Scathing Summary of Northeastern Admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that somehow NEU has transformed itself into an elite university should raise a lot of eyebrows. It is a fine school, but let's not get carried away.

For a more accurate view of NEU, both of these rankings are more reputable than the USNWR.

Times Higher Education 2026 World Rankings
#2 MIT
#5 Harvard
#76 Boston University
#189 Tufts
#201-250 Northeastern

2026 QS World University Rankings
#1 MIT
#5 Harvard
#88 Boston University
#334 Tufts
#384 Northeastern

Wacky rankings.

Times Higher Education
#88 Minnesota
#105 Michigan State
#166 UVA
#180 Dartmouth
#201-250 Georgetown
#251-300 Boston College
#401-500 Wake Forest
#801-1000 William and Mary

QS World Rankings
#82 Penn State
#161 Michigan State
#173 ASU
#182 Emory
#247 Dartmouth
#275 UVA
#285 Georgetown
#294 Notre Dame
#526 Boston College
#1001-1200 William and Mary

+1000

Those allegedly accurate rankings really hating William and Mary

Also Dartmouth and Georgetown

Most global rankings are primarily based on research output and citations, or reputation that is primarily based on research impact. It favors schools with huge research programs, big graduate schools and a lot of international students. A lot of STEM research is in English, so the USA and UK schools usually do really well in these surveys. Elite private schools with smaller graduate programs and less research output never do well in these surveys.

But according to the hater, it's the most accurate ranking somehow.

It is a relevant ranking. You just have to consider what it ranks and what you are looking for in a ranking.

It doesn't seem much relevant ranking for undergraduate education in the first place.
Not a good source at all for high school students and their parents.

I completely agree. It is more relevant as an assessment of the research the university produces.

If you care about academics, that is what it measures. The ability of academic departments to produce new knowledge and be leaders in their subjects.

If you care more about the dorms, cafeterias, and athletic programs, then you can look elsewhere.

My kid cares more about the quality of teaching and academic programs over the research. One of the main reasons why they’re looking at SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that somehow NEU has transformed itself into an elite university should raise a lot of eyebrows. It is a fine school, but let's not get carried away.

For a more accurate view of NEU, both of these rankings are more reputable than the USNWR.

Times Higher Education 2026 World Rankings
#2 MIT
#5 Harvard
#76 Boston University
#189 Tufts
#201-250 Northeastern

2026 QS World University Rankings
#1 MIT
#5 Harvard
#88 Boston University
#334 Tufts
#384 Northeastern

Wacky rankings.

Times Higher Education
#88 Minnesota
#105 Michigan State
#166 UVA
#180 Dartmouth
#201-250 Georgetown
#251-300 Boston College
#401-500 Wake Forest
#801-1000 William and Mary

QS World Rankings
#82 Penn State
#161 Michigan State
#173 ASU
#182 Emory
#247 Dartmouth
#275 UVA
#285 Georgetown
#294 Notre Dame
#526 Boston College
#1001-1200 William and Mary

+1000

Those allegedly accurate rankings really hating William and Mary

Also Dartmouth and Georgetown

Most global rankings are primarily based on research output and citations, or reputation that is primarily based on research impact. It favors schools with huge research programs, big graduate schools and a lot of international students. A lot of STEM research is in English, so the USA and UK schools usually do really well in these surveys. Elite private schools with smaller graduate programs and less research output never do well in these surveys.

But according to the hater, it's the most accurate ranking somehow.

It is a relevant ranking. You just have to consider what it ranks and what you are looking for in a ranking.

It doesn't seem much relevant ranking for undergraduate education in the first place.
Not a good source at all for high school students and their parents.

I completely agree. It is more relevant as an assessment of the research the university produces.

If you care about academics, that is what it measures. The ability of academic departments to produce new knowledge and be leaders in their subjects.

If you care more about the dorms, cafeterias, and athletic programs, then you can look elsewhere.

My kid cares more about the quality of teaching and academic programs over the research. One of the main reasons why they’re looking at SLACs.

Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that somehow NEU has transformed itself into an elite university should raise a lot of eyebrows. It is a fine school, but let's not get carried away.

For a more accurate view of NEU, both of these rankings are more reputable than the USNWR.

Times Higher Education 2026 World Rankings
#2 MIT
#5 Harvard
#76 Boston University
#189 Tufts
#201-250 Northeastern

2026 QS World University Rankings
#1 MIT
#5 Harvard
#88 Boston University
#334 Tufts
#384 Northeastern

Wacky rankings.

Times Higher Education
#88 Minnesota
#105 Michigan State
#166 UVA
#180 Dartmouth
#201-250 Georgetown
#251-300 Boston College
#401-500 Wake Forest
#801-1000 William and Mary

QS World Rankings
#82 Penn State
#161 Michigan State
#173 ASU
#182 Emory
#247 Dartmouth
#275 UVA
#285 Georgetown
#294 Notre Dame
#526 Boston College
#1001-1200 William and Mary

+1000

Those allegedly accurate rankings really hating William and Mary

Also Dartmouth and Georgetown

Most global rankings are primarily based on research output and citations, or reputation that is primarily based on research impact. It favors schools with huge research programs, big graduate schools and a lot of international students. A lot of STEM research is in English, so the USA and UK schools usually do really well in these surveys. Elite private schools with smaller graduate programs and less research output never do well in these surveys.

But according to the hater, it's the most accurate ranking somehow.

It is a relevant ranking. You just have to consider what it ranks and what you are looking for in a ranking.

It doesn't seem much relevant ranking for undergraduate education in the first place.
Not a good source at all for high school students and their parents.

I completely agree. It is more relevant as an assessment of the research the university produces.

If you care about academics, that is what it measures. The ability of academic departments to produce new knowledge and be leaders in their subjects.

If you care more about the dorms, cafeterias, and athletic programs, then you can look elsewhere.

My kid cares more about the quality of teaching and academic programs over the research. One of the main reasons why they’re looking at SLACs.

Good luck with that.

So you believe ASU is better than Dartmouth and Georgetown. Suit yourself.

[Anonymous]

only 31% submit test scores. 69% of freshman rank in top 10% of class. acceptance rate is low along with student quality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:only 31% submit test scores. 69% of freshman rank in top 10% of class. acceptance rate is low along with student quality

And remember those stats are for the subset of students they report data on, i.e. does not include the students starting late, abroad or at other campuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I know, right. At least Northeastern makes sense. Just think of the Eastern part, Northeastern is as far East as you can go. Can’t same the same with Chicago. It should be Northmidwest not just Western.

Either way, if Northeastern has a program that works well for a student, if he’s a serious student who wants to be in the Smart Hub of the country, NEU will be fine.

Northwestern University was chartered on January 28, 1851, by nine Chicago-area Methodist leaders to serve the Northwest Territory.

Oh, that makes sense!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that somehow NEU has transformed itself into an elite university should raise a lot of eyebrows. It is a fine school, but let's not get carried away.

For a more accurate view of NEU, both of these rankings are more reputable than the USNWR.

Times Higher Education 2026 World Rankings
#2 MIT
#5 Harvard
#76 Boston University
#189 Tufts
#201-250 Northeastern

2026 QS World University Rankings
#1 MIT
#5 Harvard
#88 Boston University
#334 Tufts
#384 Northeastern

Wacky rankings.

Times Higher Education
#88 Minnesota
#105 Michigan State
#166 UVA
#180 Dartmouth
#201-250 Georgetown
#251-300 Boston College
#401-500 Wake Forest
#801-1000 William and Mary

QS World Rankings
#82 Penn State
#161 Michigan State
#173 ASU
#182 Emory
#247 Dartmouth
#275 UVA
#285 Georgetown
#294 Notre Dame
#526 Boston College
#1001-1200 William and Mary

+1000

Those allegedly accurate rankings really hating William and Mary

Also Dartmouth and Georgetown

Most global rankings are primarily based on research output and citations, or reputation that is primarily based on research impact. It favors schools with huge research programs, big graduate schools and a lot of international students. A lot of STEM research is in English, so the USA and UK schools usually do really well in these surveys. Elite private schools with smaller graduate programs and less research output never do well in these surveys.

But according to the hater, it's the most accurate ranking somehow.

It is a relevant ranking. You just have to consider what it ranks and what you are looking for in a ranking.

It doesn't seem much relevant ranking for undergraduate education in the first place.
Not a good source at all for high school students and their parents.

I completely agree. It is more relevant as an assessment of the research the university produces.

If you care about academics, that is what it measures. The ability of academic departments to produce new knowledge and be leaders in their subjects.

If you care more about the dorms, cafeterias, and athletic programs, then you can look elsewhere.

I hope not too many people care more about dorms, cafeterias and sports than the classes. Hockey is great but it’s not some massive Southern university where sports are number one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:only 31% submit test scores. 69% of freshman rank in top 10% of class. acceptance rate is low along with student quality

And remember those stats are for the subset of students they report data on, i.e. does not include the students starting late, abroad or at other campuses.

If you say so. Likely these numbers are comparable with schools with 30-40% acceptance rate

[Anonymous]

Most of us on this board are onto them. We're not the ones they're able to fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody seriously believes NEU should be in the T100, right? Do people not have any critical thinking skills anymore?

Granny, we don't live in the 1980s anymore. Wake the F up already.

There it is. Always calling people granny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I know, right. At least Northeastern makes sense. Just think of the Eastern part, Northeastern is as far East as you can go. Can’t same the same with Chicago. It should be Northmidwest not just Western.

Either way, if Northeastern has a program that works well for a student, if he’s a serious student who wants to be in the Smart Hub of the country, NEU will be fine.

Northwestern University was chartered on January 28, 1851, by nine Chicago-area Methodist leaders to serve the Northwest Territory.

Yea the name is outdated.

Yes, it is, but I don’t foresee Northwestern changing their name to Midwestern University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is so surprising is all the Northeastern haters. You don't like how they process applicants, don't let your kid apply. Others get in and like the program, why piss in their cheerios?

If your kids go there and like it, great. But many parents and students are misled by how Northeastern has represented their desirability/admission rate, class size, etc. as it has worked for a decade to gamify the criteria used for various rankings. It's a top 100-125 school with a likely 30+-ish% admission rate masquerading as a top 50-60-ish school with a 5% admission rate. We just want the truth to get out. Their practices are deceptive only if no one calls it out. Parents/students deserve more transparency. If they know this, and still want to go, go for it.

Northeastern has a 97% retention rate. Essentially no one feels “misled.”

Is the retention rate calculated against all campuses, or Boston only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:only 31% submit test scores. 69% of freshman rank in top 10% of class. acceptance rate is low along with student quality

And remember those stats are for the subset of students they report data on, i.e. does not include the students starting late, abroad or at other campuses.

If you say so. Likely these numbers are comparable with schools with 30-40% acceptance rate

If you have a brain, you would know that's physically mathematically impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is so surprising is all the Northeastern haters. You don't like how they process applicants, don't let your kid apply. Others get in and like the program, why piss in their cheerios?

If your kids go there and like it, great. But many parents and students are misled by how Northeastern has represented their desirability/admission rate, class size, etc. as it has worked for a decade to gamify the criteria used for various rankings. It's a top 100-125 school with a likely 30+-ish% admission rate masquerading as a top 50-60-ish school with a 5% admission rate. We just want the truth to get out. Their practices are deceptive only if no one calls it out. Parents/students deserve more transparency. If they know this, and still want to go, go for it.

Northeastern has a 97% retention rate. Essentially no one feels “misled.”

Is the retention rate calculated against all campuses, or Boston only?

If you include the other campuses, the numbers would be even higher. Those students are the most eager to come to Boston(come back) after a semester or a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NEU is not a legitimate college. Don’t fall for their scam marketing.

Time to take your medicine.