Northeastern University Top Questions

1. The understanding that I knew far less then I thought I knew. 2. A much clearer focus on what my major should be in a four year university. 3. More passion about my chosen career. 4. A clear idea which colleges will provide the education I want and need. 5. A deep appreciation of other single parents working their way through college.

I knew I wanted to be a lawyer since 5th grade. But as I pursued my goal academically and theoretically I learned more about the profession and decided that I could make a more significant impact elsewhere. I decided to teach because the career path and lifestyle that appealed to me was that of a an educator. Even though I have only volunteered and worked with summer teaching programs I still appreciate Northeastern's emphasis on applicable skills because it drove me to more closely examine the career path before me.

I have gained more knowledge that I would have gained if I didn't attend college in the first place. I also have had a great experience by meeting new people and learning their cultures. It is valuable to attend college if you want to get a good job and it you could possibly meet your soul mate or best friend.

So far, I have learned a lot about being independent and taking care of myself. I've learned how to thrive in a city, which is a much different environment than I am used to. I've made a lot of friends and realised a lot of new interests that I never knew I had. I also have really enjoyed the classes I've taken and I feel that I have learned a lot which will be beneficial to me in the future since I have chosen a major and classes that I am interested in as a career. I'm learning a lot about myself and what I like so that I can start to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.

I got my nursing license!!!

I transferred to Northeastern and found the perfect fit there. I have gained an irreplacable life experience from my time there. I have had valuable work experience, and gained confidence about my abilities to enter the workforce. During my time at Northeastern I have also had interesting classes, developed great relationships with particular professors, and had the most memorable study abroad experience. Attending Northeastern has also given me great friendships and fond memories that will last for the rest of my life.

The most I have gotten out of college is independence. I have learned that I am no longer a child and I need to make my own decisions in order to suceed. Every morning, I have to wake up and choose to go to class and not just sleep in. I need to learn that I must make sacrifices like study on the weekends instead of hanging out at that party with my friends. I don't have my parents there to make me wake up for classes or to do my homework. Teachers no longer hold your hand throughout the course. You need to learn to do your work and to go see the teacher on your own during her office hours. I also work during the school year so I need to balance my own budget and see how much I work and make a week and plan accordingly. Some kids have parents who can just give them however much they need, but I need to work and make my own money. I feel more independent this way, because if I were to ask my parents for hand outs, I would feel like a child.

What i have gotten out of my college experience is a more driven mind to succeed in my life as to where my field of study is Engineering. The staff and proffessors at my college constantly keep you driven to reach your goals and expectations on where they know you can achieve. It has been very valuable for me to keep attending this college, because without my mind being mentally driven by staff and proffessors I know that i would of never really tried to keep persueing my goals.

College is a wonderful experiance. Every moment in class I'm excited because I get to learn what I want to create the experience needed to fulfill my dreams and aspirations.

I love the atmosphere of a smaller school! Because of the smaller classes, the teachers are better able to help each student individually. This makes the experience more comfortable knowing I can reach out to my teachers any time. You can tell they enjoy their jobs and have all been friendly and happy to help. I also find the pace at which most teachers go is efficient but not too overbearing. Students most often are very friendly. There are also many events that are happening throughout the semester run by the Student Government Association. I am also a member of the Biology Club. I am not an officer, but have been helping run bake sales, events/field trips, and have represented Biology Club for open club meetings that the SGA holds. I went to two field trips this semester and they were both great experiences that I'm glad to have. As a community college, it will definitely save you a lot of money in the long run. I decided to start here to save money while taking all my prerequisites for the Nursing program. The cheaper price does not take away from the quality of education you receive!

I've started to find what I'm really interested in since I've been in college. I've come to realize what I want to do as a profession, what topics interest me, and what topics I would rather avoid. From joining clubs and organizations, I've found causes that I believe in and activities that I have a passion for, like dancing. It's been incredibly valuable to attend because I am learning more than I've ever learned before. There are lots of fascinating people that I get to meet and talk to, and opportunities to learn are endless and all over the campus. College has been an enriching experience thus far, and I believe that it will get even better.

I've gotten a ton out of my college experience thus far. Computers are amazing machienes and being able to learn so much about them is incredible, and this is only the start. College is so valuable to attend because it's the only place to learn specialized knowledge that will carry you on to the career you want. Every step of education before this was only preperation. From elementary to high school I've been building core skills just for use in college. College is so valuable to me because I've been preparing my whole life for it. Now... if only I had known it would be so expensive, I'd have started saving a little earlier too.

Entering Northeastern University has become one of the transformative experience in my life. First and foremost, studying in a foreign environment far away from my family enabled me to become more independent as an individual. Secondly, the learning experience here is valuable in that, during the 2 years since entering Northeastern, I noticed myself growing intellectually in such a degree by attending lectures and fulfiling assigments. Majoring international Affairs at Northeastern have invariably made me aware of the events occuring around the world, and triggered my inner passion to learn more. Finally, the people I have met, almost all of whom come from international background, have become few of my closest friends in my life. Not only have they become an indispensable part of my life, they have also brought me diversity of perspectives and lifestyles that contribute to further enriching my experience. Thus, attending Northeastern has been an invaluable experience for me because it has enriched me intellectually, spiritually, and, culturally; in short it nurtured my individuality in every humanly possible way.

Through my college experience, I had been able to improve my networking abilities, increase my professional and social networks, gain a deeper understanding of my strenghts and weaknesses and develop a greater sense of purpose. Northeastern has taught me the ins and outs of being unique in a world as big and diverse as ours. I've been able to communicate my dreams and aspirations with my peers and others alike and I would not have been able to go after those dreams had it not been for the support of the Northeastern Community. My ability to investigate a task or subject matter and determine what I need to do in order to succeed has stemmed from the support of my college. I can always find an advisor or mentor who is willing to listen to my story and guide me along a path that will ensure that I have the necessary tools to be competitive.

My college experience has opened up a new side of my field that I had not previously discovered. The internship opportunity that my college has provided me with has really showed me the huge difference between the work environment and study environment. This experience has also made me understand the significance of the material that I've been learning in my classes and how it can apply in the real world to help people and even save lives. Working as an engineering intern, I have seen how my efforts can impact my company's productivity and help the end customer. As a result I feel that my college has helped me understand what my field is all about, not just through the theoretical aspect but also the practical aspect which has motivated me to continue this path and has given me the peace of mind in knowing that this really is the field that I want to pursue.

I have learned who I am. Coming to college has made me stand on my own two feet and discover the things that I want out of life and how to get them.

I feel as though I have grown from my colleg experience. I'm currenttly transferring to a different school at the moment but that is how I know I have grown. I picked a major that I thought would be cool to do, I wasn't really thinking about my future. Then when I came to college and notice that I was actually on my own I knew that I had to make a change in my life. That is why I am transferring to a different school I am finally thinking about my future. Instead of being a Baking and Pastry major I am now going to take Business Management Entrepreneurship, because I would love to own my own business. I don’t know what kind of business I want to own but, I can decide that after I have my degree. Many people say that college is just a party, but I feel it is so much more. It helps you grow and become your own person and it is valuable to attend college for these reasons. I am not have experience a whole lot about college but in 3 months, it has already helped me grow.

The most important thing i got out of college would be the education i have recieved so far. Its very important to me to be successful in completing my degree. I have to children under the age of 2 and its my goal to graduate and have a good life to provide for my babies. They will look up to their mommy later on in life.

I am learning to live on my own, and make my own decisions (right or wrong). While growing up in a small town, I felt trapped. the city life is exciting and fun. I love being invisible when I want, and when I want to be heard. I have made mistakes, but they have been mine.

I am currently attending Columbia Greene Community College. Many people say I am missing out on the "college experience" that most get by going straight to a four year college, but I disagree. By going to a community college, i learned how to set priorities in my life and how to manage my money wisely. Being a full time student and working has been very rough, however, I know that in the long run, it is all worth it. A few years ago I learned how to really challenge myself to get the most out of the education that this country has to offer. During my junior year of high school, I went on a missions trip to the Phillippines for two weeks. I saw teenagers who would never get a college education. Young adults who would do anything to have the opportunities that I have here in America. I talked to many of them who weren't even able to finish high school because their parents needed them to work. Ever since that one trip, education has meant so much more to me then homework and essays, its an opportunity that very few get to have.

I wouldn't say that my overall college experience was as academincally or socially enriching as one would hope. While living on-campus, I was matched with students I had nothing in common with. When it came time to move off-campus, the only affordable apartment I could find was an hour commute away, so I instantly became detached from all things social. I entered college hoping to pursue a degree in music business, and graduated with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. I was a good student who got good grades, but I never exerted myself. Unsure of what my academic strenghts or interets were, I kept a distance between my professors and I. Looking back, I still don't know what my passion is, but perhaps the only thing I am sure about is my course of study. From anthropology, I now have the privledge to study the world around me from one of the most unique, objective, and creative perspectives I know of. I can't think of anything more valuable than that. And while I may not have made the most of my major while in school, I am certain I will in the future.

Anyone who has made it through college now knows that the experience is more about what you learn about yourself, than how high your school was ranked or what you studied. The journey is the most important part of the experience. If I had it to do over again, I would not have gone to Northeastern. On an academic front the stress of a queen's ransom in student loans and a bureaucratic nightmare of an administration was not worth what I got out of the school, but how I learned to problem solve, be persistent, and get what I give out of a situation will serve me for the rest of my life. Northeastern has a powerful internship program, the best in the country, so you will be more than prepared for the workplace after graduation. You won't be spending your weekends at school sporting events (there is little school spirit or good teams) but the city of Boston offers a world of social opportunities and unless you try to fail, there is no reason why some of the top employers in the country won't be offering you an interview after graduation.

Ironically, at the school best known for its career focused co-op program, I chose to opt out and go for a relatively unmarketable major. Though I did not end up pursuing a career with my degree from Northeastern University, my time there was not wasted. In the three years I spent at Northeastern University, I learned a lot about myself, my new community, and life in general. At a school of 50,000 students, over 2,000 miles from home, I learned the value of our differences. Having the opportunity to learn from my classmates and share with them the things I took for granted gave me a new perspective on life. It is an amazing experience to step out of your comfort zone and discover the world outside. Being immersed in the city of Boston with a diverse group of other students, I learned to open my mind to new ideas, and most importantly, I learned to appreciate. Whether it be finding the silver lining when it's too late to change course, or taking the time to evaluate where I am headed, I try to appreciate the things that myself and my peers are doing.

Out of the 20,000 people who attend Sierra College, I was chosen to be one of the 140 to live in the dorms here on campus. Living here has allowed me to squeeze a university college experience out of a junior college. I appreciate my time here, which ultimately makes me take my education more seriously than ever. And as a result, my GPA has skyrocketed and never come down from a 4.0. At the same time, I also wanted to become a leader in my community. In the spring semester of 2009, I was a resident assistant for the dorms. This experience helped me maturity-wise because my decision making has become sharper. An example of this would be choosing my educational path. When I became an resident assistant in spring 2009, I found out that pursuing medicine was a good fit for me. The experiences of that year gave me a lot to think about, handling crisis situations under pressure, putting other peoples safety before your own, and that is ultimately what I got out of that semester, a career choice in medicine. And that is what I have gotten out of college.

I have enjoyed my college experience because I am majoring in business and economics, two of my academic passions and I am also able to take classes in other concentrations with ease. I hope to gain valuable knowledge and insight from my studies at Northeastern and work towards a career in finance or marketing. A college education is invaluable, but especially at a university that can provide more than the standard college experience.

I have gotten to broaden myself from the college experience. I have opened up to so many ideas and people. My classes have taught me to look outside the norm and to dive deeper into my own self and imagination. Then with all the different types of people I have been able to understand more about how people act and think. I feel like understanding whats going on around you or who is around you is very important and with school, there are endless open doors to walk through. The college experience has really allowed me to become a more rounded and aware person.

My college experience has been better than high school. Attending college is great for preparing for a university and getting a feel of college life . People seem to be more understandable of others. Keeping myself in school keeps the brain active always learning new things. It is also alot more work and studying.

On the plane ride from sunny South Florida, I knew I was taking the first step away from the comfort of home and into the snowy, windy city of Boston filled with sleepless nights, new people, and Chemistry exams. Two years later, it is amazing how so many unknowns have turned into a clear, planned-out, and attainable life-path that Northeastern University has so gracefully paved for me. Not only have I mastered the ins and outs of the amazing city of Boston, but I have been handed opportunities that I truly believe I could have not achieved anywhere else, thanks to Northeastern?s unique CO-OP program. I never imagined that the summer after my freshman year would be spent in a faculty member?s lab amongst PhDs and multi million-dollar equipment. I was even more impressed when Northeastern allowed me to present my research in San Francisco at the 2010 ACS National Conference. This is one of many experiences that have made my time at Northeastern so valuable, and knowing that I have three more years to take advantage of gives me the confidence that make ?you can be whatever you want to be? a reality.

I never pictured myself as someone enjoying the "big school" experience. It's just not the kind of place a "Catholic school-girl" goes- there's a plan in place for girls like "us", and it's a plan that expects you to leave one tiny, upper-crust liberal arts school for another tiny, upper-crust liberal arts school. Frankly, the idea of sticking myself smack dab in the middle of nowhere was enough to make me cringe. Not to mention, the whole "New England prep" thing just wasn't my style- figuratively or literally. Still, I followed the prescribed rules and began college at a small liberal arts school. One semester was all it took for me to realize that I needed to be somewhere that could accomodate all of the interests that make me... me. I dove into my new school, smack dab in the middle of Boston, and pledged a sorority, joined the Feminist Student Organization, and found a major that excites and inspires me every day. I've become the person I've always wanted to be by exploring all that a big campus has to offer and know I have plenty of room to grow.

Being in college has been an important experience because it has helped me to discover who I am. The experience has helped me find my academic interests, such as psychology, and personal interests that have helped me mature and become a better-rounded individual, such as fitness classes and the people I meet who share my interests. If I wasn?t in college I also never would have had the opportunity to study abroad, which turned out to be an amazing experience itself. The experience helped me to become more culturally aware, which is important in college because there are so many people from different backgrounds attending school together. My college experience has been valuable because I am aware of how important it is to be educated and have a degree to survive in our changing society. College is important for that reason, but it has also been valuable to me because I know with this experience I can find a career that I will enjoy doing using the skills and knowledge I learned in school.

I have gained great friends, and great mentors that I can rely on throughout the rest of my life. The experiences here, between sports, academic/educational, and extra curricular, have been something I will never forget.

Northeastern University has provided me with the resources I need to succed in my field of International Affairs. Being able to attend a school where you can be a part of the general work-force while still enrolled in an undergraduate program needs no words. This school has fueled my inspiration to succeed in both my academia and the "real-world" environment. I find myself yearning to attend each and every class because everything I have been taught so far is new and exciting, rather than the typical curriculum I'm used to recieving. Not only this, but the multicultural society that NEU maintains gives way to a diverse student body bringing the international community to Boston. Every student one can encounter on campus will have a different background, a different story, a unique upbringing

My college experience has changed my view of myself. Throughout highschool I would just go through the motions of classes and other activities and never truly felt as though I was challenging myself or working toward anything great. It was in my first semester at college where I gained a true sense of self confidence and as my grades excelled, so did my feelings about where I was going in life. Each and every semester I take helps me to push myself and achieve things I never knew possible, such as being a part of my school's honor's society, Phi Theta Kappa. School has never been an easy process for me, however I do consider myself an intelligent person. My college experience has reinforced that belief in myself, and has proven to me that while school isn't always easy, the hard work will eventually lead to self gain.

I learned that I did not want to be a lawyer and that my career path was taking me elsewhere. I grew as an individual

As a minority female in the college environment, I love going to a college that is racially diverse. It has helped me come to terms with who I am as a person. I also enjoy the co-op program here at Northeastern, because it makes me feel secure in the idea that I will have a job when I graduate, and I won't feel like I am floundering when I graduate. I like the idea that I get great work experience while still in school and when I graduate I will already have real-life experience in my field, instead of just lectures and book experience.

What I have gotten out of my college experience so far is the ability to attend classes in a better learning environment than high school. The students at my college want to educate themselves and grow up to be productive adults once they graduate. This has had an impact on me especially this year. In high school, I did not study or spend my time on homework and I ended up doing extra credit at the end of the semesters to get my grades back up to a 3.45 gpa. I continued this practice my first 2 semesters of college and I quickly learned that I will not be able to that and get good grades. I also learned that extra credit is non-existent in college. It has been valuable for me to attend a junior college because I was able to stay at home for the first 2 years and the campus is small. I have not been overwhelmed going from a high school with 2500 students to a college with 25,000 students

So far, I have gained an enormous amount of knowledge in a variety of subjects. I have adapted to living in a city, not to mention living on my own, away from home.

I really like the co-op program of my school.its a great opurtunity that you can work in a place which is related to your major during your undergradute program.Its a great experience for a student and also its really good for your resume.Even its really effective if you want to apply to the graduate school.I love Co-op.

Although I have only completed a semester here, college has taught me to be an adult. Living away from home, being completely responsible for my school work, and being able to socialize freely have all helped my transition from adolescence to adulthood. However, with my both my parents health in decline, I may not be able to complete the transformation into an adult, given the impending financial difficulties upon my family and myself. That's why I hope to recieve this scholarship.

My college experiences have been more valuable to me than almost anything else in my life. Opening my mind to new ways of thinking, adjusting to the different teaching styles of the professors, managing and organizing my course work has all helped me to grow and gain confidence in myself. Going onto college after high school was not a value that was taught to me growing up, but, it is something I teach to my own children. My college path has not been a straight one. After high school I worked full time. In 1984 I attended a vocational school for respiratory therapy and began working in a hospital. I finally started taking classes at a community college and then transferred to San Jose State working toward a degree in history. I took a break to give birth to my first child and 16 years later I am finally realizing my dream to go to seminary. While I encourage my children to excel in school and go directly to college after high school, I believe they have learned a lot from my experience as well. I have not given up on my dream.

Before coming to college, I was a very sheltered girl. I had never been away from my family for more than three days at a time and had never had to take care of myself...alone. College has forced me to grow up. I can now take the train around the city by myself and do my own laundry and grocery shopping. If I had not left home a few months ago and came to college on my own, when I finally did try to leave the comfort zone that is my house in Peabody, Ma, it would be that much harder. I can now tell people that I am an adult; that I finally feel like an adult. College has made me more responsible, reasonable, intelligent, and self-sufficient.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the main advice I would give myself is to be outgoing and involved. In my first semester of college I have learned that the only way to feel like you are a part of your university is by being involved. It is crucial to get involved from the start and show enthusiasm because it helps you make friends and it helps you to have a good time at college. If you are involved, you meet more people that have similar interests to you. Also, joining organizations helps you take your mind off classes for the time being and really do something you enjoy and believe in. If you are the shy, reserved type of person, it may be harder to transition to college life, but by being outgoing and getting involved you enable yourself to become part of the college community, let your personality out, and develop a whole new family of friends and faculty.

If I was to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that I shouldn't slack off that much second semester. I know you are starting to develop "senioritis", but college education is even more important and difficult than high school. Don't get me wrong, college is just as everyone says, lots of fun, but people usually leave out the part about continuing with your studies. Instead of slacking off your last year in high school, why don't you join some activities or organizations. These would look good on your resume for later jobs or even college applications. Anything that can boost up your resume is great for the future and for your own personal experiences.

Take chances. Don't be afraid to go far away and/ or study abroad. Choise a college that you want to go to and not you parent want you to go to. Get as involved as possible. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Never live in a single, it's way too boring. Have fun, don't be in the library 24/7. Dream big, don't be afraid of wanting too much. Take advantage of all of the free oppoutunities, including the gym, counseling and tutoring centers, sports events.

I would tell myself to work harder in school and to look more into different colleges. I would tell myself to get better studying habits because a day missed without studying is like a whole week in college years. I would also tell myself to go to college knowing what you want to do. That way you won't find out later that you were meant for something else and waste four years.

After 25 years of life experiences teaching me what I know now there are a few things I would have told myself as a senior in high school. First would have been to say ?do not believe you know everything about life, you need to be mature enough now to accept ideas and knowledge from those older and wiser than yourself?. You might be tired of school, think earning money ?to play with? is fantastic and you don?t need any more schooling, but the opposite is true. You need to focus on the future rather than your immediate desires. Life and its responsibilities are difficult, but made easier with advanced education. As a teenager life is fun with new and exciting things to explore, ?the world is yours?, until reality sets in when the bills and responsibility grab hold of you. A college degree and taking the time to mature while going to a post secondary school is a major plus for your future. It gives time to learn who you are, what you want and what you believe in. The wild teenage hormones will try hard, but do not let the control you, keep your handle on them.

If I were able to go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know about college life and making the transition, I would advise myself to make sure the institute that I choose tries their best to packages me with a good financial aid before attending any classes. I am a Youth Leader for my local church which entails dealing with troubled youth in high risk areas. I have been working very hard trying to meet the needs of these youth, putting on programs that will instill real ethics, analytical thinking tools, and a passion for success, sometimes these programs cost, and many times I have to take care of the bill, but I care about their education and their overall future. I find it hard to believe that little ole me can strive for so much for others while College Institutes that have access to one thousand times the resources, i.e. money, lack in the effort to help those that have the aptitude and the goal to succeed.

Dear 17-year-old Maple, It's hard making friends in college. You'll be thrilled to make friends that you won't realize they don't make you happy. You'll make sacrifices to hang out with them because they'll always study together at the library after dinner. But you won't have anything to study for - you'll be an art student with projects, ones you can't do at the library. But you'll want to hang out with them. So you'll wait until everyone heads back to their dorms at midnight to start on your projects. The result? You won't spend enough time on your projects. You'll be tired. You won't get good grades. Slowly, you'll realize they don't make you happy. They never made you happy. But you'll make new friends. Ones who care about you and make you smile. So don't rush into things. Search for people who truly make you happy. Don't worry if you don't make friends right from the start. Maybe you just haven't found the people you're meant to find just yet. Love, 18-year-old Maple

When I was in high school I was convinced that if I was given only one chance to change my life, I would choose to escape the town I lived in; it's a place most people have never heard of, a place most people try to forget when they leave, like I did almost two years ago. The education I was given cast me away to college without the knowledge I needed when I got there, and so the transition was monumentally difficult. Dorm life was hectic and awkward; wild parties aren't my idea of a good time; classes with hundreds in attendance are surprisingly lonely. After learning these truths and the countless mistakes made along the way, if I could go back to tell myself one thing as a high school senior, it would be, "Seek not the dreams of the world around you, but the dreams within your soul, for these are with you wherever you go. They are with you in this place you'll come to recognize as a piece of the world that was broken off long ago by the fingers of heaven, destined to dwell within a realm of silence and light."

Lauren, "Will- attempt to effect.? ?Strength- inherent capacity to manifest energy.? ?Ability- a quality that facilitates achievement.? Your college experience will last 4 years. Within that time rests potential for you to achieve the best education and discover who you are. To do this you will need a will to attempt, strength to endure, and the ability to achieve goals. You possess these qualities! You've already been accepted to Northeastern, the #1 College in America for ?Job Placement Upon Graduation?. Your smart, a Dean?s List student your whole life. I know you're worried about studying Behavioral Neuroscience in a state far from home, but you can do it! Your going to need to buy food and books, as well as take out multiple loans to pay for your education. Start applying for multiple jobs now! At first you will be overwhelmed with your workload and not know how to time manage, but you will learn quickly and find friends who encourage your growth. When the leadership oppurtunity arrives up for you to be Chaplin, accept it. You have high moral character and have always possessed the ability to lead. Remember to be fearless, you can do anything!