This is the official thread for those applying EA/ED to Northeastern University.
List your unweighted GPA, any SAT /ACT scores, and ECs. What majors are you going into?
Ask your questions, the CC community is here to help!
My daughter is (at this moment) applying ED to NEU.
Unweighted GPA: 3.85
Test optional
EC: Extensive: 300+ hours volunteering (200+ at one location) to date- STEM related; Paid work in research lab with supervision responsibilities; additional research work (2 years) and poster presentation wins
From geographic region that isn’t well represented (mid-west US) so hope that helps
Major: Probably Explore program (interested in Biology, Marine Biology, possibly Nursing --so Explore might be the best option)
1st choice: Boston Campus (binding), second (non-binding choice) NUin
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Anyone know if the overcrowding issues have resolved? My daughter is very concerned about this and it may keep her from applying,
Yes find out first if ED. Resident Services/Dept of Housing should be able to tell you. They have no reason to sugarcoat.
You have high need if I recall - $30k budget - is that correct? They are need aware I believe - if it’s the top choice great but that could hinder you.
Good luck.
Ps a descriptive op-ed. It certainly doesn’t sound good.
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The class of 25 was overenrolled, as more students accepted the offer of admission than in previous years, resulting in overcrowding. Changes were made (i.e. firing people in admissions and hiring a new Director of Admissions from Tulane). I believe things are better now. NU has historically had many international students - I don’t know if there will be fewer as a result of the government’s actions towards visas.
My son was class of 24 and experienced some crowded conditions. He made it work - rather than study at the Snell library, he studied in the beautiful ISEC building (where he saw Liam Neeson filming a movie), the Horticulture Building which NU bought on Huntington Avenue, or the Boston Public Library. He was most annoyed that the gym was crowded. I bought him a Blue Bikes subscription and he enjoyed riding a bike around Boston. He lived on campus for two years and off campus for two years. There are many student apartments near the school and in the Mission Hill neighborhood. He enjoyed off-campus more, but it is a city so accommodations will probably not be as large compared to say, the south, where my other child goes to college. His freshman dorm was demolished and they are building a much larger building in its place, but I don’t think it will be finished for a few years. Overall, his experience at NU was excellent - academically and socially. It is the best fit for independent, self-motivated students who enjoy living in a city. NU emphasizes global learning and he loved his study abroad in Africa. Good luck to your D with her decision!
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The Snell Library has a seating capacity of 3000 students. I cannot imagine more than that needing a place to study overnight, even during finals period.
Northeastern has always been crowded. Back when I was a student in the Paloeolithic period, there were traffic jams in the tunnel system on rainy and frigid days.
Work on the 1370 bed residence hall at 840 Columbus will be getting underway soon. And a freshman dorm to replace the demolished White Hall is in the planning stages.
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This is a student filmed and narrated tour of the Boston campus from last fall. If you haven’t visited, the video gives you a good overview.
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Every place she is applying to is need aware so it’s unfortunately something we just have to accept. It’s why she has so many colleges on her list. But the NPC is good -and she has a lot to offer. We’ll just have to hope a few colleges on her list see that.
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Thanks for the feedback - I think that’s really helpful and I’m glad it was a great experience for your son! She’s very self-motivated, independent student. She does better with hands-on, experiential learning -and it seems NU focuses on that. And she really wants to study abroad at some point -and NU has a number of options for that.
I told her I didn’t think there were any perfect schools - NU offers a lot of what she wants and a few things she probably won’t love. I think that is the same everywhere.
ETA: The overcrowding is really a turn-off for her. We looked at the other Boston schools: BU, BC -but those either don’t have much of a campus (BU) and have too high of a NPC: BC.
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3.96/4.0 weighted. Test optional. 4s on three APs, 3 on one AP. Taking 6APs this year. Lots of EC. English major. It’s a reach but hoping ED helps.
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So what are your thoughts on pros/cons? Favorite things/least favorite? Thoughts on NUin program? Or other campus starts? Have you been to campus? What did you think?
LOVE Northeastern. Applying ED. Co-op programs sound amazing! Location in the city is perfect, and I love Boston. Professors get great reviews, and class size and student-to-teacher ratios are good.
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I have a 3.7 UW and 4.3 W and am applying to Business Admin + Communication, here are my ec’s I have: Paytome – Internship Aug 2024–Dec 2024
• Aligned marketing strategies with product development for a Silicon Valley based fintech
startup, developing pitch decks, ads, and promotional materials to enhance brand visibility,
support product scalability, and drive growth across financial sectors.
Enaiblers – Internship June 2025-Septermber 2025
• Researched business models and expansion strategies for a Swedish healthcare startup,
identifying partnerships and supporting outreach to scale AI diagnostics in underserved
regions and strengthen revenue/funding.
Accelerate Climate Solutions – Internship. June 2024 – Present
• Created and maintained website for a local environmental nonprofit, ensuring accurate
content, improving user experience, and co-fundraised $5,000
• Leading and expanding student led projects to improve eco-tourism in underrepresented
areas and sustainability practice in small-local businesses.
Extracurriculars Activities:
Finance Compass – Expansion Lead July 2025 - Present
• Organized financial literacy workshops for a student-led nonprofit and built partnerships
with temples and community groups to expand outreach in underserved communities.
Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force April 2023- Present
• Launched Upcycling Naperville Project as I partnered with city leaders and nonprofits to
launch public recycling initiatives. Designed outreach strategies to strengthen community
awareness and participation in sustainability practices.
Business Professionals of America Fall 2023-Present
• Developed crucial skills of communication and teamwork to help advertise job
opportunities in our town.
• Designed gaming covers to advertise their message.
• Applied fundamental skills of accounting to applied scenarios.
Model UN Fall 2024 – Present
• Talk about challenges faced throughout the world today, with different delegates to help
find solutions to these problems as a council.
• Led and served as Co-Chair for a Model UN committee of 40+ delegates, overseeing
debate procedures, fostering diplomatic collaboration, and mentoring students in public
speaking and negotiation.
Key Club Fall 2024-Present
• Volunteered at different local non-profit organizations to help the community at large.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Providing Services at Feed My Starving Children:
• Helped package essential nutrients into boxes for people in need in different
countries.
Contributed to helping different orphanages around Mumbai, India from local NGO’s:
• Collaborated with local NGOs to provide meals and essentials for 30+ children (ages
6–12), directed group activities that engaged children in learning and play, and
strengthened cross-cultural awareness and leadership through hands-on service as
a head volunteer
Volunteered at Lurie Children’s Hospital
• Helped families and patients at the hospital, and performed service projects
Led group activities at Buddies for Tennis
• As a lead volunteer, I led inclusive tennis sessions for over 30 children with autism and
special needs, built participants’ confidence, motor skills, and teamwork through adaptive
play, and served as a peer mentor, creating a supportive and fun environment.
Environmental Society
- As an Executive Member of the Environment Society, I served as an assistant vice President, Community Liaison director, and recycling ambassado,r and collaborated with students to create sustainability initiatives and promote environmental awareness within our school community.
please tell me what are my chances as I am applying for ED1, especially for boston campus.
Are you full pay ?
Do you have a test ?
ED helps. What kind of rigor do you have - English, Math (what level), lab science, foreign language ?
What we say doesn’t matter. What NU says matters. If you applied you’ll find out soon enough.
You have a great out if the classroom story.
Need to know more about your academics. Are you at a public or private school ?
Nonetheless as I said - what I or anyone else tells you doesn’t matter. Only what NU says matters.
yes i am, no tests, rigor I have is AP Lang, AP Psych, AP Enviornmental Science, Honors Precalc, Honors Spanish 4, AP Spanish, AP Calc AB, AP Macro, AP Micro, AP Computer Science Principles, Honors English 1 and 2, Honors Geometry, AP Human Geo, Honors Bio, Public Speaking, Virtual Enterprises International, Finance, Accounting
Public school I am. I am looking for feedback based on my overall profile of people who were admitted to NU last year, especially through ED program as this is my top choice.
I would think not but again what I think is irrelevant.
You’ll find out soon enough.
Why is it your top choice?
Great for oppurtunities and want to immerse in real world experience