Northeastern University

Northeastern University is a great university known for i's co-op and job placements after graduation. Overall all, my experience was unique and I made long lasting friendships along the way. As both a first generation American, and first generation college student, I often times did not feel that I had the support that I needed while being a student there. Recently, things have changed, and there are student run support groups for low income and first generation college students. i wish that these... Read More groups existed when I was an undergraduate student as I would have had a better time adjusting to college.

Attending Northeastern was a complicated experience. On one hand, I was given an excellent education. Northeastern has extremely high quality instructors, advisers, classes, and cooperative education programs that made my college experience unique and wonderful. On the other hand, I would be remiss in writing this review of NEU without addressing the systemic problems within the university. At its core, Northeastern is a corporation. It cannibalizes neighborhoods in Boston, pricing out vulnerable... Read More communities to build new dorms. On-campus health care is laughable. The administration protects rapists. The university continues to choose to invest in fossil fuels despite the barrage of science that climate change is a real and pressing issue. Graduate workers are underpaid. Adjunct faculty have no job security or benefits. Attending Northeastern University gave me a great education, so much so that I am able to understand why, at it's core, it is a horrible institution.

Northeastern's focus on experiential education is a hallmark of the university and the part of my education that I value most. There are tremendous resources in terms of networking, professional development and internship placements. Outside of the six month co-op placements, it is an expectation that you will be interning or working part-time during classes. I graduated with a full resume and transitioned seamlessly into the workforce because it had been an integral part of my education. However,... Read More this part of Northeastern's culture is not for everyone. Any college experience is what you make of it, but I think this is especially true at Northeastern. Career services is available to connect you with the internships in their system, but I found that the internships most valuable to my career were found through my own searching on job boards and even craigslist. The university has strong ties with employers in most sectors, but I observed that they were most well-suited to make connections for the business students. Overall, I'd say that the experiential education focus of the school is its strongest asset. However, don't assume the system to work for you and your particular career path. Take chances you find outside of the university's list of opportunities. The faculty, as with any university, are hit or miss. I had a handful of professors who were fantastic and another handful that were clearly only teaching because it was part of their charge to be a researcher. Coursework was rigorous in the neuroscience program, but classmates were very collaborative and study groups were common. One of the big draws of Northeastern are amenities like the library, which have ample space for group study sessions and private study. My biggest challenge at Northeastern was its lack of diversity. The majority of students are either international students whose wealth is incomprehensible or upper middle class New Englanders who went to private high schools. I know that this is changing as the university's reputation grows and students from across the country come to Northeastern. However, I had a very difficult time as a first generation college student during my time there from 2009-2013. It's possible to find other students in this position - I eventually did - but it was a hard transition. Overall, my degree from Northeastern - in particular, my internship and co-op experiences - prepared me to succeed in the workforce. I will be attending graduate school this fall and know that the work experience I picked up while at Northeastern was a large factor in my acceptance and financial aid.

Northeastern University has grown a lot over the years. They have added many majors and reached out to the students to give them the best chance at the career they want. Their co-op program is the best and really helps you on your way to a successful career. I am on co-op now and while I do not necessarily see myself doing this exact job, I definitely love the environment and the company. I will be applying here again after graduation (in a different department). But without Northeastern's program... Read More (and available volunteer experience that's helped me get this co-op job), I wouldn't be where I am today. I am eternally grateful.

As a rising senior at Northeastern University, I've been able to look back on my education and what I've learned. Northeastern has fostered my passion for neuroscience through my courses in clinical neuroscience, psychopharmacology, neurobiology, and behavioral endocrinology. Through the school's internship program, I've been lucky enough to work in the neuroscience research department at Harvard Medical School and Pfizer, studying neural circuits and drug addiction implications in the brain. As... Read More my undergraduate career comes to an end, I hope to attend medical school and work towards my goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. With an aptitude for research, a love of learning, and a passion for helping others, I am excited for a career in medicine. Northeastern has not only solidified my dream of becoming a doctor, but has challenged me to think critically and solve problems in scientific research, which has only bolstered my curiosity in my field and pushed me to achieve my goals.