It was definitely an unpredictable year for college admissions and several colleges have a housing crunch, including U of Tampa and Purdue. If it makes you feel better, those hotel rooms are probably bigger and nicer than your standard NU freshman dorm. The Sheraton is a little closer to campus than the Westin and is right near the Prudential Center mall. Would be a five minute walk to campus. Flour Bakery is near the Sheraton and is amazing. Last year they gave the NUin kids at the Westin a Charlie card for bus and subway transportation.
If you are on Facebook, the Northeastern Parents FB group has a wealth of information and there is also an NUin Boston Parents Class of 25 FB group.