<p>NUin is a form of the midyear college acceptance which many schools offer – as discussed in this NY Times article last year:</p>
<p><a href=“More College Applicants Don’t Get In Until Winter - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/education/more-college-applicants-dont-get-in-until-winter.html</a></p>
<p>While some colleges offer midyear admission as a choice, many others assign students to this category when they accept them. One could speculate endlessly about whether waitlist or midyear admits are ranked higher by the college, but it is a pointless exercise. The bottom line, as others have pointed out, is that midyear admission is a sure thing albeit on a different timetable, whereas admission off the waitlist is exceedingly iffy.</p>
<p>Some colleges allow midyear admissions students to make their own choices for the first semester, whereas it appears at NU all midyear accepts do one of a number of specific programs abroad. You could view this as being forced into “an expensive international program” or as a great opportunity to begin college with a unique experience and a broadened perspective on your place in the world. Your choice…</p>