STEM SCHOOL DEBUNKED: How the Arts are Alive and Well at Northeastern

One of my favorite questions to receive as a tour guide is one that prospective students ask most commonly: “Is Northeastern a STEM school?” While we are known for having strong STEM-related colleges and departments, the truth is Northeastern is NOT ONLY for STEM! My name is Sean Drew, and I am a third-year Graphic and Information Design student in the College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern. Design is the only thing I am studying—no combined majors or minors. The only time I ever encounter STEM-related fields in my time here is through NUPath courses, which are Northeastern’s version of core curriculum classes. As someone who also thought of Northeastern as a STEM school when I was applying to colleges, I was apprehensive about whether or not Northeastern would be a good fit for me and be able to set me on the path to a successful career in graphic design. Would CAMD have the same resources? Would opportunities for design exist outside the classroom? Would I be better off at a school only for the arts? After two full academic years here, I am extremely happy I chose Northeastern and feel confident I am on the right track towards the career I want.

I remember starting classes my first semester of my first year here and immediately feeling like I was where I belonged. In high school I took my first courses in graphic design and learned some of the basics of the Adobe Creative Suite. In my Northeastern classes, I’ve been exposed to design history, the visual language of typography, and learning more contextual knowledge about how successful designs function in the real world. Some of my favorite classes I’ve taken are Typography I, II, and III, Graphic Design History, and Visual Intelligence.

Involvement in the arts on campus is not limited to the classroom, either. Among our 500+ clubs on campus there are dozens dedicated to the arts. There are theatrical groups such as No Jokes Improv, musical groups such as The Nor’Easters, and design opportunities in clubs like Scout, Generate, and Green Line Records. Two clubs related to the arts that I am involved in are Tastemakers Magazine and Times New Roman. Tastemakers Magazine is an undergraduate-run magazine focused on music journalism, music criticism and Boston’s live-music culture. I am on Tastemakers’ design team, taking articles that our writers produce and creating magazine spreads with my own imagery and layout. Times New Roman is a stand-up comedy club where we play games, create comedy skits, and prepare stand-up routines for our open-mic nights and shows. So not only are there multiple organizations on campus that amplify the arts on campus, but a widespread community of Huskies—STEM majors and arts majors alike—who care about the arts on campus. They all come together to share their creativity, passion, and hearts with the Northeastern community.

So if you are a prospective student who is considering majoring in the arts but still have doubts about whether or not you’ll find a home at Northeastern—I can assure you now that you will. As someone who considered Northeastern against colleges that were specifically for the arts, I struggled with the thought of whether or not I would get the best education at Northeastern. But I did my research: I compared Northeastern’s Design program to those of other schools, and felt that Northeastern had an edge over the others because of its emphasis on experiential learning. I attended information sessions and visited the Boston campus, and became so confident in wanting to go to Northeastern that I applied Early Decision (https://admissions.northeastern.edu/application-information/early-decision-benefits/). I have never second-guessed my decision since coming here because I truly feel like I belong to—and contribute to—our vibrant arts community on campus. My advice for anyone else in a similar situation would be to view schools with an unbiased eye. Disregard any reputation you might have heard about a school and think critically about what that school’s program can do for you to help you meet your goals. You might find that the most unlikely choice could be the best fit for you.