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Not quite the Boston skyline, but I'll take it. Co-op in NY is really pretty great.

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I’m back!

Hi everyone!

Hope you’re as excited as I am ;)

After a summer hiatus, my blog is back in action! Now, since we parted, a LOT has happened in my life. Instead of spelling it all out in one lengthy, boring blog post that’ll you’ll scroll right through (TL:DR - I know how it goes), here’s a quick look into what I’ve been up to since May:

I backpacked through South America

I watched so many of my friends graduate

I moved back home

I started co-op in NYC

The above list is just a glimpse into what I’ll be updating you with over the next few months, as well as my life on co-op outside Boston, and of course, the emotional roller coaster that is senior year. Yes, you read that right. I am officially a fifth year, and officially feeling like an old lady. So I’m looking at you - Northeastern Tumblr scrollers - for support through this very trying time (just kidding, of course. Senior year is going to be amazing). 

So follow along if you’re interested in Northeastern, or if you just have any questions about the college application process in general. I’ve got you covered. 

Until next time,

Jess

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EmpowerTrip Dubai: Day 3

So I know it’s been a few days since I last posted, but I think that’s a pretty clear reflection of how wonderfully busy I was during my last few days in the UAE.

Friday began with more Young Global Leaders events, including sessions like Disruptive Innovation featuring Rich D’Amore of the D’Amore McKim School of Business, as well as Observations from the C-Suite, where high level execs from around the globe gave insights into today’s business landscape. Since I have an interest in community relations and corporate social responsibility, I was extremely excited to hear from Maha Al-Juffali Ghandour, of the Saudi Arabia based organization, The Help Center. Her session on philanthropy brought the audience to their feet for a standing ovation. 

Next up was the event I’d been waiting months and months for...Empower Dubai! The event space was full of stages, screens, video and photo booths, and exhibits that showcased just how extraordinary Northeastern is. At the start of the event, President Aoun spoke to all attendees - Northeastern students and families of the past, present, and future - about how Northeastern can help shape every student’s story and guide them on the path to success. 

During the event, I collected stories from alumni and current studies, and heard how Northeastern has empowered them. Each person had such a unique experience at Northeastern, yet a common thread united all of their stories: Northeastern helped them realize their full potential. I also asked them to describe Northeastern in one single word (a bit of a challenge). Their responses? 

Community. Fulfilling. Transformative. Creative. Awesome. 

(Can’t say I disagree!)

A glimpse into my booth and the process of gathering stories. 

The event was a huge success, and I believe left everyone feeling inspired, and most of all, confident in the work that Northeastern is doing to produce students that will make a difference across the globe. 

Another benefit of the night? I finally got a much sought after selfie with President Aoun, and the chance to talk with Rich D’Amore (I’m a minor within the D’Amore McKim School of Business).

I look back to my first post I did on how Northeastern empowered me, and I realize how much I’ve grown in just the one year since I posted it. Wherever I go with whatever challenges I face, I know NU’s got my back.

Oh, and to answer the tough question of the one word to describe Northeastern?

Possibilities. 

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EmpowerTrip Dubai: Day Two

Three words to describe my day? Young Global Leaders.

The Young Global Leaders (YGL) are a group of Northeastern alum who have been recognized for their potential in expanding Northeastern’s footprint across the globe. This group truly spans the globe, ranging from the US to Saudi Arabia, to Germany, to Singapore. Each one offers something unique. Whether they’re developing transportation apps that better protect women, traveling the globe doing physical therapy, or bringing their skills to major organizations around the world, these huskies are game changers making Northeastern’s mission of global entrepreneurship come to life. As President Aoun said this afternoon, “The owners of the University are the alumni”. This will definitely be something I think about as the thought of graduation lingers in my mind (one more year!). 

The day with the YGLs kicked off with a forum with Petrochem CEO, Yogi Mehta (whose son is a Young Global Leader). He talked about his successes, failures, and running a family business.

Some soundbites from Yogi’s talk (as per my live tweeting):

So I guess it goes without saying that it was an amazing day. Also on the agenda? Sneaking in some R&R on the beach, seeing the Burj Al Arab at sunset, and of course, enjoying a delicious dinner and nighttime city views. 

Here’s a glimpse into what today looked like: 

Not a bad place to relax, huh? 

The Burj Al Arab as the sun was setting. 

The event space is almosssst ready. Just wait until I post photos of the final product! 

Tomorrow is the Empower Dubai event, which is going to be absolutely phenomenal. I cannot wait to swap stories with past, present, and future huskies. Stay tuned for more event recaps and photos!

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EmpowerTrip Dubai: Day One

I survived a full day of travel across the world, and am successfully settled in Dubai! After refueling (through the perfect combination of a breakfast buffet and nap), we traveled to the One & Only Royal Mirage Resort where the Empower Dubai event will be held on Friday.  After a tour of the grounds and a beach-side lunch with the Global Officers (they’re President Aoun’s co-ops, and they’re doing amazing things around the world), event prep was in full swing. 

Made a quick pit stop to the Dubai Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in the world and is totally mind blowing. Plus the courtyard outside gives you great views of the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. 

Side note about Dubai: To me, Dubai is like a futuristic city that has been dropped in the middle of the desert, and it’s unlike any other city I've traveled to. A mix of culture, technology, and unbelievable beauty. A must see!

I get to spend tomorrow with an inspiring group of people, Northeastern’s Young Global Leaders. These alumni are making incredible differences around the world, so check my Twitter (@Jessica_Mertens) all day tomorrow for some live tweeting and inspiration. 

اتمنى لك ليلة هانئة! (That’s ‘Have a good night’ in Arabic!)

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Sunrises like these make early morning wake up calls totally worth it.

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Alrighty folks...I'm heading to Dubai on Tuesday! 

I am so happy to announce I'll be traveling to Dubai with Northeastern's Empower Campaign, serving as a student ambassador and collecting stories from past, present, and future huskies. 

I'll be chronicling my time in the UAE here on my blog, and through Twitter (check out #EmpowerDubai & follow me @Jessica_Mertens). 

I look forward to sharing this opportunity with you all! If you're a future husky that's planning on attending the Empower event in Dubai - I'd love to chat! 

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You have such a cool major! I was wondering, what career or job are you hoping to get out of college?

Thanks! Ideally, I'd like to go into corporate communications and community engagement. Let me know if you're interested in Comm as a major as well - as I'd love to chat with you more!

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hi! can you tell me how to register for a welcome day? im having quite a bit of trouble figuring it out and have already booked my flight for it, so i really do need to register. thank you!! :)

Hi! You should be able to register through the self service tab of your admitted student portal. Let me know if you have any more questions about this - and let me know which Welcome Day you're attending (I may be working at it!)

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I go to a small high school (less than 500) and I'm pretty used to having that "I know most people" community feel. I'm worried that NU's much larger size doesn't give that feel, though I'm encouraged by the fact that the university is still a campus and so you'll see people more? I don't know, it's very subjective, but I describe my high school as "a special place" because of its community. Does Northeastern still have that community feel despite its larger size? How do you like NU? Thanks :)

Hi there! 

One of my favorite things about Northeastern is the sense of community. You feel it in your classes, residence halls, sporting events, and even just roaming the campus. I always find that no matter where I am on campus, I can count on seeing a familiar face. Having a strong and tangible community was really important for me as well when I was touring schools, and I've definitely found that here. 

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November 21st 2014. View of Boston while doing laundry. I had a pretty cool dorm, if I may say so.

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Hi I have a quick question. How easy is it to switch from International Affairs into International Business or just add International Business as a second major after admittance into NU as an International Affairs major. Thanks so much!

Hi -  as they are in different schools (IA is in Social Science and Humanities and IB is in the business school), you'll need to work with academic advisors in both schools. You'll find out who your academic advisor is when you go to orientation and have a chance to meet with them, so I suggest bringing up any plans you have to make the switch. I've come to find (not just in NU, but also in life!), the less you put things off, the easier they become. 

Hope this helped! Let me know if I can be of any further assistance :) 

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Hey! I applied EA to the school of science for psychology and I was just wondering if you knew how competitive that school is and how hard it would be to get in to?

Hi - the schools have a pretty equal acceptance rate across the board, which I believe is in the low 30%. If you want more specifics, you can always talk to an admissions counselor and email admissions@neu.edu!

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Northeastern has three main dining halls that accept meal swipes, as well as the AMAZING Rebecca’s Cafe. All of the dining halls have something different to offer and are *surprisingly* pretty good. Also important to note, at Northeastern, the meal plan is based on swipes — so you swipe in and…

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This is me and my fantastic team on my last day of work at Staples HQ. So lucky to have worked for my dream company with the best teammates surrounding and supporting me.

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Faneuil Hall at Christmas