ND vs. WUSTL

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
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<p>Midwest parent, good to read your response, since you have such intimate experiences with both schools. I'm glad to hear your daughter likes WashU; I've made many friends from this school, and all of them are so smart and down to earth. </p>

<p>Irish, I respect your opinion, but still have to disagree on this one. I am fortunate to attend one of the top med schools, and have to say that some of the smartest students in my class went to schools without much name recognition to the average person. Actually, one of my closest friends in my class went to Washington in St. Louis and to say that those kids go to med school prepared is an understatement. She is ridiculously smart and is always finding ways to help others learn the materal. Clearly, their reputation in the field of medicine is deserved. </p>

<p>We've got students in my class from Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and other top, big name schools, yet we also have kids from smaller named schools like Pomona, state schools, and small liberal arts colleges...and overall I would say it's a pretty level playing field, with everybody holding their own so far. THere are smart people at every school, and I think that recruiters in all arenas know this. </p>

<p>Also, while I acknowlege that playing the name game does work at times, it is important to remember that for every discipline, there are institutions that have well known programs for that discipline, even though the school itself may not be well known. For example, the University of Chicago has the best economics department in the world, with seven (or so) nobel laurates on its faculty at any given time. Yet outside of the midwest, the UNiversity of Chicago in general doesn't have the name recognition. When I told my family I was turning down some heavy hitting, big name medical schools for the University of Chicago, they couldn't believe it. Though the Pritzker School of Medicine at UofC is fantastic, is highly ranked, has some of the best residency matches of all schools, and suits my values and ambitions, the name recognition isn't really there for the casual observer. Clearly, though, judging from how 4th years match into competitive residency programs, we are very well respected in medicine. Aside from that, I am so happy here, doing what I love with people that are amazing, and I'm glad I didn't cave under the pressure to select the school with the best name brand.</p>

22

<p>How could a professor guarantee a position in a music group to an incoming student without an audition, regardless of her merits. There are 2000 freshman, maybe some where 2nd or 1st chair somewhere. She probably would have made it anyway, but not being guaranteed shouldn't be a turn off, it should be a challenge to show the professor that you deserve respect.</p>

23

<p>bpayne1 - As noted, the attitude of the music professor was just one factor. She did play for the professor, without knowledge she would be asked to do so, without preparation, on the professor's instrument (had it thrust at her in what was suppose to just be a casual meeting, with the statement, "Here, play") and she played very well. At WashU when she met with the music professor she was told, "Sure if you want to play you can be in the group". WashU also guaranteed her she could take private lessons (which she also takes for no credit) with a professor, not a grad student - the ND professor wouldn't guarantee that. D was also one of only seven freshmen at WashU to make a smaller select group of musicians who perform one concert a semester. She wasn't asking to head the ND group, she was just asking to participate. ND and WUStl are not places where students who want to major in music go to school. Students who want to major in music go to schools with conservatories - D intentionally avoided those schools because of the outside chance she wouldn't make the group. Most students who participate in music at ND and WashU do it because they love their instrument (even voice) and want to continue that at the college level. You are right, she might have made the group, but all the things you encounter during visits to a school ultimately help form your decision to attend or not.
ND had many, many positives - this was just one negative.</p>

24

<p>I have to ring in here! (Sorry midwestparent!) There is NO comparison between the two campuses with regard to beauty! Really, no bias, but I have yet to see a more beautiful campus than ND...Wash U. is nice, yes, with some nice buildings, but it is in no way on par with ND...</p>

<p>Dorms at ND vary a lot~daughter is in the "lap of luxury" on west quad in Welsh Fam...huge rooms, air conditioning and more. </p>

<p>Well, that's my input~again, two good schools, we just always felt ND offered SO much more-tangible and not.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

25

<p>wow Midwest parent -- I applied to ND but not WUSTL. But after reading about the P-N-P major, it makes me wish I did! When it asked for my interested studies, I put; Psychology, Neuroscience, and Philosophy. That was a really nice post.</p>

26

<p>Well, hey she did prove that ND professor wrong then, unfortunately for him she's at a different school. Good to hear.</p>