<p>^Yeah, that’s a popular option because NU has promised to adjust financial aid proportionally each year to the amount of tuition increase (even though you still get shortchanged that way…)</p>
<p>If they offer $20,000 in merit aid, they only have to give you $20,000 each year, even if tuition rises to $80,000 your sophomore year. If the $20,000 is offered in grant aid, they have to increase it each year with tuition. Sneaky, sneaky NU.</p>
<p>@novafan1225, I bet Northeastern lures mediocre, wealthy students with big merit scholarships. Then, when the student fails to meet the GPA threshold, bye-bye scholarship! Now you’re full pay!</p>
<p>Or perhaps the accepted students were athletes…they accepted a classmate of my daughters that isn’t even close to being a competitive student because of a sport. That stung. Oh well, for whatever reason, I hope my daughter gives up the love for a school that didn’t love her back</p>
<p>@RPIAlumni86: Looking back on the self reported decision threads on CC, applicants who got merit aid posted scores at or above the 70th percentile of admitted students, I would hardly call that “mediocre”.</p>
<p>@lje62: Unfortunately, recruited athlets tend to get favored treatment at virtually every school, even the Ivies to an extent. </p>
<p>My comments were tongue in cheek, as I believe Novafan’s are as well. I am sure that Northeastern very carefully considers who gets merit awards. I am very grateful that my freshman son received a generous Dean’s scholarship.</p>
<p>Confused. How is it possible for someone to get accepted into Honors Programs with a lower merit scholarship than another person who was NOT accepted in Honors Program? The same school for both students. Neither are athletes.</p>
<p>I suppose the criteria for honors and for merit vary somewhat.</p>
<p>Maybe something has changed in the last 7 years , but back when my daughter was accepted to Bouve , she received the Dean’s Scholarship , but not accepted into honors. When we questioned it, we were told she could appeal. After weighing it all out, decided not to. She got nice merit and great education that paved the way to a career she is so excited about. She is currently enrolled in an accelerated nurse practitioner program and her education at NEU put her at a clear advantage over some of her current classmates .</p>
<p>yeah i’m confused about that too. I received a pretty high scholarship and apparently its awarded only to the top percentage of applicants, however, i was not invited to the honors program whereas students who did not receive the merit scholarship was</p>
Committees are probably different for deciding scholarships and honors program and how and what the look at to decide to accept or not are likely somewhat different. There is likely a good sized overlap of students who get scholarships are also invited to honors program, but getting one obviously does not insure getting the other.
Honors goes to the top 10% of applicants. That doesn’t necessarily make them the most sought after, just the highest ranked. Merit is based on how badly the school wants you to attend. These kids are still in the top 25% but have additional attributes they are looking for. Usually honors kids are the most sought after and the ones offered the highest merit but not always.
Honors is also determined by college (top 10% from each college), but I’m not sure if scholarships are also done by college in the same way. That might play a role if they are determined university-wide instead.
Does anyone know if admitted students can go back and negotiate for additional scholarship money? I’ve seen it discussed at other schools, just wondering what the deal is at Northeastern. My son was accepted but got one of those Northeastern Achievement awards which starts Sophomore year. Not complaining at all, it all helps, but when the final decision comes about he will probably have more merit $$ from other schools so it could become a factor. Just wondering if it is something we should think about.
^No, you can’t. You can negotiate financial aid (in the form of asking for a formal appeal), but I’d only recommend that if you think there’s a serious oversight/change in situation…when re-evaluating, NU reserves the right to actually decrease your aid (probably as a way to deter everyone from doing so), and last year on the accepted students page I saw more than a few kids whining that they requested an appeal and their aid decreased significantly.
Afterthought: I think this year NU is promising to meet need so idk if the financial appeal info is even still accurate? Regardless, merit is non-negotiable.
NU is meeting need this year, as they define it.
does anyone know if you can appeal their lack of an honors college invitation?
@nehc97 Nope, all admissions decisions are final. Honors is top 10% of each college from what we know, if you make it you do and if you don’t you don’t. It’s a nice program but not a huge deal or anything, don’t worry too much- you can transfer in as a sophomore.
Does anyone know if admissions answer emails during break? I sent them an email a couple weeks ago and never heard back. When do they come back from break?
@Juggerz Everyone is on break until tomorrow.
I have a question…
I am a junior and Northeastern is my first choice school. I am deciding whether to apply early decision or early action. This is my definite first choice, but do early decision applicants get less of a chance at receiving scholarships and entry into the honors program?