Some Observations on This Admissions Cycle

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northeastern University
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WOW!

As I have posted before Northeastern was over enrolled 300 freshmen last fall. This created housing issues. They leased an abandoned BU residence hall on the far side of the BU campus for upperclassmen, not a good arrangement. Another over enrolment could not happen. This would explain the very cautious approach to admissions this year and students being waitlisted more than in the past.

There is an uncorroborated report that the acceptance rate is 19%.

In a response to an email question from a denied applicant the adcom indicated that the mid 50% SAT for accepted students is 1470-1550 and a weighted GPA range of 4.1 to 4.5 out of 5.0. The stats for enrolled students will be a bit lower of course.

It appears that applying ED gives the student a much better chance of admission, as it is at virtually all colleges Even if deferred ED you have a better chance of being admitted ED in my opinion.

Northeastern is not a safety for anyone. Deferred high statted applicants who are offended and withdraw their applications, well, so much for being a serious applicant. There is an old saying about that involving a door. :smiley:

NUIn is a great option. It was started in 2007 and has grown dramatically. Northeastern is strongly encouraging all students to have an international experience. It is an alternative freshman entry option. It is best for the independent mature student who has a sense of adventure. It is also expensive. Those offered NUIn are not included in the 19% acceptance rate. But once enrolled in Boston in January they will be expected to perform alongside the September entrants. It is not a consolation prize.

The contiNUe option is new this year and I know nothing about it other than what is on the website. This does appear to be a consolation prize.

No one posted that they were offered Guaranteed Sophomore Transfer this cycle. The past couple of years a handful of applicants indicated that this was offered. I believe this to be a bad practice and I am glad that Northeastern appears to have discontinued it. It is bad, on many levels, to enter any college with the intent of leaving after freshman year. Looking at the Boston University decision thread today it appears that half those denied are being offered Guaranteed Sophomore Transfer. For BU it makes up for their cutting the size of the freshman class from 4100 to 3300 over the past few years.

I really wish Northeastern would announce a specific decision day a week or two in advance with the caveat that it is subject to change due to circumstances beyond their control e.g. a snow day closing.

And as for that %##%^* Boston Magazine article from 2014, If you go beyond the click bait headline it is generally favorable for Northeastern. Yet each year someone posts the link to it here to show that Northeastern is essentially doing what many other top colleges are doing, yet it supposedly casts Northeastern in a bad light.

Congratulations to all those accepted!

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https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/08/26/how-northeastern-gamed-the-college-rankings/

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Lol I genuinely needed that laugh

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Our close friends’ son tried NUIn a couple of years ago. He had an OK experience in Ireland, but they said it was really hard on him when he started NU in January, a full semester after most of the other freshman had begun. It was hard to make friends and get into the swing of things. He’s a social kid, too, not a loner. He transferred to the University of Maine and found it friendlier and more to his liking.

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I was accepted to the contiNU program and know very little about it. I am not offended but I am curious as to why you think it is a consilation prize. Could you please explain because I could not get a good sense of it from the website. Thank you!

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@$howmethemoney2345890 As I stated above i know only what the website says about continue. Are you a legacy?

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Ok thank you! My grandfather attended Northeastern.

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@MaineLonghorn My son applied first choice to the NUin program this year and was accepted. Once he researched the program that was how he wanted to start. He studied abroad during high school one summer, so was very comfortable with it. I was a little worried about the delayed start especially because we live far away so he would not know anyone in Boston other than the NUin group. So once he was accepted I reached out to two students from our area who recently completed the program. BOTH loved it! One said January was challenging at first coming in as she was not outgoing, but she said she went to club sign ups right away and joined a few. She said it did not take her long to get into the swing, if you make the effort. She also said that she made very close friends while away in London and that was pretty great too. She highly recommended the program. The other student absolutely loved it and eased right in January, just had to adjust to the rigor of the classes as all study abroad college programs are set up to be lighter. Just wanted to leave this here in case any NUin parents wanted to hear a couple other experiences. I’ll have to come back to the forum next year and write how my son’s went. He is really excited about it!

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@2022soon Thanks. Very helpful and encouraging. We are considering the same set of questions,

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@2022soon, that’s great to hear! Thanks for sharing.

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@2022soon are there orientations or a kind of “club week” event thing to help nuin students assimilate with the rest of the student body?

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@shafthalf I was at the admitted students day yesterday. They stated that NUin students return to campus a few days earlier than everyone else in January to get acquainted with the school. I imagine there will be a club fair that would occur after the other students return.

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Not that I’m aware of at all. I think the NUin students have to put themselves out there. Are you considering joining a fraternity?

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I think that most, if not all fraternities rush in the winter and only a few sororities. So if you are a male and intend to go Greek, you are in luck. Otherwise, what I’m hearing is that you initially hang out with the kids you met during NUin or during your brief January orientation that includes the entire NUin student body. In time, through clubs, classes and dorms you will branch out to others.

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You’re welcome @MaineLonghorn I was happy to hear it as well. It sounds like the students are very well supported while abroad and transition well with some extra effort on their part.

@SoCratz you are welcome! I spent a good amount of time reading the information Northeastern just sent out on destinations and online, both on their website and the videos posted to youtube (NUin Italy, NUin London etc). All the information was really helpful. My son narrowed it down to London and Italy and I’ve asked him to decide by weeks end. I realize we have until May 1, but I also know programs fill up and I would like him to get one of his top two choices ideally. Although honestly, they all look pretty great. I know they are guaranteed a spot in a program of their major. He would just prefer to be in a bigger city.

@shafthalf yes, it sounds like Northeastern has a club fair right when they get back in January. I’m not sure about an orientation. She said it was smart to go join a couple clubs to meet people. She also spoke very fondly of the close friendships made while abroad. She did stay for the first summer session. Totally optional, but I’ll have my son do that as well. My son is deciding between London and Rome. He would have to cook some in London, which she said went well! That would probably be good for him. However, I bet it pushes him to Italy. They have 2 meals a day in Italy in a cafeteria I believe. That info is online with the NUin destination information under lodging. I think it is going to be great for him. I figure if there is a little struggle here or there along the way…that’s not a bad thing! I think you grow from it. It’s good to know in advance that you need to put effort in to meet people in January and be ready to work in the hard NE classes after the trip. All good. You will notice the program dates are a little different too. That may help decide between programs as well.

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When the kids get back from abroad the first semester they go back to the Boston campus just after New Years. They get their rooms and there is an orientation for them to get set up for all the stuff on campus and how it works.
When the rest of the kids come back there is a club fair and you can join all sorts of clubs, intramural, club sports etc.
It’s really not that hard transitioning to Boston. My son said he has met friends from his dorms, clubs, classes etc.

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Thanks for all the helpful information! When do destinations start filling up?

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@shafthalf I’m looking at a handout from yesterday about meals for NUin. Greece has a daily breakfast and dinner buffet. Italy has a flexible meal plan supplement which sounds like some additional money is required. The remaining 10 locations do not have any meals included.

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@wheatonmom

I’m looking online now. Under Italy housing/then meals: it says “to supplement their independent meals, NUin Italy students will also be provided a basic meal plan of 60 meals for the term, which the students can use at the Tiber Cafe”
To me that sounded like it was included. Better to confirm though.

So all the housing set ups are different and worth looking online in detail at, under all the titles in each destination. The London student I spoke to liked the freedom of not having a cafeteria. One of the videos online showed the London boys cooking and their progress throughout the trip. It looked like they were having fun! London is going to be the most expensive city to grocery shop for sure though. They also mention lists of reasonable places to pick up food.

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Their website said destinations may fill up before may 1, how much sooner do they usually fill up?