Northeastern University Top Questions

Find the college that best fits not only your academic interests but also your social interests as well. It is very important to stay in touch with yourself and have fun while attending classes and going through a demanding work load. Get involved early with something that interests you (sports, different organizations, fraternity/ sorority life, etc.). Get help if you need it right away. People are always there to help you.

Take your time to truly know what school you want to attend to. I did not do that my senior year, and ended up at a school I disliked. If I had taken the time to look at schools, like Northeastern I may have applied here freshman year and had a different first college experience.

Remember: Colleges and Universities are businesses first. Don't worry about being accepted. You are shopping! Have fun, explore and decide what is important to you. No decision is irreversible.

I think I can better advise students. You really need to visit the school you are considering more than once. Talk to other students, attend a few classes and evaluate living arrangements. If you are not happy with the environment, you will not be a happy student. Comfortable will lead to better grades and performance.

When selecting a college, choose the college that fits you best. I'm going to be cliche and say that college is what you make it. If this means going to a state school over an Ivy because the state school is a better fit for you, that's okay. Choosing a place you know you'll flourish is the first step. Parents need to be supportive of their child's selection and trust they are making the right choice. Also, try to stray from the familiar. Going to school with high school friends? Maybe choose not to room with them. Even if you're assigned a roommate you don't particularly get along with, you are still going to be exposed to new ideas, perspectives, and you will learn a lot. Try things out of the ordinary. Studying abroad? Maybe choose a country that you know you would never visit on your own. Try joining a student group or taking an elective that you know little about. Although there are always going to be opportunities to try new things in life, college is one of the few times you will have so many opportunities at once. So take advantage.

Choose a school that possesses an unlimited amount of oppurtunities even if you do not know exactly what you would like to pursue. This is one the advantage points which helped me in my decision.

The college experience is defininetly about education first but it is also an amazing opportunity for life experience. You can learn something from absolutely everything in college, from your psychology proffessor: how exactly a nueron fires, to your crazy roomate: how not to turn all your socks pink. You can take college memories with you everywhere after graduation, even to places where your freshly printed degree, with all its pretty seals and signatures, doesnt give you a leg up. Don't take anything for granted in your college experience. Go in wanting to learn anything about everything and everything about anything wether it be rocket science or eating for a week on five dollars. It sounds like common sense but sometimes we have to be reminded that the little things mean just as much as the big picture. Take time to appreciate the smell right before it rains, the warmth of your favorite sweatshirt fresh out of the dryer, or the sound of someone practicing their guitar down the hall. College is a crash course in life (though according to my roomate all you need to survive is dental floss and vaseline) so make it a good run.

Know yourself and research schools carefully so that you can choose according to your needs/preferences. Identify academic and career interests in high school. If unsure of your major, choose a university that's well regarded rather than a college; it may save you from having to transfer. If you think you might need time off from college, plan for it. Spend break time gaining work experience, doing something you love, or trying something new. Be aware that many students transfer after their first semester, when they have a better idea of their needs. Have a financial plan for college. Parents, make sure your kids feel they can come to you about transitional/academic issues.Study what you love. Getting stellar grades in your first year can get you financial aid and academic recognition. Find good professors/departments, stick with them, and learn as much as you can! Get involved with extracurriculars! Study a language; study abroad. Build your resume early. Balance schoolwork, work, and play. Use an agenda.

Make sure you find good financial aid!

Choosing the right college is not only a big decision, but a big commitment. I am lucky enough to have attended a small, liberal arts college in a rural area, as well as a large university in an urban area. Therefore, the best advice I can give is this: follow your gut instinct about yourself. There are so many schools with so much to offer, from brand new dormitories and national rankings, to small class sizes and student involvement. So think about what you are naturally attracted to as an individual: do you prefer having a small, close group of friends? Or are you friends with practically everyone at your school? Are you comfortable speaking in a small class setting, or would you prefer to be a face in the crowd? And most important, can you handle time and stress management at a large school whose professors don't know you as well, or would you prefer a professor who handles their students on a "case by case" basis? I know it's a lot to think about, but don't be swayed by the admissions departments and all of their empty promises! Stick to what you know: yourself!

Get involved and get to know your professors and staff. There may be research opportunities or job opportunities available if you know the right people. This will help get a job later and figure out what you really want to do. Do an internship or a co-op becaues there is nothing more telling then hands on experience. You can figure out if your major is right for you before you spend thousands of dollars just to find out you do not like your career path.

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The advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be that they first make sure they know or have some idea of the career path in which they want to take. Secondly make sure that the colleges that you are applying to offer the programs that you are interested in. The only way one can make the best out of their college experience is by making sure they take advantage of the opportunties presented before them, instead of wishing that they did.

I would tell them to first find a school in a setting they like. If they don't like the location of your school, it will probably be miserable to attend even if everything else is great. Another is to choose a school that has something that seperates it from every other school. When you graduate, the job market will most likely be very competitive and there will be a lot of people with the same degree as they have. By having something extra, it will make their resume stand out and make them a more attractive candidate. Lastly, choose a school that has stuff you enjoy whether it be arts, sports, or anything else. Once they get there, stay on top of work but don't overwork, explore different activities around school, and be open to trying new things. If they have something they like to do, get involved with it. Lastly, go to office hours and get extra help. It will save them a lot of headache.

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Make sure you are be able to afford the school you choose to attend because if you can't afford it and end up having to transfer you will most likely loose your accumulated credits which means you will have lost the money you paid for those credits as well. Also make sure you visit your school before making your final decision and ask questions! and lastly kept a good GPA, schools generally give you more aid when you have good grades.

Choosing a college and making the most of the college experience can at first seem to be dauting and stressful. One piece of advice for all parents and students seeking the most out of college would be to step back for a moment, take a breathe, and relax. Remembering back to high school, I recall fellow classmates stressing out and panicing about choosing a college. I inhaled deeply, exhaled, looked at my choices and selected what felt right. I have not looked back since and it was the best decision of my life.

My biggest piece of advice to anyone looking at attending college is go where you feel you will be the happiest. Sure, college may only be four years, but it is also the best four years of your life if you do it right. Campus visits are important so you can talk to students on the campus - so go when classes are in session. Since no two people are the same, you'll never know how much you will enjoy your experience at any given school without actually seeing the flow of things. As a note specific to parents, don't force your child to follow in your footsteps. If they want to go across the country because that opportunity has the greatest amount of potential, you should let them. My parents did it for me, and I'm more thankful than I ever would have been if they had forced me to stay at home. Your student is growing up, and it's time to let them choose what they want their life to become. To the students, just be yourself on campus and have fun! You only live once, you may as well make the most of it.

Do TONS of research. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to change majors if you decide that what you picked is not right for you; you need to explore while you are still young.

Make sure you know what you're getting into. I was fortunate enough to stumble into a decent school with a fair reputation. But some schools are hyped far more than they're worth, and there's no way to really know that unless you know someone who's already been in college, or who makes hiring decisions. The majority of the time, the amount of blindness involved with choosing a school is horribly crippling. Do your research.

Finding a college which will allow you to find a good job, and not just have a "typical college experience", will actually make your experience in college better. You will realize 4 years in that you have accomplished something great for yourself and you could have a job lined up, while all your friends are just starting to sort out what they want to do.

When deciding on which college to attend, it is important to find a school that successfully graduates students with real-world experience and leadership skills. Therefore, my advice is to talk to students, in depth, when touring campuses and ask them if they believe that their university will properly prepare them with the confidence required to succeed after graduation. A student must be able to feel comfortable in his or her surroundings in order to grow, ask questions, help educate others, and aquire invaluable confidence. Most importantly, one should never be afraid to ask questions about anything concerning one's future: a question unasked is a question unanswered.

Be financially prepared to come here. Also, make sure you are sure of your major, because if you change later, it can take a long time and a lot of money to change. Remember that everyone is in the same boat freshman year, noone knows anyone else either. Be nice, social, and have a balance between classwork and play.

Look at every school you're interested in. Weigh your options!

I would advise parents and students to make sure they find an institution that is a good fit for the student. Also, I recommend that the student do more of the researching and decision-making than the parent. Making sure that the final decision stays true to the student's desires is most important for a student to really enjoy the college they attend. Also, when in college, it is important to maintain some degree of independence from one's parents. This helps students develop into stronger people that they may not have otherwise become.

Take your time to visit school. If you don't like where you are, then you're not going to get the best experience out of college. Find colleges that suits your needs and don't be discourage if you don't get into your top choice. In the end, the curriculums are pretty much the same at liberal arts schools. Take every opportunity that life and school throws at you and never waste a minute. Learn to make friends and keep friendships and definitely get to know professors. They are wise and will help you out in the long run. Participate in internships. All that experience will gain you a better position later in life. Learn from those who have gone before you. Visit alumni and ask them questions about their experiences.

The best advice I could give a student is to follow their hearts. Similarly, I would encourage parents to actively support their children in whatever decision they make. In high school, I always felt pressured to attend a school where I would be able to play a varsity sport. I applied mainly to state schools, as they are more often athletic-oriented. I always knew, however, that a state school just wasn't right for me. I decided to come to Northeastern at the last second, and I can honestly say that I have never been more satisfied with any decision I have made. It helped me immensly that my parents were supportive of this decision. Although I am only a sophomore, I know that my years as a Northeastern student will essentially define me for the rest of my life. I am currently a tour guide here at Northeastern. I work a few times a week and provide campus tours to small groups of interested parents and students. I feel like this is the best way that I can share my love for my school and encourage students to make the deicision that best suits them.

Do not let your financial status hold you back from attending a college or university that you are passionate about. You can not put a price tag on the priceless experience you are about to embark on.

Funds for a college education can be found through many sources. Therefore, when making a decision about college, consider first the major you will to take and the salary you can expect upon graduation along with the sureness with which you take up this subject of study. There are no absolutes in life so consider these variables with relation to each other and aim for the most balance. If your goal in life is a bit fuzzy, consider going to a community college and trying different classes out to find what fits best with your life before enrolling in an expensive, though reputable, school.

College is what you make of it. It is the one time in life where you will experience the most lessons life has to offer you in such a short period of time. You will make mistakes with money, grades, lovers, friends and family, but mistakes in college are rarely permanent. Sometimes you will feel confident in your choice of school and love your life there, other times you will regret every choice you've made thus far and want to start collecting transfer applications. Stick it out, and things will most likely get better. But college is about experience, not regret. So take the plunge, enjoy the ride, and don't be afraid to give anything you want to do the old college try.

Be honest with yourself about where you'll fit in while figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Don't go somewhere where you WANT to fit in, go somewhere that you feel a connection with and can imagine spending an important part of your life. Once you're there, get involved whenever you can - you are rarely going to wish you hadn't gone to something, but it would be a shame to miss out on a memory.

Parents: Don't try to make your child relive your college days. Take a step back and let your child make the decisions. This is their experience and it needs to be the right fit for them not you. Be open with your child about how much you can afford, don't let them get their hopes up for nothing. Encourage them to seek finacial aid and explain how it could help all of you. To stay connected once your child has left, send snail mail or write an email. The most important thing to do is give your child space. They still love and appreciate you even if they don't call every night. To the students: Go stay with someone at the college. Make sure you talk to the advisors in the field you are interested in and get a feel for what kind of people are in the department. Listen to your parents; they've done this all before and they just want whats best for you even though it may not seem that way. Do not let anyone tell you you are doing your college experience incorrectly. This is your life and your time to explore.

The best advice I can give is to take your time. Figure out what your basic creature comforts are, and pick a school that you think will best address them. You also must be open minded. Keeping an open mind will help you to make the most of your experience, and make you a better, more well rounded, individual. As a parent, it is important to respect your son's or daughter's wishes when choosing a school. Ultimately, if your child is not happy or comfortable at the school they have chosen, he or she will not be able to acedemically perform to the best of their abilities. Do your best to be an open ear, and ask questions that will help your child figure out exactly what it is that they are looking for in a college. Try not to be too opinionated, and let this be a growing experience for them.

Let your son/daughter choose! Do not coerce them into going to a school you would like to see them at. Allow them to make the decision themselves. Afterall...they will be the ones attending the school. Not you.

Visit every college you intend to apply to. By doing this, you will have seen the campus life first hand and it will be easy to see whether a college is the right fit for you. Try to meet as many people as possible during your freshman year because after that, people are less open to making new friends. By sophomore, people have their established group of friends and it is more difficult to make friends if you haven't already. Check out as many clubs as possible in the beginning and then narrow it down to one or two that you really enjoy. Joining student groups early in your college career gives you a great chance to run for office later on.

When it comes to finding the right college I would recommend that the prospective student take a weekend trip to the school. Go on a friday morning so you will have the chance to witness the school in motion. While in the city or area of the school get a hotel and explore the area around the school. Oftentimes the environment around a school is jus as important in how the school fucntions. My school, Northeastern University is in the middle of Boston, because of its location students can get whatever they need. They are ample grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants and other amenities that you would expect a world-class city to have. After you have spent that weekend you will know for sure if that school is the fit for you. As for making hte most out of your college experience, I'd suggest you pick the right friends. The people you surround yourself with are in a way a litmus test for the kind of individual you are. Party on the weekends are guaranteed, but make sure that during the weekdays you are a hermit. Work hard during the weekdays so you can afford to party weekends.

The only advice I would give is to explore every option, do not limit your choices, visit every school you can, and go with your gut feeling. I originally only visited my school because I was visiting other schools in the area, I never thought that I would like it or that it would be the one for me. Within the first ten minutes of my tour, even though it was slushy and raining in the middle of February, I fell in love with my school and I knew that it was the one for me. Give every option a chance and go in with an open mind. You will know the feeling when the school is meant for you.

To find the right college, you need to get the feel of the campus and the surrounding city that it is in. It is important to feel comfortable in your surrounding before choosing the right school for yourself. It is important to look at the academics and the ratio of student to professor to understand their learning environment. Also, it is important to see the various programs they have that includes academics as well as the extracurricular activities and various student organizations. Overall, it is important for the student to speak to other students about their experience at this university as well as the parents to speak to their child of weighing out the pros and cons to each school they have visited to find the best college for them. Always encourage your child/student to explore their surroundings and the various organizations that are provided at their university and be a part of the community around the campus. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. " -Winston Churchill

Try to speak with as many different varieties of students as you can. Encourage them to give you a very honest opinion of their experience.

Your choice should not be based on the money. The choice is up to the student not the parent. If you put your mind to it, you can make your dreams come true.

At first I was hesitant to apply to Northeastern, because I thought the school did not fit me. However, once I got to orientation, I felt right at home. I highly recommend spending a night as a prospective student for whatever college you choose. It's the only way to get the true atmosphere of the campus without being surrounded by parents or school administrators. Please make the college decision for yourself, not because you have a significant other or a best friend who attends the school. The people who end up the most unhappy are the ones who did not choose their school for theirselves. Once you decide what college is right for you, do some research and find others with common interests, whether it's academically or extra-curricular. Get to know your peers and make friends, even if you think you are too shy. Remember, all the freshman (and transfers!) are in the same boat as you and they are all nervous about meeting new people.

Every college is different and special, just as every student is a unique individual. Finding the right college may not be an easy task, but if the time and effort is put into the process, the path to the right college will eventually be illuminated. Researching different colleges that meet your general preferences (such as location, major, and size) will help begin the process of narrowing the list of potential colleges. From there, I would highly recommend visiting your top choice schools. Attending an information session and taking a student-led tour can not only help you learn more about the facts and values of the school, but can also give you the opportunity to see the campus for yourself and imagine being a student there. Many times, a student will get the "this is the college for me" feeling. The experience of attending college is just like an other experience in life - you get the most of those experiences that you put the most into. Attending sporting events, joining clubs, volunteering, and getting as involved as possible will lead to a well-rounded lifestyle and a sense of belonging on the campus and in the school.

Find a school that is right for you. If you prefer not to be in the city, do not choose a school that is in a city just because of what it is, choose the environment that is best for you. If you know what you want to major in, investigate the requirements that are needed to complete the degree. My program requires us to maintain a 2.7 GPA at the end of sophomore in order to move onto third year. Other schools with my major required reapplication. Also, see what reputation the program has, you do not want to be in a program that has a bad reputation among employers or is too new.

If I had to give advice to a college seeking student or parent, I would first recommend defining the student?s needs. Too many students pick their colleges based on the university?s ?brand name? and to where their friends are applying rather than paying attention to their own individual needs. One needs to look at if they want to be on an urban or suburban campus while also looking at class/student body size but not forgetting about the curriculum itself. Finding a program to match your needs and educational goals should be the most important factor in choosing a school, not where your mother and father went. It is not just about the beauty of campus and its buildings, the size of the gym, or whether or not the Qdoba Mexican Grill is open on Sundays. It is about the curriculum, the faculty and the type of learning going on within these walls. If you were to come out with anything from this, it would be to pay attention to what YOU want to gain from your college experience.

Definitely start searching for the right school early. Make time to visit your top choices. A school can look perfect on brochures and online but can make you feel differently when you're on their campus. It's important that you choose a school with a campus that you're comfortable with and one that you can easily imagine yourself on everyday. Yes, the academics and all that are important but the environment in which you're learning is too. Also make sure that the school you choose fufill your top priorities. Some schools offer the opportunity to visit overnight and attend a class or two. If a school you're considering does offer this, take the opportunity. This will provide more insight than any information session or campus tour will. When you're at college, be active. Join clubs, attend activities and of course, sporting events. Its a great way to meet new people and make friends for life.

To parents I would say let your sons and daughters go to wherever they think they'll be happy. It is their decision, not yours and you should support them as they make their choice and while they are attending college. To students I would say know what you want, find it, and go for it. Don't let anything or anyone get in the way of what you think is best for you. Chosing a college is really going to change your life and you it is one of those singular decisions in life that will definitely alter your experiences and your destiny.

The best piece of advice I received before going to college was that everything happens for a reason. I found that many of my classmates agonized over picking a college or not getting into their first choice school. College is what you make of it. You can go to an Ivy League University or a community college but your experience won't depend solely on the school; the effort you put into it matters much more. You have four unique years between adolescence and adulthood to experiment with career paths and meet friends and teachers that will influence the rest of your life. Enjoy it, embrace it, and cherish it.

Don't worry about your friends are doing. Do what is best for you and if they are your true friends, you will find a way to keep in touch.

Start looking at colleges early in your high school career so a student knows what they want to work towards. Never pick a school based on a financial situation, pick the school you want to go to despite aid.

Moving across the country at the age of seventeen without family, friends or any prior connections to Boston was the smartest decision I have ever made in my life. Not to say that everyone college bound student should move away, but I tend to tell the younger generation to stick with the three C?s?Change, Challenge and Competition. I firmly believe that you will get the most out your college experience if you step outside your comfort level and surround yourself with new ideals and conditions. Diversity is a beautiful thing, and if you have not been fortunate enough to surround yourself in it prior to college?it?s the perfect place to start. Parents and students should look for a college that fosters positive change while challenging the student?s mind to successfully prepare them for the competition of beginning a flourishing career.