Scathing Summary of Northeastern Admissions

[Anonymous]

Northeastern is a college focused on ratings and to no one surprise, it attracts like minded people.

Northeastern pretends it is a T50 and parents can pretend that their kid attends a T50. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Given that over 100,000 students apply annually, many disagree with you. But hey, you do you - that they are living rent free in your head does say something about you though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern is a college focused on ratings and to no one surprise, it attracts like minded people.

Northeastern pretends it is a T50 and parents can pretend that their kid attends a T50. Problem solved.

20+ pages of anger. Why do you care?
Just did the Welcome day there and I don't care if it is T50 or T100 or whatever. I left impressed by the experiential learning experience. I'm not sure it makes sense to pay for a school where that isn't part of the education. More schools should be doing NU's model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern is a college focused on ratings and to no one surprise, it attracts like minded people.

Northeastern pretends it is a T50 and parents can pretend that their kid attends a T50. Problem solved.

Students getting in Northeastern can get in many of the higer 'rated' schools.
However, they are more focused on facts and results in choosing a college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern is a college focused on ratings and to no one surprise, it attracts like minded people.

Northeastern pretends it is a T50 and parents can pretend that their kid attends a T50. Problem solved.

Students getting in Northeastern can get in many of the higer 'rated' schools.
However, they are more focused on facts and results in choosing a college.

+1

[Anonymous]

Northeastern's marketing transformation really is stunning. I am not sure I would pay 95k for glossy marketing, though. For the right kid -- one who can relish a co-op and go after it -- it's perfect. But it's very pre-professional in vibe!

[Anonymous]

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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.

You have to know what you are getting. A constantly changing group of people on campus, challenges finding coops (having to apply to 200+ and only getting 1 interview can be stressful), and struggling to get housing (or getting stuck in forced doubles or triples).

[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.

100k for sub-par dorms and cafeterias is definitely a choice!

Correct, Northeastern is actually pretty bad on these categories. The kids deserve better.

When you grow the student population without plans that is what happens.

First year of Oakland campus those admitted were supposed to be only 4 years at Oakland. Once neu realized very few would attend they changed it--so another 500+ kids were eligible to head to Boston after first year. It all adds up to too many students on an urban campus without enough space --who wants to live in a forced doubles (what was designed to be a single originally, where you share one closet and they add bunk beds and squeeze in an extra desk--go sfind the videos of those rooms--miserable at best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given that over 100,000 students apply annually, many disagree with you. But hey, you do you - that they are living rent free in your head does say something about you though

100,000 students apply because they want to go to school in Boston (a great city for college students), NEU misleads itself as a selective institution, and if you tour NEU they send you a waiver for a free application (they did this for our DS) and then the application on the Common App requires zero supplemental essays. So it's a bit of mindless but relatively easy work to fill out. My son toured and didn't think it was a great fit for him but he wanted to attend college in Boston, and the application was free and easy. So he'd get counted in their "high demand" but no it's just easy and no cost to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that over 100,000 students apply annually, many disagree with you. But hey, you do you - that they are living rent free in your head does say something about you though

100,000 students apply because they want to go to school in Boston (a great city for college students), NEU misleads itself as a selective institution, and if you tour NEU they send you a waiver for a free application (they did this for our DS) and then the application on the Common App requires zero supplemental essays. So it's a bit of mindless but relatively easy work to fill out. My son toured and didn't think it was a great fit for him but he wanted to attend college in Boston, and the application was free and easy. So he'd get counted in their "high demand" but no it's just easy and no cost to apply.

There are around 100 colleges in the Boston metropolitan area.
Northeastern is the only one getting 100K+ apps for good reasons.

[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.

You have to know what you are getting. A constantly changing group of people on campus, challenges finding coops (having to apply to 200+ and only getting 1 interview can be stressful), and struggling to get housing (or getting stuck in forced doubles or triples).

You’re contradicting yourself.
Constantly changing group of people on campus(due to coops) vs Challenges finding coops = make up your mind.

Besides, trying to land a summer internship is just as stressful, if not more so.

[Anonymous]

We now know that Northeastern's acceptance rate comes at a cost.

Look at all the bitter moms out there who are angry at the school for rejecting little Jimmy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that over 100,000 students apply annually, many disagree with you. But hey, you do you - that they are living rent free in your head does say something about you though

100,000 students apply because they want to go to school in Boston (a great city for college students), NEU misleads itself as a selective institution, and if you tour NEU they send you a waiver for a free application (they did this for our DS) and then the application on the Common App requires zero supplemental essays. So it's a bit of mindless but relatively easy work to fill out. My son toured and didn't think it was a great fit for him but he wanted to attend college in Boston, and the application was free and easy. So he'd get counted in their "high demand" but no it's just easy and no cost to apply.

There are around 100 colleges in the Boston metropolitan area.
Northeastern is the only one getting 100K+ apps for good reasons.

yes PP just explained why. many students get a free waiver for the application tour, and then there are no supplements or essays or videos or interviews so the application is relatively easy to add.

by contrast, BU has 2 supplemental essays, optional writing sample, glimpse video and requires demonstrated interests so they know you're seriously applying. tufts also has 2 custom supplemental essays required, an optional interview, and lots of demonstrated interest (like virtual tours and mock classes) so that they know you are seriously interested. it's hard therefore to "casually" apply to these other two Boston area schools vs NEU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We now know that Northeastern's acceptance rate comes at a cost.

Look at all the bitter moms out there who are angry at the school for rejecting little Jimmy.

don't assume. I am PP and my son was admitted to NEU, BC, BU, Brandeis and rejected at Tufts. He chose BU. NEU was a back-up in case he didn't get into any other schools in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern's marketing transformation really is stunning. I am not sure I would pay 95k for glossy marketing, though. For the right kid -- one who can relish a co-op and go after it -- it's perfect. But it's very pre-professional in vibe!

Yes! A fancy and glorified vocational school!!