Northeastern University Top Questions

Great on campus events like music (Nas, Lupe, the Roots have all come in the past 2 yrs), esp. at afterhours the club on campus. Most freshmen make friends in their res halls and go out on the weekends. Can't go clubbing till your 21 because of a law in Boston but there are tons of places to check out in the city. Frats and sor. are not that popular but seems like more people join them every year..The main social activity at northeastern is well, BOSTON!

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.

One can walk up and down the hall in any dorm and find doors wide open and students inside having a good time. Hockey is the most popular sport, and this past year was one of the most successful in recent memory. The school has several speakers, comedians, concerts, etc. throughout the year. The dating scene seems to be vivacious, however I have tried to stay away from any sort of relationship. Weekends are party time, although usually at an apartment or dorm since the frats/sororities are not a huge part of student life. Being in Boston, there is a ton of stuff to do.

Hockey games are awesome, there is some Greek Life but it doesn't over power anything. Its in the city so you can do anything, and there are so many places to eat. Boston has a great Music scene so you can go to concerts. There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of places to shop near campus. (Newbury street, the prudential center, and the copley mall are all within 15 minutes walk).

I loved broomball! It is the crazy game that involves a small ball, "brooms," and ice. Yes, it is played on the ice in Matthews. Honestly, if you want to have some fun get a team together and sign up. I promise it is a good time!

I've been Ms. Student Life my entire time here. As a freshman I joined the orchestra, the literary magazine, the gay-straight alliance (called NUBiLAGA), the NU Downhiller ski club, the American Chemical Society... the list goes on and on. I began to drop out of some activities as I stepped into a leadership position as the Layout editor of the Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine. I basically lived in the Student Center some nights, editing. I found the staff of the magazine, the media board and everyone involved in student life around me passionate, friendly and fun. Having an executive board position is very rewarding, but also demanding. Sometimes it doesn't seem like much, but running a student group is a big job! You have to manage finances, advertising, adhere to university regulations, have meetings, make decisions and speak to advisers. Not to mention planning and hosting events! But the end result is a student body that gives the Northeastern community a lot of activities to choose from. We have an on campus night-club where everything from open-mic nights to drag shows are held. And on any given night that it's quiet on campus, you bet that the city of Boston has something to offer. Today I'm going at 4pm down to get ice cream at the annual scouper-bowl in government center, which I learned about from going.com, which I highly recommend. Every Saturday night I go to open-mic poetry at the Put of the Blue Gallery in Central Square (Cambridge) and then skip down to Inman square and catch improv comedy discouted for students, at Improv Boston. There's still tons more to do around the north end, and in the theater district. No need to be 21 you'll find a good time just about anywhere.

Being in a such a large and exciting city means lots of opportunities for socializing - for the 21+ crowd. Boston's new law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from going to bars, nightclubs, concert venues, pool halls, bowling alleys and many restaurants - basically any place that serves alcohol - on weekends and certain nights of the week. This leaves the 18-20 crowd with nothing to do in the city, other than attend house parties. A lot of these parties aren't in the safest areas, either. It's tough to find things to do if you aren't 21 here. Even the parties can be scarce, because a lot of students travel home or to other schools, have work, or are studying. Campus security is tight, making anything more than a simple get-together impossible due to housing guest rules.

I'm not involved in many student groups, but it's all what you make of it - there are lots of groups to join. Freshmen dorms are very open, but once you're an upperclassman, it gets harder to meet new people. Hockey is the big athletic event that people go to. The dating scene is similar to that of any other college. I met most of my closest friends freshman year, and my best friend I met last summer when we shared a dorm room together (it was a random assignment). People party pretty often, but there aren't huge parties, since everyone lives in smaller apartments of the dorms. The alcohol policy on campus is very strict - Don't get written up, it sucks! There is lots to do off-capus that doesn't involve drinking - movies, concerts, plays, restaurants, it's Boston! Just remember that the T closes at 12:30am.

Many students live off campus or in apartment style housing on campus, so you do miss out on the "dorm life" that you get at most schools, with the exception of some freshmen. There are always events going on on campus, but attendence is not always high because there are so many other things to do in boston. If you want something to do, you will never be bored. There are always parties, but in addition there are movies and speakers and comedians and concerts and plays and trips and a million other things to keep you entertained. Greek life is a small percentage of the student population, but it is very active, so if you want to be involved with them there are always things going on, and if you hate greek life, you can easily ignore them.

I would say for any incoming students-- get involved. If you stay in your room, or within the same clique of friends, you will not understand the awesome social life that Boston has to offer. Leave your dorm room open and WANT to meet people. Go to the Beanpot, and go to Hockey games, enjoy our clubs and club sports. Play rugby! Thats what its here for. Northeastern has amazing activities to offer. But a social life is really up to you.