college essay topics for northeastern university

How to Get Into Northeastern: Acceptance Rate and Strategies

May 29, 2023

Anyone who went to college thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago, would likely be shocked if you told them that Northeastern University, once viewed as more of a commuter school than a nationally-recognized institution, the Northeastern acceptance rate is in the single digits (the Northeastern ED acceptance rate is much higher). This Boston-based private university was founded back in 1898 and one hundred years later, U.S. News ranked NU as the 162nd best school in the country. What has happened since that time is nothing short of amazing. In 2000, the average incoming SAT was 1157; today it is 1484. The school now rests comfortably among the top 50 universities according to U.S. News and receives in excess of 96,000 applications every year.

Given that the process of gaining acceptance into Northeastern becomes increasingly challenging with each passing year, we will touch on the following topics:

• Northeastern acceptance rate – Class of 2027
• Northeastern ED acceptance rate – Class of 2027
• SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted Northeastern applicants
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2027
• The demographics of current Northeastern undergraduates
• Northeastern’s yield rate
• How Northeastern’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
• Tips for applying to Northeastern
• How to assess whether applying to Northeastern is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Northeastern Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

Northeastern received 96,327 applications for its 2023-24 freshman class. They have not released an official Class of 2027 acceptance rate, however, the following is known…they aim to bring 2,600 hundred total students to main campus and 200-300 to the campuses in London and Oakland, CA. Based on this data, the estimated Northeastern acceptance rate to the Boston campus is around 5-6% for the Class of 2027, an all-time low.

For comparison, the acceptance rate in previous years has been drastically higher:

• Northeastern acceptance rate Class of 2026: 6.8%
• Class of 2025: 18%
• Class of 2024: 20%

Northeastern ED Acceptance Rate

In building the Class of 2027, Northeastern accepted 39% of ED applicants. This is higher than the 33% acceptance rate for the Class of 2026, but lower than the 51% clip for the Class of 2025.

NU offers both ED I and ED II, with November 1 and January 1 deadlines.

Northeastern Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank

The median SAT for Class of 2026 members was 1500, the highest to date. Eighty-one percent of test-takers scored a 700+ on the EBRW section and 94% earned better than 700 on the Math section. The mid-50% ACT score was 33-35. An overwhelming 77% of Class of 2026 members finished in the top decile of their high school class; 95% placed in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2027)

• The school received 91,100 applications for the Class of 2026 compared to 96,327 in this most recent cycle.
• The number of applicants has increased by 49.5% over the last four years.
• ED applications increased by 30% in the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
• Since 2015, Early Decision applications have risen from 772 to 5,872.
• 71% if the applicant pool identified as non-White.

Who Gets Into Northeastern?

Let’s look at the demographics of Northeastern undergraduates:

Geographically, 48 U.S. states are presently represented across the NU undergraduate population. As with all selective colleges, those from lower-populated, more remote areas of the country (e.g. Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska) enjoy a boost to their admissions prospects.

The states with the strongest undergraduate representation are:

• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Pennsylvania

Northeastern Acceptance Rate (Continued)

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of students was as follows:

• Hispanic: 11%
• African American: 6%
• International: 15%
• Two or more races: 6%

The breakdown by gender is as follows:

• Female: 54%

Let’s now take a college-by-college look at where/what current undergraduates are studying (most recent data available):

• College of Arts, Media, and Design: 1,514
• Bouvé College of Health Sciences: 2,134
• D’Amore-McKim School of Business: 4,449
• College of Engineering: 3,958
• Khoury College of Computer Sciences: 2,938
• College of Science: 3,374
• College of Social Sciences and Humanities: 1,860
• University Programs: 611

NU’s Yield Rate

Northeastern’s yield rate — the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted — was 33% last year, much higher than in previous years. For comparison, schools like Stanford & Harvard are typically over 80%, and the University of Chicago, MIT, and Yale all sport 70%+ yield rates. Northeastern still finished well behind other elite private institutions such as Vanderbilt, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon. This tells us that NU is eager to know if you are their first choice, and there is a great admissions advantage to signaling such a leaning.

How Northeastern Rates Applicants

There are five factors that Northeastern ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, GPA, standardized test scores, the application essay, and recommendations. Rating as “important” are: extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, and volunteer/paid work. “Considered” factors are: first-generation status, race/ethnicity, class rank, demonstrated interest, and geographical residence.

In the words of Northeastern admissions officers themselves: “Candidates who bring diverse experiences, perspectives, and interests to our community are identified by the Admissions Committee following a holistic application evaluation.” With a goal of building a diverse and talented freshman class, “the Admissions Committee seeks to enroll students who have been academically successful and who have been actively involved in their school and community.”

Tips for Applying to Northeastern  

If you plan on joining the 96,000+ Husky hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• There are no interviews offered through the university. As such, you’ll need to use the essay and recommendations to forge a personal connection with an admissions officer.
• Northeastern does consider “ demonstrated interest ” so it is important that you make contact with the admissions office, connect through social media, and visit campus or meet Northeastern reps at a college fair near you.

Does Northeastern Have Supplemental Essays?

• In the 2022-23 cycle, Northeastern no longer utilized any supplemental essay prompts. Therefore, the primary Common App essay takes on an even greater level of importance when applying to the university.

CT Advice: With only one essay to complete for Northeastern, applicants need to channel their efforts into the Common App essay of their choice. For more on the prompts themselves , which might be best to select, and how to begin brainstorming, visit our previous posts.

Northeastern Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts

With Northeastern growing more competitive each year, you will likely need to possess stellar SAT scores, near-perfect grades, and earn a place in the top 10% of your high school class. Applying ED will provide a sizable edge if you find yourself “on the cusp” from an admissions standpoint. All college-bound teens need to make sure that they formulate an  appropriate college list , containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to do this in conjunction with an admissions professional (including your own high school counselor).

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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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Find out about the benefits we offer for Early Decision applicants and determine if you're a good fit for Early Decision.

Have a question? You aren't the only one–check out the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

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Transfer credit may be available to students who complete advanced examinations in high school or college-level courses at an accredited higher education institution.

Learn more about our process based on your application type.

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Middle 50% Range SAT Score of Admitted Students

Middle 50% Range GPA of Admitted Students

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View our prospective student resources to see how Northeastern can help put your future in motion.

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The Essay Competition is now closed.

Northeastern University London is inviting competition entries from students who are currently in their penultimate year of secondary education (equivalent to Year 12 in the English education system, or Grade 11 in India).

Our selection of essay titles engage across a broad range of technology, social science and humanities topics and we look forward to receiving entries from talented and intellectually curious students who show passion in their subject area. We welcome entries from students located anywhere in the world.

If you have any further questions please see our  FAQ page before contacting us.

Choose your essay question

Applied Digital & Technology Solutions: Discuss the societal risks and rewards associated with generative AI (such as ChatGPT). 

Business: Is it possible to reconcile the cost-of-living crisis consumers are experiencing with the need for sustainable consumption?

Computer & Data Science: Describe a modern application of data science based on machine learning, generative AI or data analytics. Discuss its context in terms of topic, domain, and societal implications. 

Economics: Does the expanding gig economy contribute positively to sustainable economic growth? 

English: Is it fair to say that literature is another name for language which has no practical use? 

History: How have empires throughout history shaped the societies we live in today? 

Law: Ed Sheeran said “Defending copyright infringement lawsuits has become as much a part of the job description for top musicians as the performance of hits”. Discuss whether UK copyright laws are out of date and should be reviewed by Parliament. 

Philosophy: To what extent, and in what ways, can the past be a good guide to the future? 

Politics & IR: Is environmental degradation a greater threat to the international community than war? 

Psychology: Discuss to what extent mental factors impact ageing.

The following prizes will be awarded:

Overall winner across all essay subjects- £1000

Winner in a subject category- £500

Runner up in a subject category- £250

How to enter

1. Register for the competition – After registering you will be emailed detailed instructions on how to enter.

2. Choose one of the titles

3. Write your 1,500-word essay

4. Submit your essay via our online form (URL will be emailed to you after you register) by 1pm GMT Sunday 31st December 2023 .

If you have any further questions please see our FAQ page before contacting us.

Who can enter?

The Northeastern University London Essay Competition is open to students who are currently in their penultimate (second to last) year of secondary education (Year 12 in England or Grade 11 in India). This is a global competition, so we encourage entries from those studying anywhere in the world. Find full competition rules here .

Register here

We are no longer accepting registrations for the essay competition. If you have any questions please refer to our FAQ .

CollegeVine's essay prompt database

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Also, every year we create free guides on “ How to Write X School’s Essays ” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown.

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See the Essay That Helped This Student Get into Northeastern

Min An/Pexels

As part of College Confidential's essay series, we're sharing personal essays from students who were admitted to college during a prior admissions cycle. The student who wrote this was accepted to Northeastern University, and we are sharing it with the student's permission.

Successfully creating this source of warmth and light has eluded even the most skilled survivalists from time to time, due to the delicate balance of fuel, oxygen and ignition required.

Despite the knowledge that creating a fire was a well-known challenge, it was my job to generate one out of the materials I could find on my grandfather's farm, and I only had one night to make it happen.

"You're gonna do what the cavemen couldn't," my father told me. I didn't point out that he was actually incorrect. Cavemen had successfully built fires, I'd learned in school — but if I shared that information, it would only make me look worse if I was unable to create one on my own.

Some kids learn how to make a fire in Boy Scouts or on Outward Bound excursions, but that wasn't going to be my experience. "We aren't joiners," my dad liked to tell people. "We do things on our own."

That meant learning to swim in nearby lakes and rivers. While other kids participated on swim teams, I would be at the edge of an algae-ridden pond, clinging to a tree root as water snakes slipped past my feet. It also meant I'd spent my afternoons building a horse pen with my brothers while my classmates made shoe racks in the after-school woodworking club. Whereas the "joiners" came home with a sanded, stained and varnished Father's Day gift to proudly offer their dads, I worked with my father on unexpected first aid concepts as I came into contact with thorns, stray staples and rusty nails during my building project.

After telling me that my new task was to create a fire and ensure that it burned all night long, my dad disappeared back into the house. The only tool I had was the knowledge I'd gained from watching my parents and grandparents make fires for the prior 15 years of my life.

I gathered leaves, sticks, dried grass and logs from around the property and took them to a rock-encircled area where we'd made many fires before. I set up my tepee of materials over the black stain that showed me where our previous fires had burned. I organized my tinder, kindling, logs and leaves in a perfect formation.

I walked into the woods to seek material that might work as a fireboard when I saw something unexpected. A small stream of smoke was rising from a part of the woods we'd always described as "no man's land." It was where local teenagers would gather, and from the looks of the trash they often left behind, to drink beer and smoke. They'd obviously done exactly that this very night, around a fire, which they'd since abandoned.

The fire was clearly winding down to the "nearly just embers" stage. I sat down and threw some leaves on it, and then blew on it to ensure that the new flames would grow. After that, I put a branch with dead leaves into it. Once it lit up, I took that flaming torch and walked back to the logs I'd set up around our family fire pit.

Back on my family's property, I held the torch against my tinder and watched it ignite, blowing on it and rearranging my setup to ensure that my fire would take hold. As the flames traveled from the dry grass to the leaves to the kindling to the logs, I leaned back to watch it.

I kept that fire burning all night long, and the next morning, when my dad asked how things went, I told him the truth, although I knew there might be a chance I'd have to start over again.

He stared at me for a few seconds and then smiled before he spoke.

"We may not be joiners, but we're not idiots either."

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Northeastern University Undergraduate College Application Essays

These Northeastern University college application essays were written by students accepted at Northeastern University. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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My mother was diagnosed with cancer. It all started in April of my sophomore year when she complained of exhaustion, nausea, a back ache, and bad breath. I remember the day perfectly. It was Easter morning and my mom was scheduled for a procedure...

How Swimming Has Affected My Life Rebecca Papritz

Giving up my weekend nights for swim practice was something I was used to by the time I reached high school. Swimming, I felt, was my niche, and with that niche came many sacrifices. Yet, for all the “hardships” that came with it, I earned the...

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Recent Questions about Northeastern University

The Question and Answer section for Northeastern University is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Mastering the Northeastern University Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

The Northeastern University supplemental essays offer a fantastic opportunity for you to showcase your personality, passion, and commitment to your chosen path of study. Located in the heart of Boston, Northeastern University is known for its experiential learning model and co-op programs. Hence, Northeastern is looking for students who can thrive in their unique educational environment.

Prompt 1: Why Northeastern? (200 words)

In this essay, the admissions committee wants to know why you have chosen Northeastern University. Do your research and be specific. Explain why you believe Northeastern is the best fit for you and how you would contribute to the community.

As an avid coder with entrepreneurial ambitions, I was immediately drawn to Northeastern University's combined Computer Science and Business Administration degree. I believe the ability to speak both the language of code and business is crucial in the fast-paced tech world, and Northeastern’s unique program seems tailor-made for my career goals.

But it's not just the academic offerings that appeal to me. The co-op program, a signature of Northeastern, offers practical, hands-on experience that aligns perfectly with my learning style. I am particularly excited about potential co-op placements with Boston's tech startups, as it would provide me with a first-hand understanding of running a tech business.

Lastly, the Husky spirit is something I wish to be a part of. The annual Husky Startup Challenge showcases the vibrant entrepreneurial culture that I long to immerse myself in. I see myself not just participating, but also contributing to this energetic community by sharing my own tech ideas and helping others shape theirs. At Northeastern, I see an ideal blend of rigorous academics, practical experience, and a vibrant community, perfect for nurturing my entrepreneurial dreams.

Prompt 2: Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (200 words)

This prompt asks you to reflect on a community you are part of, showing your ability to engage with and contribute to that community. This could be a geographic community, a cultural community, a religious community, or even a virtual one. Show how you have played a role in this community and what impact it has had on you.

I am part of a unique community of weekend trail runners. What started as a small group of health-conscious friends soon turned into a supportive, dynamic community committed to fitness and nature preservation.

My role within this community extends beyond being an active participant in weekly runs. Recognizing a need for structure and sustainability, I took the initiative to organize regular trail cleanups. After each run, we spend time picking up litter and ensuring the trails remain clean and safe for everyone.

As a result of my efforts, our group has become known not only for its commitment to fitness but also for its environmental stewardship. This responsibility towards my community has deepened my understanding of the crucial role each individual plays in preserving the environment and promoting community wellness. It has inspired me to continue seeking ways to create a positive impact in the communities I belong to.

Prompt 3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? (200 words)

This question is about your intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo. Show how you used critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address a complex issue.

As a sophomore, I began to question the amount of food waste at our school cafeteria. It seemed incongruous that while we were learning about sustainability and global hunger issues in our Geography class, we were contributing to the problem in our cafeteria.

Determined to challenge this issue, I proposed a food waste reduction initiative to the school administration. I faced resistance initially, with many arguing it was an inevitable part of running a large school cafeteria. However, armed with research and a detailed proposal, I persisted.

My proposal included strategies like portion control, a composting program, and raising awareness about food waste. With continuous dialogue and persuasion, the administration agreed to a trial run.

The impact was substantial - we reduced food waste by 30% in the first three months. This experience taught me that questioning the status quo is the first step towards effecting change. The initiative’s success underscored the power of perseverance and solidified my commitment to environmental sustainability. Challenging this norm at my school not only resulted in a positive outcome but also reinforced my belief in the potential of youth advocacy.

Let's look at how to craft compelling responses for these prompts:

Why Northeastern? This isn't a prompt where generic praise for the university will suffice. Delve deeper into specific programs, opportunities, or aspects of campus culture that attract you. Don't simply regurgitate information from their website; personalize it to your interests and goals.

Community and Your Place Within It The aim here is to demonstrate your sense of community and your role in it. What unique perspectives do you bring? How have you positively impacted this community? Remember, the scale of your impact doesn't matter as much as your commitment to making a difference.

Questioning or Challenging a Belief or Idea The key here is to demonstrate your ability to reflect and change. Did the outcome result in personal growth? How did this change your thinking or influence your actions? This prompt allows you to highlight your maturity, thoughtfulness, and ability to adapt to new understandings.

Remember, each supplemental essay is an opportunity to reveal a new aspect of your personality and experiences to the admissions committee. Plan your essays accordingly, and don't be afraid to let your voice shine through.

Good luck with your Northeastern University applications!

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Northeastern University Admission Essays

Exploring northeastern university's appeal.

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Northwestern University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

You Have: 

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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