My son was awarded a merit scholarship that has a 3.0 GPA minimum requirement.
His major is Math, possibly a double with computer science (and/or minor in Spanish).
At NEU, how many students finish all 4-5 years while keeping their merit scholarship?
Ages ago when I attended WPI, kids were flunking out left and right (3 of them were my friends). In STEM, a 3.0 can be a pretty high bar, especially with the Boston city right there as another distraction.
Thanks.
My D’s friend maintained her scholarship all four years. I am sure many kids do. If you have concerns about your child, make clear the consequences of losing the scholarship.
I don’t think Boston is any more a distraction than a campus party.
Not NEU, but my daughter is graduating after 3 years as a science major at a big party school, 3.9. She is going to BU with a merit scholarship for grad school, I’m not worried. I have another daughter with a scholarship, still a freshman, playing hard, but making A’s (but business so nine of those week out STEM classes except math, she loves math). My sons stayed in state, didn’t trust them to not lose scholarships.
Many kids make the Dean’s list every semester and graduate with honors so I’m sure a lot. There are many smart, motivated students and there are peer tutors and professor office hours available if your child needs help. My son has really enjoyed Boston and gets a lot of As.
Both my D’s had no problem and made deans list most times, and both were super active socially and in clubs etc. I think most kids keep their merit scholarships.
My niece HS 08/ college 12 - STRUGGLED to keep her Presidential scholarship at University of Utah back in the day. It used to include tuition, room& board + a book stipend (not sure if it still does). They had to keep a 3.7 and, though she did it, she was STEM and it nearly wiped her out. Her parents were ticked off about the stress it put their dear daughter under and they vowed that they wouldn’t let any of their other kids go there. I remember at her graduation I heard that only 15%-20% of her Presidential scholar cohort kept their scholarships all 4 years. Supposedly Utah has since relaxed the standards, but it was intense. EDITED TO CORRECT: 3.7 was required, not 3.8
3.8 is a challenge anywhere. NU typically requires a 3.0 (B) average to maintain your scholarships and if you drop below, you are still give a semester to bring it back up.
McGill used to require a 3.7 to retain merit. My son did it, but he was in business, not STEM. McGill has since “relaxed” the requirement to a 3.5 after first year and 3.7 in later years.
A 3.0 is doable unless a student gets caught up in the party scene, which is not significant at Northeastern.
First semester is probably the riskiest in terms of GPA and scholarship loss, since the adjustment to college can be difficult for some students. Later semesters can also have risk of the student is just at the threshold or barely above it. However, if the student starts off substantially above the threshold, that can be a buffer against a later semester of lower grades.
Edited to correct: I talked to my sibling and their daughter had to have a 3.7 to maintain at Utah, not 3.8 (sorry!)
Yes, I think Utah’s 3.8 was indicative of a certain moment in time (Great Recession at that time, universities suffering in the $$ department, and it was just a bit before proactive concern for students’ mental health came to the forefront). I don’t know if Utah lowered the requirement for all majors, but I did hear first hand that STEM was lowered and the wider culture of mental self-care and awareness arrived there, too :).)
Depends on the major and classes the student is taking. My son is a second year comp sci major at NU but taking grad classes for the 4 plus one program and it is challenging. I’m kinda glad. Time to force them to develop those study, survival and find your resource skills. Crossing fingers he will be able to maintain his average to keep his scholarship.