Northeastern University Top Questions

I've had completely different experience in my two different majors: Business and Graphic Design. Business is less personal program, the quality of classes is usually high (intro classes can be slow), they are group-oriented, and you really take out of it what you put into it. They have mostly all been challenging and they do prepare you for senior-level experiences faster programs at other institutions (as I have compared with business majors at other schools.) In the business program, education is a means to an end. Quite oppositely, Graphic Design is about problem solving. Much of the education exists to elevate your level of thinking past the skills you need just to secure a job. Classes are smaller, interpersonal relationships with teachers are fostered, and you are on a first-name basis with most of the students and faculty in the department.

Academics are currently being revamped at Northeastern for a good reason. College I think overall is what you make it. It's not high school, no one's going to hold your hand anymore. There are intellectuals at Northeastern but you have to actively engage them. My department has been supportive, mostly because I think of the secretary as my second mom and my co-op advisor has always helped me reach my goals for co-op. My favorite class was budgeting and taxation, which most people would think is a bore, but the professor does a simulation where everyone in the class is a congressman/woman and has to make a balanced budget by negotiating with Republicans and/or Democrats. You have to act in your congresspersons beliefs though, not your own! It was really great to have a class experience that wasn't a lecture for an hour.

Getting much better but students need to stay on top of administration to make sure changes don't hurt the students. The administration actually listen to the students which is the greatest aspect of the growth of Northeastern, and makes this school more unique than almost all others.

Academics is ok. It's not terribly outstanding, but it's not easy either. I enjoy getting real-world experience through co-op and coming back to campus, because our professors are very well connected to the real-world. They are not just scholars/involved in academics, but they have experience in international organizations, government, corporations, etc.

I’m a nerd. I’m old enough and secure enough to admit that. So I would have to say, yes there are definitely a few professors who know my name. I make it point to be engaged in most of my classes. Plus, now that I’m an upperclassman (and because I’m not in any large science/engineering lecture classes) my classes are relatively small, so there are a lot of opportunities to get to know my professors. I’ve also definitely had “intellectual conversations” outside of class. I’ve had debated politics over brunch, argued about educational values by a campfire, and discussed the role of news media at bars. Due to the emphasis on co-op, I love that Northeastern is more geared toward real-world learning experiences – applying what you’ve learned to develop as a person and find the right career path (or a few you now know are definitely wrong).

Academics have plus and minus. The professors are on the whole great. They know your name and in my program at least you'll only have one class which has around 300 people (intro class that everyone has to take). Other than that, they will be from 40-75 and if they have 75+ you'll have smaller classes with TAs. In any case professors know your name, and are generally willing and able to help you on a one to one basis if needs be. NU seems to have a mix of getting an education for a job and for its own sake. We have classes like everyone else but we are able to mix in our real world experiences thanks to coop and the teaching styles of some/most professors. As for the students and intellectual converstations, I think it really depends on the group you hang out with. The advantage of NU is that while it's not incredibly big, there really is a bit of everyone on campus and you're bound to find people who have common interests/views/pastimes (whether it be partying or intellectual conversations or both).

professors can usually recognize your face but probably dont know your name. classes are hit or miss bc nu is trying to raise rank really quickly and isnt pulling it off so well necessarily.

I am a poli-sci major and I really couldn't be happier with my department. I know a couple professors rather well and I feel like I'm learning valuable things from my teachers and classes. Now freshman year you are going to think you are taking the worst possible pre-requisite classes ever, and you are, but every freshman has to and they lead to greater things and professors. It Depends on what diploma you are want to get and how you make your education tailored to you. That is how you know whether you want to get a job out of college, a pure learning education or both. I feel like this is something that northeastern provides, but the students need to take advantage of, a good education can't be handed to you, you need to work at it.

Most upper level classes are small and the professors defiantly knew who I was. I always found it interesting when a Harvard Prof would come in and teach and NU for a semester because they wanted to work with undergrads.

Most professors know my name. Classes are fairly small in my major, and lots of seminars. Participation depends on the class - English majors tend to be quieter as a whole so there is not usually tons. I'm taking a class called Rhetoric and Poetics that's pretty unique - we get to design a lot of the syllabus ourselves and are doing a website project to promote community awareness of some monuments to racial issues that took place in the 70s, which is very cool. I don't spend time with my professors outside of class really. I don't really study too much either usually. Education is completely geared towards getting a job, I think. Academic requirements are alright - I've had to take some pretty stupid classes for my core curriculum though.