<p>Hi. I was lucky enough to be admitted at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan. I was also waitlisted at my number one choice, UNC. At this point in my life, I think I want to major in business and continue on to earn an MBA. I know that only UMich and UNC have straight-up undergraduate business programs. I’ve heard Michigan’s is #3 and UNC’s is #5. I wouldn’t mind majoring in economics though. It’s hard to turn down U of C and the number one economics school in the world (or so I’ve been told). Then again, I’m certain Northwestern has an outstanding economics program also (I’ve never been able to find a list of economics rankings). I have a problem, but it’s a good one to have. I have to make my decision by May 1 and my schedule for April is absolutely stacked. After talking with my parents, they said I will only be able to take 1, maybe 2 trips at most. I would have traveled earlier on, except it made no sense to me to travel to schools that I might not even get into. I have listed below the aspects of each school that I find positive and negative and would like any feedback (unbiased if possible) that anyone can give me. Those with direct exposure to any of the above universities, your feedback will be especially useful.</p>
<li><p>The University of North Carolina- I am by no means “likely” to get in off the waitlist, but according to the letter they sent me, 25% were admitted off of the waitlist last year. I know it’s not a great chance, but it’s still a decent one compared to most waitlists out there. The main thing North Carolina represents to me is exceptional value. Even out of state tuition is about 20K less than U of C and NU. If admitted, would it be foolish to matriculate? I’ve never even been there, I just have a feeling I’d love it.</p></li>
<li><p>Northwestern- Right now I’m leaning towards NU. I want a complete college experience, and I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about U of C.
The City of Chicago is VERY attractive as far as internships and such.</p></li>
<li><p>University of Chicago- I still don’t know why I was accepted. I definitely do not fit the U of C stereotype. Academics have always been important to me, but I’m really just an average kid who works really hard. I don’t want to dig myself in over my head, but then again I don’t want to turn down the best possible opportunity (potentially). I’m not scared of work, but I am scared of the U of C’s reputation as being ungodly hard (and for what? I’m sure it’s really not neccessary to work students to the bone all the time).</p></li>
<li><p>The University of Michigan- This school sounds the most fun. I’m sure the education is amazing at UMich, but the large student body is definitely a negative, anbd the location doesn’t do much for me (especially for internships. Detroit maybe, but are the opportunities there very numerous, or of high quality?) Once again, the business progam (as with UNC) is very attractive, but there is only a 47% acceptance rate, and you have to apply at the end of your freshman year, so I would be screwed if I didn’t get into the business school.</p></li>
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<p>Any advice? I am definitely going to do the overnight stay at U of C (I think it makes sense to do the most extensive visit at the school I am most leery about), but I don’t have enough time to do both U of C and Northwestern. I plan on visiting NU though, and maybe sitting in on a class or two and talking to some students. Should I rule Umich out? Besides the trip to Chicago, I can take one more trip, either to UNC or Umich. I know it makes more sense to visit the school you’ve been admitted to, but It think I should visit UNC because I have never done so and I am telling everyone that if admitted off the waitlist, I will “definitely go.”</p>
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3. University of Chicago- I still don't know why I was accepted. I definitely do not fit the U of C stereotype.
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<p>Possibly thats why. </p>
<p>Anyway, you can definitely visit NU and UofC on the same trip, so that solves one problem for you in terms of where to visit. My mom is from Chicago and went to U of C undergrad and to their Graduate School of Business. Her education was top notch, but she was miserable there and its definitely not for everyone. She had been trying to push me to apply there, but I agreed to apply to NU instead- still in Chicago, but with a more balanced experience. </p>
<p>And from what I hear, NU is also among the top Econ programs globally.</p>
<p>Definitely stay on the UNC's waitlist. It's not foolish at all to go if admitted because 20K a yr is a lot of money and UNC seems to be a fine school.</p>
<p>arbiter213 and Sam Lee- you both make excellent points and i greatly appreciate your input. Sam Lee if you read this thread again, could you give me any information on where to view a list of economics programs rankings. I know it doesn't matter that much, but right now my father is pushing the U of C thing, mostly (I think) because of the number one econ ranking. I'd like to bolster my NU argument with a ranking of the NU program. Do you know its exact ranking?</p>
<p>If you do visit NU during April, don't hesitate to contact me..I'm a freshman MMSS/econ major who was in a very similar situation to yours last year. I'd be happy to sit down and talk about NU's econ program as objectively as possible--just let me know!</p>
<p>That's not really a ranking of econ as a social science. It's weird to have it shown up in undergrad business ranking as one of the specialties ("business econ"? :)). Anyway, that HYPS Chicago, Northwestern aren't in the top 10 should be a red flag. </p>
<p>april1:( </p>
<p>Here are two of the lists I found:</p>
<p>The ranking of economics departments by publications in the top 30 research journals:
1 Harvard U., USA
2 U. of Chicago, USA
3 MIT, USA
4 Northwestern U., USA
5 U. of Pennsylvania, USA
6 Yale U., USA
7 Princeton U., USA
8 Stanford U., USA
9 U. of California, Berkeley, USA
10 NYU, USA
11 Columbia U., USA
12 U. of California, San Diego, USA
13 U. of Michigan, USA
14 UCLA, USA
15 Cornell U., USA </p>
<p>US News:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5.0
University of Chicago 5.0
3. Harvard University (MA) 4.9
Princeton University (NJ) 4.9
Stanford University (CA) 4.9
University of California, Berkeley 4.9
7. Yale University (CT) 4.8
8. Northwestern University (IL) 4.6
9. University of Pennsylvania 4.5
10. University of California, San Diego 4.3
11. Columbia University (NY) 4.2
University of California, Los Angeles 4.2
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 4.2
University of Wisconsin, Madison 4.2
15. New York University 4.1
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 4.1</p>
<p>honestly...the first set of rankings is really in depth and seems more sound than the USNEWS rankings. idk im not trying to be biased or anything but the link to the explanation offers true evidence rather than opinion.</p>