<p>Hey guys! I'm new to being a member, but I've been ghosting here for a while. I just want to ask for your opinion on how I should rank these three schools on my board of interest.</p>
<p>A little about myself: I'm a Korean born in America so I act pretty similar to my Caucasian friends. I dress in a preppy manner and I like to play football and basketball recreationally. I also enjoy playing guitar. While there have been nights in high school where I've stayed up all night, I'm not too interested in wasting my college years away studying or composing essays. I would like to mature socially and am interested in a supportive, outgoing student body. A good friend of mine has already been admitted to Northwestern and I may room with him if I attend. I'm interested in majoring in either Poli-Sci or Economics. I don't drink/smoke/abuse, but I may learn to casually drink over the summer so I fit in better (probably not). Finally, name recognition is pretty important to me (my sister went to Harvard and several relatives went to UPenn/Duke) because of the opportunities I see that it affords in acquiring a job/going to graduate school.</p>
<p>I visited all three schools - these are my impressions:</p>
<p>Northwestern: Liked the student center alot...am a fan of football/basketball so I'd love to cheer on the wildcats and go to a school where the teams don't suck...went on a great sunny day, but am afraid of the cold (I really want to be warm as much as I can be so the "Windy City" thing is pretty off putting)...the students seemed to be relaxing quite a bit and playing frisbee or just hanging out (which is great)...my tour guide was able to quite a bit with his free time which I'd also like to do.</p>
<p>Williams: The campus is not as nice as either Midwestern school...I felt like the layout was a bit fragmented and didn't quite form clear boundaries for where the school ends and where the town begins (didn't like that)...loved the idea of tutorials and extra help (which I will make use of lol)...everyone seemed to love the tour guide which made me feel like the community was like a family (or maybe because he was such a great guy)...the location is awful, there's nothing to do for miles (how often do people go to boston/cambridge?)...the dorm rooms seemed really small...the student population looked white/athletic/preppy (does a clumsy asian with asthma fit in if he's not a varsity letter athlete?)...loved the sense of humor and quirkyness I felt (even in the acceptance folder!).</p>
<p>Chicago: Awe-inspiring the nobel laureate numbers...my dad went there for 2 years and is very proud of his school, he would love to see me go there...I very much liked the gothic vine look...there was a cute koi pond that made me smile...the tour guide (and those I asked) had only one extracurricular activity (is this because of lack of time or great involvement?)...the entire place had a very dark and serious tone about it...I'm not sure if that's me (I'm very peppy and energetic)...the people dressed in a emo/punk way (which usually says something about the person dressing that way...but I don't want to stereotype)...the name recognition is very strong...I believe that if I survive I will mature greatly, but I'm afraid of the expense (happiness, ease of mind, social life, social growth?) - I realize that I'm not someone who wants to miss out on the good social moments in life outside of classrooms and books.</p>
<p>THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING ALL THIS AND REPLYING!</p>
<p>Williams really is in the middle of nowhere. And greater Boston is a long drive no matter which way you go. But that is part of the mystique. You are going away <em>to</em> school, which means you should be very much focused on the formative experience that is college proper the people, the classes not living it up in some major city. I think if such a tight knit environment does not come across to you upon reflection as at least as neutral / not a major concern, you are going to have a hard four years. Further, I dont think there is anything wrong in desiring a more integrated environment that places like Georgetown or Columbia can offer. </p>
<p>As for the U of C, if it strikes you as kind of doom and gloom, and you are not big on the books to begin with, then the place will be a psychological train wreck. The prestige is simply not enough to sustain a person who lacks interest in what the college has to offer in a strictly academic sense. Are there well rounded students? Certainly. But you will need to be first and foremost a scholar if you are going to succeed (barring unusual talent), and that is not an environment meant for everyone. </p>
<p>Which brings us to Northwestern. Prestigious. Next to a big city. ECs abound. I say go for it.</p>
<p>one bit of advice: if you DO choose to go to Northwestern, don’t room with your best friend from h.s… not to be mean but, c’mon.</p>
<p>Just imho, Northwestern looks like It would fit you the best from what you’ve described. I’m still in highschool, and don’t have enough worldly experience in anything even close to assessing someone’s goodness of fit at a college, but still…</p>
<p>I know tons of people who go to CHicago, and they aren’t nerdy or gloomy at all. They are funny, good-looking, and preppy, fyi. According to them, UC is a pretty mixed bag w/ a stereotype for being some nerdy no fun place, but there are plenty of great people there. They were surprised and don’t regret going there (some chose it over Northwestern). They’ve told me that they do have great social lives and can find parties easily, and they sometimes head over to other schools like Northwestern to party…not a lot. A lot of students do venture into the city, as well. And for economics and the like, Chicago can’t be beat. Good luck with your decision! Hope this gives you a better view of UChicago. And from the times I’ve been there, I never saw any punk/emo people!!</p>
<p>*** Oh and I agree, don’t go to Northwestern just to room with your friend…you’ll end up hating him if you room with him, lol. Seriously, choose your school based on more important things. I’ve seen many people room with their best friend from high school and end up getting on each others nerves so much that it ruined/hurt the friendship. BAD IDEA!</p>
<p>Northwestern sounds like the best fit for you.</p>
<p>That being said, I’m going to go ahead and second (third? fourth?) the advice about not rooming with your friend. Good friend does not equate with good roommate. You guys’ll might end up slaughtering each other after a couple months.</p>
<p>“And from the times I’ve been there, I never saw any punk/emo people!!”</p>
<p>I think he means hipsters. </p>
<p>Color me a WASP, but I had never seen such people in large numbers outside of GAP / Apple advertisements before attending the U of C. Likewise, since leaving the U of C, I have not seen many either. The difference in day-to-day student attire is always one of the first things that I notice when I come back to the campus.</p>