<p>I got into NU, Vandy, and Cornell. I want to pick out of NU and Vandy (Arts and Science). Both cost the same. </p>
<p>My resume is presently focused on science/math and I CONSIDER doing PhD in physics theory. YET, I am also interested in and want to explore, in college, many different areas including psycology, social justice, and even economy/business a little. I forecast that my intersets may change.</p>
<p>I am Asian male (US citizen) and serious about academics but also enjoy socializing and sports, and music. Any advice, pls?</p>
<p>These are also my 11th-grade son’s top two choices, and they were on my daughter’s list of applications when she was applying to college. Both are fabulous, both are in great locations, both have beautiful campuses, both have easy access to vibrant U.S. cities, both have renowned schools of music, both compete in sports at a very high level, both enjoy great social life opportunities. You’d find an enormous proportion of the NU student body to be Asian or Asian-American; I don’t think you’d find very many Asians at Vandy. Vandy is highly focused on fraternity and sorority life; NU has strong Greek organizations as well, but I don’t think that they’re as dominant in the school’s social scene. In the last several years, Vandy has developed a residential college setting for first-year students that, I believe, would really bond and connect new students to campus resources and to one another.</p>
<p>If my daughter hadn’t gotten into her reach school, I believe she’d have chosen NU. If my son has this choice, I’d predict he’d choose Vandy.</p>
<p>I say Northwestern. Both great schools, but post-grad, NW has a country-wide highly regarded brand name. Vandy is better known in the south (though a great school and not one that will hold you back career-wise!)</p>
<p>One drawback to NW- do you want to have to fly in and out of O’Hare? Yuck. :)</p>
<p>Both schools are really great academically and socially. The main difference I see is that Vandy’s student body is significantly more Southern-feeling. The majority of students are involved in Greek life and are stereotyped as being preppy. Some people love this, others not so much. Northwestern has Big 10 sports and a decent Greek scene. Both seem to be as present in your life as you choose. NU is often described as having a laid-back Ivy vibe because the student body is very intelligent, but people are competitive with themselves, not each other.</p>
<p>Because few people are experts on both, I recommend looking at NU and Vandy’s CC forums as well as groups on Facebook. (Of course, visiting the colleges will be even better!) Good luck!</p>