I’ve been meaning to write this since my middler year but you know how it is with us students. We get caught up in our extracurricular activities and we don’t make time for the things that have significance such as voting and voicing our opinion. Since I’ve been here, I’ve recalled the numerous opportunities we students have had to vote and share our thoughts on switching to semesters. I am aware that the notion has been in the air for quite some time. During my freshmen year, I thought the quarter system was ridiculous. It wasn’t until sophomore year when I went on co-op was I able to appreciate how it works. Freshmen can’t really give their opinion on whether or not the school should switch because they haven’t experienced the quarter system.
The quarter system provides flexibility regardless of your major. I major in business so we are obligated to stick to one division. Having a spring/summer division would have been cool, yet you have to look at the overall picture of things. Northeastern’s niche is it’s quarter system and the co-op program. That’s what makes this school unique and different from the others. Drexel University will become the only school with such qualities that I know of. If they are smart, they will capitalize off to of that uniqueness, something that NU has been able to do. The majority of entrants chose this school for its co-op program. It just makes sense to have co-op because it gives the students a competitive edge in the market. We leave with experience and we are able to share our experiences in class. Now why would we want to be like everyone else in order to reach the top 100 status? Why couldn’t we just be who we are and make it? I feel like by the school switching the way it operates, we are essentially getting rid of all the things that have built this school up to what it is now. We’ve made it this far so why stop now?!
So throughout my time here, I’ve made a list in my head of why switching would not be good for student life, as for administration, I really don’t know how much of an impact it will make because that’s a division of the school that I’m not to familiar with. The list is in no particular order of importance.
1. Transfer. It makes it easier for students to transfer out of here. Since we will be on the same system, transferring to another school will not be as difficult. Though other students will be able to transfer in, one of the requirements for obtaining a top 100 spot is to have retention among your freshmen class. Switching to semesters is going to make it easier for freshmen to leave.
2. Vacation time. Breaks. Whatever you want to call it, the overall assumption is that with the semester system, we’ll have a break like other schools. Students have taken for granted the time schedule of our system. Because we are in school when others are not, this is the time to invite our friends over. They are able to come because they are not in school. Plus, after a while, having long breaks becomes unproductive. If you decide to work, you have to compete with all the other students who are on break trying to work. Which leads to my other point…
3. Competition. NU students will be competing with all the other schools for resources such as jobs, artists for concerts, places to do events (Harbor Cruise, FleetCenter, Fenway, etc.), and parking (there’s more parking around campus since Wentworth has been done with school).
4. Education. Now some say that by switching, the quality of education will improve. b.s.! Granted for certain majors, the switch is more beneficial. However, the more time students have to study over a subject, they more time they have to b.s. as well. Either way, the quality of education is improved only when the student themselves take the initiative and with the type of professors that chosen to do the job. As mentioned earlier, I’m only a business major, I have not had the chance to really sit down and analyze the situation. From my experience the quarter system has been a great compliment to the business department for its stability and flexibility of courses offered. I’m glad that some courses are divided into two parts rather than smooshing them together in one semester.
5. Do the NU shuffle. The Shuffle is not going to go away. As a matter of fact, it’s going to dig it’s roots deeper into the ground because of the fact that no one knows what’s going to happen when the school switches over. No one ever knows, that’s why you have to consult different people i.e. academic, co-op, finance, bursars, and registrars office. The pulse survey showed that a good chunk of freshmen through middlers have not gone to see their advisors. Now what’s going to happen to them when time comes close for them to graduate and they have not made the appropriate preparations. It is mandatory for juniors to see their advisor because their last year will be semesters. I’m so glad I will not be here when the switch happens. No matter what the university does, there is always going to be the shuffle unless they change the way operations are done and some how some way synchronize all of the departments into one system that can be accessed by the advisor or someone like that with whom students can go to for the MAJORITY of their questions. myneu.edu is a great start. Semesters, not.
Personally, I don’t think it’s too late to keep the school the way it is. You can’t please everyone. For some reason, the school really thinks that in order for us to compete we need to be semesters. There is no semester system requirement in the equation towards becoming a Top 100. Admissions is not increasing right now because we are semesters. Those entering know that this is a five year co-op school. That’s why they come here. It is up to NU to keep them here, improve the quality of education, and to get those who graduate to participate. I’m about to graduate and am one of the very few who know how significant donating my $20.03 + will be. Am I going to donate? Hmmm. Will I encourage others to do so? Hmmm … I am very capable of achieving both. Would I like this school to be a top 100? Of course. Yet, I believe we can do it our way not theirs (the ones who appoint us into the position).
– Candice J. Shaw is a senior business management major.