<p>A friend of my D's got accepted to several schools for next year and would appreciate advice on which school has the best anthropology department. She said money is not an issue and she would be happy with the "atmosphere" at any of these schools. Here is the list of schools she got into:</p>
<p>Georgetown
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Wash U
U of Chicago</p>
<p>Waitlisted: Harvard, Duke, Cornell</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice or comments.</p>
<p>I can vouch for the anthropology classes at U of C; I'm not a major, but I've taken at least 6 during my 4 years at UC, and not a single one has been a let-down. My best friend, and also one of the most intelligent people I've known, is an anthropology major at Northwestern, and he has told me that he's had wonderful classes and professors who've quickly become mentors to him.</p>
<p>So I'd recommend one of the two. Personally, I'd say the city of Chicago itself would be an amazing city for any aspiring anthropologist.</p>
<p>Chicago is legendary in anthropology, some would say it's the best department in the country for cultural anthro. I'd say Chicago hands down.</p>
<p>IF she would be happy at any of those schools, then Chicago is the place to go, although Northwestern also has a very good Anthropology department.</p>
<p>Clearly Chicago for Anthropology, but if not absolutely certain I would pick Georgetown and then Northwestern.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the replies. My D called her to read her your messages. The friend said that she was planning to visit Chicago next week and the main reason she hadn't already selected Chicago was that her mom liked it (sounds familiar). It is nice to get some outside validation. Thanks again for the information.</p>
<p>Well, at any rate, do make sure she will enjoy the kind of environment U of C offers. I've enjoyed it immensely, but I would have to say a school like Northwestern or, perhaps, even Georgetown will offer a more traditional college experience. If she plans to visit, I recommend she visits both our campus in Hyde Park and Northwestern in Evanston.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if campus aesthetics would be a factor for her, but I think both schools are remarkably beautiful in very different ways, during the "summer." U of C having majestic architecture and a beautifully laid out campus while Northwestern having an amazing lakefront campus adjacent to the downtown area of Evnaston, which has the nicest little restaurants and cafes, by the way.</p>
<p>If she visits Chicago in the summer, she will end up in one of these two schools, I'm sure of it. I do feel bad for the prospies who come to visit in the winter though, I can't imagine how ridiculous it would seem for them that people can actually live in the winters here :) (I'm a Chicago native).</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your daughter.</p>
<p>I second Alexandre. I'd say it's between UChicago and Northwestern.</p>
<p>Identity</a> Statement, About, Anthropology Department, WCAS, Northwestern University
Note that this is just from NU perspective. It's published in 1999; the landscape may have changed across different schools since then.</p>
<p>My D talked to her friend again today and it turns out we totally misunderstood her mother's take on U Chicago. Actually her mother doesn't want her to go to either U of Chicago or Georgetown because she is worried about their inner-city location. So it's good they are planning to visit next week and can assess the location for themselves. I personally prefer inner-city to suburban but I understand that people have different preferences on this. Thanks again for all the great advice. We will pass along everything to the friend who is a very nice person and a great student.</p>
<p>Georgetown is "inner city"? </p>
<p>This mother is clueless.</p>
<p>Sorry for disrupting this thread, but I was wondering if you could tell me what your D's friend plans to do with anthropology. I am very interested in the subject but my father is hesitant to spend $200,000 on an education with which I don't know what I'll do.</p>
<p>newmassdad: I've only been to the shopping area nearby but I have to say it seemed very upscale to me. </p>
<p>The comments about UChicago were interesting as my D (not the friend) is very interested in applying and we are planning to visit at the end of May. I am looking forward to seeing the campus.</p>
<p>blinkangel44: hopefully some of the anthropologists who posted here can help you. I think my D's friend mentioned med school. She is also interested in studying Biology. I can see where your dad is coming from since anthropology doesn't call to mind any high-paying professions. What is it you like about anthropology?</p>
<p>I have a daughter graduating from U. Chicago in June. (bio and spanish major) Yes, it has a rather distinctive social atmosphere. Contrary to rumor, though, the kids there do party and get drunk. Two years ago, spouse and I lived in Hyde Park for a year (rented the house of the chair of Anthro while he was on sabbatical, btw) and saw quite a few rather lively parties first hand, including one across the street.</p>
<p>We now live in DC. Georgetown, FWIW, is no doubt the most expensive neighborhood in all of DC, and as far away from the rough neighborhoods as you can get. Because it is not near the metro, you don't even get "commuter" toughs there. And the adjacent part of Virginia, across the potomic, is almost as upscale. Georgetown is "city" but not "inner" at all.</p>
<p>Too bad your friend's ignorance is going to screw her daughter out of going to the best school on this list- U of Chicago. It is hard to help people like this.</p>
<p>It should be noted that part of U. Chicago's strength in fields like anthro (but also paleo and others) is its access (indeed, virtual ownership) of two extremely valuable resources: The oriental institute (a must-see for those visiting the campus, BTW) for anthro and the Field Museum for a wide variety of resources. Many of the curators at the Field also hold faculty appointments at U. Chicago and a number of research collections made by U. Chicago faculty are housed there, so it is a great research tool. Yes, Georgetown no doubt has access to the Smithsonian's collections, but I don't know if the access is as good.</p>
<p>You might also note, and would no doubt learn if you visited the OI, that U. Chicago has a long history of notable expeditions, especially to what is now known as the middle east, with heavy emphasis on Iraq! Fascinating.</p>
<p>This is only speculation on my part but the parents at my D's school generally think that Notre Dame > anywhere else. So it will be interesting to see if she ends up at ND. I will pass on your information about U Chicago. It sounds really good for anthropology. </p>
<p>For my own D her main interests are math and computer science and we know UChicago is great in both those areas. Her only concern is that she might be interested in engineering and there isn't an engr school. We need to research the career center a little more and see where the Math/CS graduates go compared to graduates from an engineering school. </p>
<p>Another concern is the cold since it's hot where we live (high today of 89 degrees). Are the buildings connected or are there tunnels or anything else to keep you from having to go outdoors a lot in the winter? </p>
<p>As to the partying my D is social but she seems to prefer cultural type events such as plays, art exhibits, poetry readings, sitting around in coffeehouses, etc. So she is hoping for something more intelligent than just mindless drunken parties. Of course this could all change when she leaves our house and is on her own. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the information.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It should be noted that part of U. Chicago's strength in fields like anthro (but also paleo and others) is its access (indeed, virtual ownership) of two extremely valuable resources: The oriental institute (a must-see for those visiting the campus, BTW) for anthro and the Field Museum for a wide variety of resources.
[/quote]
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<p>newsmassdad,
It seems like you forget there's another great anthropology program in Chicago area--Northwestern. You also made it sound like the Field Museum is exclusive for UChicago. No, UChicago doesn't have "virtual ownership"; Northwestern students/faculty have easy access to it too.</p>
<p>About</a> the Department, Anthropology Department, WCAS, Northwestern University
[quote]
In the Chicago community our students have worked actively with anthropology curators at the Field Museum. We have recently finalized an agreement to establish a joint program between the Departments of Anthropology at Northwestern and the Field Museum that will provide opportunities for faculty and students to participate in field and collections projects directed by Northwestern University and/or Field Museum anthropologists.
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<p>Academic</a> Internship Programs in Chicago - Field Studies - Northwestern University
[quote]
Field Studies in Community Research
9 weeks, EVAN, 6/23-8/24
This is a joint program of CFS, the department of Anthropology and the Field Museum. Students learn ethnographic field methods and conduct a research study in one of Chicago's many ethnic communities. Student enroll in one course:
CFS 396-0 Community Research 2-3 credits; date and times TBD
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<p>dsultemeier,</p>
<p>Chicago has great math but I wouldn't say its CS is great also. I also heard that it's more about theory than practical applications. I bet it's still good; I just never heard of it being a great place for programmers/computer engineers that work for google, yahoo..etc or having great presence in the computer industry if that's what your daughter is looking for. Places like Stanford, Berkeley, CMU are better for that.</p>
<p>Sam Lee,</p>
<p>I have little knowledge of Northwestern, so I did not comment.</p>
<p>It is ironic, though, that none of the anthro staff at the FM have degrees from either Chicago or Northwestern!</p>
<p>At any rate, rather than compete Chicago with Northwestern, I will just note that both are excellent institutions but with hugely different undergraduate cultures. One could ignore the prestige and quality of either at the undergrad level, they are so close, and focus on the cultural differences in finding a fit.</p>
<p>I'm stilled stunned over the idea that Georgetown is in an inner city location. What would she make of the White House's location?</p>