EA or RD?

Hi, first time posting a question, so please bear with me. My son is very interested in Northeastern for CSSH. He was under the impression that EA shows serious interest, but has been told most kids get deferred (which is fine, but may inform EDII strategy somewhere else if necessary). He has a 34 ACT (superscore 35), 3.9 UW gpa, meaningful ECs at Midwestern public school. A handful of APs, three of which he is currently taking (and feels good about so far). I understand the tactic of going RD to show rigor and good grades in senior year, but can anyone tell me if EA has admission advantage? And if accepted via EA, does a student learn simultaneously of his/her FA package? Is EA a good gambit for his profile? Thank you in advance!

In general, unless Senio year first semester is going to show something drastically different, EA is always a good bet with Northeastern. If you’re even close to a good candidate, you’ll be deferred and reconsidered with first semester grades. There isn’t really a risk of rejection that would have been an acceptance before said grades in nearly every case. The other scenario where RD may make sense is if you were waiting on test score grades, which won’t be the case while sitting on a 35.

If you are accepted EA and FAFSA etc is in, you will get a full FA package as well so it doesn’t hurt at all. You’ll get merit at the time of decision as well.

With a 3.9UW, there really isn’t much senior year grades could show.

As far as chances go, your son is in very good shape to be admitted EA and contend for merit/honors.

I agree with the above. Just be sure to get your CSS profile (and FAFSA) on time as well for NU So,you get your FA package with EA decision.

This is so helpful. Kind of you to reply. You seem to know a lot about Northeastern, so may I ask another question? Is there a difference between FA packages between EA and RD? Totally new to all of this, so I wondered if by applying early you are showing your hand about how eager you are… so they have you on the hook? Or is that silly?

Quick word of advice: people may not notice you’re talking to them if you don’t mention their username in your post like this: @PengsPhils

No. Both are nonbinding, both have the same consideration, according to an admissions officer I spoke with.

I don’t think playing hard to get is something you should be worried about here. If you were talking ED, then my answer would be different, but I highly doubt applying EA decrease your merit aid.

Submitting the optional essay is too much unnecessary demonstrated interest, though.

@coterie thanks for the advice! I don’t think he knows about an optional essay. I also didn’t think there was such a thing as too much interest – so an optional essay could seem like a nuisance? And thank you very much @PengsPhils and @twicemama

As a senior who’s working on his NU common app right now, I didn’t know about it either. But, according to another thread on this website, for the first time, NU allows students to submit a supplemental essay. It’s not on the common app; you must first submit the common app, receive your NU ID, log in to NU’s website, and then find the essay there.

I was recruited over the summer by Northeastern by some dumb luck. I got to meet with a bunch of counselors in one-on-one sessions. I asked (read: politely begged) for them to put up an optional supplementary essay so I could demonstrate interest, she mentioned the adcom was considering it. But she made it clear that demonstrated interest isn’t a factor for admission at NU. They don’t care how many, if any, infosessions you’ve been to.

So something makes me think that, since it won’t boost or hurt your chance for admission, it might alter how much money NU will throw at you.

I’m not sure, though. It’s just speculation. I have to submit a supplemental essay too, and you made me think about whether or not I should play it cool.

Regardless of this “play it cool or not” question, if you don’t have anything substantial to add to the application, don’t add it. Don’t annoy the admissions counselors with a meaningless ramble just to fill up space. If you submit the optional essay, don’t waste their time. Make it interesting.

@coterie @binky17 I have followed the decision threads here on CC for several years. Each year there are many students with superior stats (3.8 UW GPA, 2200+ SAT) who are outright denied. Some say it is yield protection, perhaps it is. For a student with superior stats it would be a good thing to complete the supplemental essay. While the Northeastern adcoms would suspect that Northeastern is not their first choice, a well written supplement would show that it is a backup school that the applicant would like to attend. There will be “guidelines” provided on what to include in the supplement so it is not free form.

Until someone submits their application and sees the guidelines we won’t know.

@coterie, I wonder if the counselor gave you bad advice. According to Northeastern’s most recent Common Data Set, they claim that they “consider” applicant interest. http://www.northeastern.edu/oir/pdfs/CDS%202015-16.pdf

I still follow the rule that if there is an optional essay - do it. I know schools like Tufts swear it doesn’t matter but how can it hurt (unless you are a lousy writer which would probably already show in your required essays). It gives you a chance to show interest (whether or not interest plays into the admission decision) and it gives you a chance to tell another story about yourself (and maybe that story is the one that captures the Adcoms attention).

I too have followed admissions here and it is hard to figure out why some high stat kids get rejected. With no Scholars Program and only the second year of both ED/EA and a new optional supplement and a spring NUin option - who can predict what will happen this year! “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride”

@kiddie The NUIn Spring option is for regular fall admits who are interested. It is a pilot program. Some applicants here on CC have asked if they could apply directly to NUIn so NU is trying out this option.

I am still baffled by the ending of the Scholars program. I suspect an alternative is planned that may only be announced with the acceptances next March. That is how the Scholars program was announced 5 years ago.

Perhaps in the optional supplement interest in and an understanding of experiential learning could be expressed. Also interest in overseas study or coop which is another focus of the school.

But I believe they said the honors program would be enhanced as a replacement for the schools program. In baffled that no info has been published on the details of that. Students applying EA, if they qualify for honors, should get theirs honors info when acceptances go out in December, right? @PengsPhils @TomSrOfBoston or others… Is there really no rumor or tidbits on what this new honors program will look like? my thought If they want to entice top students from other top schools, they will have to have that info ready by EA release.

NEU told me during a tour that demonstrated interest is considered, but lower importance.

When does the new CDS get released?

The CDS for the fall 2016 cohort is not released until March 2017. And yes EA applicants are notified of honors when accepted.