<p>There’s a reason for arbiter’s winky-face – the school I’m referring to is decidedly not Brown, and he knows that. I don’t see any arrogance from Brown students / Brown forums at all and I completely concur that active putdowns of other schools does not appear to be part of the Brown ethos.</p>
<p>Sorry Lorem, I didn’t mean to be ■■■■■■■■ there- as Pizzagirl pointed out, I knew quite well which school she was referring to, and I knew even better it wasn’t Brown. (My dad is a Brown alumnus and a more humble guy you will rarely meet.)</p>
<p>“NU- the Anti-Yale.”</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear it, Pizzagirl and Arbiter! I’ve known a few friends over the years who have come out of college or grad school temporarily infused with THE ATTITUDE and I always hated that – I’d hate to see it happen to my son! Although he eventually opted for Brown for its open curriculum and its slightly better financial package, we are still Chicagoans with a soft spot for our deservedly-rising-star academic neighbor. I’d happily come out and root for NU in a playoff game against Yale!</p>
<p>Haha, don’t sweat it Lorem- I’m sure your son made the right choice if he opted for Brown- that’s definitely a school that accepts the people that are right for it, and the people that choose it are the right people for it. I was wait-listed at Brown and decided not to pursue it, but I’m sure had I ended up there it would have been an excellent experience too- it just wasn’t ultimately for me!</p>
<p>Oh Bala,</p>
<p>This thread is back to the “mine is better than yours” flow. Too bad. I would have thought that applicants are more interested in what makes campus life rich and enjoyable. </p>
<p>Now for some useful information:</p>
<p>Firstly, Colgate’s student body and faculty are 74% and 79% white respectively. 8.5% of students are internationals. There is the diversity information you overlooked.</p>
<p>Secondly, while Colgate is not need blind it has made strides in that direction with a recently completed $400 million capital campaign and another stretch addition $40 million solely for financial aid well underway that will be completed by June 2012. The president’s plan calls for another $175-200 million to make Colgate reach a goal of 45% need blind thereafter. Do you think Colgate can’t achieve its goals? </p>
<p>And then you state that the median SAT scores are 100 points lower. How’s that? And to what point exactly?</p>
<p>If a poster says Colgate is a mirror of NU, who are you to dispute what he or she means? Even if it’s about the Greek life, the recreational opportunities or school spirit, why be so judgmental and opinionated? </p>
<p>Lastly, what’s wrong with a small town environment for the self-selected? Alot of planning and execution have made our town/gown relationship strong and vibrant for mutual benefit and there is lots of opportunity for distraction on campus when studies permit. Further, Hamilton College, Syracuse U and Cornell are about 25 minutes, 50 minutes and 90 minutes away- if that’s what they want.</p>
<p>I was much happier with the NU thread when I went to bed last night following my exchange with Pizzagirl and arbiter213. Maybe I should take a nap now…</p>
<p>LoremIpsum - it wasn’t Yale either :-). </p>
<p>Bala - it’s fine. If markham was happy with Colgate, then he was happy with Colgate. Let it be.</p>
<p>So much for the lack of arrogance from Northwestern representatives.</p>
<p>I’ve held back from posting, mostly because I think the posts which assert that one school or the other is “better” aren’t very helpful. And the OP has disappeared. I’d be happy to answer specific questions from the OP.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that the college experience at these two schools is vastly different, and most applicants will have a clear preference based on that difference alone. My children did (Colgate '09 and Northwestern '12).</p>
<p>See - THAT would have been helpful to the OP. Describe differences. Let the poster decide what he / she values.</p>
<p>I’ll be honest I would choose Colgate over NU in a second no joke.</p>
<p>^^Since you revived an old thread to say that, the lack of substance in your post makes me curious. I think they are both quality schools, and for those that clearly favor small LACs in out-of-the-way places, Colgate is very appealing.<br>
Is that how your preferences go, or do you have other reasons? Because absent a strong leaning in the small LAC direction, I can’t imagine anyone picking Colgate (even though it’s a really good school), over NU.</p>
<p>Definitely NU…</p>
<p>sorry to bring back the old thread and it was a little short so ill elaborate even though its way past the point of being helpful 
I like the social scene of Colgate a lot more then NU’s (prominent greek life and somewhat isolated) although some would consider this a negative.<br>
Colgate is closer to me (NJ to colgates a lot easier then to NU)
From what I know (which could be very wrong) Colgate students tend to be much happier then NU students.<br>
The LAC aspect of Colgate I also enjoy
While i much prefer colgate, if I got into both it would be hard to turn down NU</p>
<p>Just fyi, NU also has a prominent greek presence, albeit very different. </p>
<p>Can’t comment on the happiness other than anecdotally, so I will refrain.</p>
<p>I could see how somebody who’s attracted to Colgate’s social life could like NU as well. The only difference is you have so much more academic competition to stand out at NU if that is your goal. You can definitely have a nice social life and do fine for sure, but you risk not ending up at the top of the class, thereby hindering your chances at med/law school. </p>
<p>There are many students at NU who work extremely hard and limit their social lives, and there are those who work extremely hard and party hard (because they can manage both and still do really well). That doesn’t mean the former will necessarily come out on top, but it does mean that the competition is very serious because almost everybody, even the partiers, is dedicated to doing well. People are not competitive with each other on an interpersonal level but at the end of the day, you still need a top GPA to get into a top med/law school and/or top consulting firm.</p>
<p>Some might thrive at NU; others might be better off somewhere else.</p>
<p>Colgate is a fine school but it’s no Northwestern, a school with the diversity, opportunities and financial resources that can change one’s life.</p>
<p>Interesting and a bit frustrating thread. I’ll skip the commentary on the war of words.
Accepted into a host of schools, Northwestern being that given the highest ranking and therefore a secret favorite, there are so many factors to consider and it appears that many of the posters simply chose NU on its status. There are many other factors to consider including the personality, goals, interests, financial status and what each school specifically offers in their package. </p>
<p>Colgate is a small LAC that offers intimate relationships between faculty and students and imbues in its community an understanding that they are part of the Colgate family for life - the alumni have a great reputation for going above and beyond to support their undergraduates and then their graduates. The faculty is motivated to personally see its students succeed. Knowing the student’s weakness allows a professor in a small setting the opportunity to address that weakness, most often helping the student achieve complete comprehension and hence Colgate is one of the small LACs which has the reputation of supporting students to a standard that is actually higher than their larger university counterparts. This has been reported in those Colgate students pursuing medical school. </p>
<p>Similarly, because of the smaller and tight knit community, the support from professors and the camaraderie of students, the stress/ the pressure of and competition is much dissipated and consequently the students perform better, feel freer to take classes, join clubs and activities and have an overall better quality of life they often report is not the case at larger schools.</p>
<p>As well, the culture which the students create at a school set in the beautifully bucolic, rolling hills housing the breathtaking 200 year old buildings, those modernized inside as well as the newer buildings such as the renowned library, offers students opportunities to rely upon themselves, their peers and their leaders, to be creative, inventive, and self reliant for their entertainment and culture. This is only four years of their lives. Four years of learning in an atmosphere of academia, focusing on learning, building relationships, exploring their research… I cannot dismiss what is offered in a big city, but for a four year undergraduate experience, I can see the value in focusing on studies, research, the travel opportunities, campus life that will keep students fully engaged and stimulated…</p>
<p>Let me speak for a moment about the specific prospects offered at Colgate for this student. An Alumni Merit Scholar program which offers a $6,000 grant for research of his choice and the recognition from professors for this attainment. A semester studying in DC at the National Institute of Health - the only university in the country to offer this relationship and this opportunity. ANOTHER semester abroad in Australia or Wales to study his topic. And then, as stated, another opportunity to study January session or Summer anywhere of his choosing with that $6,000 grant. Summer programs which offer free room and board with $425 weekly salary. </p>
<p>That’s a lot of stimulation to me. The students are comfortable with intense study and research amidst a supportive community which offers entertainments within their self reliant environment. Weekend trips to Manhattan and elsewhere are certainly attainable, as are an abundance of extracurricular activities within and without the campus. </p>
<p>For someone pursuing a medical degree, the lack of pressure offered can be the very difference between success and failure, contentment and misery. Having passed up schools such as Princeton, etc, where friends were MISERABLE amongst ‘snotty, condescending, competitive’ peers, to name a few descriptions offered, the supportive atmosphere of premed students working together is priceless. So is the early decision program which allows successful students to definitively enter a medical school in the Junior year! Definitively. Maintain a good GPA and express your desire and you do not have to take the MCATS and are in GW Med School or Rochester U. No fear of rejection, no wondering where you might be accepted. No MCATS. PRICELESS. On the other hand, for those who desire a more prestigious medical school, 100% of their applicants were accepted. Let me state that again. 100% of their applicants were accepted this year. This student aims where many other Colgate graduates attend: Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>Oh, and as a previous poster added, NU has a ginormous endowment. BUT Colgate offered a much better package to this student. Absolutely no loans, all grants, and a $6,000 grant towards research. </p>
<p>OK. So, that is the Colgate Side. And it is pretty impressive. Northwestern has the prestige. The culture. More students more endowments indicates that there is a lot to offer. Whether it is a better offering is yet to be decided. Visiting Northwestern this weekend and want to see it top Colgate. I have no doubt it will be very difficult to beat the package Colgate offers. </p>