Chicago your first choice?

<p>Used to be about 3 months ago. Then it changed to MIT.</p>

<p>Yes, and i applied EA. I'm sooo nervous...when do you think we'll get our decisions? the 15th? </p>

<p>Not the most selective i'm applying to, however: Yale, NW, WUSTL...just mainly so i do have choices in the end.</p>

<p>Most of my junior year was preparing to graduating high school one year early to go to the Sorbonne in France to persue a degree in Linguistics. I couldn't stand the public high school system and didn't have the money or desire to attend a private school. I was accepted into my schools and had recieved all necessary credits to graduate. I admit, my GPA did suffer in the process of taking tons of extra classes. However, I found out about the University of Chicago. Best film history program, (one of the best) linguistic program, Near Eastern Languaages & Literatures in the country, I didn't want to penalize myself from having to apply as a transfer and I said, "No Europe, I'll stay in high school for a semester."</p>

<p>It was definately my first choice (I applied EA) and I am so incredibly glad that I went here. If you are applying to northwestern because you think you like chicago...bad idea. That hour and 15 minute train ride shows how far you really are tucked away in the suburbs...</p>

<p>So many of the programs here are great and the social life is just fine :)</p>

<p>Ditto what ottothecow said... I live about 30 minutes away from Evanston and it's not Chicago. Northwestern has this really beautiful view of the Chicago skyline from the lakefront... and it made me HATE the school. I don't want to be looking at Chicago... I want to be IN Chicago. There's a huge difference between Northwestern and UChicago even in terms of geographical location..</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm aware of where NU is and where UChi is. I've been to both colleges...flew in from California this summer.</p>

<p>Since I picked NU over UChi for its campus rather than its proximity to Chicago, I should be set. Even so, UChi's still above all my other choices because like NU, both schools have great academics.</p>

<p>Ooh, from california in the summer... :)</p>

<p>Dont be supprised when you realize that the campus looks completely different for most of the academic year than when you visited. Its not that either campus looks bad, its just that lots of snow and cold and no greenery sure make the place look different (but hey...I think it looks pretty otherwise why would I choose to come here).</p>

<p>Yeah, I know that it's freezing in the Chicago area right now. Last time I checked, it was about 11F. I wouldn't mind the snow, it'd be something new to experience.</p>

<p>neo yoyo:
the better campus... now thats a terrific way to pick a school</p>

<p>anyway. i adore the campus its very..."owlish" ... it suits the school</p>

<p>Well, I used the campus word to encompass everything I liked about NU. Not just the campus itself.</p>

<p>neo yoyo
your not the only one with that opinion on NU... their good looking campus has my best friend head over heels in love with the school</p>

<p>
[quote]
That hour and 15 minute train ride shows how far you really are tucked away in the suburbs...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It took me 55 mins to south end of the loop (shorter to miracle miles). I heard that UC gives ridiculous amount of schoolwork. A little longer on train ride is nothing compared to extra hours spent on schoolwork. ;) I also feel much safer to be on the bus/train when it's running north of downtown. Anywhere south of the loop, you are more likely sitting with those that cause trouble.</p>

<p>Evanston is actually closer to Chicago uptown which has nice restaurants/coffee shops in nice neighborhoods (edgewater/lakeview/lincoln park). Depending on where you are, some part of downtown can look pretty ghosty during weekends or at night. To me, downtown is great for sightseeing/museums but for affortable restaurants or just hanging out in neighborhoods, uptown is better.</p>

<p>NU has many cultural events available at incredibly affortable price; there are plays and musical performance every week, thanks to its reputated music school and theater program.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I also feel much safer to be on the bus/train when it's running north of downtown. Anywhere south of the loop, you are more likely sitting with those that cause trouble.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's what I thought when I headed down to UChi from NU when I was in Chicago.</p>

<p>As far as location, I agree with Sam Lee. Evanston is a really beautiful town! It has great little restaurants, good movie theatres, plus a real sense of community which kind of blends in with the campus. I doubt you'd have to leave the town to have fun. Chicago's immediate location isn't quite so nice- you'd have to travel a bit for entertainment. It's in Chicago, but it's not downtown. The surrounding area's kind of dodgy.
Campus-wise (as in architecture, general atmosphere), I think Chicago wins hands down. NW's campus is too spread out and just plain wierd, IMO, whereas Chicago's is more centralized, and, I think, more lively. </p>

<p>So, I guess we've got a tie.</p>

<p>Both are nice in their own way, but appeal to different tastes. Rightly or wrongly, NW is considered the teacher of professionals, journalists, engineers, actors, undergrad business, etc., UofC is considered the home of those interested in more direct intellectual pursuits, although there is considerable overlap, the campuses' atmosphere tend to reflect those difference.</p>

<p>I LOVE Evanston. I was born in Evanston hospital. I'm from the North Shore. And I adore Northwestern. So, I'm not bashing NU or Evanston or the North Shore.</p>

<p>But, if you're talking about the city, U of C is actually closer to downtown.</p>

<p>I would go downtown every single weekend (for viola) from the north shore and it would take a long time (maybe an hour?) to get there. Going from U of C to downtown took me about 20 minutes (and I've done it a few times, so it wasn't an abberation).</p>

<p>I'm just saying that you shouldn't make statements about proximity if you don't know from experience.</p>

<p>Sorry, I meant going to the North Side from the North Shore!</p>

<p>When you say North Shore, do you mean Wilmette or Northbrook, not Evanston? It actually takes 50 mins to Near North Side from Evanston by the "el" (less than half hour by car). The distance between UC and Near North Side is not much shorter than the distance between NU and Near North Side. For example, NU campus is about 12.2 miles from Clark/Chicago (River North) while UC is 10 miles from it. For those who don't know, Near North Side is one of the areas where fun is. Downtown, which is closer to UC, is actually boring and pretty dead during weekend, just like downtown of some other cities (such as Wall Street).</p>

<p>The south side where campus is is an URBAN AREA. You may not be comfortable with it since you arent used to it but really, its not that bad at all and the university does an amazing job of security. A lot of people from NU think its not safe to take the red line past chinatown but its not bad. The people on the line past there are a majority black but they are normal people just like everyone else, not criminals.</p>

<p>I've got no problem going south at 2AM (though when it gets late, the 173X is faster from downtown if you are close to the stop)</p>

<p>I too EDed Penn with Chicago EA but I'd much rather have the chicago acceptance</p>