Chance Me For The Class Of 2021?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northeastern University
1

Hey, everyone! My senior year is approaching very quickly, so I have been constantly touring colleges. This weekend, ona family trip in Boston, I visited Northeastern and fell in love. I could definitely see myself there as a student. However, the admissions statistics made me a little nervous. Would I have a chance? I know the school is very competitive.

Weighted GPA: 3.88
Unweighted GPA: 3.78

Intended Major: Communication Studies

SAT: 2010
610 Math
670 Critical Reading
730 Writing

School does not rank.

Classes:
Freshman Year - CP English I (A-), Guitar (A), Web Design (A+), Spanish 2 (A), CP World History (A), Biology (A-), Algebra 1 (B+)
Sophomore Year - Online Financial Lit §, Chemistry (A-), Geometry (A-), Honors English II (A-), Honors US 1 (A-), Spanish 3 (A), Video Production (A)
Junior Year (current) - AP English Language and Composition (A-), Algebra 2 w/ Trig (C-), Physics (B-), Honors US 2 (A), Spanish 4 (A), Advanced Video Production (A+)
Senior Year (planned courses) - Honors Forensics, AP Literature and Composition, AP World History, Spanish 5, Journalism, Functions/Statistics/Trigonometry

ECs:

  • National Honors Society
  • Spanish Honors Society
  • Volunteer at local camp (9)
  • Head counselor at local camp (10, 11)
  • JV Football (9)
  • JV Lacrosse (10, 11)
  • Varsity Lacrosse (11)
  • Winter League Lacrosse (11)
  • Ethics Club (9, 10, 11)
  • Teens Against Cancer (10)
  • Business and Investment Club (10, 11)
  • DECA (11)
  • Editor of School Newspaper (11)
  • Iona College Mentor Correspondence
  • Spain Pen Pal Correspondence (11)
  • Peer Leadership Program (11)
  • Intern at award-winning film production firm (10, 11)
  • Helped create trailer for the film “The Westies”
  • Assisted in the creation process of an internship PSA
  • Assisted in the creation process of an video advertisement for “Perfect Limo” limousine rentals
  • Helped market/promote internship as part of a GoFundMe campaign (raised $1000+)
  • Attended and helped edit footage from Barbershop Studios Network Event
  • Shot footage on Canon EOS Rebel T5 camera for Broadway Night at Pascack Hills High School (Guest speakers from broadway musicals, tv shows, etc.)
  • 75+ hours from summer volunteer jobs/church

What worries me the most is that my grades did drop a bit my junior year, mostly due to me not getting along well with a few of my teachers. (Though, I do know this is no excuse.) Will this matter a lot in the admissions process? Thanks in advance!

2

I think it’s fair to say that Northeastern is not by any means out of reach.

No one can say what they will think on specifics of your application, but your test scores are around the 25th percentile (and especially low when writing is removed), which means that while you have a shot, 75% of people at Northeastern will have higher test scores. Your GPA is hard to say since it varies widely by high school, but it seems like it would fall on the higher end, despite your junior year.

You seem to have a clear direction toward your major in your app, and while Northeastern is stats driven, it is truly a holistic process - people are always shocked every year around admissions that high stats person X was denied while middle-level stats person Y was accepted.

If you could, try getting your test scores up - it would go a long way. Have you taken the ACT? Northeastern superstores both tests, so retaking the SAT could also really help.

Overall, you have a chance, but I think Northeastern is a low reach to high match school for you. Don’t set hopes very high, but don’t give up all hope by sny means.

3

@PengsPhils Awesome! Thanks for the advice. I’ll definitely keep it in mind.

4

@NotSoSerious I agree with peng, most likely a low reach , more like a match in my opinion, and he/she is right, northeasterns admissions cares about grades and EC so some students with high scores may be denied while others with not so high scores be accepted. Your EC are good maybe try something in a professional field, i personally interned at a law firm and had them right one of my letters, school is awesome, atmosphere is great and facilities and resources are great, i hope it does work out for you, keep your grades up, and make sure to have a strong essay.

5

@raulhumber2 Thanks! I’ll visit my guidance counselor and see if she has any options regarding a professional internship. I’ll also be sure to keep my grades up. :slight_smile:

6

It is worth applying. You have good EC. What is your race and financial status ?

7

@dnstudent26 I’m white and come from an upper middle class family.

8

You may get in in, but likely won’t get merit. Can you afford this school at 60K? Something to keep in mind.

9

@suzyQ7 Costs are something I’m definitely keeping in mind and discussing with my parents.

10

@NotSoSerious i do want to remind you that you will most likely have 3 co-op jobs while at northeastern in increments of 6 months at a time, most co-ops pay wellm so it would also help lower the cost as well as give you time incase you need to save up, and most students leave with a job after undergrad, so definetly something to also consider, right now i would not worry too much of cost until your decision and who knows they could give you a merit, a year is a long time from now.

11

I disagree with the above poster. Read some results threads (including Northeastern’s). The time to think about money is now! With your current GPA and SAT scores you may get in, but won’t get merit. If you don’t qualify for financial aid (you need to figure out if you do by running the Net Price Calculator on any college’s website) you will have to pay $60K per year. If you can’t afford that, focus on schools you can afford.

Also, paid coops will only cover your room and board (if you are lucky), not tuition. Don’t count on them to reduce your tuition expenses @NotSoSerious

12

@raulhumber2 @suzyQ7 Yeah, co-op’s were something I talked up with the head of the communications department when I visited. He also brought up that I would not be paying room and board on a co-op. (I would most likely be doing my co-op’s in New York City, being that I live just a few miles outside of it.) I’ll run my numbers through a Net Price Calculator and see what I come up with.

13

@NotSoSerious that is correct, during co op you dont pay for room and board, and tuition, hence the 6 month increments, they do cycle jan-jun, july- december you would pay the tuition of spring and most likely a summer 1 session (only way that northeastern students can get the necessary credits), then go off to co-op, they would consider you a student and everything you just wouldnt pay for the months that your in co-op. I totally understand the number aspect, but if you do lets say 6 months of school, then 6 months of co op you and youe family could save for those 6 months. Either good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

14

@raulhumber2 Thanks! And thank you for the advice too. :slight_smile:

15

I’m just gonna offer some advice, raise your test scores. That will get you into Northeastern. Tons of kids from my school with high GPA’s (weighted 4.5 and above) were rejected and had amazing EC’s and athletic achievements. I’m talking ranks 2,3,4. They all had SATs under 2000 and depended on their ECs to get them in.

They were rejected because they didn’t score high enough on SAT/ACT. I have decent EC’s but I have a 33 ACT and 2110 SAT, and I truly think that is what got me accepted. My GPA was only a 3.78 UW/ 4.34W at the time. Another example would be my friend who had almost no extracurriculars/sports all four years except a club historian position that got accepted off the waitlist. He scored a 32 ACT and had a 4.4W GPA. Another kid from my school that got in had a 2000 SAT and low GPA, but his course rigor was INSANE (had 2 college dual enrollment nightly classes a week) and was Hispanic. Two other people got in, one with a 2360 and the other a 2100.

Of course the essay is important, and EC’s are important, but this is purely anecdotal advice from what happened my highschool.

Good luck. Try out the ACT, it may surprisingly give you better results.

For now I’d suggest you focus on studying for tests.

Maybe find a volunteer/internship opportunity this summer like I did, but honestly test scores are key. Northeastern wants to up their ranking and increase their average test score rates. And the essay is significant too as NEU does not have any supplemental essays, so start brainstorming ideas.