<p>Hi,
I’m a junior preparing to apply to colleges this fall…and up until now I was set on applying ED to Columbia but now I’m leaning towards Northwestern for reasons that I think are good. </p>
<li><p>my grades are good, but not fantastic, and my counselor has dubbed Columbia “far reach” and Northwestern “reach.” I think applying to Columbia will be “let’s see what happens” while Northwestern has a high ED acceptance rate and will give me more chances…</p></li>
<li><p>I definitely want to study theater, and I definitely want to pursue a second major in one of the following areas: literature, history, gender studies. So I would get a BA in theater from the School of Communications, and Northwestern’s BA Theater program is very very famous! Also, I’ve heard of many kids pursuing double majors across schools at NU.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Columbia probably has a good theater program too, but it’s basically the Barnard theater department - then why not just go to Barnard, a great school that I’ll also probably apply to if I don’t get in from ED? -other than my parents’ want for name value :(</p>
<p>What are some other great reasons to attend Northwestern over Columbia?</p>
<ol>
<li>No core curriculum.</li>
<li>Suburban campus/ better neighborhood.</li>
<li>The shore of lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is awesome.</li>
<li>More cultural exposure if you’re from the Northeast (since you’ll meet more out of area kids).</li>
<li>Quarter system improves your ability to take a variety of classes, double major, and study abroad.</li>
<li>Much, much, much better theater program.</li>
<li>You’re right, NU’s ED is much more of an advantage, and NU is much easier to get into than Columbia.</li>
<li>We have Dillo Day- which is awesome.</li>
<li>Sports culture. Ivy League vs Big Ten- one of, if not the, premier atheltic conference in Division I.</li>
</ol>
<p>i think you wanting to study theatre alone is reason enough to choose northwestern over columbia. As far as name value, northwestern is far better when it comes to theater.</p>
<p>other than that all those reason arbiter noted are just about right. good luck, and hopefully your parents see the clear advantage of northwestern for you particularly</p>
<p>i doubt northwestern is more “cultural exposure” than columbia. known for being a conservative school to columbia being the most diverse ivy a division that is known around the world columbia is more famous internationally than northwestern. But northwesterns campus is second to none during the fall and late spring(there is no early spring in north shore) the surounding environment is nice 5 min walk to metra gets in in chicago(further than morningside heights) but the area is alot nicer watch mean girls the area is exactly how the movie is set-(not with the big houses thou, have to drive north 4 those) but ive heard the dorms are less compact than columbia and a larger campus. more active sports and social scene. (PAC10 is the primear division 1 scene now) the campus is roughly 30% greek. probally nu is academically easier than columbia</p>
<p>My D is at NU for theater and loves it !! She just finished her freshman year. When she begn her search she looked at Columbia/Barnard but their theater departments did not even compare. It was important for her (and us) for her to be able to pursue a second major and she is doing that at NU (at this point she is undecided but has many options because there were so many interesting academic offerings her freshman year) Do your research. If its theater you want, NU is the best. AND since its a BA program on the quarter system, you can pursue a more academic interest for a second major or minor. You can’t do that at many of the top theater programs. That was enough to sell us – as parents – on the school!</p>
<p>At NU, I remember hearing that there are more than 60 theater performances a year. I’m not sure if that includes theater and dance but there are incredible mainstage shows as well as amazing student-run productions. You don’t get that many performing opportunities at other schools. There are also opportunities for students to produce and direct and to see if that is what interests them. You really have to compare apples to apples if you are looking at both schools. </p>
<p>Also, even though NU is NEAR Chicago, it is in the relatively safe suburb of Evanston. I would worry far less about her at NU than I would in NYC!</p>