I think I have the scores/GPA/leadership to get into NEU’s honors college, but with the amount of top applicants increasing, I would like to know how exactly Northeastern determines who is in the top 10% of applicants. Are numbers put into an algorithm that calculates the top 10%?
Good friend’s D is in their Honors program. She had top grades and test scores, including on AP tests. She didn’t have any outstanding leadership that I am aware of. I know another kid who had top everything and was offered a full ride. This kid was truly exceptional though, and had multiple honors in his musical instrument and his sport.
I Imagine they pull out the best students and a few spare, until they have their spots filled. I don’t know if they need an algorithm. When they review applications, they probably create a pile of top students that they want, who have the top grades and test scores. It’s probably just a part of the selection process.
With the phasing out of the Scholars program there are no full tuition merit scholarships at Northeastern at this point although I would not be surprised if some students receive such an offer with their EA decisions. (That’s how the Scholars program was announced 5 years ago.)
The only full ride scholarships ever at Northeastern are for selected graduates of Boston public high schools and the Torch program.
@TomSrOfBoston do you know anything about how the honors college selects applicants?
@ap012199 No, sorry. That has been debated in many threads here on CC over the years with no resolution.
Like all colleges, the honors programs are intended for the top students. They will not be able to determine that until the applicant pool is in. There cannot be any hard rule per se but if you are a student with perfect grades and scores, it is a good bet that not many people would beat you out of a spot.
It is not a disaster if you do not get into the honors program. You graduate with a 3.8+ and you will be fine even without being in the honors program. The point is to stand out with a high GPA just like you did in HS. Employers like the top students.
in many industries, they don’t even look at GPA. Experience is a lot more important in many cases. The same thing you said will apply, though: no employer will care about honors to any significant degree, from co-op to post-graduation.