speakers are pretty popular here. We had the comedian Lisa Lampanelli here and it was fantastic!! I met my closest friends at orientation, and from there I met an array of people from classes and parties. If you are an extrovert, there should be no problem making friends. However, if you are an introvert, you might want to go to a small-town college.