@BrooklynRye I wanted to share our experience last year with financial aid. My child had top tier stats and was accepted EA with a 20K per year Dean’s Scholarship. We were offered NO financial aid at all (other than loans) despite having another kid in college and an EFC around 20K. NEU calculated our EFC at around 70 K. NEU is one of a handful of schools that considered your home equity as an asset amongst other things in their need calculations. We live in the northeast where houses and cost of living is high. We have had our home for about 20 years so have a fair amount of home equity. Unfortunately NEU is unapologetic when calculating what they think you can pay and what their idea of need is. I personally don’t agree with it as it’s patently unfair to expect a family to sell their primary residence (only home we have) or take on a second mortgage in order to pay for school. It’s not like we have piles of money in investment accounts. Good luck to you in your appeal, but unfortunate last year there really wasn’t any success stories where students negotiated increased scholarships or increased FInancial Aid. They have thousands of students standing in line willing to pay full price. My other child attends a less expensive state school as an out of state student and qualifies for a tuition grant through financial aid. Go figure.
@my3sonsca D19 was deferred, 32 ACT, 4.4 GPA, some serious ECs and awards.
Same thing happened to my S17 as yours–deferred EA and then accepted later into the honor’s college. He had an incomplete application (applied Music) but when he changed to undeclared he was eventually accepted.
@HERONotMuch After posting that last question, I realize you may have gotten $56k over four years… in that case, you may get additional NMSF funding if applicable.
@hopefulbutstress If you have been accepted EA, you just need to send your final transcript.
Thank you for sharing your experience, @Annie4321. Very much appreciated. Stories such as yours and @Aasabem are a bit heartbreaking. I agree, it is patently unfair to include the equity in someone’s home. On the other hand, as @TomSrOfBoston has pointed out, NEU is not in the possession of the kind of endowment (see Harvard) that allows them to meet 100% of true demonstrated need for all students. While the school will lose stellar students such as your child and Aasabem, as you note, there are plenty of parents prepared to pay the whole ride. At an expected COA of $70k+ in 2019-2020, that’s pretty incredible. For now, we intend to remain optimistic and stick to some tried and true negotiating tactics (what I pretty much do for a living, btw). Our S19 also has pending applications with RPI, as well as with BU, for Engineering which may provide some contrast and even some bargaining power. We shall see and I will certainly report our experiences. Thank you again and good luck to your child!
@BrooklynRye DS applied to RPI and BU too. Good luck with your negotiation!
@Aasabem just curious…did you do the Net Price Calculator before applying?
My D was deferred, 36 ACT(36 all sections), 4.0 UW/4.4WT GPA, 9/460 ranking, 11APs, all 5s so far, NMSF, 2019 US Presidential Scholar candidate, good ECs and assay. Big surprise! Do they think she is overqualified? Any advice what she should do next? Will LOCI help?
Anyone who is deferred should send a LOCI. If you’re local maybe another visit. And I will say that our HS typically has about 100 that apply to NEU and usually 30-40% are accepted. Almost everyone we know this year was deferred (and our HS is VERY competitive). I believe that a lot will still get in.
@wondering2233 I assume that is aimed at me. Apologies for not being independently wealthy. Sorry to offend but for many, actually paying for college is equal or more stressful than getting in. Discussing aid and scholarship along with expectations, I believe is critical to the whole process and a key part of this site. As mentioned when promises and expectations were set and then given half of that, it’s bittersweet and causes more stress.
@zzd857 This is my guess. Northeastern does not feel that she is “overqualified” but rather that NU may her safety school. A LOCI explaining why she wants to attend NU with specific references to what makes NU unique. NU need not be her first choice but a school that she would be happy to attend.
@zzd857 your daughter is very well qualified. It seems, to me, that so many kids with really strong scores were deferred because the admissions dept probably thinks NE is their safety school. My son was accepted with a 3.8 GPA from a College Prep High School, 33 ACT, 11 AP classes, and lots of EC and interesting essays. We are from Utah, maybe that helped. I wouldn’t be too concerned, I bet she gets in for RD.
Deferred
California OOS
33 ACT
4.1 weighted, 6 AP’s, 4 honors courses
Class President, Class VP last year
Youth group leader
Gun violence activism group founder
Journalism diversity project founder
Several regional awards, one state award
Political Science/Business Administration major
For anyone who was deferred: are you guys sending a continued letter of interest? And if so, to whom are you sending it?
yes @MichiganGoBlue23 to our representative
Yes for us too @MichiganGoBlue23 and to our admission rep and we are going to go back up there and visit again and try to meet with her.
Does anyone know if you receive an outside scholarship, does it reduce NU merit scholarship you receive? This is what is says on Northeastern website. “Outside awards are considered part of your aid package, and in most cases will be applied first to unmet financial need, then to replace loans and/or work-study, and if necessary, to reduce institutional grants and/or scholarships.” What I don’t know is what is considered unmet financial aid? What if they determine you don’t need any money? Do they reduce your merit scholarship? Wondering who I call to ask… I guess financial aid?
Yes, call the financial aid office. If your student only received a merit scholarship and no need based grant I doubt if that would be affected. A need based grant may be reduced.
Did anyone get accepted to Honors program for computer science in Khoury College of Computer and Information Science? My daughter got into regular computer science program but wondering whether anyone got into honors program for the same. If yes, if you don’t mind sharing the stats.
Decision: Accepted
SAT/ACT: 1380
GPA: 3.8uw and 4.1w
State/Country: MA
Major: Asian Studies
Did you apply for FA?: Yes