<p>I'm hoping to gain some advice here. My ds applied to NU, and just got a waitlist letter from Admissions. He has the stats to have it be a comfortable choice, but I'm assuming that since his application was reviewed so late in the process that his program of choice was just already full? It is his #1 choice. He has been accepted to Drexel, but had put his National Merit Scholarship choice as NU. What to do now? What are the chances he'll be moved from waitlist to accepted?</p>
<p>I would talk to admissions. Why was his application reviewed so late in the process?</p>
<p>If he applied to a tough program, like engineering or pharmacy, then comparing his stats to the overall school’s stats will make him look more “comfortable” than he actually is during admissions, since the applicants to these programs have higher scores than the average applicant for the school. If he applied to a program that is really popular, like communications or business, the same rule applies. He might be a good candidate, but there are a LOT of good candidates, so they can be more picky about minor things. And yes, if he applied late in the game, they might have filled the spots most of the way and left open spots at the end for only really top candidates.</p>
<p>Also, try calling Drexel. Try to play it off like “Hey, he put Northeastern but now he’s really considering Drexel to be a stronger choice… if only he got their national merit scholarship…”</p>
<p>(Don’t mean to be pessimistic for Northeastern, but if I was a parent I’d want to do my best to try and secure a scholarship elsewhere, just in case.)</p>
<p>amyginnh: Your son is NMF and was waitlisted? Did he applied before the deadline?</p>
<p>Yes, he is NMF and he did have all of the application materials in including financial forms before the deadline.</p>
<p>I do plan to talk to admissions tomorrow.</p>
<p>Not saying anything against the original poster, because I’m sure that saying “comfortable choice” means the applicant’s stats were good-- but keep in mind that NMF is determined by an exam taken junior year. There are plenty of people who rock standardized tests and bomb at actual school stuff. So I could definitely see it being a possibility that a NMF might not get in.</p>
<p>Advancing from NMSF to NMF pretty much guarantees the candidate excelled at school. I hope NE isn’t cutting back on NMF scholarships? GL with the call.</p>
<p>neuchimie:
it is true that one test PSAT determines the eligibility for NMSF, but it is a test taken at the beginning of the Junior year when few students do any prep work before the testing. Also to advance to NMF status, the student will need to be doing well in the school (all As and Bs) and usually are very engaged in/out school activities. There are many excellent students do not become NMSF due to PSAT score, but those who are NMF are excellent/top students from perspective high schools.</p>
<p>Just saying, I know several NMF who would have struggled to get into Northeastern. Plus what if they are an amazing writer, but got B+ all through school? A respectable grade, no doubt, but Northeastern (and all other schools) are increasingly harder to get in. B+ might not be enough.</p>
<p>My point is that I don’t think it’s right to say NMF → acceptance. Even NMF → excelled in school is stretching it, in my opinion. Excelled is a pretty strong word.</p>
<p>(Also don’t really understand the point about how no one studies for it. Plenty of people don’t study for the SAT and still rock it. Some people are just much better at standardized tests)</p>