northeastern supplemental essay questions

A Guide to Dietary Supplements

Did you know that more than two-thirds of Americans take at least one dietary supplement daily? This industry is rapidly growing, but along with the rapidly growing industry comes a lot of questions. While some experts say dietary supplements are the perfect way to supplement your diet and fill in the gaps where your nutrition is lacking, others question the safety behind these supplements.

There are many rumors concerning dietary supplements, and one of the most common is that they are unregulated. However, the rumor is merely that. In fact, The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) regulates the labeling and safety of all dietary supplements on the market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers the DSHEA Act, and it includes stringent guidelines to ensure safety. For one, the company producing the supplement must maintain a sanitary facility and test each raw ingredient that comes into the facility before going into their products.

While testing isn’t required on dietary supplements the way it is on prescription medications, the DSHEA helps ensure some safety for consumers. Even with this practice, consumers question how they can know if a supplement is safe?

A Glance at the Safety of Dietary Supplements

According to the DSHEA guidelines, dietary supplements are only permitted to contain ingredients that the FDA have reviewed and regulated. An additional act called the 2006 Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act helps protect consumers by requiring manufacturers to notify the FDA of any side-effects that are associated with the dietary supplement they product. Certain supplements that are beneficial, like the benefits of fish oil capsules can benefit greatly from this act, as it encourages manufacturers to produce products that contain lower levels of mercury than they had in the past. In fact, you can find fish oil capsules that contain little to no mercury at all, as labeled on the product packaging.

Any dietary supplements that pose a serious health risk to consumers can be taken right off the shelves. The FDA can force the company from producing the product altogether to keep consumers safe. Consumers can also report any problems with supplements they are taking. While it may take a while, the FDA will eventually become aware of the issue and will look into it and determine the proper course of action.

Beneficial Supplements and Steps to Safety

Even though there is a regulatory system for dietary supplements, it’s important that you be proactive on your end. Certain supplements can provide you with a variety of benefits, but they aren’t all made the same. Some are created with high-quality ingredients that are better absorbed by the body. Also, the fillers within the supplements can vary by-product. Looking at the inactive ingredients is just as important as the action to avoid potential side-effects to allergy-producing products like gelatin or nuts. If you’re in the market for dietary supplements and don’t know where to start, here’s a list of the most popular dietary supplements on the market today and the benefits they can provide.

• Vitamin D Benefits: Essential in regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D helps keep your immune system running normally. Healthy levels of Vitamin D keep bones and teeth healthy and can even prevent certain diseases.
• Vitamin B Benefits: Vitamin B is essential for energy and cell production. B vitamins are commonly deficient because they are excreted through the urine regularly and need to be replenished. Vitamin B can even help with anemia, weak muscles, and even depression.
• Vitamin C Benefits: Vitamin C is great for the immune system, as it protects it against deficiencies. It can also be effective in preventing prenatal health problems, eye disease, and may even prevent skin wrinkling.

While buying dietary supplements can feel overwhelming, the regulatory system in place can help put your mind at ease. When buying supplements, start off the three most important and commonly consumed supplements listed above and do your research. By researching brands and their reputation and ingredients, you’ll keep yourself informed and make a safe decision for your nutritional supplementation needs.

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Northeastern University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Application Information

Information provided below will guide you through the Northeastern admissions process. If you’re applying from high school, you should review information for  First-Year Applicants . If you’re applying from a college or university, you should review information for  Transfer Applicants . You should also review our  International Applicants  page if you’re an international student or U.S. Citizen who attends a high school or university which is outside of the United States.

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Does Northeastern Have Supplemental Essays?

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date October 6, 2023
• No Comments on Does Northeastern Have Supplemental Essays?

Over the past four years, Northeastern University has experienced a surge in applicants — from 64,428 in the 2019-20 admissions cycle to nearly 100,000 full-time, first-year applicants to the Northeastern Class of 2027. And Northeastern isn’t alone: in the uber-competitive, post-pandemic admissions landscape , colleges and universities have been inundated with record-breaking application numbers, stretching admissions teams thin and leading students to wonder how they can pivot to stand out in the crowd.

One perennial approach has been to use supplemental essays as a way to show colleges why you belong. But at a school like Northeastern, which doesn’t have supplemental essays (and in the absence of other key storytelling opportunities like admissions interviews ), what can you do to increase your odds?

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Make sure the school is a good fit.

When safeties no longer feel “ safe ” and overly-qualified applicants are rejected in favor of less-qualified applicants (a trend known as “ yield protection ”), it can feel like the whole system is, at best, unpredictable and, at worst, rigged. The fact is, to be a college is to be a business: colleges that can flaunt statistics like “90% of accepted applicants chose to enroll!” become increasingly appealing to high-achieving applicants, which, in turn, improves the college’s reputation as being “in-demand.”

What does this mean for you? It is in your best interest for colleges to think that, if they admit you, you will enroll. This is called “ Demonstrated Interest ”; more on this below.

First, you want to ensure that you are actually a good fit for the school. Look at your high school’s Naviance scattergrams to check that your GPA and test scores are in range with those of other successful applicants. If you’re school doesn’t use Naviance or SCOIR, review the college’s “class profile” and see how your GPA and scores compare. With fewer opportunities for applicants to share their “why” (AKA, why they belong), test scores and GPA become paramount in admissions decisions — even if test score submission remains “optional.” It may be tough to hear, but if your test scores and GPA are not in range at Northeastern, you may want to pivot your application strategy.

You also want to consider the school’s academic offerings: Northeastern is known for its business and engineering majors (the two most popular areas of study ), along with its emphasis on Experiential Learning . Because of this emphasis, Northeastern doesn’t offer a number of common humanities majors like Spanish, Art History, or Gender Studies. Northeastern should be able to see, upon reviewing your application, how you will find your place in their academic community.

Apply Early Decision

If you’ve done your homework and determined that Northeastern is both a good fit and your dream school, then it is in your best interest to apply to Northeastern through their binding Early Decision round. While Early Action applicants to the Northeastern Class of 2026 had a 6% admit rate, the Class of 2026 ED1 had a far more favorable admit rate of 32.41%. It all comes back to yield: if a college knows for certain that you will attend (Early Decision is binding), it will be more inclined to admit you.

Apply to a Satellite Campus

Northeastern has built a rather remarkable international network of satellite campuses from Boston to Oakland to London. If your heart is set on Northeastern, be open to the idea that starting your Northeastern experience at one of these satellite campuses could very well boost your odds of admission. Consider applying through one of Northeastern’s first-year programs, like the Global Scholars program, which places students on two separate Northeastern campuses for their first two semesters, the London Scholars program, through which students spend their first two semesters on Northeastern’s London campus, or the N.U.in program, which places students as a cohort in a global location for their first semester..

Essay Guidance

Get our expert guidance on your college essays.

Write a Strong Personal Statement

Even though Northeastern doesn’t have supplemental essays, the university does still read your Common Application personal statement. The personal statement is a major part of your application, helping colleges get to know you and your academic interests and enabling them to envision how you might contribute to their community.

Teacher Recommendations

In a survey conducted by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, 54 percent of admissions offices reported that teacher recommendations are considerably or moderately important. At Northeastern, teacher and counselor recommendations are up there with the personal essays and grades as “ Very Important ” criteria in admissions decisions. When you’re deciding who to ask to write your recommendation for Northeastern, identify a teacher who will emphasize all of the unique qualities that you might otherwise show through supplemental essay questions.

Demonstrated Interest

Although some colleges, most notably the Ivies , have officially stopped tracking demonstrated interest , the fact of the matter remains that many schools do still consider your engagement when making admissions decisions. Visit campus, attend online info sessions and webinars, and open the college’s emails both to learn more about the school and to show your genuine interest in attending. Bear in mind also that you’ll want to keep your email address consistent throughout the college process, as this is how schools will track engagement. (Swap that funnylemon527 email address out for something more professional early on in your college process!)

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Community Engagement

Finally, remember that Northeastern, like any college, is looking for students who exemplify their values. Northeastern, which ranks #12 for Service Learning, is committed to Experiential Learning, a broad set of offerings that integrate classroom learning with real-world, often workplace-readiness and service-oriented, experience. According to the Common Data Set, applicants’ prior volunteer experience, work experience, extracurriculars, and “character” are all “Important” criteria that the university takes into account. As you prepare to apply to Northeastern, make sure that you’re making the most of your weekends and summers by participating in programs and activities that will both lead to personal growth and increase your college odds

SHIFT YOUR MINDSET

Just because Northeastern doesn’t have supplemental essays doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a rigged system. You simply need to shift your mindset. Grades and scores remain king and are the first hurdle in the admissions process. Once you’ve overcome that hurdle, focus on crafting a compelling main essay that showcases your intellectual curiosity and unique contributions to your community.

Learn how to stand out with or without supplements! We can help !

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Essay/Short Answer Questions

The YSP 2023 Application Essay/Short Answer Questions

This application includes short answer/essay questions, which will require some time to answer. In order to assist you in answering these questions they are listed below.

• If you have received any honors, awards, scholarships or special recognition, please list them below (with year received).
• Please list any academic enrichment programs or clubs (e.g. after-school such as language clubs, honor societies, Saturday programs, or summer programs, etc.) in which you have participated or are currently participating.
• Briefly describe any non-academic extracurricular activities (sports, dance, theater, community service, etc.) in which you have participated or are currently participating.
• Briefly describe any special interests you may have (250 words or less).
• Describe a time you faced a challenge and how handled it (500 words or less).
• Please write a short description as to why you would like to participate in this program (500 words or less).
• Where do you see yourself 10 years from now (250 words or less)?

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Northwestern University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: 

Northwestern University 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 required essay of 300 words or fewer; 2 optional essays of 200 words or fewer

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community , Diversity , Oddball

We have designed these writing supplements to help us understand your experiences throughout high school and imagine what kind of Northwestern student you may become. The supplemental questions below touch on areas we see as important for building Northwestern’s Class of 2028, but you should feel free to repurpose essays you’ve written for other applications (including the Common/Coalition Application personal essay, which we no longer require) if they tell the story you’d most like to share.

We also know there may be information or qualities not covered in our supplemental questions that you see as important to your application. to that end, we welcome—but by no means expect—your submission of a personal essay or additional information in the common application., the following question is required for all common application and coalition with scoir applicants (optional for questbridge applicants). please respond in 300 words or fewer:, we want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: what aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise.

This is a kind of Why-Community Essay hybrid because admissions wants to (A) know what has shaped you, (B) learn about how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, and C) hear about the specific ways in which you will get involved (which requires demonstrating fit). This is a lot to accomplish in 300 words, but fear not, you got this! Start by isolating a specific story or anecdote that will offer admissions insight into how you have become the person you are today (remember, you don’t have to cover every aspect of your intricate, complicated, interesting self). Then connect that experience, community, or identity to the vision you have for yourself at Northwestern. If your experience is academic, maybe you want to write about the classes you would take or the research you would like to do. If your community is cultural, perhaps you want to write about the clubs you would join. In the end, you need to describe how you plan to engage in the Northwestern community in a way that draws on your past, so show admissions that you have done your research and you’re ready to dive headfirst into the Northwestern community!

The following questions are optional, but we encourage you to answer at least one and no more than two. Please respond in fewer than 200 words per question:

Painting “the rock” is a tradition at northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their wildcat spirit (what we call “purple pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. what would you paint on the rock, and why.

This prompt choice is glorious in its infinite potential. You can choose to elaborate on any of your passions here. Do you want to send a message to your fellow students about the environment? Maybe you want to rally students to join you at a demonstration of some kind. What is important to you? Essays responding to this prompt tend to lean in the direction of activism and community engagement, but don’t feel limited to these angles—anything you want to share with other Northwestern students (and, in this case, admissions) is fair game, as long as you feel strongly about it. And don’t forget to include the recognizable and effective acronym or short phrase you’d paint!

Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?

This prompt will likely stand out to you innovators, since it’s asking about something you would make from scratch. Use this opportunity to share your imagination with admissions.  Maybe you’ve been making TikToks reviewing your favorite YA novels for some time now. Would you teach a class on the politics of the modern heroine in YA fiction? Perhaps you have an idea for a new healthtech business. Would you create a start-up? And don’t forget to address the second part of the question: who would you want to collaborate with? The person you choose could be your best friend, a community, or an industry leader you admire. There is no right or wrong answer here, so write about something you daydream about and show them that you know how to think big.

Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.

If your answer to Northwestern’s required essay focused on specific organizations, clubs, and student groups you hope to get involved with on campus, it may be best to skip this prompt so as to avoid repeating yourself. If not, this is the perfect place to provide Northwestern with more examples of how you will get involved in their community. Maybe you focused your required essay on the academic community you hope to join as you take your research to the next level and you’d like to write about your vision for finding belonging in queer spaces on campus or making connections with other members of the AAPI community. Just keep in mind that your response should focus on the future while drawing on your past experiences.

Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?

This prompt is for all you applicants who are chomping at the bit to study in Evanston, Illinois. The nice thing about being able to focus on geography with this prompt is that you don’t have to have a fully fleshed out plan for your major; instead, you can focus on the experiential and cultural elements that will feed into your education. Why is living in Evanston appealing to you? Your answer should be personal to you and, if possible, unique. Explain what your desire to move from your hometown to Northwestern’s campus says about you. Whether you’re hoping to stay close to your family in Chicago or you’re eager to venture out beyond your one-stoplight town, this is the place to share your excitement.

Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

Admissions wants to know how you will contribute to the diversity of perspectives at Northwestern. What has shaped you as a person and how has that made your perspective unique? What lessons have you learned and applied? Is there anything you can teach your classmates or peers about your hometown, culture, religion, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Northwestern wants to know how your personal perspectives, beliefs, and/or lived experiences will affect the conversations you have and the ways in which you engage with the Wildcat community, so tell them a story that helps them to imagine the kind of student you’ll be on campus next fall.

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Northeastern University Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to Northeastern University’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Mascot: Paws the Husky

Type: Private Research Institution

Population: 27,400 (18,400 undergrads)

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About Northeastern

Founded in collaboration with the YMCA, Northeastern has become a well regarded research school. Known especially for its co-op program, where students learn experientially and on the job with partners around the globe. While the school’s rapid rise through the rankings has caused concern for some, the school is proud of its academic traditions and focus on research and student experience.

Northeastern Statistics

Year Founded:  1898

4 Year Graduation Rate:  19%

Gender Distribution: 51% Female, 49% Male

Acceptance Rate:  19%

Residency: 25% in state, 42% out of state, 33% international

Location Type:  Urban

Schedule System:  Semesters

Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1

Average Class Size:  20

Demographics: 45% Caucasian, 30% Other/unknown, 13% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 4% Black

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National rankings.

US News Rankings:

• #1 Co-ops/Internships
• #9 Most Innovative Schools
• #16 Study Abroad
• #40 National Universities
• #40 Best Undergraduate Teaching
• #46 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

Independent Rankings:

• #5 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice per Niche
• #7 Best Schools for Internships per The Princeton Review
• #14 Best College for Nursing per Niche
• #19 Best Colleges for Business per Niche
• #27 Best Colleges for Engineering per Niche
• #93 National Universities per The Times of Higher Education
• #96 Research Universities per Forbes

Northeastern Admissions Information

Application Deadlines:

• Early Decision I: November 1st
• Early Decision II: January 1st
• Early Action: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 1st
• Transfer Deadline: April 1st

Notification Dates:

• Early Decision I: December 15th
• Early Decision II: January 15th
• Early Action: February 1st
• Regular Decision: April 1st

Acceptance Rates:

• Transfer: 31%

Average Applicant Pool: 62,200

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 11,100

Average Number Enrolled: 2,000

Application Systems:  Common App, Coalition App

Average GPA: 4.04 weighted

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1390, 75th% – 1540

ACT Scores: 25th% – 32, 75th% – 35

*Test mandatory. Writing sections are not required.

Demonstrated Interest:

Northeastern does consider demonstrated interest.

How to Demonstrate Interest

Recommendation Letter Policies:

One letter from a counselor and one letter from a teacher are required.

Northeastern Essay Prompts:

• Common App personal statement (650 words)

Northeastern Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

Studio Art majors are required to submit a portfolio, and all students applying to the School of Art and Design are encouraged to submit a portfolio.

• Applicants must use either the Common or Coalition App.
• One evaluation/letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor, or employer is required.
• Standardized testing is required for most transfer applicants. This is waived if the applicant has done more than 1 year of undergraduate coursework, or who graduated from high school more than 5 years ago.
• Transfer Credit guidelines.
• On-campus housing is not required or guaranteed for transfer students.

Northeastern Admission Strategy

Admissions Criteria:

Northeastern is looking for students who are academically prepared for college, and who have demonstrated this through their GPA, course rigor, and standardized test scores. These are the most important factors for admission to Northeastern. 

Other important factors include the essay, recommendations, extracurriculars, and talent. More than numbers alone determine admissions, and Northeastern wants an interesting and diverse student body. 

Factors which are considered in admission are demonstrated interest, first-generation status, geographic origin, and race/ethnicity.

Recruited athletes do receive an advantage in the admissions process, though they are still expected to have strong academic preparation.

What is Northeastern Looking For?

Northeastern is looking to improve its ranking in the US News annual college list. They are not the only school to try to game the system, but they have done it more successfully than any other. Much of what they are looking for in college applicants reflects this desire to rise in the rankings. 

Most important are grades, course rigor, and standardized test scores. These are important for two reasons; the first is that average standardized test scores have a direct impact on the rankings, so Northeastern tries to attract the highest scoring students they can. The other factor is graduation and retention rates: Northeastern wants to ensure that the students it admits are ready for the college experience, and to that end uses their GPA, course rigor, and standardized test scores to judge their level of preparation. 

Beyond metrics alone, Northeastern is trying to build a student body of interesting and talented individuals. They are looking for students with clearly demonstrated passions and interests, both academic and otherwise. The student’s extracurriculars and essay are how they look for insight into these. They, like all other elite schools, prefer students who have specialized; focusing on one or two activities or interests. 

Northeastern has begun a new diversity initiative, and is looking to increase its recruitment and enrollment of under-represented and minority students on campus. They will thus be actively working to consider such applicants for admissions, although they will not want to compromise their academic standards to do so.

Finally, Northeastern wants to increase its yield, or the number of admitted students who attend, and thus looks to student’s demonstrated interest.

Northeastern Strategy:

The most important consideration when applying to Northeastern is academic readiness, as represented by GPA, test scores, and course rigor. You should be taking the most challenging courses offered by your school that you can succeed in. Further, you want your standardized test scores to be as high as possible; if they are not at the 50th percentile, consider studying and retesting. As Northeastern has been consistently trying to raise their average, having scores over this mark is even better, although not strictly necessary.

As Northeastern is trying to increase its yield, demonstrating interest and applying Early Decision are good ways to show the school that you are interested. Applying ED is especially helpful if Northeastern is your top choice, as it doubles your chances of admission compared to Regular Decision. Applying Early Decision II is a good idea if you aren’t ready for the first round of ED, or if you want more time to raise your test scores.

Unlike many top schools, Northeastern does not consider legacy status. This is a small but helpful thing, as legacy admits drive up the competition for non-legacy students, and are often admitted at twice the average rate. 

Finally, you should clearly demonstrate your passions and interests through your extracurriculars and personal statement. As Northeastern does not have supplemental questions, there is less room to expound upon what your passions are and what makes you unique. This increases the importance of the personal statement, as it is the only piece of writing admissions will have to make a decision with.

Northeastern Academics

• Bouve College of Health Sciences
• College of Arts, Media, and Design  
• Khoury College of Computer Sciences
• College of Engineering
• College of Professional Studies
• College of Science
• College of Social Sciences and the Humanities
• D’Amore McKim School of Business
• Changing schools or majors requires meeting with your advisor, and fulfilling school-specific transfer requirements, although it is generally simple. Ease of transfer varies by school.

Core Requirements:

• Northeastern has comprehensive core requirements called NUPath. Students must take at least 2 courses in each of the following competencies, but each course may count for up to 2 competencies. Major courses and AP credit may also count towards this credit. The competencies are: Natural and Designed World, Creative Expression and Innovation, Interpreting Culture, Formal and Quantitative Reasoning, Societies and Institutions, Analyzing and Using Data, Differences and Diversity, Ethical Reasoning
• Comprehensive Information

Courses of Study: 

• 90 Majors Offered
• Option to double major
• Popular majors include General Business, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Communications, Computer Information Systems
• Minors offered
• Course Catalog

AP Credit Policies:

• Northeastern awards course credit for scores of  4 or 5. They grant credit for scores of 5 or higher on IB exams.
• Comprehensive Test Credit Information

Honors Programs:

• The Honors Program offers enhanced opportunities for experiential learning, research, and networking. They have their own housing, faculty advisors, and events.
• Academic Honors (based on cumulative GPA)
• Academic Honors Societies These offer an involved group of similarly focused scholars.

Research Availability:

• The office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URF) serves to connect students with research opportunities.

Study Abroad: 

• Study Abroad Options

Business Options: 

• The School of business offers multiple majors , some of which focus on business alone, while others explore it in conjunction with another field.
• There are also joint Masters programs, which allow students to earn an MS in only a year. 
• The school runs several centers for research in business as well.
• There is an Engineering and Business program run through the College of Engineering.

Pre-Med Options:

• There is no dedicated pre-med major, but there is an advising program for students interested in pursuing careers in health. This includes an overview of required coursework for students interested in advanced degrees.

The health sciences major serves as a catch-all for students interested in pursuing careers in medicine.

Pre-Law Options:

• Law and Public Policy Minor
• PlusJD Program Early admittance to Northeastern’s Law School.
• Pre-Law Advising

Computer Science Options: 

• The Khoury School of Computer Sciences offers majors, minors and interdisciplinary courses of study with other schools, along with core classes on CS fundamentals.
• The school offers 4 accelerated degrees , which combine an undergraduate degree with an MS in Computer Science or a related field.
• The school sponsors research by students and faculty alike.
• CS Student Organizations

Additional Specialty Programs: 

• Combined Majors
• Plus One Bachelors/Masters Programs  
• General Studies Program
• Torch Scholars Program
• Engineering Leadership Program
• Cooperative Education

Programs for High Schoolers:

• Pre-College Programs are experiential programs for talented high school students from around the country and around the globe.
• Northeastern Accelerate offers half-day deep dives into specific topics and subjects virtually for high school students.
• Young Scholars Program is open to rising Seniors, and offers future scientists and engineers from Massachusetts hands-on research experience.
• Experiential Entrepreneurship is a residential summer program for talented high school students, and seeks to act as an incubator for future entrepreneurs.

Student Life at Northeastern

School Motto:   Light, Truth, Courage

Mission and Values:

• Additional Information
• Student Testimonials ( Niche , Unigo , Grad Reports )

Residential Housing System:

Freshmen are divided into groups, called living learning communities, based on shared academic or social interests. These can fill floors or even buildings of residence halls. The school runs traditional, suite, and apartment style residence halls. Honors students are housed together. All first and second year students are required to live on campus, upperclassmen may continue to live on campus or move off.

Housing Statistics:

• 85% of Freshmen live on campus
• 49% of undergrads live on-campus at any given time

Campus & Surrounding Area :  

• Located in Boston’s Fenway neighbourhood, the campus is covered in trees and green spaces despite its urban surroundings, and was designated an arboretum in 2019.
• Primarily located along Huntington avenue in the “ Fenway Cultural District ” there are many points of interest near campus, including the Museum of Fine Arts , the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum , Huntington Theatre Company and Symphony Hall . 
• Safety Information ( Northeastern , College Factual )
• Virtual Tour , Virtual Events

Transportation:

• The school offers discounted MBTA passes on a semester basis. They have a rideshare program, and resources for cyclists .
• Parking Information

Traditions:

• Fall Fest – Students are welcomed back to campus every Fall by a weekend of games, activities, and free food.
• Husky Hunt – Teams of students compete in this 24 hour long scavenger hunt and series of puzzles that leads them around Boston.
• The Beanpot – An annual hockey tournament held between Northeastern, Harvard, Boston College, and Boston University, granting the winner a year’s worth of bragging rights over their cross-town rivals.
• Springfest – A weeklong celebration held on campus, featuring games, guest lectures, food, and music, capping off with a major concert.

Student-Run Organizations:  

• Organization Database
• Sample Organizations ( International Relations Council , Finance and Investment Club , Dance Company )
• D1 Athletics Colonial Athletic Association (Good Men’s and Women’s hockey)
• Intramural Sports
• Club Sports

Greek Life:  

• 11% of students are members of Greek life, including social, service, and academic organizations.
• There are frat or apartment parties most weekends.
• There is a vibrant nightlife in the neighborhood , not to mention the city of Boston itself.
• Ranked the #7 top party school in Massachusetts per Niche.

Financial Information

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

• Total: $72,932
• Tuition: $54,360
• Fees: $1,092
• Room & Board: $17,480

Financial Aid:

75% of students receive some form of financial aid. Northeastern commits to meeting every student’s demonstrated need, and will maintain that amount for 8 semesters of attendance. Aid packages will be reevaluated if tuition increases or if your family’s finances change. Students are required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be eligible for aid.

Additional Financial Aid & Student Loan Information

Scholarships: 

There are a number of merit-based scholarships which are also available. These do not require FAFSA to be filled out to qualify for, all students are automatically considered. Some programs, such as the Torch Scholars , have additional requirements to be eligible.

• The first baseball World Series was held at Huntington Avenue Grounds, which is now part of their campus.
• The original name of the school was “The Evening Institute for Younger Men.”
• The Matthews Arena on campus is the world’s oldest surviving indoor ice hockey arena.
• Northeastern outright purchased a small private college in London in 2018 in order to set up a branch campus there.
• Twitter’s co-founder Biz Stone attended Northeastern to study art, but dropped out.
• Napster was started by Shawn Fanning while he was a student at Northeastern.

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The Ultimate Guide to the Northeastern Transfer Essays

With a transfer acceptance rate of 31.12%, Northeastern University expects much more than good grades when considering who to accept into the transferring class. That’s why it’s important to take your time writing your Northeastern transfer essays. Remember: the two essays are one of the only parts of the application that will help the admissions officers see past your grades.

The Northeastern transfer essays not only have to be strong, but they have to be better than what the rest of the applicants are submitting.

The applicants aspiring to transfer to Northeastern are going to write their supplemental essays to the best of their ability. Note that if you want to have a solid chance of getting accepted into the school, you’ll need to beat out the competition. This is especially the case for those applying to Northeastern for competitive majors such as Business or Engineering.

With that said, let’s get right to our guide on how to write the Northeastern transfer essays.

Table of Contents

Please explain your reasons for transferring and the goals you hope to achieve. (600 word max)

What types of experiences inside and outside of the classroom do you want to engage in during your northeastern journey (250 word max).

Let’s get a common misconception out of the way first.

Many of our clients have answered questions like these with something outside of their major. So, instead of writing about their need to have a proper business education that would benefit their future career, they would focus on things like the school’s traditions, culture, and location.

Those are all valuable reasons to transfer to a different school; however, they should not be the primary reason to apply. Therefore, don’t write your Northeastern “why us” essay by talking about things outside of your major.

Remember: Northwestern wants to know why you want to transfer because they’re also measuring who “most deserves” it. If you want to transfer to Northwestern for reasons outside of your career, it is unlikely that you will have a more compelling reason to transfer than someone else who needs to transfer for their major.

So, you should be writing your Northeastern “why us” essay by answering two things: why transferring to Northeastern will fit with your academic major more, and how the school will help you achieve your future goals.

Ideally, your future goals should be aligned with your major of choice. Let’s take the business example from earlier. If you’re applying to Northeastern because you know you wanted a better education in business and management, you want to show how Northwestern’s resources will help you with your future business-related goals. Maybe you want to start a consulting agency that helps growing software startups in the San Fransisco area. You may say that the clubs and professor research done at Northeastern will correlate directly with your academic major, and therefore your goals in starting a consulting agency.

If you truly want to get creative, you can tie in your reasons for transferring with a personal ideological or philosophical reason as well.

Let’s say you want to attend Northeastern because you want to be a better business manager and potentially a future consultant for other startup companies. Your future career as a business consultant will be putting the fates of future cutting-edge companies on the line. Your success determines their success, and perhaps even the evolutionary rate of technology as a result. See where we’re getting at here?

If Northeastern accepts you and gives you the resources needed to be the best business consultant, your acceptance will be tied to the future fate of other potential business founders. Thus, you know you need to get into Northwestern because the moral fate of small businesses in the future is on the line.

So, a short thesis that answers this question may look something like this:

“The reason I must transfer to Northeastern is that it is the most fitting school for me to become a future business consultant for early-stage startups. To attend Northeastern means having the opportunity to help other aspiring business owners who just need enough help to launch off the ground; thus, I’d like to use my experience here to learn everything I need to create a consulting firm that can help local small startups.”

In some ways, this question serves as a good way of understanding how the student can be educated in their new environment as a whole. So, it’s not just about what’s in the school; instead, Northeastern also wants to know how you will be integrated with the community.

But first, let’s deconstruct both experiences: inside and outside.

The experiences you expect to have inside the classroom are, obviously, going to include classes and academic content relevant to your future career plans. Since this question asks about experiences specifically, they will want you to talk about things beyond the academic sphere (even if it’s within the classroom). Thus, you may want to talk about the clubs that will help you with your future career goals, or even the networking opportunities available in the community of your major. When writing this part, be sure to show that you’re someone who has a plan. That means you need to write your Northeastern essays confidently and specifically; you can’t write in vague terms.

Instead of just saying you’ll be networking in general, you may want to talk about the possibility of building a community of people who share similar interests to your field. If you plan to join clubs related to your future major and career, talk about your plans for what you’ll do in those clubs and how they’ll contribute to your growth.

In terms of experiences outside of the classroom, you may want to talk about the things that are meaningful to you. Remember that at the end of the day this is another form of a “Why Us” essay question. Thus, it may not be sufficient to just talk about the things you would like to do outside of the classroom that fit with your hobbies.

Instead, think about writing why those hobbies and extracurriculars outside the classroom are important to you. Let’s say that you want to join Northeastern’s G-Power Dance Crew. Many people will be talking about wanting to join their own favorite clubs and activities. Thus, there must be a reason Northeastern’s clubs outside of the classroom are special to you. Maybe joining G-Power would be something meaningful to you because you are inspired by the choreography that they do, and you never had the chance to truly perform for such acts. Joining Northeastern means you’ll have the chance to join a dance crew that fits with the vision for dance you’ve always wanted to have that your school would not provide.

Your acceptance to Northeastern thereby becomes not only a matter of your academic and career fit but your personal fulfillment as well.

If you have any other questions on how to write the Northeastern transfer essays, don’t be afraid to ask! Simply schedule a free consultation through our contact form, and we w ill get back to you at approximately 24 hours with a free advising session!

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