<p>Having perused this site for awhile I know it's somewhat lame to list the school vs. school question, but any thoughts are appreciated. I know the basic differences and intensity of U of Chicago- but looking for input.</p>
<p>Rename to Brown vs Wesleyan</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Comparisons to Chicago always come down to the "fun factor"; Wesleyan students are every bit as erudite and fond of intellectualizing as Chicago's (in fact, it is often mentioned in the same breath as Chicago, Swarthmore, Vassar and Reed in this same regard); but, Wesleyan students have figured out ways to utilize their "rickety old blue collar town" to its best advantage by creating small cozy communities that, quite frankly, will create any excuse to throw a party. :D</p>
<p>Comparisons to Brown usually focus on the prestige factor which usually favors Brown, except when talking about film, jazz, the number of prominent liberal commentators among the alumni, and whose graduates actually receive the better all-round education. There's also some truth to the fact that you can fit the entire Brown campus on Andrus Field and still have room left over. Well, almost.</p>
<p>I have a similar question... for me, Northwestern vs. Chicago vs. Wesleyan. Right now I'm beginning to rule out Chicago, however, because I've been talking to a few students (and reading some student blogs) and many seem depressed and bitter with the intense workload. So right now, it's either Northwestern or Wesleyan.</p>
<p>I haven't visited Brown or Wesleyan, but I can tell you that Chicago's architecture, as you probably know, is awesome. Although Chicago does have one of the largest police forces in the country, know that it is, indeed, surrounded by dangerous region of Chicago.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good posts. Quite helpful.</p>
<p>Northwestern is fond of calling itself the "Harvard of the Midwest"; but, it would be more accurate to call it the "Cornell of the Midwest", a good sized, all-around, quality research university with no real hard edges, unless you count the granite architecture that reminds one more of West Point than Harvard Yard. The problem I have with Northwestern is that once you go there, who are your peers? Washington U.? Emory? Vanderbilt? You catch my drift. Overbuilt, nouveau-riche piles of brick bought with switch grass and corn exchange fortunes.</p>
<p>Wesleyan, on the other hand, stirs strong opinions, both pro and con wherever you go; has a campus that is a virtual museum of architectural history and tastes and is regularly mentioned in the same breath as places with names like Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, and Middlebury -- the veritable cradle of small college America.</p>
<p>I leave you to it: would you rather shop at Sears, where you'll probably find whatever you need without much bother --or much to talk about afterward. Or, would you rather shop at a stylish boutique where they won't necessarily have <em>everything</em>, but where you'll have a "complete shopping experience" that you'll remember the rest of your life?</p>