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Ronne Turner is the Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admissions and Marketing at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  She also authors the blog Northeastern Admissions: An Inside Look. 

Congratulations on making it through the first half of the junior year! Hopefully you had a successful semester with your activities, athletics and in your classes. As you probably know, your performance in your junior year courses is critically important in the college admission process. College admissions committees focus on these grades as it is the last full year we are going to see when making a decision on your application. Even though the committee will see your first term or even your mid-year senior grades, these grades only reflect a short period of time. It is important that you continue to do your best!

In the meantime, you may have already begun to hear from colleges about their programs and inviting you to visit their campuses. You may even have heard from Northeastern University already! How did we get your contact information? You gave it to us. When you registered to take standardized testing like the PSAT, you indicated you would be willing to receive information from colleges.

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Filed under: Dean Turner • College Prep • College Admissions

Ronne Turner is the Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admissions and Marketing at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  She also authors the blog Northeastern Admissions: An Inside Look. 

There are many false ideas about what colleges and universities value in the decision process, from high school quotas to overloading on extracurricular activities. At Northeastern University, our primary goal in admissions is to seek out and build a talented and diverse student body that is best suited to take advantage of a Northeastern education. The key to Northeastern’s strength is experiential learning, or the dynamic integration of classroom study and work outside the classroom. With one hundred years of global leadership in the integration of study and practice, Northeastern offers an unparalled method of education that leads to infinite personal and intellectual growth.

Since experiential learning is at the heart of everything we do, we look for students that are engaged and successful in and outside of the classroom. Our admissions counselors seek students who don’t just see the world, they are shaping it – whether it be through involvement within the community, engaging in social justice activities in high school, or participating in international experiences that engages the diverse cultures and world beyond your doorstep.

You can start by getting involved in a couple of activities that interest you. We want you to enjoy high school and take advantage of the opportunities to explore, learn and experience new academic subjects, activities and friendships. Most college admissions officers are more impressed with students who have pursued coursework and activities based on genuine interest over those students who are simply motivated by what they think will look good on their college applications. Spend your high schools years clarifying your goals and values; working hard to earn the grades that will place you in the best position to achieve your dreams; and developing the interpersonal and leadership skills consistent with your aspirations.  ...continue reading

Filed under: Dean Turner • College Prep • Outside the Classroom • The Extracurricular Experience • College Admissions