Scathing Summary of Northeastern Admissions

[Anonymous]

Take it with an obvious grain of salt as this was an Instagram post from a college advisor and quasi-influencer, but I happen to agree with the substance:

Northeastern isn’t a bad school. They just LIE, a lot.

That 5% acceptance rate is completely manufactured. They only count students admitted to the Boston campus. Meanwhile thousands more get accepted into NUin, Global Scholars, London, Oakland, and now NYC. For the class of 2028 alone, only about 2,700 students were admitted to Boston, but over 3,300 more got in through those other programs that conveniently don’t show up in the number. If you count everyone they actually accept, the real rate is way higher than 5%. And be honest, who’s dreaming of spending their freshman year at Northeastern’s Oakland campus? Nobody applied to Northeastern for that.

They’ve rigged the front end too. No supplemental essays. Test optional. Applying to Northeastern is basically a one-click process through the Common App, which is exactly the point. The more unqualified applicants they attract, the lower that rate looks on paper.

Total cost of attendance at Northeastern runs around $90–94K a year. Harvard is about $87K with WAY more aid at Harvard. You’re paying more than Harvard for a degree that no one is that impressed by.

Now I already know the Northeastern crowd is gonna flood my comments bragging about their co-ops. A co-op is an internship. That’s it. The rest of us can apply for internships on our own, graduate on time, and we don’t have to pay $94,000 a year for the privilege.

Now is Northeastern worth going to sometimes? Yes. Of course. If it’s your LOWEST cost option. At least then you’re getting value for your money🤷‍♂️

[Anonymous]

no one is confused about the price. there are about 100 schools more expensive than Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Why are you comparing Northeastern to Harvard?

[Anonymous]

Weird take — writer is upset that they LIE because they only give the main campus numbers and so many more are accepted to other programs, but goes on to say no one wants those other programs when they apply. Well, if applicants only want the main campus, then that 5% or whatever stat isn’t a lie, is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird take — writer is upset that they LIE because they only give the main campus numbers and so many more are accepted to other programs, but goes on to say no one wants those other programs when they apply. Well, if applicants only want the main campus, then that 5% or whatever stat isn’t a lie, is it?

NP yeah, it is.

Using easy number, if 20,000 apply and 2000 are admitted to the main campus and 4000 are admitted to satellite campuses, their acceptance rate is 30% but they report it at 10%.

[Anonymous]

This is all true and NEU been doing this for years. Lucky for them they find a fresh set of gullible parents and students each year.

Believe it or not, there are actually people that compare NEU to Harvard because of the manufactured low acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird take — writer is upset that they LIE because they only give the main campus numbers and so many more are accepted to other programs, but goes on to say no one wants those other programs when they apply. Well, if applicants only want the main campus, then that 5% or whatever stat isn’t a lie, is it?

NP yeah, it is.

Using easy number, if 20,000 apply and 2000 are admitted to the main campus and 4000 are admitted to satellite campuses, their acceptance rate is 30% but they report it at 10%.

You all don’t complain like this when NYU and USC do spring admits, Vanderbilt gives Verto, and Cornell gives GT offers. None of that factors into the acceptance rate despite being virtually the same as NU.In

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily a Northeastern fan but let's not pretend other schools don't do similar things. UVA was no supplemental and test optional this year too.

[Anonymous]

Not sure how different what northeastern does is compared to other schools with alternative starts but I do know (from the employer end) that a young person who has done a 6+ month coops is generally a lot more appealing than one who has done a 2 month internship.

[Anonymous]

All to say - don’t judge prestige based on acceptance rate as they are easily manipulated across the board

[Anonymous]

I always get confused between Northeastern and Northwestern. Why couldn't they have picked better names?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird take — writer is upset that they LIE because they only give the main campus numbers and so many more are accepted to other programs, but goes on to say no one wants those other programs when they apply. Well, if applicants only want the main campus, then that 5% or whatever stat isn’t a lie, is it?

+1 agree

UMD acceptance rates are for college park not eastern shore or Baltimore or DC or China or wherever else they have a satellite campus

[Anonymous]

This part could be describing UVA:

“They’ve rigged the front end too. No supplemental essays. Test optional. Applying to Northeastern is basically a one-click process through the Common App, which is exactly the point. The more unqualified applicants they attract, the lower that rate looks on paper.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take it with an obvious grain of salt as this was an Instagram post from a college advisor and quasi-influencer, but I happen to agree with the substance:

Northeastern isn’t a bad school. They just LIE, a lot.

That 5% acceptance rate is completely manufactured. They only count students admitted to the Boston campus. Meanwhile thousands more get accepted into NUin, Global Scholars, London, Oakland, and now NYC. For the class of 2028 alone, only about 2,700 students were admitted to Boston, but over 3,300 more got in through those other programs that conveniently don’t show up in the number. If you count everyone they actually accept, the real rate is way higher than 5%. And be honest, who’s dreaming of spending their freshman year at Northeastern’s Oakland campus? Nobody applied to Northeastern for that.

They’ve rigged the front end too. No supplemental essays. Test optional. Applying to Northeastern is basically a one-click process through the Common App, which is exactly the point. The more unqualified applicants they attract, the lower that rate looks on paper.

Total cost of attendance at Northeastern runs around $90–94K a year. Harvard is about $87K with WAY more aid at Harvard. You’re paying more than Harvard for a degree that no one is that impressed by.

Now I already know the Northeastern crowd is gonna flood my comments bragging about their co-ops. A co-op is an internship. That’s it. The rest of us can apply for internships on our own, graduate on time, and we don’t have to pay $94,000 a year for the privilege.

Now is Northeastern worth going to sometimes? Yes. Of course. If it’s your LOWEST cost option. At least then you’re getting value for your money🤷‍♂️

I just Googled NEU acceptance rate. They following results:
"Northeastern University has become highly selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 5.2% to 5.6% for the Fall 2024 (Class of 2028) Boston campus, placing it among the most selective institutions."

"Northeastern recorded a 5.6% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, up from last year’s record low of 5.2%, a university spokesperson told The Huntington News Aug. 26. The 5.6% only reflects students admitted to the university’s flagship Boston campus for the fall semester and does not factor in students enrolled through alternate admissions programs like N.U.in or Global Scholars."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always get confused between Northeastern and Northwestern. Why couldn't they have picked better names?

Because most people aren’t that stupid.