Sorry, paywall, cannot figure out how to do a free link. But the gist of the article is that Northeastern is overadmitting, is overcrowded, and that students are having trouble finding their place at Northeastern after having spent a semester or a year at alternate sites away from the main campus, all as a result of the school’s efforts to maximize revenue by admitting to alternate campuses, without sufficient dorm space to accommodate those students when they arrive at the main campus after their first one or two semesters at alternate campuses.
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Apparently if you click on the link twice, you are taken beyond the paywall and can read the article.
One of the comments to the article mentions not being able to use 529 funds for the other freshman year campuses. Is there any truth to that?
This year’s app asks applicants to indicate their first, second, and third preferences for joining the Northeastern community. “Please note that you will be considered for all programs regardless of your answer.”
After reading the article and comments, which are about what I expected, not being able to clearly indicate in the application that Boston is the applicant’s only campus preference is even more irksome.
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Thank you for posting the article - really interesting read.
A friend’s daughter who is doing really well in her junior year said if she wasn’t from the Boston area - with lots of friends in the area and knowledge of the city - she would have been really miserable. We also know a sophomore who did NU-in and had a really tough second semester. She is hoping for a better year this year.
Fit seems to be even more important for NEU than most colleges. I think a student that is confident, independent, outgoing and social, very adventurous, and looking to build a work resume fast could thrive in this environment.
The inability to use 529 for some (all?) NU-in programs (mentioned in comments) is something I hadn’t thought about.
S24 has applied and really likes the combined major and program. But every time I ask him if he wants to switch to ED, he says he still isn’t sure it is the best fit for him and he wants the chance to compare it to other options. He understands that his chances of acceptance go way down without ED, but he is a bit concerned about students constantly moving on and off campus, not just for COOPs.
He wants a college campus experience in the backdrop of an urban setting. He is shy and lots of change can be challenging for him. He loves Boston (and London), but NEU might not be the best fit. I am glad he didn’t ED.
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Even if you could do this, I guarantee they would still offer some of these kids one of the non-Boston options, as their only choice if they want to attend.
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My son did his first year in Oakland in NU Bound. Overall I’d say it went fine for him. He developed a good group of friends that are all now housed together in Boston.
And we were able to pay his tuition with our 529 plan. I don’t know why they said they were unable to do so.
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That’s how they handled it previously. Even if you said you just wanted Boston, you could be offered an alternate campus.
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I think the 529 is only an issue for some of the international universities which may not have the federal school code. I don’t think Oakland campus would be any problem to pay via 529.
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Our S24 also was considering ED originally as he loves the combined degree programs they have and the co-op part. But he is also worried about the college experience and students moving on and off campus. He has decided to EA for now.
Good luck to your Son.
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Exactly same concern and we are doing EA as well.
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My son is a senior and has had a very good experience at Northeastern. He shares a 6-bedroom apartment with 5 friends, plays intramural softball, and has a busy social life. He has gone to Europe and backpacking in the Vermont woods with his friends and has thoroughly explored Boston. He started out undecided and now has a combined major. He found two co-ops without much difficulty. and did a Dialogue of Civilization (summer study abroad) in Rwanda. Northeastern really shines at its global experiences (and thankfully assisted three students who were in Israel this past week). His friend group has been consistent in his dorm and apartment with the exception of one roommate who did a co-op in San Francisco and another friend who sublet his room. Some friends are on co-op and some in classes, but they still live together.
I find many of the NU comments on CC negative, but his experience - friends, education and work experiences - have been great. He has a job offer after graduation but may not take it. Good luck to your son.
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Thanks for sharing your son’s experience. It sounds like your son really thrived and took advantage of everything NEU had to offer. It definitely makes the point that NEU can be fabulous for the right kid.
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That has been the practice at Northeastern for over a hundred years. Depending on your major the best coops may be outside the Boston area. In a way NU in and the other alternative campus admissions may be a weeding out tool.
Northeastern has never been a good fit for a student wanting to do 8 semesters on campus with the occasional summer internship.
On reddit I have read about student experiences with NU In and returning to Boston. Some thought it was fantastic and they acclimated to Boston easily. Others did not like it and had trouble settling in Boston. It varies by student.
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If offered a location other than Boston and a student doesn’t want to start there, consider it a denial and move on.
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