Brown vs Northwestern vs Lehigh

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'll be a senior this fall, and I am choosing between these three schools for Early Decision. I loved all three of these schools, and I'm sure I'd be happy at any one of these. Perhaps some outside opinions can help me with my decision --</p>

<p>I am a hispanic female looking to go into an engineering program. For this reason, Northwestern is particularly appealing (great eng. program). However, if engineering isn't for me, I would like to go into business. This makes Lehigh a great choice (good eng. program and good business program). Then there is Brown, a great school with an all around great reputation.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, Brown and Northwestern don't have a business program. Is this going to make it harder to get into a graduate school than if I had a business degree from Lehigh?</p>

<p>Apart from the academics, could anyone shed some light on the differing social atmospheres of these three schools? I love a good party- but it's not my life. I'm athletic and pretty friendly.</p>

<p>Thanks for any and all opinions/advice/comments!! :D</p>

2

<p>Do you want an undergraduate business degree? Or do you plan on going into banking/consulting?</p>

<p>Regardless of your answers, NU or Brown will be a much better choice than Lehigh regardless of what path you are pursuing.</p>

3

<p>Thank you noobcake,</p>

<p>I think I would like to go into business management, but i’m not sure about that at all. I think that the classes I take as an undergrad will largely shape my decision</p>

4

<p>Well Lehigh has a very good engineering program as well as business programs. I will be applying to Lehigh next fall RD and I love Lehigh. Although Brown has a greater reputation, but It’s totally upto you now to decide. All of them are great schools, and you will succeed in any of them.</p>

5

<p>upintheair- You are right that you will probably like all three. Do you prefer a big city? Do you like traditional college sports? Is greek life important? What are your stats? Brown and NW tougher to get into than Lehigh. NW and Lehigh have the greek lifestyle if you choose. NW bigger on the sports front. Chicago the most cosmopolitan city with Providence next, Bethlehem a distant third ( I grew up in Lehigh Valley). Weather probably worst at NW, but winter can be nasty in PA and RI as well, but probably Brown a hair better here. Vibe is going to be a bit different at all three. Lehigh work hard party hard. Brown a bit more “laid back” and NW probably the most “classic” college experience, although again you can get that at all three. Do you like walking up and down hills? Lehigh and Brown have them. are you going to apply anywhere else? Safeties? Good luck.</p>

6

<p>Not a big city person. I don’t like NYC at all, but really liked Chicago when I visited.
I love sports, so I would like to go to the games.
I think I would like to be involved in greek life, but it’s not really necessary </p>

<p>I have a 4.1 out of 5.0 GPA, 2050 SAT, and a lot of leadership. I know getting into Brown would be a very long shot. Northwestern would be tough too. At least if I apply early to Lehigh I’ll have a good chance</p>

<p>Hills aren’t a problem- they’ll help keep off freshman 15 :slight_smile:
And I love the winter!</p>

<p>If I don’t get into my ED school I will apply to these 3 as well as Tufts, Bucknell, UMich, Union, and Rutgers (union and rutgers being my safeties). </p>

<p>I think I am leaning towards Northwestern, I just hope its not too much of a reach!</p>

7

<p>Northwestern might be quite a bit reach with your SAT score (assuming your 4.1/5 is within top 10% of your class) since you will be applying as an unhooked applicant with a 25th percentile score.</p>

8

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<p>Relatively few of the most selective universities and colleges have undergraduate business majors. According to Harvard’s MBA class profile ([Class</a> Statistics - MBA - Harvard Business School](<a href=“http://www.hbs.edu/mba/perspectives/class-statistics/]Class”>Class Profile - MBA - Harvard Business School)), only 26% of the Class of 2011 majored in Business Administration as undergrauates. In previous years the number has been as low as 17%. A plurality majored in the humanities or social sciences. The figures are similar for Wharton’s MBA program ([Wharton</a> MBA: Class Profile](<a href=“http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/student-life/class-profile.cfm]Wharton”>Student Life - MBA Program)).</p>

<p>A few years ago, the Wall Street Journal published a list of the top 50 “feeders” into some very selective graduate schools of business, law, and medicine. ([IPCN</a> Library](<a href=“http://www.inpathways.net/IPCNlibrary/ViewBiblio.aspx?aid=1577]IPCN”>http://www.inpathways.net/IPCNlibrary/ViewBiblio.aspx?aid=1577)). Brown and Northwestern are on the list. Most of the 50 (40 or 45 by my quick count) do not have undergraduate business majors.</p>

9

<p>It’s rare for people to get into a decent MBA program without some years of work experience. So if you wait for few years, by the time you apply, your work experience/GMAT would be far more important than where you went for undergrad.</p>

<p>Brown and NU have better recruiting with management consulting firms; NU doesn’t have business but its industrial engineering and management sciences major is like a hybrid between engineering and management. </p>

<p>noobcake,
I thought OP’s ethnicity may be a hook?</p>

10

<p>Brown is the better option.</p>

11

<p>I really did like Brown. But the 14% acceptance rate scared me off. At least with Northwestern’s ED, its around 40%</p>

12

<p>The industrial engg and management sciences at NU is ranked 4th in the nation. IEMS courses fulfill most of the pre-reqs for Kellogg cert program, which just had great job placement despite the terrible job market: [Kellogg</a> School of Management Undergraduate Certificate Programs - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm)</p>

<p>NU engineering has one of the most established CO-OP program in the nation with 30% participation rate. CO-OP participants usually have 6 quarters of work experience by the time they graduate. Only 5% of the engineering grads did not secure jobs/had no plans the month before graduation. <a href=“http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/article_745.html[/url]”>http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/article_745.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Since you’re interested in business and engineering Lehigh has a cool honors program that combines the two: [IBE</a> - About](<a href=“http://www.lehigh.edu/~inibep/about.html]IBE”>http://www.lehigh.edu/~inibep/about.html)</p>

<p>As far as Lehigh’s social life goes, I can offer these comments based on my ~10 or so days of observation (I just transferred here): everybody I’ve seen so far is really into their studies but also enjoys a good party or two on the weekends; “work hard party hard” describes it perfectly. I haven’t met a mean or negative person yet. Greek life is pretty big. The neighborhood off-campus is a little rough. Overall, though, I really like it here.</p>

14

<p>Brown doesn’t seem like a good option here. It doesn’t offer undergrad business like Lehigh and is significantly weaker for engineering than Northwestern.</p>

<p>Between Northwestern and Lehigh, I would probably go for NU. But that’s just my personal preference.</p>

<p>I never like to recommend ED - if you are this unsure, perhaps now is not the time to commit. However, the admissions advantage may be a big deal in your case.</p>

<p>Can you afford your EFC?</p>

15

<p>I’d go for Brown if you have the stats, it’s the best of the 3 overall and will give you access to the best engineering and business jobs. While NU is a great school and an argument could be made for it, lehigh isn’t in the same league and you’ll get better jobs in business, and thus into a better MBA program, from either of the other 2.</p>

16

<p>Just my 2cent, MBA’s (aka Graduate Business Schools) don’t require you to have undergrad business degrees. If you were to get into Brown and studied something like engineering/computers you could just as easily get into a top notch Grad Business School as if you went from Leheigh -> MBA</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

17

<p>True that you don’t have to have an undergraduate business degree to go to business school. Many people seek MBAs with undergraduate economics and other degrees. Also, as someone said, you probably shouldn’t apply early decision if you’re not sure. So it seems a shame not to try for better known schools than Lehigh just because you might do business. Lehigh is supposed to be excellent but why not see what other options you might have? It does seem like your ethnicity should help. If you apply to 8-10 places and play it out until April you will learn a lot from the accepted students days that will help you make a good choice. It might be worth waiting.</p>

18

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<p>Northwestern definitely has better ties and reputation with engineering firms. Northwestern blows Brown out of the water in engineering and has one of the most well-established CO-OP programs with tons of engineering companies participating. It has top-10 econ and industrial engineering and management sciences departments (IEMS). Brown doesn’t even have IEMS. Northwestern also has Kellogg certificate program and its students had landed jobs with top firms despite the terrible market. <a href=“Certificate Program for Undergraduates | Kellogg School of Management”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Despite the economy, only 5% of the engineering grads were still looking for jobs one month before graduation. I suggest any one of you saying “Brown is the best overall” to be more specific.</p>

19

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<p>I guess not for business/banking jobs. NU is a core school for banking/finance recruitment. I don’t think Brown is despite its being Ivy. The top banks go to NU and recuit talents regularly and on large number. Sam Lee should be able to provide you that link of top banks that recruit at NU as well as the data where many NU grads end up working.</p>