<p>I'm looking to enter either CMU's college of Architecture, or pursue an Architecture at Umich. I've been thinking about it for a while, but haven't really come to any conclusions.</p>
<p>I was considering getting a M Arch from Yale or GSD, so even though CMU offers a straight 5 year B Arch professional degree, it wouldn't matter that much even if I went to Umich and got a BS Arch.</p>
<p>Anyone has any suggestions?</p>
<p>For me it's either UMich Honors/RC or Swarthmore. Any reason why I should choose one or the other!?!?!</p>
<p>College_hopefull, Michigan can never duplicate a LAC the calibre of Swarthmore...nor can any LAC, including Swarthmore, match Michigan's academic offerings. The RC at Michigan, however, does come close to duplicating a LAC experience and you always have the larger university to fall back on in the event your needs exceed the capacity of the RC. And Swarthmore is one of the most versatile LACs, which means that they too will have a great deal, albeit not as much as Michigan, to offer. You are going to have to prioritize and chose accordingly.</p>
<p>Trying to choose between Northwestern University and UMich. I love Ann Arbor and the idea of the RC (I had already sent in my deposit to be in RC and UM before I found out I got into NU), but I also got into Medill's School of Journalism at NU, and don't know if I can pass that up. Plus, NU's campus is gorgeous and right next to Chicago. </p>
<p>Still, NU is insanely expensive and will put a bit of a burden on our family (instate tutition for UM). </p>
<p>May 1 is inching closer and closer, and I'm still so torn!!!!</p>
<p>Kitcath, Northwestern's campus is not more beautiful than Michigan's, and although Chicago is very close to Evanston, as a student, you will not really be able to afford the city that often. I used to go to Chicago one weekend a month and that was more than I could afford. So from An Arbor, getting to Chicago will not be a problem. However, Medill is amazing if you wish to go into journalism...and saving $100,000 by attending Michigan, which is as good as Northwestern, is nothing to sneeze at. You certainly have your work cut out for you! hehe</p>
<p>Oh, I know that! I loooove Ann Arbor, and even though I've lived in MI all my life, I'd never been there until I got into UM and then, I instantly fell in love with it. It is not "more beautiful" than Northwestern's campus, but Northwestern's campus does have a gorgeous lakefill area right on the shores of lake Michigan -- and I've always just loved living near bodies of water and big grassy areas. The Lakefill area there is very soothing (when you're not freezing your ass off!)</p>
<p>But Ann Arbor is very cool, ecceletic, and I'd love to live there as well. Basically, there is no clear cut pro or con in regards to either school, and that is why I am having such a terribly hard time deciding!! I'd echo your "hehe", but I'm entering serious stressed out mode, so can't find the energy to laugh! </p>
<p>Thank you for the reply. You make a good point about Chicago being expensive for a poor undergrad. Would you say then that Ann Arbor is helpful in that respect for poor college students? It's easier there to afford stuff? (obviously, Chicgo being a big city and Ann Arbor just a town, but still. It's that big a difference?)</p>
<p>I think my decision would be a lot easier if I knew for sure journalism was what I wanted for a career. But I'm not. I'm only 18! I don't know! As my parents say nervously, "Medill is a LOT of money if you're not sure. You have to decide now if that's the path you want to take." The fact that UM has no Journalism program makes it hard too, because if I do go into journalism, I'll kick myself for not going to Medill. They make it so easy to get a job coming right of graduation there, from what I've heard from their Dean.</p>
<p>Gah!</p>
<p>If you are not sure you want to go into Journalism, I have to say go for Michigan. You can still get into Journalism from Michigan. Many top journalists studied at Michigan. If you were 100% sure that you wanted to go into Journalism, I can see how one could justify going to Northwestern. Even then, I am not sure it would be worth paying an extra $120,000 over 4 years. </p>
<p>Michigan is one of the nation's top 10 or top 15 univesities...and it is certainly as good as Northwestern. In fact, in most of the fields you mentioned (English, Humanities, Social Sciences etc...), Michigan is ranked ahead of Northwestern. I also think the atmosphere at Michigan is happier and more pleasant than at Northwestern and I think Ann Arbor is a more pleasant town than Evanston. </p>
<p>To me, it is a complete waste of money to go to Northwestern when you can get just as good an education at Michigan. I would say go to Michigan now and if after you graduate, you still feel like Journalism is for you, apply to graduate programs such as Northwestern and Columbia. The money you will save now by going to Michigan will more than pay for your graduate studies, be it Law school, MBA or Journalism. Think about it!</p>
<p>I think U of M vs. JHU is quite a difficult decision. </p>
<p>Think about it this way - both schools have the background in engineering you want. Academically, though, where else are your interests? Are you unsure? Would you like to take advantage of a wide spectrum of interests, from biology to physics to writing to music to anything? U of M is probably the better choice, then. While JHU is strong in BME and research and, as I hear, can be strong in IR (because of its proximity to DC), Michigan is strong in engineering, in research undoubtedly, and in IR, too. The opportunities U of M offers are unparalleled at most other institutions in the country. </p>
<p>But what makes U of M different from the other top-notch universities that offer everything? Aside from its size which may or may not be a positive in your book, U of M has one of the coolest college towns in the US. U of M has an INCREDIBLE amount of school spirit - and it's really up to you to choose how active in that spirit you'd like to be. Personally, I never was very spirited in high school, but when you realize your school is the best in the country for a plethora of competitive things (like football, engineering, music, among others), how can you not be a little spirited? :D</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind the active social life at U of M. Because the professional schools are all next to the undergrad campus and everything is intertwined with itself and Ann Arbor, it's a very diverse, open atmosphere. There are all sorts of people there, and most importantly, they stay there. Only approximately 38% of U of M students live on-campus, but those who don't live in "off-campus housing" right on campus. Basically, they live on-campus, but not in the dorms. From what I've heard about JHU, most upperclassmen live off-campus, and not necessarily close to the campus. Additionally, students tend to take off on weekends to go to DC or to get away from the stress of the campus or wherever - JHU is seemingly non-cohesive, imo. Their workweek is structured really oddly, with classes Mon-Tue-Wed. A bit reminiscent of highschool, if you ask me. </p>
<p>Anyway, I wish you best of luck in your college search and decisions, but make the right choice - GO BLUE!</p>
<p>And KitCath -</p>
<p>My cousin is a sophomore at Northwestern right now (in Weinberg) and was torn between the same decision two years ago. She wound up choosing NU, but confesses that to this day she regrets her decision a little bit - apparently, there is a LOT of work at NU (who would have thought ;)), and she'd like to be able to take advantage of more things outside of the classroom. I think U of M would have given her that leeway. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Wolverine 09</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Good choice IOlllOI, you will be happier at Michigan. Did Michigan end up giving you a good financial package?</p>
<p>Yep, Michigan will be slightly more expensive than JHU is I don't factor in work study...with work study it's even cheaper :)</p>
<p>Yay!!! Well, I am glad to hear it. Like I said, you will have a better overall experience at Michigan.</p>