Thanks for sharing
Accepted for spring admission - CGS as well (Poli Sc)
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Accepted for Fall 2026 - CFA. Any other music majors here?
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Actually admitted to College of Arts & Sciences with Spring admit with global semester for fall 2026. Not sure what is the difference with CGS but adding for reference.
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I never heard of that option! Sounds like Northeastern’s NU In program.
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Several schools have spring starts with fall abroad - even UMass has it now… UMass Amherst Global Launch : UMass Flex : UMass Amherst
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We got the same option in USC as well - start at a global location for fall semester and then back to CAS in spring. And I read someone got a similar one at NYU. Perhaps many colleges have this now - something between a direct admit and a waitlist looks like.
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To think that Northeastern got so much grief when NU In started. It was seen as proof that Northeastern was “gaming” the rankings.
There is no reason it can not be both a good idea for students AND a way to game rankings. (The real question is if the other schools include those students in their admit rate. Truthfully, I do not know. I think they should, as they have been admitted to the university.)
Also, does NEU deny that they have a strategy to game the rankings? nope, I really give them credit for having long been honest about it.
I don’t understand “gaming” the rankings” as well as how would a university benefit by including or not including in their admit rate (keep the yield high?).
I’d appreciate if someone can explain, nothing urgent but for my understanding.
I have another one planning for college in a couple years, will be good to know.
Sent you a DM.
https://www.the-ivy-coach-blog/the-rankings/northeasterns-rise-in-the-rankings/ quotes Selingo’s book on it, too.
Northeastern has been trying to make itself much more-prestigious (and have!) – its a remarkable case study of strategy for 25+ years. MANY families consider the admissions rate as a marker of prestige so Northeastern makes the rate seem artificially low - no extra essays (drive up applicants), they don’t count other campuses in their admit rate to make it look low, and make themselves look as selective as an Ivy.
For example, one point, when the US news had more emphasis on peer reputation in the rankings, they sent marketing materials to people voting so the peer scores would go up. NEU literally reviewed each US news metric and determined how to improve their own. They are playing chess over there..
Columbia was busted overstating the number of their professors with PhDs to game USNews.
Maryland has a Freshman Connections Program where you’re admitted to the spring but still take classes in the fall. Penn State can admit you into their summer program.
Colleges all seem to agree that the USNews methodology is arbitrary so why not game it I guess.
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Lying is different; I don’t think NEU was ever making anything up. It can be seen as clever, or icky, but I don’t think they did anything outright fabricated (to my knowledge).
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@TomSrOfBoston and @L_NewEngland Thank you for explaining.
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Has anybody got guaranteed admission to next fall. My child was offered with this into engineering. did anyone of you got it? what are the upside and downside to this in comparasion with admission to fresh year?
In past years many applicants got the guaranteed transfer option.
The advantage is that if you really want to go to BU, it is now your only option.
The disadvantage is that when you enroll for freshman year elsewhere, you are going into it knowing that you will only be there one year. You may have difficulty making friends because they will know that you won’t be around in a year. You will not form an attachment to the school. Also, financial aid would be an issue.
Accepting the transfer option does not commit you. If the student is happy at their freshman school, there is no requirement to transfer to BU. In the past, students who did not transfer after freshman year received a letter from BU offering guaranteed junior year transfer!
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why would financial aid be an issue given that you can prove your academic performance in fresh year for scholarship?
Most schools do not give merit aid to transfer students. And need based aid, other than Pell and state grants, cannot be predicted.
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