Northeastern Admissions

Join us for the Global Experience Webcast!

As today’s economy becomes increasingly more global, we believe students need to be comfortable here on campus in Boston, as they should be in New York, London or Beijing. Fortunately for our students, Northeastern is a truly global campus, connecting students with the world (in 160 cities in 69 countries) in ways both broad and deep.

To illustrate the depth of global opportunities available at Northeastern, we are hosting a live webcast on Global Experience on Thursday, March 24 from 7:00 to 8:00pm EST!  During this webcast you’ll learn about international co-op and our Dialogue of Civilizations program from current Northeastern students. Our students will share stories about their global experience working in a hospital in Bolivia, a service trip to Uganda, a Dialogue through Egypt, and even a research expedition in Antarctica!  In addition, they will describe how this time abroad has enhanced their academics and personal growth. You’ll also learn about the many resources we have in place here to make sure every student is well-prepared for a truly enriching global experience.

On March 24, the webcast can be found here.

During the webcast we will be answering your questions. Feel free to submit any questions you may have advance to k.petrin@neu.edu or connect with us through Twitter at @NUAdmissions.

We hope you will join us!

Until next time…

Congratulations to all those who were admitted to Northeastern!

I am writing today to provide more information on The N.U.in Program. First, we have heard from some that we erroneously admitted you into the spring semester. To clear this up, it’s important to note that we have indicated in all of application related correspondence that as a fall applicant you may receive one of four decisions: admission for fall, admission for spring (now N.U.in), placement on the waitlist or denial of admission. This was not a mistake and in fact, it’s great news!

We have been admitting students into the spring semester here at Northeastern for close to ten years. Space issues do not allow us to enroll more than 2,800 students for the fall so spring admission gives us the chance to bring additional students, who are well qualified and prepared for all that Northeastern has to offer, into our community. We transition these students with Orientation, Welcome Week programs and the proper advising needed to enter Northeastern in the spring.

Four years ago we launched N.U.in as an option for spring admits to spend their fall abroad. Over time we have learned that N.U.in participants have been more successful here at Northeastern, better prepared to take full advantage of experiential learning and overall, enjoy a smoother transition. In fact, a great article was recently published here some past N.U.in participants.

So, this year we are thrilled to offer The N.U.in Program as a component of spring admission. We feel this Program prepares students to take advantage of all that Northeastern has to offer, while ensuring you have the resources and support needed for a smooth enrollment in the Spring and an overall successful, positive experience.

We know you may have questions – most of which will be answered with all the material coming your way.  Start with the Website – specifically the FAQs. You will receive your enrollment materials shortly, which includes a very thorough brochure with more details (including what classes you may take, housing information, Orientation and travel preparation). And, if you have questions that are still lingering I encourage you to contact us, visit us and talk with students who have participated in N.U.in. Special visit sessions may be found here.

We fully understand this Program may not be ideal for everyone. But, if you were admitted into The N.U.in Program something in your application told us that you were mature, confident, resilient and sophisticated enough to gain the benefits of experiential learning – before you even arrive in Boston. Northeastern is all about creating and educating world citizens. If you are interested in joining the Northeastern community and benefitting from our unique model of education, this is a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on The N.U.in Program- I welcome any comments below or e-mail me at r.turner@neu.edu.

Until next time..

Decisions are ready!

As you may know, our staff has been hard at work reading a record number of applications and finalizing decisions. I am now excited to announce that we began to release final admission decisions today, welcoming Northeastern’s 114th incoming class.  To our new admits - Congratulations! 
 
We began releasing decisions today at 3:00pm EST by geographic locations in an effort to not overload the Application Status Check.

If you applied regular decision, you will recieve an email announcing that your decision is available with instructions on how to view your official decision letter through the Application Status Check. If you do not receive an email this evenig telling you that your decision is available, please call our office at 617.373.2200.
 
We release four types of decisions to regular decision applicants: Admission for Fall, Admission for the NUin Program, Waitlist for Fall, and Deny. For specific details about each decision, please continue reading.
 

Admission for Fall 2011: 
Students will be offered admission into their academic major program, based on their academic achievement and personal characteristic ratings in our review.  In addition, a limited number of students will also be offered admission into general studies, a one year transitional program, which prepares students to begin their major at the start of the sophomore year.  It’s important to note both the major and college you have been admitted to.
 
Please log onto your Admitted Student Portal for more information about Northeastern and invitations to special events, including your Welcome Day. Welcome Days are college specific and are a great way to learn what it’s really like to be a Northeastern student. Remember to register for your Welcome Day and that tuition and housing deposits are due by May 2.

Admission for the N.U.in Program: This year we will admit well-qualified students directly into our spring semester as a member of The N.U.in Program. Students admitted through The N.U.in Program will spend the fall semester pursuing academic studies at one of our four partner institutions overseas in Australia, Costa Rica, England, or Greece, and then enroll at Northeastern in January 2012. You can find more details about The N.U.in Program by visiting the website.

Waitlist for Fall 2011: 
A number of students who are well qualified for admission to Northeastern may be offered a position on our waitlist.  Since most high school students are admitted to four or five colleges, it is difficult for colleges and universities to predict how many of their admitted students will ultimately decide to enroll - so many other factors like finances, location, fit and personal preference contribute to a student’s final enrollment decision.  At Northeastern, we use the waitlist in this very traditional manner.  Students who are placed on our waitlist have until May 2 to accept or decline a spot; although we encourage students who are genuinely interested in Northeastern to accept their place on the waitlist as soon as possible.  We generally know whether or not we will have space to admit students from the waitlist just after May 2.  Stay tuned for more information as I will provide regular updates about our waitlist process throughout the spring.  
 

Deny: 
Given the volume of applications we received this year, we will deny admissions to a number of students.  We understand that a denial decision may be very difficult for most students and their families.  Please keep in mind that at selective institutions, like Northeastern, a denial is most often a reflection of the space limitations and has very little to do with whether or not a student is prepared to be successful in college.  The admissions team at Northeastern is always willing to assist denied students who really want to attend Northeastern understand our transfer process.  We are able to enroll over 500 transfer students each year. 
 

I hope all of this information helps you and your family understands more about the decisions we released.  Thank you for your interest in Northeastern and we look forwarding to the arrival of our new students in September and January!
 

Until next time...

Expanding the Global Community Though N.U.in

I am pleased to announce the expansion of Northeastern’s N.U.in Program! For several years now, Northeastern has had a spring admission program, which enables the University to offer additional enrollment opportunities to talented students that we are unable to accommodate in the fall.  Given the large numbers of well-prepared students who apply to Northeastern, N.U.in is an option for those who really want to be part of our dynamic community and to participate in our co-op and experiential learning programs.

The N.U.in Program is a unique first-year experience that gives students an exciting early opportunity to explore new cultures abroad. Through The N.U.in Program, students spend the fall semester pursuing their academic studies at one of our four partner institutions overseas in Australia, Costa Rica, England, or Greece. This gives students the opportunity to become fully immersed in the local culture and gain invaluable insights into our increasingly global society.

In January all N.U.in participants will arrive in Boston on Northeastern’s campus for the spring semester, richer from their exposure to new cultures, people, and ideas. The credits earned abroad are applied toward their Northeastern degree.

Since its 2008 launch, close to 400 students have participated in the program. Beginning this year, The N.U.in Program will be the premier entry program for all students admitted for the spring semester.

You can read more about The N.U.in Program here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admissions@neu.edu.

Until next time…

Coolest Co-op Winners!

I often write about Northeastern’s unique experiential learning opportunities, but it’s nice to hear directly from the students too. Our students travel all over the country and the world through our innovative co-op program. To help showcase their exceptional work on co-op, last year Northeastern launched a competition inviting students to create short videos explaining why they think they have the “coolest co-op.” We received many creative and thoughtful displays of work with a diverse arrangement of co-op experiences. I am pleased to share with you the following winners of the second annual ‘Coolest Co-op’ competition. 
 
This year’s first place winner is Gustav Hoiland. His work in the supply chain management field at Gexpro Services outside Chicago convinced the judges this was truly a fun and transformative co-op experience. You can view his video here.
 
Connor McKnight’s video about his work at the Billboard Magazine in New York City took second place. Through this experience he had the opportunity to work directly with artists and was published in the magazine multiple times. Watch out for his future career in the music business. View Connor’s video here.

The third place prize went to a Presidential Global Scholar named Daniel O’Brien. Daniel’s video takes us on a journey through Turkey, the Kurdish Governed Republic, Lebanon and Syria as he interviewed Iraqi refugees for the Common Language Project. View his video here.

Visit the experiential learning website for more info on the wide range of opportunities available at Northeastern.

Until next time…

How to Make the Most of your College Tour

One piece of advice I always tell high school students is to visit the campuses of the colleges and universities they are interested in. Seeing the school is best opportunity to learn what it's really like to be a student there. David Hautanen, the Associate Dean and Director of Admissions at Northeastern, was recently interviewed for an article about how to make the most of your campus tour experience. A portion of the following interview will appear in the May issue of Next Step Magazine, but I though you might appreciate reading his full responses here as well.  

Should a student take a tour of a college that isn't exactly their dream choice?  Why or why not?
For many years I thought I wanted to own a BMW. It was my dream car. But, to be a smart consumer when I was in the market for a new car I test-drove a number of vehicles. Through that effort I learned that my “dream car” actually did not meet all my needs and found others that met all my needs. I am happy to say that 5 years later I am still very happy with my final choice!
 
The college search process is similar to being in the market for a new car or a new home. There are a lot of college choices with a lot of differentiating characteristics. You will get a lot of advice from your counselors, teachers, coaches, family, friends and anyone else with an opinion about this college or that university. You will receive a lot of information in your electronic and snail mailboxes, surf the web for hours learning about various institutions, and take advantage of social media outlets to learn about the wonderful range of options you have available. This is all helpful in determining a shortlist of colleges, but the truth is you’ll never know for sure until you test drive or take tours of a number of college campuses that may suit your needs. If you are not so sure about what you are looking for, visit a range of colleges from large, urban, research institutions like Northeastern, to small rural colleges, and others in between that have your area (or areas!) of academic interest.  As I found test-driving, you may find a college or university that is even more dreamy than you dream choice.
 
To offer even more advice, you have to remember there is no guarantee that you are going to be offered admission to your dream college whether it’s your original or a new dream college. So the smartest applicant has a number of excellent options they would be happy to enroll at should they be offered admission. They best way to develop this group of options is to tour a variety of college campus.
                                                        
Do you recommend that students tour with their parents or on their own (perhaps taking a second tour with their parents)?  If a student feels they'd prefer tour alone, at least initially, how might they present this to their parents?
Choosing the right college is a family process; everyone (well, at least you and your parents/guardians) should be involved.  The more eyes, the better!  There are certainly pros and cons to both approaches and no one way is best.  However, the approach that you choose should be discussed as a family to determine which will yield you the best results.  Keep in mind results mean you leave with all your questions answered and are able to articulate your experience back to a family member. If you would like to initially tour a college campus alone or with friends, the argument you can use is that you understand it’s important for you to tour campuses when you’re determining your list of colleges to apply to, and again after you have been offered admission because your perspective will be different. Here at Northeastern we understand this is the case and offer different types of visit programs for before and after admission has been offered. The bottom line on this is if your family did not accompany you on your first tour of college campuses, I strongly encourage you to make sure the revisit is a family affair.

What are some ways a visiting student can glean information outside of what is being showcased by the tour? Should they explore campus on their own, or talk to students they meet?
When prospective students are planning on visiting Northeastern I always recommend they arrive early to their scheduled visit and use the time to explore the campus on their own.  Walking around a college campus prior to your visit will allow you to find facilities, read posted bulletins, peruse the campus newspaper, rub the Husky’s nose, spend some time in the student center and interact with the students on campus. Current students are always your best resource. If you have a friend from your hometown you could also see if it is possible to spend a day or overnight with him or her to get a real insiders look at campus life. Then, take that experience to the next level and use what you learned while exploring on your own to guide your questions during the formal part of the program.

Until next time...

International Student Experience Webcast is Happening Today!

Admissions is hosting a special event today for international students who want to know what it’s like to be a student at Northeastern University. Our live online “International Student Experience” webcast will cover academics, experiential learning opportunities, urban campus, and student life. You will also find out more about transitioning to college and Northeastern, transitioning to life in the U.S., and living in Boston. This is also your chance to hear from current international Northeastern students about their experiences.

The International Student Experience webcast is happening today, Thursday, February 24
 at 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST. To join today’s webcast click here.

During the webcast we will answer your questions. You can email questions in advance to k.petrin@neu.edu or send to @NUAdmissions on Twitter. We’ll be taking your questions live during the webcast too. We hope you will join us!

Until next time…

Welcome Days

This weekend, faculty and staff are excited to host Welcome Days for students admitted through the EA applicant pool. Northeastern’s Welcome Days are college specific, so attending one of these special events are great way to meet your new classmates and hear from the faculty and staff that will be an integral part of your Northeastern experience. If you haven't already registered, I encourage you to visit your Admitted Student Portal, under the self-service tab, to sign up for the date associated with your college. And remember if you can't make it to the Welcome Days, we have a variety of other visit options through the spring for you to consider. If you are an admitted student I also encourage you to become a member the 114th Entering Class Facebook group.  Click here to join the discussion!

Until next time...

Attention Parents!

Parents of admitted students now have access to our online Parent Portal. At Northeastern we understand the college decision process is a family decision. As parents and guardians, you are also an important part of the University community. We encourage all parents and family members to take a supportive role in their student’s educational success and stay informed of campus happenings. To facilitate this, parents are invited to create an online Parent Portal account where you will have access to timely campus updates and news, as and well as services related to your student’s experience at Northeastern, and much more. Instructions for creating your account are available through The Office of Parent and Family Programs.

We also encourage parents to stay connected to the University and their student’s experience by participating in a variety of events throughout the school year. Visit our website for more information and feel free to get in touch with questions! 

Until next time…

Tips for students with Learning Disabilities

There is a great article from US New & World Report that gives helpful tips for students with learning disabilities who are interested in applying to college. It’s called 8 Steps for Learning Disabled Students Who Want to Go to College. Several college admissions officers, including our very own David Hautanen, the Associate Dean of Admissions, offered advice for this piece.

Here is David’s tip, number seven on the list:

Accentuate the positive. Applicants aren't required to inform colleges of their learning difficulties, and many students keep quiet for fear of hurting their chances of admission. Federal law bans colleges from discriminating based on disability, but it doesn't require colleges to give any special admission breaks to learning disabled students. Many admissions officers, including David Hautanen, associate dean of admissions at Northeastern University in Boston, say, however that students who can explain a bad grade or test score, or who use their application essays to show how they've overcome their challenges and "developed resiliency," and improved their chances of admission.

Remember, at Northeastern our admissions team closely reads and evaluates each and every application we receive. This process helps us understand who you are and it’s your opportunity to tell us about any circumstances that might have made it difficult for you to achieve your best. Don’t make excuses, but don’t be afraid to share your story. This helps us make the best admissions decision possible.

For those students who do have learning disabilities, we also offer support through Northeastern’s Disability Resource Center. In addition, our Learning Disabilities Program offers instruction and tutorial support to help build and strengthen academic skills. 

Until next time…