What's the most merit aid you can get?

I’m just very curious. I believe I got $10,000 and was wondering if that’s sort of the norm or if it’s high/low. Thanks!

I believe it ranges from 5-22.5K a year, and 30K for NMF.

from the website:
Students who are in the top 10-15% of our applicant pool are considered for competitive merit awards, including the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship. Recipients are awarded between $5,000 and $25,000 annually. All fall freshman applicants for undergraduate admission to Northeastern are considered.

Students who are admitted to Northeastern and are recognized as National Merit Finalists* or National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars** will receive up to a $30,000 merit-based award, and may also be eligible for financial aid.

The Scholars program and Honors program are being revised for next year. Details will follow.

@TomSrOfBoston well that doesn’t sound good… Any insight into the changes you can share? Is NMS staying the same?

Any by next year do your mean this fall’s applicant pool or the fall of 2017 applicant pool?

Whatever you are awarded will remain. Applicants for Fall, 2017 will have new programs.

I do not know the details.

I know you said you don’t have the details, but can you give ANY info on what the changes may be?

Ah okay I see. So I’m kinda in between then? Makes sense as my grades are good but not genius-level.

No full details, but it has been announced that the incoming Scholars class in Fall 2016 will be the last cohort of Scholars as the program is defined today. These and current Scholars will remain supported as is. They said they are looking to expand the program more broadly but no other details have come out and no details about changes to scholarship opportunities for Scholars or NMF.

I’ve heard rumors that the ‘expansion’ of the scholars program just a euphimisim for its complete disbandment. But I’ve also talked with faculty about it, and they say they only know as much as we do at this point.

But, regardless, it’s a stray away from the point of this post, so probably best for updates about this to take place in a separate thread

@twicemama are you sure that THIS fall’s scholars (current seniors) are the last or do you mean this falls applicants (current rising seniors, high school Class of 2017) would be the last ones under the existing program? The website does not show any changes, so kids applying this fall (in just over 2 months) should know the programs the college is offering.

I have a rising senior that is very interested in NEU and the chance of being in this program is a big draw. It’s important to have the info before applying. With all the SAT drama this year, I can’t deal with more changes for Class of 2017!

@TomSrOfBoston I think you mentioned that high school class of 2017 would still be under the existing program

The class entering in the Fall of 2016 will be the final Scholars admitted. The communications have suggested some sort of new program but what that will look like is still unclear at this point.

@suzyQ7

@TomSrOfBoston we haven’t been awarded anything yet, since the application will be sent this October, 2016 (in a few months) for freshman start of September 2017. I would have expected that students putting in apps this fall would know the programs that are active as they are targeting schools to apply to.

Pretty sure the new programs will be finalized and announced by September if not sooner.

To be honest, I understand and kind of get it. I see so many kids on this site/board only applying for a chance at the Scholars program (which is ridiculous given it’s offered to about 200 of 50,000), who sneer and never look back when they’re only admitted with a Dean’s scholarship as if they’re offended Northeastern can’t fully fund their education. I completely understand why the program was instituted, but as we’ve rocketed up in selectivity, it’s just not practical to shell out so much when we can afford to take near-identical applicants for less.

I also appreciate the revamping of the program, though I’m interested to see how it works out. As is, it’s not very well-known among the student body so I can’t imagine how it would be well-known by outside institutions/employers. I have a few friends in the program (including my freshman year roommate) and the only advantage they seem to have taken from it are special weekend day trips at the beginning and end of the year (a clambake and one overnight, I think). Academically, there is almost no advantage over Honors students in terms of class registration, resources, access to professors/research, access to more prestigious co-ops, etc. While there are certainly some networking opportunities available and some things I’m forgetting, it seems like an awfully large investment for these students for no particular reason. I am not sure what revamping will entail, and I am sure applications will drop as merit awards decrease, but it is exciting to see.

Perhaps they are beefing up the honors program, which is lackluster compared to other schools and using that as a marketing tool. I think NEU does garner a lot of top applicants because of merit , and if they scale back merit a lot, it may affect app numbers as you said. I don’t think they are at a national noteriety level yet that they can afford to lose apps and increase admit rates (lower is better) so perhaps combining scholars and honors makes sense, as long as there is still a strong merit reward, which is ultimately what woos the students and their parents vs other schools that are $60k sticker price.

Pretty sure merit awards will stay the same or even increase. The programs will be tweaked. Also, having looked at BU’s honors college it seems to be very “restrictive” and geared more to arts and sciences students,

If I’m not mistaken, NEU is now saying they are fully meeting all financial need (As they define it.) Most schools that are “full need” do no give much if any merit awards. Is NEU planning on still providing both merit and need based aid ?

That is not at all true.