<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, and 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>
</ol>
<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>
<p>You can visit Chicago, Northwestern, and Michigan on one trip if you want to. I visited all three one one trip when I was a prospective.</p>
<p>I think that you would have to learn a lot more about UChicago before accepting a place here. You should read about the requirements for the Core and read the descriptions of the classes to see if they appeal to you. If they leave you feeling confused and sound pointless and there are other things you would like to do, don't come here. I don't sense any real desire to have a University of Chicago education in your post, and it's something you'll need to think about. Read through the course guide and information: <a href="http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/</a>. Studying economics at Chicago or even Northwestern is not at all the same as studying business at a more pre-professional school. They are not at all similar.</p>
<p>You don't need to fit the Chicago student stereotype. I don't, and many other people here don't, especially in recent years. That's not something you should worry about. You do need to be prepared to do lots of reading, participate thoughtfully in classes, spend time on problem sets, and generally work hard. You can definitely handle the work, though. There does seem to be more work than at most colleges, but it's nothing obscene (well, usually).</p>
<p>You have good choices. I was accepted at Michigan, as well, though I ended up not applying to Northwestern. (I read their application and really didn't feel like answering their essay questions... Winter of senior year that seemed like a perfectly legitimate reason not to apply to a school.) You would definitely do well at Michigan or Northwestern, but since Chicago is a special place that differs in some significant ways from many schools, I think you really need to do a little more research and thinking. It's the kind of place that you won't do well at if you don't actually want to attend.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your post corranged. Although I have this image of the average University of Chicago student being introverted and dead serious about everything, I am sure this is not true. I know that some of the stories I've heard are probably exaggerated. Corranged, if you read this thread again, I would be interested to know more about the differences between taking economics at NU or U of C and studying business at a more pre-professional school. Right know I am Na?ve when it comes to economics vs. business, but I do know that both fields interest me. To anyone else reading this thread- please offer any opinion you might have about which path you feel is the best way to go. This topic has weighed heavily upon my mind the last few days, and I don't want to make the wrong choice. Ultimately, I'd like to have a pretty good "game plan" so to speak before enrolling at one of these universities.</p>
<p>Like you, I was accepted at UMich and Chicago, though I did not apply to Northwestern. I'm a preferred admit to the Ross School of Business at UMich, so I'm a lock to the business school. However, even with that, I turned down UMich and accepted my place at Chicago. The large (in fact huge) student body at UMich repels me, and the city of Ann Arbor is by no means comparable to Chicago in my opinion. I'm also nervous about the legendary amount of workload people say there is at Chicago, and to me, that is the only drawback. However, I believe I have the ability to manage it, and that's why I chose Chicago. In the end, it all comes down to whether or not you feel you're up to a real challenge.</p>
<p>Personally, I'm not a fan of an undergrad business major in general, with Wharton being something of a special case. That is in part because I value a broad education and in part because, frankly, many undergrad business majors aren't very good. I think that you would do best in business by majoring in something that interests you, be that econ or something else, taking courses that you feel would be important for a future in business, perhaps econ or psychology or history or international relations or Chinese or a good writing course--whatever, and getting valuable work experience through jobs and internships. I think that puts you in a better position for the future than an undergrad business major. Just my admittedly uneducated opinion based on what I've seen. </p>
<p>While business is a pre-professional major designed to prepare you for a certain type of job, economics is a theoretical study of a complex subject. I think that economics is likely approached theoretically at any major school. It is an area that will serve you well in business and other pursuits, but it is not meant to strictly prepare you for the workforce in the way a business major is. Economics majors at the U of C get MBAs and law degrees, start working at financial firms and other places, and go to graduate school to research economics. </p>
<p>I think most prospective college students, including you, would do best by keeping their options open, and the best way to do that is by avoiding a single pre-professional track and majoring in a subject that will allow you to go in many directions. I'm also wary of people going to a school for a specific major because so many college students change their majors. If you go to the U of C, you will experience all of the major disciplines in your first two years, and you will be able to make an educated decision about which direction you would like to go. You can major in economics or something else, and you can continue to pursue a future career in business by getting good summer internships, going to the career office, and perhaps preparing to get an MBA. </p>
<p>in general, i would lean against going to any school i felt ambivalent (or worse) about. even if my idea of the school was wrong, first impressions do mean a lot. college will be what you make of it, but don't underestimate the power of a bad first impression. basically, i'm saying that even though uchicago may not be as bad as what you think it is, the fact that you don't feel good about it this late in the year is going to negatively affect your experience there if you go. every small bad thing is going to make you wonder if you should have gone to northwestern.</p>
<p>I wasn't all that sure about Chicago when I sent in my deposit, and I worried about my choice during the summer. Unless you go in wanting to hate it, I don't think your initial thoughts will have much of a lasting effect on four years of college. A lot of students at every college had to make tough decisions between schools, but after the decision is made and you start school, you stop hearing talk about that other school you thought about. I think most people accept and enjoy the school they decide on and move on with life.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone for your advice! I am leaning slightly towward NU right now, but I am definitely doing the overnight stay at U of C and giving it a shot. Hopefully, with an open mind, I will be able to make the right choice.</p>
<p>I think doing an overnight is a great idea. We went on a whirlwind tour of colleges over spring break and wound up more confused than before we left. At two of the colleges my son was able to go to classes and get a real feel for the students and atmosphere. We also went to the University of Chicago Open House, where we were surrounded primarily by other prospective students and the whole experience was much more formal...sitting in information sessions rather than hanging out with students. There's no doubt that my son needs to go back for an overnight and classroom experience in the future so that he can see what it's really like. I think that's the best way to understand whether it's a fit for him or not.</p>
<p>My S had a great overnight visit at Chicago when a prospective student. He sat in on three courses and met some folks who are still friends today. He did the same at a school he did not choose, and had a poor experience there. Students were not very friendly, "hosts" locked him out of the room told him to come back after 12 midnight while they took care of some business in town. At Chicago, folks heard he was interested in a particular topic and looked throughout the dorm to find someone with similar interests who could talk with him about it. Host stayed up with S till 3 AM working on proofs, so S could visit the class the next day and be able to follow the discussion. Visiting does make a difference.</p>