<p>Coming from a town in the Pacific Northwest, I find the biggest drawback of Northeastern to be its Boston location. I’m not sure the city is for me.
What are the people like there?
Are there any nice parks near Northeastern?
Can I easily take a train to a place where I can hike? Will I find people who want to hike with me?
Is it easy to get a good coop away from Boston if I want to?
What safety / social mistakes would a small town girl make when adjusting to the city?
Any advice?</p>
<p>It sounds like you really don’t want to be in a city.</p>
<p>Northeastern is very much part of a big city-it’s nice and the areas around it are nice but if you are an outdoors type it may be too urban.</p>
<p>@Pepper
I noticed that on the “Is Northeastern Ghetto” thread you posted that your son also is not a city person.
What made him change his mind on his second look? I don’t see myself as a city person right now, but I am absolutely willing to try something new and completely different for a few years. I am mainly wondering how hard it will be to adjust and whether some of my favorite non-city activities will be possible. Thanks.</p>
<p>The Esplanade along the St. Charles River is pretty nice and not too far away from campus -nicer than the Fens which is fine in the day time but you may want to avoid at night. Safety-wise, you will want to remember that this is a large city. I would advise you not to walk around alone at night off campus or in areas you are not familiar with (they do have an escort service available). Try to be aware of your surroundings and be careful not to leave your belongings unattended. </p>
<p>A few yrs ago my S belonged to a club for students interested in the outdoors called NUHOC so there are opportunities available to do hiking and other outdoor activities; from the school’s site on student organizations:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Campus</a> Activities - Northeastern University](<a href=“http://neu.orgsync.com/student_orgs]Campus”>http://neu.orgsync.com/student_orgs)</p>
<p>I know that when my S was involved with NUHOC they went on a few outings to a lodge owned by the university, located in the woods near the Maine/New Hampshire border.</p>
<p>The Arnold Arboretrum is at the end of the T Orange Line:
[Arnold</a> Arboretum Visit](<a href=“http://arboretum.harvard.edu/visit/]Arnold”>Plan a Visit - Arnold Arboretum | Arnold Arboretum)
Great place for walking and jogging.</p>
<p>I think what ultimately changed his mind was he knew he needed to expand his world-we live in a pretty sheltered environment here and he knows if he wants to go out into the bigger world he has to get past his comfort zone.</p>
<p>I grew up in a city and when we moved out here 17 years ago I hated it-it took me a couple of years to really adjust. I don’t think it will take him as long since he will be so busy but it is going to be an adjustment-he will hear every siren for quite a while-just like I heard every chirping bug out here! </p>
<p>Have you visited? Will you be far from home? He is only an hour from home here so he can always come back for a visit easily-I don’t want him to very often but it’s a safety valve for him that you may not have.</p>
<p>We did walk in the Fens Saturday and it was nice-but I don’t think I would want to be there after dark-but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere after dark!</p>
<p>It’s nice to see there are outdoor clubs-he likes walking in the woods and the solitude-he does his best thinking there.</p>