Webinar Transcript: Featuring Northeastern: A Conversation with Undergraduate Students

This webinar was conducted on June 24, 2021. Please note that specific details may have changed by the time you read this article. A recording of this webinar is available here. 

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Elton Lin: Alrighty! Hey, welcome to everybody joining in with us – from all over! Who knows where. But we're gonna find out!

Thank you again for joining us. We are continuing our ILUMIN Education webinar series – and this is the first time that we're having students come and share about their experiences, and their time at specific universities. This week's panel is from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

I’m super excited to have three amazing, motivated, and ambitious students. I will give them an opportunity to share about themselves, and introduce themselves – share a little bit about what they're studying.

So let me take a moment and give our panelists an opportunity to share. Again, what we're trying to do is we're trying to have students come and share their experiences – and hopefully give other students, who are considering those schools, an opportunity to learn more.

So why don't we start off with Mia – who is a student that I've known for quite a few years. And I'm very proud of her. I'm excited to have her on. Mia, would you mind sharing a little bit about yourself, and then we'll go to Stella and Ritika.

Mia Sukumaran: Thanks, Elton. I'm Mia. I'm going into my fourth and final year at Northeastern. I'm a marketing major, and I just added a minor in business analytics.

I'm currently working on my second co-op at VMware – which is a really big tech company based in the Bay Area, so many of you may have heard of it. I'm in the field marketing org. And I did one previous co-op at Wayfair. If you don't know what a co-op is, we'll probably get a lot more into that later on in this webinar.

But, yeah, that's a little bit about me. And I’m from the Bay Area!

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Hello, everyone. My name is Zoe Stella Mylonakis. I go by Stella. I'm a fourth year senior – my last year at Northeastern.

I'm studying criminal justice. And I have three minors: the first one is public policy and law, the second one is argumentation and law, and the third one is political science. I'm also a researcher at the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern University – and I will be starting my first co-op this upcoming Monday at Wellington Management Company in legal and enterprise risk for the fall semester.

Thank you.

Rikika Ponna: Hi everyone. I'm Ritika. I'm a data science and economics major at Northeastern. And I'm going to be a senior – so I have one year left.

I'm from San Jose, California. I'm sure a lot of you here are from the Bay Area.

And I'm also a teacher. I'm a TA at the College of Computer Science this summer. And I'll be starting my second co-op at Harbor West – starting in two weeks as a business analyst. I did my first co-op at State Street as an operations analyst.

Elton Lin: Exciting! These are three very ambitious and motivated students, and I’m excited to have them on.

Why don't we get started and jump right in? Certainly you were considering other schools to attend – and certainly had many other choices! Let's go right to it. Why did you choose Northeastern? Before we get into your experience, what led you to choosing Northeastern prior to going?

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: That's a great question. So I was thinking of multiple schools in the New England area: Boston, New York…  I couldn't decide which one to choose, to be honest. But I ended up going to Northeastern because of the co-ops. Northeastern has co-ops – that are like six-months internships. It's not an internship, because you're working full-time. Actually, you get some time out of school in order to do some research or and understand whether or not that position would be of interest to you after graduating.

So having that opportunity: making some money, while also being in college – and understanding how your studies will be connected with the field afterwards – made me realize that Northeastern is a great opportunity. Also the fact that the curriculum is really interesting! I had the opportunity to research the classes I'll be taking as a student: understand the interests of my professors, and the research they have been conducting as professors.

So all these factors helped me understand that Northeastern would be a great fit for me. Also the fact that I'm an international student – and I know that Northeastern has many international students that would help me with the culture. I understood that this would be a really friendly environment for me to grow.

All these factors helped me – and I ended up making a great decision! I don't regret it at all.

Mia Sukumaran: Going off of that, I just really wanted that experiential learning environment – which Northeastern really stresses a lot. Like Stella said, the co-op program is huge. And they also place a lot of importance on studying abroad, joining clubs, and getting involved in research on campus. I just really appreciated how they place so much emphasis on how there are so many different ways to learn outside of just class and academics – and I feel like I've learned so much about what I want to do after college, and about what type of student I am, through my time at Northeastern.

That's what really drew me to Northeastern in the first place: that experiential learning. 

Ritika Ponna: I definitely think co-op was a big deciding factor. But, additionally I always knew I wanted to live in a city – and get the whole campus life and the city life. Boston is definitely a good place – especially because Boston's very accessible: exploring and walking around Boston. Compared to… I'm sure it's really hard if you're, like, in one of the UCs. I'm sure it's really hard because you have your own campus life. But here you interact with other colleges – because BU is next to us and all of that. So it's a really good social life, apart from academics.

That also was one of the reasons, of course: co-ops. Because you kind of know what you want to do with your degree… but if you want to change or anything before you graduate, you can always test out the waters while you're still studying. So I think that's also a big plus.

Elton Lin: Awesome. Let's go into co-ops  because all three of you mentioned the co-op, and it is a unique aspect to Northeastern. Just to give a little bit of background, the co-op is… perhaps the way Stella mentioned it before. It's sort of like an internship, but it's like a mandatory internship for graduation. But it's something that it seems like every student wants to participate in, anyways.

You're working for a semester or more – paid. Working in whatever industry is connected to your particular major. And you're getting real-time work experience. It also feeds into why Northeastern has this ridiculously high hire rate out of college!

That's not common. There's a small handful of other schools that do a co-op program: Drexel, University of Cincinnati… But it seems like very much the hallmark of Northeastern.

Tell me about your co-op experience – and why it's been the crowning experience of Northeastern.

Ritika Ponna: I did my first co-op at State Street as an operations analyst. Going into my first co-op, I was always interested in FinTech and the financial sector. And then, when I got this opportunity to work at State Street, I was like, “Oh, yeah, I really like this; it's what I want to do.”

But towards the end, I realized that, yes, this was a good field but coming out of the co-op, I realized this job as an operations analyst is not what I want to do. So at least I'm eliminating my options. I think that's also a big plus: you know that, “Okay, I don't want to do this.” Maybe, when I apply for a job later, this is a field or sector that I would avoid.

Now I'm starting my second co-op, in two weeks, as a business analyst. Taking all the classes leading up to this really got me into it; I’m still thinking of a business analytics minor. I think all these options that you learn from one co-op, you can apply in classes, and then see if, “Okay, now I have a better idea, and I can do this in my second co-op.” A lot of people do three co-ops here!

I think it's just that exposure you're getting: classes and knowledge, and applying it in the work field, and then seeing if this is something you want to do or not… So I think just exploring is a big plus.

Elton Lin: So what you're saying is that it provides you a lot more clarity, with regards to what professional field might be a good fit for you. It's almost to where you're using these co-ops as experiments for yourself, right?

Other students at other universities – I'm sorry, I’ll give Stella an opportunity to respond – but other students at other universities are doing internships, perhaps over the summer or during the school year. Do you have a sense of why the co-op program is different than those internships?

Ritika Ponna: Yeah. I think internships are usually 8-12 weeks. At that point you're still getting into the work. And by the time you're actually learning something, you end it.

But a co-op is six months, full time. So I think you learn more in a longer span: more about what you want, and what you don't want.

Elton Lin: I think the six months is pretty important, because what you're saying from your first co-op was, by the end of the six months…

Ritika Ponna: Yeah. By the end of it, I was like…

Elton Lin: You were like, “No, maybe not.”

Okay. Mia or Stella?

Mia Sukumaran: Going back to your initial question… almost better than the co-op itself is the amount of advising that they give you before your co-ops. So every freshman is required to take a co-op preparation class. In that class, they walk you through setting up your résumé, and they walk you through setting up your LinkedIn – pulling together all of your experiences to make sure that you are the best candidate that you can be for a co-op.

And then they completely hold your hand, almost, and help you apply for your first co-op. And really show you how to be a good candidate. That was just so helpful going into it – because I had never had a real job! I had only done tutoring in high school. A corporate job was something I was completely unfamiliar with. So having them help me that much was amazing.

And now, as I go into my second co-op, I feel so prepared to eventually enter the workforce, and start applying for jobs outside of college. Which, I think, is something that not a lot of people can say at my age. So I'm really grateful for the advising that I was given during my time at Northeastern.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I totally agree with what Mia and Ritika said. But I would stick more with the interview process. I think that's an important aspect.

As a co-op applicant, you have to do interviews and communicate with hiring managers. I think, after college, that is really important: getting into the work field and feeling comfortable emailing hiring managers or talking to them. Or how you should behave during the interview process. Those are skills that are learned at Northeastern – and I think that's a huge plus for students who want to finish with their college degree and get into the field that they would like to succeed in.

For me, this is my first co-op. I haven't realized whether or not the position that I will be entering will be my interest for the future. But I realized the importance of having applications and interviews – and getting used to the interviews. Because that's a part of the job market.

I think Northeastern does a really good job in helping you get into the job market, and find your interests.

Elton Lin: That sounds amazing! This is certainly a question that has been coming up with regards to higher education, especially in light of the pandemic: how are colleges providing resources that are helping students transition into their workplace better? So hearing about your experience with the co-op, and feeling like it's not just a co-op… but you're getting interview training, résumé prep, and linkedin – which is absolutely critical these days. And making sure that you guys are ready for the workforce!

There are certainly a lot of students going to college who are perhaps more geared towards academia – and want to do research, and perhaps are science students or engineering students or CS students. Are you all involved in research? And how easy is it to get into? Can a student who's more academia-minded, or more research-minded, still find their place at Northeastern?

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Yeah, definitely. Northeastern provides many research opportunities through the co-ops. I forgot to mention that there are more than three to four thousand co-ops every semester at Northeastern. So everyone can apply. There are multiple research opportunities. I'm a humanities major. Many students from the College of Humanities are actually really interested in academia. And there are multiple policy research opportunities for co-ops.

But, also, professors are conducting research every semester. So you can easily go and ask a professor to get involved. They're really friendly, and they want to help you – so that shouldn't be a problem for any student at Northeastern.

Ritika Ponna: Adding on to that, I'm from the College of Computer Science. And I was also interested in research – but I didn't want to do pure software engineering research and stuff like that. I was still able to find a research position in the business school – help the marketing department with the technical aspects. So I think that's really good with Northeastern. They're really flexible.

And they combine all your interests. I'm not a business student. I did not have a lot of marketing experience. But I was able to use the skills and the knowledge from my computer science classes and apply them in the business field.

It was really helpful – just talking to professors, saying, “I'm interested in this, and this is what I can bring to the table. What do you think best suits me?” And a lot of them are really helpful. They’d help you out. And if they don't think they're the right person for you, they'll advise you and tell you to go to someone else. I think they're really helpful and resourceful.

Elton Lin: Awesome.

And before we continue, I just want to make sure… I’ve said this in other webinars, but if you have questions for our panelists, go ahead and post them in the Q&A box. And Anthony, like he has always done, will come back at the end and sort through all your questions. 

All right. Let's transition over and talk a little bit about campus culture. What is it like on campus? Mia, you spoke earlier about clubs. But what is it like on campus? You know, with the pandemic, students can't visit campuses as much anymore. What can you tell students and parents about what it's like on campus?

Mia Sukumaran: Northeastern definitely doesn't have a typical campus life, I would say. People are constantly in and out – because of co-op, and because of study abroad. I think that's maybe something that is very unique about Northeastern. But I'd say I feel very involved in campus life. I am involved in a few clubs – specifically, like, in the business world.

Also, hockey is really big at Northeastern. If you go to hockey club or hockey games, it's a really fun experience. We were just talking about that before this: Stella and I are big fans of the Beanpot – which is a huge hockey tournament between a bunch of boston schools: Harvard, BU, BC, and Northeastern. That's an event that brings together students from every college in Boston to watch in TD garden.

So there are definitely a lot of ways to get involved – in not only the campus but in Boston – through Northeastern. I think that's one of the great things, like I said, about going to school in Boston. That you just feel very involved in the city – and you just feel like it's almost one big college, because there are people from so many. I think there are like twenty-five different colleges in Boston! It's just a really great experience being in this city.

And any time it's over sixty degrees in Boston, everyone is out – and it's such a fun experience seeing everyone outside, when that's not even hot in California!

Elton Lin: When it's sixty degrees in the Bay Area, people complain!

Terrific. Thanks, Mia.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Also there are multiple events on campus all the time. There are multiple events on how to create your résumé. How to be professional in an interview. How to have a professional LinkedIn. It depends on the interest of the students. And there are also multiple games – especially during the summertime. There are even more events outdoors. And there are many concerts, also, at Northeastern. There's a huge variety of events – depending on the interest of the student.

Northeastern has multiple resources. I would definitely recommend it, because you never get bored. There are so many things going on, it's hard to decide sometimes! Especially when it's orientation period. Or when many students come from dialogues or study abroad sessions. There are multiple events going on – so it's hard, sometimes, to decide which one you would actually want to go to!

Another interesting fact is, because of Northeastern’s location, there are multiple restaurants and coffee shops around. So you can easily meet up with other students from other colleges or other schools. You never feel alone at Northeastern. I think that's a really important factor as well.

Ritika Ponna: Yeah, adding on to what they said, Fall and Springfest is really big at Northeastern. I think they have events for students all week long in the fall and spring semesters – which really get the campus going. The campus is really busy all night long.

Apart from this, we also have club fairs where each club comes in and talks about it, and if you're interested you can always join. All of this really gets campus going.

Elton Lin: You make it sound so fun! Like it's just four years having a good time at school. But, having gotten to know all three of you, I'm sure you guys are working hard. But you make it sound like something really great!

Maybe we’ll come back to that. Let's talk a little bit about the community – and, specifically, students. There is a good, strong international student community on campus – which I think Stella could speak to, being from Greece. But maybe a broader question for all three of you: you make it sound like you're never alone. You can meet people pretty freely. Who's the most interesting person you've met while at Northeastern?

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I think one of my professors – Judge Ireland. It was a really interesting course I took, actually. It's called Criminal Due Process. The professor was really friendly and we had the opportunity to go to courts in Massachusetts. So that's a really unique experience.

All the professors I've met – in my college at least – are really friendly and really unique. Each one of them has conducted research in a different field. So having them in class, having the opportunity to talk to them during office hours and understand what research they have conducted, and reading through the research studies they have been conducting… I think that that has helped me and has motivated me to become a better student. And try even harder – because I have understood the interest of my professors, and how unique they are.

Also, multiple professors – at least in my college – come from different backgrounds. So understanding their culture and their background is also really important. That's really helpful as an international student. You never feel that you're outside. You don't ever feel alone. You always feel that you're part of the community.

So I think all the professors will always be a unique part for me at Northeastern.

Ritika Ponna: Yeah. Adding on: so I'm from San Jose, but I technically studied in India. So I'm considered an international student. Coming back to Northeastern… There's a huge Indian and Asian community. A lot of Indian clubs. A lot of Asian clubs. So a part of me is like, “Oh, I still have home with me!”

Obviously there are a lot of different cultures and different backgrounds within the Indian community. It was really interesting to see. And just the variety of where people are from within the community. And just on campus in general.

In a few of my CS classes, I would have never expected such different mindsets and backgrounds to exist. So I think, as a community, Northeastern is very open-minded when it comes to people.

Elton Lin: Who's one person you've met that's like, “Whoa!” You know, that's different?

Ritika Ponna: I think it was my music professor. Just the way she spoke about stuff, or just the way she thought, was really different. And all of my classes were heavily STEM, and science focused. So just to see this. I was like, “Oh my God, I did not know this was a thing before!” Just the arts department: I would say that's very cool.

Mia Sukumaran: Yeah, that's a hard question, Elton! I think the most interesting person I met was someone that was from Belize. Just because I had never heard of the country, and she was the reason that I found out about it! So it's just really interesting to see, like Ritika said, there are people from all walks of life at Northeastern.

And coming from the Bay Area… it's hard to find a place that's as diverse as here. But Northeastern is almost like the Bay Area on a global level. I have friends from Panama. Now Belize. China. India. It's really cool to see how everyone comes together at college.

Elton Lin: That's awesome. And that's encouraging to hear that there are not only a lot of people represented from a lot of different places, but it seems like there is a welcoming culture.

You guys have raved about Northeastern for like thirty minutes! What's something that's less rave-ish about Northeastern? What's something that you don't like about it?

Mia Sukumaran: I think, for me, it would be just that – and I mentioned this before – but that people are coming in and out of Boston all the time. Sometimes it can be challenging to have a big friend group when people are doing co-ops internationally, or in other places in the U.S. That can be kind of challenging. And I feel like it makes Northeastern not have a very static campus culture – because there's constantly a different group of people on campus. So I kind of wish that it were a little bit easier to get your bearings.

But I wouldn't say it's anything to avoid Northeastern over. It's just something that I've noticed – and I wish were a little bit different.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I agree with Mia. I have the same experience: that sometimes, from one semester to another, people change. Because some people might go on a study abroad program or a dialogue or a club abroad. Sometimes you miss your friends, because they choose to go abroad for a semester.

But I think that in and out Northeastern has is also an advantage, because it makes you meet more people. I feel like if we had a specific friend group, each semester I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet other students from other colleges or from other schools in the Boston area!

Ritika Ponna: Adding on to this, I think – just because Northeastern's located in downtown Boston – we don't have a campus to ourselves. It's very open. People can walk through. It's very accessible.

So I feel like, in that sense, it's really easy for us to meet a lot of people from different colleges – and not just specifically Northeastern

It's nothing bad, but I just feel like sometimes I'm like, “If I went to a different school, it would just be that particular college kids.” But sometimes that's not the case at Northeastern.

Elton Lin: Got it. And are you in the dorms right now, Ritika?

Ritika Ponna: No, I'm not.

Elton Lin: Okay. I was overhearing. But I totally understand. And, certainly, with the cycling of students in and out, based on the co-op, and also based on the study abroad… 

Which – let's transition to that. I think that's also what's unique about northeastern – is that there are a lot of students who start on the study abroad program right at the beginning. I definitely have talked with students and families who were turned off by that – like the admission offer was, “Hey, you're going to study abroad. You're admitted, but you're going to study abroad in your first semester!” I think, for Stella and Mia, you both got that offer at the beginning. Was that a turn-off? Or was the experience much better than you expected?

Mia Sukumaran: So, actually, the three of us all did NUN Greece – which is how we all know each other. We all did that freshman study abroad program – it's called NUN. I, personally, am so grateful for that experience. No one else can say they studied abroad in Greece their first semester of college! I totally get why people would be turned off. For me, it's very different. I made my best friends through that program.

It's almost like, in a very strange way, a good transition from high school to college – because you're with a much smaller group of people, and you get to actually know the people around you. You take classes with the same people, essentially. And you just really get to know the people. It's a broad experience as well.

So I loved my experience, but I get that it's a lot. And I was very confused when I first got my admission offer, and it said that I had to study abroad my first semester! I wasn't attracted to it at first. But I think, if you are accepted into that program, it is something that you should definitely consider.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I agree with Mia. As an international student, I'm from Greece. And I did NUN Greece. It helped me make my transition back to Boston even better, because I had the opportunity to meet a smaller group of Northeastern students. I think, if I can recall correctly, we were about 250 students in Greece studying. So that helped me: going back onto campus having a friend group.

Knowing people from NUN was really helpful for me because I knew people in multiple classes. It was fun seeing them back on campus, and going to events together. So I think that helped me make a lot more connections with other students. I think if I had immediately come to Boston after high school, I would just stick with my high school friend group. Because there are multiple students from high schools coming to Boston. Probably I would find a small friend group, and stick with that friend group the whole semester, and the whole years at Northeastern.

So having the opportunity to meet other people, and exchange cultures and beliefs – I think that was a really unique experience. Not many people have that experience in other colleges. So it's definitely really helpful. And we also did volunteer work in Greece – so that's even more interesting, I think, because we had the opportunity to meet other people and understand their culture, for Northeastern students.

And I was there, translating, sometimes, whenever people had problems. But everyone speaks English in Greece, so it was, I think, an easy transition for Northeastern students as well. And we had the opportunity to do volunteer work – which counts for a résumé for co-ops afterwards. I think it's a great experience.

Elton Lin: The interesting thing that I thought you said was that if you would have gone directly to Boston, you probably would have found the group of people who are most comfortable for you, and just stuck with them. But by doing the abroad program right at the outset, you're put into this group of 200 to 250 students. There are all sorts of different students. And you're almost forced – in a good way – to bond with them. It’s a more diverse group. So by the time you get to your second semester, you already have a very diverse group of friends – and you're more free to move about in different groups of people. I think that's really interesting.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Yeah, exactly. Sorry for interrupting! I had the opportunity to be in 250 students. So we all knew each other coming onto the Boston campus. Whenever I needed something on campus, or I wanted to go to an event, I had so many people I knew that I could go with.

So I think that's a really unique aspect. And I think, if I came to Boston immediately, I would just be a bit lost  because there are so many students, and there are so many events that I would have to go to. And I wouldn't have the opportunity to make that connection I made with students abroad.

Elton Lin: Which makes it almost feel like, as we're going into this upcoming admissions cycle, it's like you have a preference to do the study abroad. I feel like the three of you are gonna say, “Do it! Do the first semester abroad!”

So, Ritika, before I keep talking!

Ritika Ponna: I was just saying, I think it was definitely a smooth transition – because we first got to interact with 250 kids. By the end of the semester, we probably weren't close to all of them, but we knew all of them. So whenever we took classes… Like all my CS classes were heavily male-dominated. It was still really easy – I was like, “Oh, wait, we did NUN Greece together. Maybe we can work on our projects.” I feel like we still always had someone, coming back to Boston.

Apart from that, I just think in all of my co-ops, whenever I put “study abroad,” it was always a talking point to the interviewer. And they were like, “Oh my God, you really did this?” It's a one-off experience. As Mia said, a lot of people can't say they studied abroad their first semester of college! I definitely think it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that people should do.

Elton Lin: Very cool. Good to hear. And I think that is another – in addition to the co-op – what makes Northeastern very unique.

Let me come back, and let's talk a little bit about, again, if I'm a rising senior, and I'm thinking about Northeastern. There are a lot of other schools that are on my list. Perhaps, after this conversation, it's moving up to the top of my list! But what type of students would really thrive at Northeastern? Thinking about yourself – if you were to advise yourself, what type of student would really fit well at Northeastern?

[Ritika and Stella start talking together.]

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I think— You can go first.

Ritika Ponna: Sorry. I was just saying: someone that's definitely enthusiastic and wanting to learn more. Because a lot of resources are available on campus. It’s just how you get to know them. And you should always be open.

And always talk to your professors – because they're your best resource. Or, if they don't know, they always guide you. So I think just going in with an open mind and curious to learn more.

That’s what I would say is the perfect type that fits Northeastern.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Adding onto Ritika's point, I would say, also, hard-working and organized students are the ones that would actually excel at Northeastern. Because you have to be really organized when it comes to interviews, applying to co-ops, and getting into your classes. Northeastern has many uh exams during the semester. You have to write many papers. So you have to be really organized, and study hard in order to get prepared for all these tasks you might have to get through.

Mia Sukumaran: Yeah, definitely a motivated individual would be someone that should apply to Northeastern. Especially, I think, when you're taking classes, it's a lot to juggle sometimes. When you're applying to co-ops, like I said at the beginning, you have a lot of support when it comes to applying to co-ops and going through the application process. But it is definitely a very independent thing. Juggling that can be kind of challenging: classes while applying.

I'd also say someone that is very career-oriented. If you're interested in exploring careers within the field you're interested in, or even just exploring careers that you are just interested in learning more about, I think Northeastern is the perfect school for you. Because it just isn't very common, in colleges – they don't really stress that enough. After you learn all of this you have to start applying it to your jobs, and sometimes it'd be very confusing entering the workforce when you're not really sure what you want to do with your degree! So someone that is interested in learning more about that should definitely consider Northeastern.

Elton Lin: Awesome. And before we get to questions – I know that there are some questions posted by everyone who's joined us – maybe one last question. All of you are from warm-ish climates, and you guys all needed to move to freezing Boston. I’ve definitely talked to students who are like, “I don't want to go to a cool place.” And I was like, “Come on, give me a break.” But what's your best advice for students in California, Greece, or other warm climates? Should they be scared about the weather in Boston? What's your best advice for moving to Boston?

Mia Sukumaran: I say it's a mindset. It's all a mindset.

Elton Lin: That’s what I think too.

Mia Sukumaran: It's not that cold outside. Forget that it's 30 degrees out and you'll be fine. It's honestly – if you dress right. That's what everyone in Boston says. If you have the right clothes, you're totally fine. My favorite piece of clothing is my Eddie Bauer parka. And I get excited when it drops below 50 degrees – because I get to pull that out of my storage boxes and start wearing it again!

So it's all about your clothes. It's really not that bad. Get a good pair of duck boots – which are snow boots for when it starts snowing in January or February. But, honestly, I really enjoy having the changes of seasons. Which is something that doesn't happen in the Bay Area at all. So I wouldn't say I mind the cold that much. Maybe Ritika and Stella will say something different.

Ritika Ponna: I think, initially, the first freshman year semester was kind of hard, because it was like, “Oh, I've never been in this kind of weather!” But I think if you, as Mia said, have the right clothes, and I feel like, over time, you're kind of just adjusted to how it is. I don't think it should be a deciding factor, if you wouldn't choose Northeastern just because of the weather.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Exactly. I agree. And also the fact that if you actually get gloves and boots, I think there's no issue with the weather.

And you can do so many other things, being in Boston. You can go skiing over the weekends. I know multiple students at Northeastern do that. And also create a snowman with your friends. There are multiple things you could do on the Northeastern campus. And there are also events going on. So I definitely recommend it.

Also, Northeastern has tunnels – so when it gets really cold, you can use those and get into your classes!

Elton Lin: Awesome. So what you're saying is: relax. Don't let that impact your decision. And look at all the positive attributes: co-op, study abroad, and all the different community aspects of Northeastern. And consider that first with regards to your choices.

So why don't I invite Anthony back in? And we can dive into some of the questions that you are all posting. Let's give it a go!

Anthony Su: Yeah. I'll get started with the study abroad program, because I think some people want some clarity on that. How did you apply to that? Is it a simple checkbox on the application? Also, what courses were you taking when you took that study abroad – especially since it’s first semester of freshman year?

Mia Sukumaran: A hot topic at NUN Greece was whether or not people actually checked that box on the Common App, because a lot of people didn't check that, and they still got into the program. But, yes, it is essentially just a checkbox on the Common App.

And then, in terms of classes in Greece and course load, it depends on your major. Typically you take two classes that are related to your major, and then you take two – for us it was Greece-related. So volunteer work, and then Greek life and culture. But I'd assume, based on your country, they would alter it to work with that culture.

AP credits also apply. So I took a sociology class – which wasn't related to my major. But then I took a chemistry class, which was. At the time I was a biology major. So I took a class related to my major.

But I'd say it's very diverse in the course load.

Ritika Ponna: Yeah. I think it definitely depends on the major. As a computer science major, initially I had to take the fundamental CS class and a math class along with Greek life and culture and volunteer work. I think that way it's really well-balanced. It's not a lot of core classes. But not just classes that don't add towards your major once you go back to Northeastern. So I would say it's a really good balance in terms of classes.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I was undeclared when I went to Greece. I also took biology, microeconomics, and sociology – and then the Greek life and culture course. What I realized from the NUN program is that it has so many options for you to decide for classes. I didn't know anyone who was in a class that they didn't like or they didn't choose! So I definitely recommend it.

And other students were taking religion classes, or they were taking mathematics, physics… many courses that are related to their fields of study. So I wouldn't stress about checking that box in the Common App!

Anthony Su: It sounds like you're going to have a lot of options when you get there – and making sure you take courses related to your major, and things that will help you in the future find your potential majors… things like that.

The next questions are all related to co-ops, so I'll try to group these together. There was a general question of when do you start doing a co-op, timing-wise? And then, does that alter the time it takes to graduate – the typical four-year college experience? Let's start there – and then there are a couple other things to add onto that!

Ritika Ponna: I think you either do it your second year spring semester, or third year fall semester. And you work for six months.

I don't think it would postpone you graduating in four years. If you really need credits, Northeastern does Summer I and Summer II – two months each. So you can always take the classes you need then. It wouldn't postpone your graduation if you did a co-op.

Mia Sukumaran: Yeah. I'm doing two co-ops. I'm on my second one. And I switched majors, and added a minor – and I'm not behind at all! I think I'll actually be taking one fewer class my last semester of college.

Northeastern is also really good about taking in APs. They took all but one of my APs. So that was a huge help. But I haven't really heard of people feeling like they have to extend their time because of a co-op. It all depends on how you balance your classes and manage your class schedule.

But it's very common to take summer classes – I will say that. I think it's a good idea to take advantage of that if you plan on doing two or more co-ops,

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Summer classes are actually a big thing at Northeastern. Many students are taking one or two. And there are actually many options for classes, in comparison to other universities – as far as I know.

Another thing that I would definitely recommend at Northeastern is having close contact with your advisor – your co-op advisor, and also your academic advisor. In order to make sure that you're actually staying with the plan. And if you want to add a major. We also have combined majors; that's another interesting factor at Northeastern. Someone may want to combine two different disciplines. That's something you could do at Northeastern.

So if you want to add a major or a minor, that's something that you can easily do at Northeastern. Just make sure you actually connect with your advisor, and make sure you keep track of what's going on with your classes.

I also took summer classes last year, and my freshman year. And I remember – in freshman year, especially – all of my friends were taking Summer I classes. So that's something you might want to consider as a Northeastern student.

Anthony Su: Another question related to GPA: “Does a better GPA, in general, help you get a co-op?” Or, “Is there a minimum GPA?”

I think there's also just this general thought of, “How hard is it to get a co-op?” How much does Northeastern help students get ready for that process?

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: As I said before, there are 3,000-4,000 co-ops per cycle. So if you actually apply to many positions, and have the opportunity to interview for multiple positions, you're definitely gonna get a call. I think the percentage is like 97% who get a co-op. Something around there; it's really high!

Additionally, when it comes to co-ops, you just need a 2.0 GPA. Which is actually what I think most schools require in order for someone to graduate. So that's the minimum GPA required.

Now, when it comes to some positions, some really hard positions may require a higher GPA – let's say 3.0 or 3.3, depending on the position. But, definitely, the majority of the positions just require a 2.0 GPA.

Anthony Su: How many interviews did you do, and then how many offers did you get? As a quick metric for that.

Ritika Ponna: When I was applying for my first co-op, I think I was applying for five months. But, also, that's when we got sent home for the pandemic. So that's also partly the reason why. But it took a really long time. I think I applied to over 70, and I got like, I think, 15 interviews. I'm not sure about other colleges, but in the college of computer science, the advisors tell us it's a numbers game. The more co-ops you apply for, the more interviews you get.

When I was applying for my second co-op, I got an offer with the first company I interviewed for! So I just definitely think it’s knowing exactly what you want. Because if you apply for a job later on from when it's posted, then a lot of people already applied for it. Your application would be left behind. So when you like a job, and your résumé is all ready, I would suggest applying – and not waiting until the end to see if there's something better. You just have to click the “Apply” button!

I don't think it will harm you if you get an interview and you really don't want to do it. You can always say no. But I don't think you'd want to lose out on the opportunity of applying.

Mia Sukumaran: I was actually the opposite. I applied, and then got into my first interview company for my first co-op. And then, for the second co-op, I applied to a bunch, and then interviewed for about five or six of them. And then took, I think, my fifth interview company. And I'm really happy there.

But the co-op applying and interviewing process is, very much so, like a normal job application process. It's not like your advisors are doing it for you. So you do have to go through that whole application – setting up your résumé, and then interviewing. You might have multiple rounds of interviews. I wouldn't say it's an easy process but, because there are so many options out there, you will definitely find a position.

And some people… I heard of an extreme scenario of this guy in my class who mentioned that he got his co-op offer when he was on his way home at the airport for winter break. And he was supposed to start in January! That's a very extreme version.

But, ultimately, everyone I know has been able to get a co-op, depending on how many places they apply to. I haven't heard of anyone really having a problem. Some people just choose not to do co-ops – which is very, very rare. But there is a position out there for you.

Anthony Su: What I hear both of you saying is that it's not like it automatically drops into your lap. You have to apply, and there's a certain volume that you need to go through – which is like most hiring processes. But if i'm not mistaken, I thought you need the co-op to graduate. So if that's not correct, then definitely correct me!

And then, secondly, with that being said, since Northeastern has the co-op program, what I understood before is that many of these companies are expecting Northeastern students to apply. So there is a partnership – if you will – with these companies and Northeastern. It's not so much that you are competing against the entire world for these internships or these co-ops, but there is this understanding that these Northeastern students are applying, and they're taking on Northeastern students – and there is that preference going into the process. Is that correct?

Mia Sukumaran: Yeah. So I know, coming from the business school perspective, the business school is very good about partnering with companies – and making sure that there's always a position available. TJX and Wayfair are huge employers. They're outside of Boston, and they employ, together, about 400 co-ops. So that's a huge opportunity.

Going back, I went into Northeastern thinking it was required. And maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like I've heard of people who haven't done co-ops, and just chose not to. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: I think it's actually a requirement: you have to have some work experience. But you don't have to do co-ops if that's not what you want to do. You could do research, or you could do something else instead.

The other thing I wanted to say quickly for the co-ops is that one out of two students who do co-ops actually get hired, after their graduation, full-time. I think that's also something most students want to consider!

Northeastern has partnerships, and has co-ops, with huge companies such as Amazon as well. Or Spotify. I think that's a huge thing to have on your résumé, right? Having an internship in those companies would definitely help someone find a position after graduation.

That's a quick point, though.

Anthony Su: Ritika, do you want to add anything?

Ritika Ponna: Yeah, I was just adding on. All your applications are within the Northeastern group. Each résumé is different. Some person might be applying for the same job, and might have already done a co-op – and as an employer I would prefer someone with more experience. That's where it gets hard. But all of you are within the same Northeastern pool. You don't get applicants from other colleges.

Zoe Stella Mylonakis: Exactly. Another fact I want to mention is that you can actually create your own co-op, if you don't find something that is of your interest. I think it's impossible with 3,000 co-ops! But let's say you want to travel abroad in a specific area, and there's no co-op available there. You could actually create one. Go and ask the hiring manager if there could be a position for you to work for four or six months.

Anthony Su: Awesome. We're wrapping up, so just a final few questions. There was one question just about the campus community and the environment. Do you view Northeastern as a large school or a small school? Where do you personally feel the campus is in that perspective?

Mia Sukumaran: To me it feels more like a small school – especially considering how often I bump into people that are from the study abroad program we did! In all of my classes, and whenever I'm walking across campus, I always see someone in that program. That just attests to that the campus itself is actually not that big.

It's not like a UC, for example. When I visited UCLA, it was very overwhelming! And it definitely doesn't feel like a UC. I feel like you get to know people better.

The classes – at least in my experience – the largest has been 80. But that was an extreme. Usually they're around 30-40 – which I really enjoy, because you get more attention from the teacher, and you get to ask questions.

So I'd say, to me, it feels a little bit smaller I think it's about 16,000 students, for context.

Ritika Ponna: I would say it's definitely a smaller campus. But I feel like there are quite a few people – because a lot of my CS classes are over a hundred kids! But that's also probably because of the major, and because of all the core classes. They're challenging, so a lot of people take them early on! So that's probably why. As you advance in your classes, it goes down to like 30-40. But most beginner classes are over 100. That's probably just computer science; I'm not sure of other colleges. So I would say there are a lot of people. But you do definitely see a lot of familiar faces when you walk around campus,

Anthony Su: So yeah, just wrapping up.

Elton Lin: Any more questions?

Anthony Su: Yeah, any last minute questions that people want to ask?

I do want to point out next week's webinar. We're going to have UIUC – students from UIUC – also give their perspective. So I hope that you can join us there.

Elton Lin: Should we have you guys join in on a competition – just spar and kind of go at it? What do you think?

[Stella and Mia nod.]

Elton Lin: Yeah? It'll be a good time.

Mia Sukumaran: Hard one: Urbana-Champaign or Boston? I don't know.

Elton Lin: I think, weather-wise, I would go with Boston. I've lived in Chicago for four years, and there's nothing to block the wind in Champaign-Urbana!

But I want to thank all three of you. All three of you are just outstanding people and students. And I really appreciate your insight for today. I think it gave everybody here great insight on what it's like to be a student there. And I think that's really what we're hoping to do. Whether you end up going to Northeastern or not, what we want is we want students to really find the right fit school to go to – the place where they will thrive and really be their best. And maybe for some of you that's where Northeastern really comes into play!

But either way, we really want to thank all three of you. I’m grateful for your time spent with us. And we look forward to having all of you who are in the audience join us for UIUC next week – and then we'll compare notes. We'll see which one is better! And we'll go from there.

Any last words, Mia, Stella, or Ritika?

Mia Sukumaran: That’s it.

Elton Lin: All right. Thanks to everybody, appreciate your time, and we'll see you next week. All right, take care.

Mia Sukumaran: Thank you.

Anthony Su: Thanks so much guys.