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How to Prepare for the End of The Semester

By: SSG Emily Niedermeyer

The end of the spring 2023 semester is fast approaching. With classes officially ending on April 19 and finals starting April 21, there are only about 3 and a half weeks left of readings, in-class assignments, final projects and final exams. And at the end of that long road of coursework comes the stressors of preparing for a departure from Boston (if you will not be staying for the summer semester), moving and a limited number of days to cross things off your Boston bucket list.

Here are some tips on how to prepare for the end of the semester:

The first thing on every student’s mind is, of course, classes. To prepare for the chaos at the end of the semester, it is always recommended to make a to-do list. It is helpful to lay out each assignment for all your classes in the last couple of weeks; include the due date, time and what course it is for. This way, you know which courses and which tasks to prioritize; this can decrease stress by laying out exactly what you need to complete and when you need to complete it.

Students should really focus on preparing for final assignments early. You do not want to be scrambling to finish projects or study for final exams in the final days or hours before they are due or when they occur. Of course, now is certainly a busy time, but if you come across some free time, it does not hurt to look ahead.

If one is going to be moving off campus or moving home at the end of the semester, you must prepare for that departure. This includes booking tickets or planning out the time and date to be picked up and driven home. Once the details are confirmed, you must consider all your stuff! Can you bring everything from your dorm room or apartment home? Or do you have to put some of your belongings into storage? Northeastern provides student storage; you can box up your belongings and they will take care of picking them up and even dropping them off at the start of the next semester. This provides a convenient opportunity when home is too far for a drive.

If you are staying on campus, you need to confirm your housing for the summer semester; if you get to stay in the same housing as the spring, perfect! If you are moving to alternative housing, you must figure out how you are getting your stuff from one location to the next. Northeastern allows you to use the moving carts for easy transportation, but you must plan for that in advance.

So, what is next? That is up to you. Is there anything else you want to do during your time in Boston? Any places to visit? Any food to try? Any friends to see? If you are departing for the summer, it will be a couple months before returning to the city, so appreciate the time you have here before it comes to a temporary close.

Northeastern University is an amazing school and Boston is an amazing city. Take your time to cherish it and be well prepared for the end of the semester; it makes everything a lot easier in the long run.

7 Things to do in Boston this Winter

By: Jessica Xing

Go ice skating

Whether you’re a pro skater or a complete beginner, ice skating is a great way to have fun outside during the winter while warming your body up. Luckily for Northeastern students, Matthews Arena hosts multiple open skating sessions a week! All you need is a valid Husky ID card and your own ice skates. The full schedule can be found here. For those that would rather explore outside of campus or rent ice skates, another popular open is skating at the Frog Pond in Boston Common. The Frog Pond is open everyday starting at 10 am, with the full schedule found here. General admission is $8 and rental skates are $15. 

Visit a museum

Boston is also home to a number of exciting museums. Some of the most notable include the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts. All Northeastern students are able to gain free admission to the MFA, which is conveniently located right near campus! Just show your Husky ID to the person at the ticketing desk and proceed to admire the beautiful works of art on display. For a less art-related approach, consider visiting the Museum of Science or the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Explore the Boston Public Library

Located in Copley Square, the Central Boston Public Library is made up of two buildings: the elegant and historic McKim Building and the more modern Boylston Street Building. The McKim Building is best known for the Bates Reading Room. With stunning architecture and iconic green lamps, this is a great spot for studying and getting work done. The library also hosts a variety of events that can be found on their website. Best of all, signing up for a library card is completely free, just be sure to bring a valid picture ID and proof of residency in Massachusetts!

See a show in the Theatre District

Featuring both Broadway and off-Broadway productions, the Theatre District in Boston is a great way to find entertainment indoors during the harsh winter months. From stand-up comedy to musicals and concerts, the Theatre District has something for everyone. Upcoming shows can be found at this link.

Catch a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert

Another great indoor activity for the winter months, this is a must for music-enthusiasts or anyone who enjoys classical music. Located very close to campus, Symphony Hall hosts a variety of concerts featuring extremely talented artists. Additionally, the venue itself is beautiful inside and has world-renowned acoustics.

Try a new restaurant

With plenty of diverse cuisines, Boston is definitely a great place to try out new restaurants! Some suggestions include Italian in the North End, Asian in Chinatown, and classic New England seafood in the Government Center area. For some other delicious, more casual venues check out Time Out Market, Quincy Market, and the Boston Public Market!

Stay inside and have a movie night

If you really don’t feel like going out (which is completely understandable) it’s always nice to have a chill movie night! With the right amount of cozy blankets, hot chocolate, popcorn and other snacks, having a movie night alone or with friends is a great way to pass the time in winter. Besides using a laptop, monitor, or TV, there are also mini projectors you can buy to upgrade your movie experience.

While the chilly Boston winter may seem discouraging, hopefully this list has sparked some ideas and inspired you to try some fun new activities!

The Ultimate Guide to Studying Abroad – SSG Marissa Munoz

So, you’re thinking about studying abroad? Well, here’s a breakdown of what options are available and how to choose one that’s right for you.

Now, let’s get familiar with the programs Northeastern offers. The types of global experiences can be categorized into 4 designations: global co-op, traditional study abroad, Dialogue of Civilizations, and specialized entry programs.

Global Co-Op:

This is exactly what it sounds like! It’s a co-op… but abroad! Picking the best option for you involves discussing details with your co-op advisor, assessing your financial situation, and researching housing options. Some co-ops will provide housing, but not pay. Some pay and leave you to find housing. Some don’t provide either! However, there are countless global co-ops for all majors and fields, so if it is something you’re interested in, it is definitely worth a look!

Traditional Study Abroad:

This is a semester abroad at another university anywhere in the world. Northeastern has agreements with many universities around the globe, but since they are not run directly through Northeastern you will have to double-check on how/if courses transfer. This is a great way to interact with students from other American universities also studying abroad as well as full-time degree-seeking students from the foreign institution.

Dialogue of Civilizations:

These are 4-6 week summer programs that typically offer credit for two classes and take place in one or more countries. There are typically a couple pre-departure orientation meetings, so you get to meet the people that you will spend a majority of your time with for about a month. These run for Summer 1 and Summer 2 and every college have their own programs, but students are encouraged to apply for what they are interested in! The Honors Program runs Honors Dialogues which will fulfill the Interdisciplinary Seminar requirement. This is a great way to learn a lot about a specific topic and work closely with other students who share the same interests.

Specialized Entry:

These programs are for incoming freshmen, so I’ve only included brief summaries.

• Global Quest: This is a first-year, second-semester program, so students are placed into fall housing together in Boston. While there, they live in a Global Quest LLC and complete pre-departure programming and orientation events throughout the semester. Spring destinations vary by major, and while abroad there are program excursions and activities.
• N.U.in: This is a first-year, first-semester program (it’s Global Quest’s twin!). This means that students spend their first semester somewhere abroad, then matriculate and come to Boston for their spring semester.
• Global Scholars: It’s a first-year, full-year program where students study abroad for the entirety of their freshman year! They matriculate as Northeastern students the fall of their second year.

To learn more about specific programs and opportunities, check out the GEO website. Remember, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone & definitely meet with your academic advisor AND the program advisor. Good luck, and bon voyage!

By: SSG Emily Niedermeyer

After months of lectures, readings and practice work, finals season is now upon us. A whole week is dedicated to preparing for presentations, writing papers and of course, studying for exams. Finals week is arguably the most busy and stressful week of the semester and it can often be very overwhelming for college students. Completing academic work or studying for tests is never the most enjoyable activity, but it can be easier and more efficient with these simple tips. 

1. Plan Ahead: Lay out a game plan for the week or couple days that you have ahead of you. Knowing your schedule for the next couple of days really helps when planning what you’re going to study and when. It also helps finals week in general seem a lot less intimidating. Instead of spending mental energy stressed about how much you need to complete, plan it out and take it one day at a time. 
2. Distribute Study Tasks: If you have a final exam in five days, devise a plan to figure out what you are going to study each day, in advance. For example, if there are twelve modules in the course, plan to go through three modules every day and save the last day to go through particularly difficult concepts. If you go into study sessions knowing exactly what you need to complete, there’s a much higher chance of you absorbing more information in a more effective manner. 
3. Don’t Procrastinate: It can be so easy to keep pushing tasks to the next day, especially with exams and essays that count for over 25% of your final grade. I know that procrastination is so much more appealing sometimes, but preparing early not only makes the whole process less stressful, but you have a better chance of doing better. Eliminate distracting environments (or people) and get to work!
4. Use Your Resources: First of all, take advantage of office hours and professor assistance. Professors are there to teach and to help you learn. If you don’t understand something or need help figuring out what or how to study, ask! Professors almost always continue to hold their usual office hours during finals week and even expand those hours for students to ask questions. Sometimes, they will even hold a review session. 
   1. Study groups with other students in the class are also extremely helpful. Talking through coursework or figuring out problems can be extremely beneficial because you now have other people to talk it through with. Supportive accountability is also extremely helpful when working with a group. You want to not only help yourself do well, but you want to help others do well too. 
5. Take Care of Yourself! To reiterate, yes finals week is extremely stressful and often mentally draining. Nothing, however, is more important than your mental and physical health. Know when it’s time to take a break, because sometimes that is more helpful to you than taking the extra hour and draining yourself even more. Take naps, eat lots of snacks and socialize with friends. Finals are important of course, but your well being is more important.