<p>Seeking advice:
Potential: Poli Sci or History Major with aspirations of attending a top law school</p>
<p>Enjoy writing, interacting with profs and peers both in and out of class. I can debate politics in class with the best of them. Enjoy easy access to city lifestyle (NY, Long Island suburbanite). Hate: multiple choice exams, impersonal education and cut throat selfish students. High level of school spirit is OK but not a requirement for me and I do not need a football team. I am quite social and would prefer some activities on campus as well as in a nearby city.
I love music and would consider a minor but some classes and participation in school ensembles is OK.
I have yet to visit Chicago or Atlanta but assume that Chicago has more of the NY cultural scene.
Which school would be a better academic and social fit for me?
Any advantages of gaining acceptance into a top law school?
Is NW more difficult to get into? In terms of #s yes, but not accroding to USNews selectivity index.
Thanks to all!</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools to attend and both will get you into a top law school. My self included, was in the same predictament a few weeks ago until my ED decision came from Penn. I would say go to Northwestern because from Harvard Law School website, they sent 17 students to HLS while Emory sent 13 while 4 students isn't a lot, it is still 4 students</p>
<p>but it comes down to ur personal perference. But I will say as a black, that the Atl is popping. Btw, I was accepted to Huntsman so I will be at Penn for 5 years will I get a BA Economics/Wharton and MBA/Wharton and a BA Int'l Studies/College. I will probably go into a fellowship like Rhodes or Fulbright then attend law school preferably Columbia(I want to work in NYC on Wall St.). I will tell you to go to Northwestern because it has a better name in terms a law.</p>
<p>wish to attend a top law school is a great choice for Northwestern, as so many students in the school have the same aspiration. Some classes have multiple choice exams, mostly lager, more scientific classes; however, history and poli sci classes tend to have essay exams.
Getting to Chicago is easy, however, you wont be able to go as often as Id assume youd like; youll be busy with work and activities and such. Also, the train ride into downtown Chicago takes almost an hour (definitely not the 20 mins the school tries to claim).
The intro classes do tend to feel a little impersonal, depending on the subject, containing one hundred to five hundred people, but this is not the case with higher-level classes. Moreover, as a freshman you choose a seminar which contains no more than fifteen students. (most) Students at Northwestern have a great deal of school spirit and care deeply for the school.
The music school at NU is awesome, and many students, even non-music majors, play in some sort of ensemble or band; its not that difficult to get involved.
Im pretty sure it is more difficult to gain admission to Northwestern than Emory.
Id suggest you take a long look at Northwestern; Im sure youll like what you see :)</p>
<p>Also, I wouldn't pick a school based on a name....</p>
<p>"I have yet to visit Chicago or Atlanta but assume that Chicago has more of the NY cultural scene."</p>
<p>No, Chicago has clean streets, alleys where garbage is placed for pick-up rather than right on the main sidewalks, fewer panhandlers, cabbies who can speak English (and you can even get one in the rain), far fewer strip clubs, superior public transportation (most times you can actually get a seat), sales clerks who do not act like they are doing you a huge favor just to wait on you, hotel rooms for a reasonable price that are bigger than a closet, restaurants where the back of your seat doesn't touch the back of the seat at the table next to you, and stores where the clothes aren't chained down. Oh, and it also has museums and theater, music, and comedy shows.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Northwestern is in a north suburb that has its own downtown area and you will not be going to Chicago all that much, although easily done by train. Emory, though it is actually within the city borders, is also really in a suburb, an upper scale neighborhood in the east side of Atlanta, and getting downtown without a car is not that simple though public transportation is available. The weather is nicer in Atlanta; Northwestern is right on Lake Michigan and the winters are more brutal than NYC. Also, if you have never been to Georgia, the state as a whole is one of the most scenic for driving around and getting off the main drag (its only blight is that there seems to be a Waffle House every two miles). For your choice of majors, both are fine. Attending either can get you into top law schools but more important will be grades acheived and LSAT score regardless of which attended. At both you are going to have a number of classes, particularly freshman year and some of the gen ed requirements, where classes are large (although not as large at Emory) and multiple choice exams rule. Northwestern is very often the first choice school of many midwesterners who could otherwise easily qualify to apply to HYP. Emory has a higher percentage of students who did not not get into their first choice ivy. Northwestern has a nice, fairly large campus; Emory's campus is more medium sized and impeccable (it oozes richness -- buildings have no blemishes, grass is always cut and bushes trimmed; it is almost too perfect).</p>
<p>drsuba,
Thanks for your detailed response. I would assume that I would enjoy either college. Since I have most interest in these two colleges, the natural next step is to visit. I am currently a HS junior and will visit both cities in the spring. I also noticed that Emory's freshman class has a higher percentage of ED students as well as a higher acceptance rate both ED and RD.
I will probably apply ED next year.
BTW, any other suggestions of similar schools that might be a bit easier to gain acceptance as a safety ?
Thaks again</p>