What is criteria for Dean's scholarship over Excellence Scholarship?

<p>I am just wondering because have seen other candidates with similar stats as my daughter and they received the Dean's and significant more ? We really like Northeastern but other schools have offered up to 27,000 where NEU only 12,000. Thanks for the information!!</p>

<p>It’s the mysterious black box of admissions. If anyone really knew the answer to that, it would make everyone’s lives easier. You’re comparing just stats, but they’re looking more holistically as well at ECs, leadership, course load, etc. Different schools also have different priorities, and every school is trying to get a varied group of students. Then there’s the hugely subjective part of who’s on the committee, what their background is, and what mood they’re in when they’re reading the application. Basically, the same things as go into admission in general.</p>

<p>I have no idea how they make that determination. I don’t know if it matters which school you pick. My son got in to the University Honors Program in the school of Computer Information and Technology and was given an 18K/year Dean’s Scholarship. Here are his stats: SAT 2270 (CR 780, M 770, W 720)
SAT II Biology (M) 710, Math I 740, Math II 800
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.39 weighted
I think I saw a number of kids with similar or lower stats who got 22K/year. I can’t figure it out either. However, since we are full pay, I’m extremely happy to get anything.</p>

<p>My daughter has ACT 33, 3.8/4.2 and strong EC and leadership positions. She received $12.000/yr.</p>

<p>Another data point: my daughter was accepted into the School of Computer and Information Science with a 4.0 GPA, 4.65 WGPA, 2140 SAT, leadership positions (one in CS) and did not get Honors or merit aid. We are full pay so $62K/yr is a tough nut to swallow.</p>

<p>She did not visit and we live nearby, so maybe they decided this was an indication of low interest and decided to save some scholarship $$.</p>

<p>It feels good to be accepted (most were deferred from her school) but her friend has similar stats/financials but was offered Honors and $30k/yr. The friend is Hispanic so maybe they felt she was a more desirable candidate.</p>

<p>@ormdad, surprising that your daughter did not get scholarship or honors. My son was admitted to the business school and honors with a $22K Dean’s scholarship. SAT 2300 (one sitting), 4.0 w/4.7uw GPA, Natl Merit Semi-Finalist, summer internship in computer science, varsity sports and honor societies, a few other minor ECs. No hooks. We visited campus (from MD) and grandfather was alumnus, though not sure that mattered. Didn’t see rec letters but probably strong, decent essay.</p>

<p>@ormdad‌ I’m surprised that she didn’t get any merit scholarship money. You could be right; it might be a factor of not visiting, but I don’t think Northeastern places very much importance on that (or that they even track). It might be worth a polite call to admissions :)</p>

<p>As for honors, however, sorry to say that the SAT is a little low there. The bar for SAT in honors is typically 2250+. It sounds like her friend is a National Merit finalist. Those students get automatic honors placement, the $30k scholarship (which above the maximum Dean’s of $25k), and also are obligated to 100 (I think?) hours of community service per year.</p>

<p>Yup, it’s 100 hours community service per year for the National Merit scholarship. </p>

<p>@Awesomekidsmom‌ surprised your son didn’t get more! I got into the University Scholars and got full tuition with a 2140 SAT, 740 Math II and 750 Lit. I have a 36 ACT but I feel like the ACT is easier. </p>

<p>@jrob1155 University Scholars takes into account way more than the Dean’s Scholarship does. Dean’s is definitely accomplishment based, but Scholars takes that into account plus more. Scholars are chosen from the most qualified candidates but chosen to represent a lot of diversity; economic, racial, geographic, and a diversity of interests, talents, skills, etc. as well. A lot of people that may technically be qualified to BE a Scholar may not be chosen because they may not have any stand out achievements; i.e, being a varsity soccer captain or a president of Key Club is awesome, but sadly it’s pretty run of the mill at Northeastern, they look for unique things.</p>

<p>^^^ Ok I just did a little research and discovered that the 30K scholarship can be awarded to National Hispanic Scholars, which I believe my daughter’s friend is (she is definitely not a NMF though, we are in MA). She did get in to an Ivy ED, so she is a strong candidate.</p>

<p>I would love to know how they determine who the “top 25%” is (for merit aid) if yield is only 19%. Does this mean it’s really more like 5% of enrolling students that receive merit aid? In the event that NEU turns out to make the cut I may call admissions but I’m not sure much will come of it.</p>

<p>@jrob1155 - Which school did you get into? My son is in College of Computer and Information Science, planning to major in Computer Science and Mathematics (I wrote it wrong above). Maybe they try to distribute across schools. Also, as someone else said, maybe you did something extraordinary or add unique diversity. My kid is an overpriveleged non-minority male from Massachusetts with very strong and varied ECs, but nothing that has an “oh wow!” moment. Congratulations to you!</p>