Three Weeks Left!
Good morning! and Happy Spring!
Since coming back from break, I've been moderately busy...an exam here, an assignment there, a bunch of meetings, events, grading everywhere else. Right now, it is definitely hard to believe that the *last* day of classes is only THREE WEEKS from today!
Within the next few weeks, I've got a few more assignments, I believe, a couple of quizzes, and a final draft of a paper left, nothing too huge. Finals begin on April 17th, and my four exams are split half and half over two days, April 17th and 21st. They're either at 8am (too early!) or 1pm. After all of that is over with, SUMMER! I'm so excited!
Moving on...By now, admission decisions should be out or maybe just slowing rolling out. I just want to congratulate anyone who has been accepted not only by Northeastern, but also by any other colleges as well, so "CONGRATULATIONS!" =)
Deciding which college to attend can definitely be a hard decision. I applied to only 4 colleges--rejected by 1, wait-listed by another, accepted by the rest. For me, it was a clear choice between the two schools that accepted me. However, if I remember correctly, I *did* wait until I had received all 4 of my decisions first before making a final call. While making my decision, I considered two factors that were most significant to me: location and finances.
Location was an important aspect for me. I've spent all my life in the suburbs and I really felt that I should try putting myself out there in the city, and in this case, Boston. Providence just didn't count. Honestly, I don't want to go to a school that's "out in the middle of nowhere", and I really wanted to be around a lot of people. I would like to be able to go where I want, when I want to (for the most part) without having to drive at least 15-20 minutes outside of campus. When you're in a larger city, you have many more options, and hey, I like options! One of my friends says that "Boston is his campus", and I can't agree with him any more.
The financial aspect was a biggie for me, and it still is. Seriously, who *wants* to pay for school for the rest of their lives? Definitely take a look at your financial aid package and consider your other options as well--outside scholarships, loans, etc. You really don't want to work all the time trying to pay off for school. You need time for yourself!...to do your homework! Oh, and to have fun too! :) "Education first." My parents say it. My head developer says it. Don't let the whole money thing get to you too much. Sure, you can work and bring in some money, but don't overdo it. Leave all the working to when you go on co-op! Once you do, you get more of a chance to pay for your expenses, and not to mention, if you take out loads, you typically don't have to repay your loans until 6 months after you graduate anyway. You have time. That's my point. So spend it wisely! College should be enjoyable!
Like I said, these were the most important things *I* looked at when trying to choose a college. I'm sure there are many other aspects to consider as well, and that's fine too! You should look at the overall package!
As I've mentioned in my previous entry, try taking another campus tour if you haven't already and/or somehow set up a time when you could perhaps talk to a current student (one who's studying your intended major would make the most sense). Get more of a feel of each of your choices.
Regardless of your final decision, I wish you the best of luck!
As always, feel free to post questions and comments! I've already had one so far, so I'm looking for more!
Out.
Comments
I'm a parent of an admitted Computer Sciences student. Still struggling with financing this huge tuition. Does the co-op help in reducing your tuition debt or just off-set the housing cost? Do you really think you can land a job after graduation that will pay enough to cover the debt?
Posted by: Debra Phillips | March 30, 2009 8:50 AM
Hi Debra,
Those are definitely two great questions!
First, costs for tuition, housing and all other fees are actually all lumped together on your bill into one balance, so you're not paying for each kind of expense individually. Your payment would just go towards paying off this overall balance.
Secondly, the money you make on co-op won't necessarily be enough to pay off everything. I mean, it definitely helps, and that's what I'll be using some of my co-op earnings for. However, personally, I'd still like to be able to use my earnings to buy whatever I want.
As for paying off the debt after college, it really depends on the student. The pay varies from student to student, taking account the kind of job it is and their abilities. If the student is fortunate enough to land on a really good job after graduation with a great pay, then that's great!
Honestly, it is a bit difficult to say because there *will* be some people who will just have a job waiting for them after they graduate, but there will also be some people who will need to look for one.
I hope I answered your question! Feel free to email me too if you want to discuss more about this.
Posted by: Melissa Xie | March 30, 2009 12:13 PM
I'm a parent of an incoming freshman 'undeclared'. Here's my question- what about majors like anthropology, sociology, english, history, etc at Northeastern? It seems like all the emphasis is on science, archetecture, engineering, etc. Does the university pay much attention to social sciences?
Posted by: Robert Conrad | April 6, 2009 2:58 PM
Hi Robert!
I'm not entirely sure if it's true that Northeastern focuses less on the social sciences, but I think that the level of attention a department gets varies across the university. Personally, I think I have seen many announcements and advertisements for social science-related events around campus, either through related student groups or the department itself, and on top of other kinds of events too of course.
There are definitely many students who study these social science fields; I even know several myself! Therefore, I say, just because a specific major may not be getting a whole lot of "publicity" from the university, it should not discourage a student from pursuing that field. If they're interested in knowing more about the department, then I suggest emailing them.
Posted by: Melissa Xie | April 7, 2009 12:42 AM