<p>Hi everyone,
So the early decision deadline keeps coming closer and I can't decide if I should apply to Middlebury or Northwestern....
I know that common advice is to not apply to any school early decision if you aren't 100% committed, but I feel like I would be equally happy at both schools if I got in. I want to know early and neither offer early action. I'm interested in psychology and possibly pre-med track with a minor in global health. I know that the settings of both schools are vastly different, but I love both campuses for different reasons.
Here's my pro-con list:
Middlebury:
PROS:
pretty! and environmentally conscious
WINTER TERM!!
facilities, nice studying areas
tight community
they dont have Greek life
good size- little bit bigger than other LACs
international focus
unpaid internship fund, outdoor programs
professors solely focused on undergrads and publishing at the same rate as university professors
good distribution requirements that are super flexible but prompt you to take courses outside of your major
new field house!<br>
CONS:
isolated, rural VT
more environmental sciences rather than bio/chemistry
high proportion of athletes (not actually that bad 27%)
maybe a little too outdoorsy
no apparent strong traditions or super exciting clubs/activities </p>
<p>PROS:
perfect location: traveling distance to Chicago, but set in perfect suburban Evanston with the lakefill
gorgeous ivy covered buildings
well-known med and science programs
D1 sports teams to cheer on
diversity
really great traditions
student body seems fun
CONS:
super far away from home
greek life
competition for research with grad students, some TAs
almost too big... do I even want to be that close to that big a city </p>
<p>Does anyone have anything to add?
Please help!</p>
<p>You should visit if you haven’t already. Northwestern has a pretty active Greek scene. I wouldn’t call the university “big,” though…and being near Chicago is a MAJOR advantage over many other colleges, in my opinion. I have never heard of anyone wishing they didn’t have the city right next door. It’s a fantastic city and offers every imaginable diversion…although you don’t ever have to leave Evanston if you don’t want to.</p>
<p>Visiting would be best but I doubt you have time for that at this point. </p>
<p>I disagree with the greek life “con” for NU; it has little impact on anyone who’s disinterested in it (other than maybe Winter term Freshman year - some kids do get pulled in during recruitment), it’s mostly a non-issue. </p>
<p>Far away from home - not knowing where you live, I can just offer that it’s a quick plane ride away, less than 2 hours from NY, and there are at least 3 flights per hour. We actually found it much more convenient than a school that was geographically closer but about a 4 hour drive away. There is a one hour time difference though if you’re from the NE and that takes a little getting used to.</p>
<p>As sally305 said, Evanston is a great college town with everything you need within easy walking distance of campus so there’s little reason to go into Chicago unless you want to.</p>
<p>Both schools are excellent, NU has a bit more to offer overall and it’s quarter system also allows for more major/minor combinations. But Middlebury is more cozy and personal. Good luck with your choice!</p>
<p>Do any of you know if there are a lot of TAs teaching/helping with classes at Northwestern? Also, are there still a lot of research opportunities for undergraduates even though there is a graduate school?</p>
<p>You sound like you would prefer NU (ex. your description of “perfect location”). I have a friend who goes there and loves it. Chicago is an amazing city!!!</p>
<p>^ That’s the normal pattern at many research universities for introductory/intermediate courses, especially in popular fields. Professors lecture, TAs lead discussion/lab sections. That doesn’t entail a clear separation in where the real teaching occurs. </p>
<p>You should expect significant learning to occur in discussion sections. You might also appreciate detailed comments on frequent writing assignments. If you appreciate either kind of engagement, you might prefer to have it with an experienced professor (not a graduate student). That is one argument for LACs.</p>
<p>^The kind of discussion sections you were thinking doesn’t really apply to biology or chemistry fields. The “discussion” sections for bio/chem are for introductory courses and they are more like quiz sessions/help sessions for problem sets.</p>
<p>Do Northwestern’s TAs only lead sections in those fields?
Check the online course listings for economics, psychology, political science, sociology, history, and english. At Berkeley, for example, lower division courses in all these fields typically follow the big lecture + small discussion/lab pattern, with grad students leading the sections. Some smaller research universities may be different. Check the enrollment numbers and instructor profiles online, if they are available, for courses that interest you.</p>
<p>you should choose me because it is probably better for what you want to study, and strong in the liberal arts too. I know someone in geek life at middlebury so if that was a big deal for you then definitely northwestern.</p>
<p>FYI: NU gave out over 130 Summer Undergraduate Research Grants ($3,000 each) for last summer. I am not sure how many applied or what the success rate was. But the number looks pretty good when it’s compared to similar (summer undergrad research) programs at JHU (22) or Vandy (54).</p>
<p>^Let’s not mistake that for opportunities though. I’d venture to say JHU undergrads do more research compared to NU on a per capita basis even though this would be hard to quantify. A lot of professors will pay students during the summer, effectively bypassing the need for those grants.</p>
<p>Your list of Middlebury pros sounds like you have done careful research. You didn’t list how beautiful the campus is, though. One thing that I think may not be right is your sense that the science courses lean more toward environmental science than bio/chem. All sciences at Midd are very strong and the facilities are fabulous. There are quite a few threads on CC about science at Midd vs. other places you might want to look for. People often say too that there are advantages to doing undergrad at an LAC and graduate work at a university. I think there ARE traditions, but I’m a parent so I don’t know all of them----quidditch started at Midd, they have winter festival with ice sculptures etc. You’re right that winter term is great—taking only one course breaks up the tedium of the 3-4 course semesters and allows you to do different things. (NU has 3 quarters, doesn’t it----that’s a pretty big difference). With the international focus at Midd there should be excellent global health options. And with all the things going on on any of these campuses, you don’t have much need to go to a City (although Montreal is about 2 hours). If you’re a major theater buff or attend a lot of live music events then you might want a City, of course. However, it does sound like you may not be certain enough to do ED at either place. I would say that a major thing you didn’t list is a pre-professional atmosphere. You would have more of that at NU but for you as a potential pre-med that may not be a con. Good luck!</p>
<p>I find your comparison of Middlebury to Northwestern baffling. The two colleges are as different as night from day. Your pros and cons read like statements taken from the admission brochures.</p>
<p>I recommend that you take a step back to figure out what it is that you are looking for in your college experience. Discuss your perspective and college goals with your high school counselor, your family, and recent college graduates. Listen. Visit some colleges. Attend classes at those college. As you do all this you’ll most likely figure out the college type that suites you. My sense is that you’re not yet ready to apply ED to either Middlebury or Northwestern.</p>
<p>One source of evidence for financial return on that investment is the payscale alumni salary data. It ranks Middlebury #70 and NU #99. Granted, many CC posters have expressed doubts about the payscale data. So what’s the hard evidence for Northwestern’s superior ROI, especially for a future MD?</p>