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Meet Jake Zocco, a computer science and business student on a Northeastern world tour

In studying at three campuses over three years, Jake Zocco has become one of Northeastern's foremost globetrotters, and has added new dimensions to his education in the process.

March 5, 2026

by Caroline Baker Dimock

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For many students, the college experience is rooted in a single campus, a single city, and a familiar routine. Jake Zocco, a third-year computer science and business administration student, applied primarily to Boston-area colleges with the idea of staying close to home. But through Northeastern’s global network, he’s had experiences that brought him far and wide.  

From sun-soaked California to the bustle of Boston to historic London, Zocco has embraced a path that few undergraduates get to experience — a tri-campus adventure that has shaped not only his academic pursuits but also his outlook on life.  

 Zocco went to Oakland his freshman year not quite sure what to expect. 

“I thought ‘I’ll get through this year and move on to Boston,’ and I could not have been more wrong,” he said. 

The Oakland campus, he explained, surprised him in all the best ways. With a much smaller student body than Boston’s cohort of thousands of students, the campus fostered a tight-knit community that made it easier to forge friendships.  

“I grew up on the East Coast, so experiencing California was completely new,” Zocco said. “Going to the beach after classes in February — it was amazing.” 

Yet at the same time, Zocco yearned for a more spontaneous, bustling, exploratory city experience. As he transitioned to the Boston campus in his second year, he found a different set of advantages. Familiar faces from Oakland formed the foundation of his social life, and the established, organized routines of Boston added structure to his academic experience.  

Later, the opportunity to study in London arose with an exciting co-op to boot. While the co-op ultimately fell through, Zocco opted to jump to London anyway and found a city where travel and exploration were integral to student life.  

“I thought, ‘You know what — traveling is still a good experience,’” he said. “There are only about 50 kids in my program for my year and half of us are traveling to different countries every weekend, doing our own thing.”  

Classes there are comparatively less structured, involving fewer tests and assignments than his classes stateside but requiring more work during midterms and finals. London, Zocco says, has taught him more about cultural differences, independence, and self-discovery than any single classroom could. It also helped teach him that while he has enjoyed traveling, he especially loves the routine of staying in one place and learning deeply about both the area and its people. 

“I’ve learned a lot about myself just by being in new environments,” Zocco explains. “Knowing that I can quickly adapt to new environments, meet new people, and create a temporary home anywhere is huge.” 

Zocco’s network now spans the US and Europe, a testament to the doors that open when a student embraces community. In particular, he has also grown an appreciation for talking to new people.  

“I talk to everybody now,” he said, “Even strangers on the street. It’s fun to learn their stories and add new perspectives to my own.” 

Academically, Zocco remains grounded in computer science, but his entrepreneurial ambitions have grown alongside his global experiences.  

“I’m always working on little projects that might one day turn into a business,” he says. “Creativity drives me, and entrepreneurship allows me to channel that creatively and build something of my own.” 

Of the three campuses, Oakland holds a special place in Zocco’s heart. Beyond the novelty of California life, his first year in college represents a time of freedom and exploration. 

“Freshman year [in Oakland] isn’t just something to get through; it’s an opportunity,” he says. “No matter which campus you start on … it’s a chance to learn about yourself, experience a new part of the world, and have fun with the friends you make along the way.”