<p>I wasn’t really aware of it, surprisingly enough.</p>
<p>Are 5 years mandatory? I know they have 4 year programs, but do you really get to pick? Or is it dependant on the major?</p>
<p>I’m undecided right now, and thats how i was accepted, so I really dont know what im gonna be doing. Northeastern looks like a good school from everytihng i’ve seen, but being undecided, is it still a good fit for me? This whole 5 year thing is kinda giving me doubts.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>ditto for me, i like everything but the 5 year co op or something like that confuses me, can someone clarify? (I plan to major in the communications field)</p>
<p>The coop requirements are definitely by major. I know that in engineering you have to do 3 coops, therefore it is a 5 year program. Other majors have options of 1 to 3 coops and yes some majors can graduate in 4 years. You really need to check out [Northeastern</a> University](<a href=“http://www.neu.edu%5DNortheastern”>http://www.neu.edu) for your specific major and see what the requirements are.</p>
<p>I agree that you should talk to the co-op office or particular academic dept you are interested in to find out more about how co-op works for the major you’re interested in. I am not sure it is ever mandatory, even for engineering students (although the engineering curriculum is pretty rigid and course offerings are planned based on a 5-yr program; so it can take some creative curriculum planning to do it in 4 yrs). From their site, specifically on co-ops:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Experiential</a> Education > How Co-op Works > Co-op at a Glance](<a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/experiential/coop/howcoopworks/coopataglance.html]Experiential”>http://www.northeastern.edu/experiential/coop/howcoopworks/coopataglance.html)</p>
<p>Note that they do say that you can still do a 4 yr program in most fields. They also include a sample schedule for both 4 and 5 yr students.</p>
<p>NEU has a pretty good job placement rate with its co-op employers; many students are offered jobs upon graduation (although this also varies depending on makjor); if you feel you might benefit by gaining extra work experience in your field while still in school, or like the idea of hands-on learning, co-op is definitely something to consider.</p>
<p>co-ops are for the most part, not mandatory. I know for a fact that in the ECE department they’re not and I believe that’s the way it is for all engineering. You will, however, be in a vast minority if you don’t take co-ops. Honestly I suggest at least doing the 4 year 1 co-op curriculum. You’ll be missing out on a lot if you don’t.</p>
<p>I would still say that it will fit you. There is a whole program for undecided students, they give you a lot of advising and help you pick a major after your 1st or 2nd year. The website is [Program</a> for Undeclared Students Home Page](<a href=“http://www.lamp.neu.edu/]Program”>http://www.lamp.neu.edu/)
It says you must be in a major for one semester before going on co-op so that is something else to think about. And if you decide to not do co-op at all, that would be fine and you would graduate in four years.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure 3 coops are required for ChemE, perhaps not all engineering.</p>
<p>what are the differences between neu’s co-op and other colleges’ internship opportunities?</p>
<p>NEU’s coop program is integrated into the classes, into the scheduling, into the advising, into the programs on campus, into the housing (allowing you to live with friends on coop or on classes, etc. They have amazing coops with amazing comanies and over 2400 employers. The jobs are not internships. YOu don’t just get coffee and make copies. You are actually working full time (40 hrs/week) and helping a business team or supervisor make decisions, etc. I know an engineer who actually helped design GE’s security system for airports that bursts air onto passengers as they go through screening. Its really hands on learning which is the awesome part about it. You also do evaluations during and at the end where you sit down with the supervisor to go over how youre doing, where to improve, what you should look into for your next coop etc. Its all about working towards your career goals and learning to improve. When you come back from coop you have a required reflection aspect where you might go to a discussion about your coop experience or write a paper about it.</p>
<p>Co-ops are not mandatory. We visited the school with our D last month and were told that 99% of students, however, DO participate in co-ops. It happens to be the school’s USP (unique selling proposition) among the many hundreds of school’s out there.</p>
<p>co-ops are what sold my daughter on Northeastern.
even if they are not mandatory, why would you pass on it when it is a great opportunity to try out your intended career while you are still in college ?</p>
<p>you can also do 1 coop and graduate in 4 years if you choose to. Most kids go for the 5 years with 2 or 3 coops. You also don’t pay tuition while on coop so you’re taking same # of semesters as regular 4year and therefore no extra tuition costs. You can live on campus for coop and if you do then you obviously pay the housing fee. But you can also go anywhere in the country (40+ states) and world (40+ cities with over 100 students working abroad at any given time).</p>