<p>If you plan to go pre-med, and are accepted at both schools, would it be crazy to choose Northwestern over Stanford? </p>
<p>I've read a bit about grade deflation at NW, and inflation at Stanford, which seems to give Stanford the edge there... but does NW have some other intangibles that tipped the scales the other way for anyone else in a similar position?....</p>
<p>The grade deflation may have been overhyped here and pretty much applied to orgo (organic chemistry). Stanford may be a bit easier and maybe they curve the orgo mean to B instead of B-. But I doubt that would significantly impact your overall GPA. By the way, Stanford kids may be marginally smarter so maybe that would offset their alleged inflation anyway.</p>
<p>Sam Lee wrote:
"By the way, Stanford kids may be marginally smarter so maybe that would offset their alleged inflation anyway. "</p>
<p>I’m not sure I’d go along with the marginally smarter idea at all… but I’m wondering if there are other big cultural or other social factors (campus life / experience) which might favor NW over Stanford… certainly the midwest is said to have a different culture at the least…</p>
<p>Which region do you live now? And what type of climate, student life style do you prefer?</p>
<p>currently in midwest… Climate? Who wouldn’t LOVE the Palo Alto climate? ! … Not really sure about the preference in student life-style. The biggest problem is that I know either choice will ultimately work out fine… just realizing that there’s only one chance to make the best informed decision though. NW is closer to home…and feels the safer choice. Still… I’m sure some would say it’s crazy to drop Stanford, but that’s OK. It’s the college experience that’s the biggest gray area, since it’s so individual and hard to define…</p>
<p>Follow your gut feeling. At which school do you feel more connected? It works all the time.</p>
<p>tenisghs :</p>
<p>the gut aches… 
the plan is NW undergrad, Michigan med school… </p>
<p>Sounds like you did something similar ? … do you ever regret not fleeing the midwest for part of your education?..</p>
<p>Just one more thing about average GPA: it varies among majors. At NU, I bet there’s more grade inflation for all majors in the communications school than Stanford in general. I don’t know what you are interested in but this is fyi if you happen to study, say, communication science and disorder.</p>
<p>Palo Alto has much better weather (unless you like seasonal change or the cold).</p>
<p>I went to Stanford for grad school and the town was a little too sterile, too nice (very very expensive homes), too expensive (downtown biz seem to cater much more to the wealthy residents than students), and boring to me. Keep in mind I was a grad student so I didn’t look to the campus life for the social outlet. So while Evanston trumps Palo Alto, you may still be able to find plenty to do on campus as an undergrad. It’s less convenient and more costly to go to the city (SF). Evanston is just 12 miles from downtown Chicago and less from the uptown neighborhoods like Lakeview or New Chinatown. San Fran, on the other hand, is 35 miles north on Palo Alto and is accessible by CalTrains (communter train) which cost more to ride and run less frequently than the “el”.</p>
<p>Stanford has 2 schools, I believe, while NU has 6 schools for undergrads. So it feels like NU student body is more diverse but at the same time, maybe a bit more cliquish, depending on how you look at it and how well you can mingle with people with very different career aspiration and academic training.</p>
<p>If you are into seeing performing arts, it’s hard to beat the quality and quantity of performances at NU.</p>
<p>Sam Lee, would you say the undergraduate student body at Stanford is more diverse? like culturally, ethnically, racially, ideologically, socioeconomically? Just wondering.</p>
<p>lionstreelion,
I think NU is a bit more diverse ideologically, in the sense that the large contingent of artsy majors means that a bit more are on the far left. I am stereotyping a bit of course but NU’s own data show communications/music students are on average more liberal than the engineering students, who represent a larger portion of the student body at Stanford.</p>
<p>Racially, Stanford is 25% Asian while NU is 20%.</p>
<p>Stanford has more Asians simply simply because its in California. Look at the Asian percentages at the UCs.</p>
<p>Full Steam Ahead… it’s gonna be Northwestern. It even feels good knowing someone on the Stanford waitlist will be happy to pick up a spot too…</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments and input.</p>
<p>Go Cats !</p>
<p>^Thanks for increasing my chances for getting off the waitlist! If not, I may see you in the fall!</p>
<p>BigfootDenny, I really admire your approach to both schools without concern to prestige, but what really fits best for you. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what NU’s advising program is like, but in Stanford, you are basically left on your own. Resources are available, but you have to take the initiative.</p>
<p>Big, not to be nitpicky, but Northwestern is generally abbreviated NU as opposed to NW. Welcome on board.</p>
<p>Welcome to NU! As Same Lee explained, NU has six undergraduate schools (WCAS, Engineering, Education, Communications, Journalism, and Music). You will find your niche. I liked the fact that the school cater to all diverse intellectual and social interests.</p>