A while ago someone did a thread on “Common Myths about Boston University”. Based on comments I have read here on CC and what I have heard through other sources it is time to do the same for Northeastern.
Myth 1: Northeastern is a good safety school for top students. Anyone who has read the decision threads on CC the past few years knows that this is incorrect.
Myth 2: Northeastern is just a few buildings along Huntington Avenue. I heard this from a parent whose DS25 is looking at colleges. That was true 60 years ago.
Myth 3: Most students take 5 years to complete their degrees. This was true 20 years ago. Now all students have the ability to complete their degree in 4 years with two coop periods. And yes, that usually requires doing one or two summer sessions. Some choose to do three coops and may take 5 years, but that is their choice.
Myth 4: You have to pay tuition for coop. That was never true. Although I heard it was the case at Drexel, although that may be a myth about Drexel!
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It was true that all NEU students entering as frosh in 2016 (much less than 20 years ago) took more than four calendar years to graduate (0 graduated in four years or less), according to its common data set, section B: 2022-2023 | University Decision Support at Northeastern University . 2,381 (89%) out of 2,670 non-excluded fall 2016 frosh graduated in more than four calendar years, but no more than five calendar years.
However, do NEU degree programs generally have the equivalent of eight tuition-paying semesters (four tuition-paying academic years), even if it takes the student more than four calendar years due to co-ops?
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Students pay tuition for 8 semesters of class work. Two summer sessions equals one semester.
The 0% 4-year graduation rate is not correct. It looks like Northeastern just didn’t bother to compute it separately. They need to do that going forward.
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Not true at Drexel either. Used to be this way though.
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Myth 5: Northeastern coop students spend less time in the classroom than at other colleges.
All Northeastern students earn 128 academic credits over 8 semesters just like at every college. (Less AP credits of course), Coop students do not earn academic credit for their coop jobs.
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I’m confused as to how the coop is any different than any other college student who does an internship over 2 summers. Both are 8 semesters and 2 summers. It’s my understanding (but I could be wrong) that Northeastern dos not get the coop for the student. So if the student is on their own to get the coop, what is the advantage over any other school?
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The student selects jobs, applies for them, and interviews where invited to do so. But does so in a significantly supported environment and many employers are quite familiar with the program.
At the law school, there was substantial support for the job seeking from resume prep through interviewing. There were also student reviews of cooperative education experiences that I could review when considering where to apply. Post-coop evaluations were also part of my transcript (no I did not get academic credit for them, they did not replace any courses).
It’s not like you meet with career services and look for your own internship after that. There is a whole infrastructure and culture surrounding it.
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All students take a coop class the semester before coop and develop their resume, or practice interviewing, learn to put portfolios or cover letters together as needed, and also have access to a database of positions that NU has agreed to with many employers, positions that employers hold open for NU students only. Students can also find their own jobs as well. They get a lot of support and also have an advisor to intervene if issues arise. But you are correct, you still have to apply on your own, do the work etc like the real world. The NU relationship over years is important in having good positions that allow for real work. At the end of the coops, students complete a survey as well to ensure that the positions offered continue to be meaningful ones. NU will discontinue working with an employer if things don’t work out well over time. Therefore the positions offered are somewhat vetted. All that said, coop positions are not guaranteed, and companies can pause the program in harder economic times etc.
Also, these positions are full time 6 month positions unlike typical summer internships, allowing for more meaningful engagement, many students also get hired to continue part time work when back in classes, and many are offered jobs upon graduation.
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