Need Help with decision UVA, Notre Dame, Northwestern

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
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<p>Hi, so I'm having a very tough time deciding on which school I'm going to attend next year and right now its between Northwestern, Notre Dame, or UVA. I like all these schools for diffrent reasons. A little bit about myself, I am a strongly opinionated Libertarian-Conservative. I really love business and want to go into investment banking. I also really like just hanging out with friends and playing sports. I could definitely see myself getting into intramural/club sports. I also would like to go to a school with a nice party scene too. I like to drink and smoke so a lenient school would be fun, although drinking is a lot more important to me and I don't really care about smoking all that much. Also a school with a lot of gorgeous women would be nice as well. I'm sort of a work hard, play hard guy. I want to get good grades at these schools but I want to have a great time as well. These are my opinions on the 3 schools so far based on visits and what I've read and what not. If you guys could elaborate on any of these characteristics or give me any guidance in my decision making process it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>UVA
Good school but not all that prestigious compared to the others and also a state school. Seems like it would be a fun party school with pretty girls but it seems very big and a little fratty. UVA has a great business school and recruiting for major investment banking firms but I fear it may lack in other areas especially in New York where I live. I also don't know if I want such a big school. Also I'm not a huge fan of liberal arts and here I will have to take those classes and you dont even get to apply to McIntire until after sophomore year. Overall it seems like it will be very fun but not the best choice for my future.</p></li>
<li><p>Notre Dame
I visited this school and really liked it. Its a very prestigious institution and its a school I can see donating a lot of money to and having my kids and grand kids attend. I definitely like the sports atmosphere and I know for a fact the campus is very lenient with alcohol. The parties seem like they will be smaller but fun and consistent. I think I'll have a great time chilling with friends and I love the intramural sports but I feel that the girls here are not all that attractive and too conservative and catholic. One thing I love about this school is the fact that with all the AP classes I have taken I will be able to take business classes right away and it is more business oriented. On the downside though I feel like Notre Dame is the weakest in terms of investment banking although its Alumni base would be very strong in other areas of business. Overall this is a memorable school that I think I will have a good time at but will also be a great legacy school for my family. My major concern is its investment banking recruitment which is low.</p></li>
<li><p>Northwestern
This is my least favorite school as of now. I visited it and was not very impressed. The only things I like about it are the fact that its ranked the highest and its Kellogg certification program is good for business and investment banking alike. I felt this school was just very weird and had a lot of strange kids. Its also a little to diverse for me. I feel that this school is just super liberal and this is an environment I don't think I will like. Also I feel it doesn't have all that great parties and the girls aren't great. Overall I'm not sure how happy I will be her but it is a great school and I also got a $20,000 scholarship here so my parents like it and its the cheapest.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Please tell me what your take on these schools are and help me with my decision any way you can.</p>

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<p>I think it safe to say that regardless of your political persuasion, you will find people exactly like you at any of the schools you are considering. You will also find great parties and pretty girls at any of the three if that’s why you’re deciding.</p>

<p>Northwestern’s doesn’t have a particular reputation for being Nerdy. Rather the opposite. But you feel what you feel.</p>

<p>So, you’re saying that Notre Dame is your preferred choice based on intangibles, but you feel that NU is a better program, a better overall school and is cheaper. I don’t know how important the money is to your family, but if going to ND is a hardship for your family it’s hard to recommend that. Otherwise, it comes down to better academic fit (NU) vs better social fit (ND). I think you’re going to college primarily for the academics, but others would choose the better social school.</p>

<p>BTW I think Virginia is better than you do, but I understand your feeling that it’s perhaps a step behind the others. You’re not alone in that.</p>

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<p>Cirrhosis killed my grandpa, so I’ll tread lightly on the fact that you’re basing your school decisions off of alcohol. It’s fine to drink (I’ve had some), but to base your decision for your future on that? Now for the rest. </p>

<p>UVA is widely considered the best public university, and is actually fairly prestigious. Prestige doesn’t matter much anyway. If you want pretty girls en masse, a large state school is your best option. Also, you like to drink and party, so a fratty atmosphere would be your best bet. NU has requirements in liberal arts (12 distros to be exact) also, so not sure why that matters. It’s best to actually know things about more than just one field.</p>

<p>Notre Dame is fairly prestigious, but I’d argue that UVA is more prestigious, to be honest. Also, your kids and grandkids wouldn’t necessarily want to go there, just saying. Who cares about it being a “good legacy school?” Notre Dame has attractive girls, I’ve seen plenty. You seriously need to stop worrying about that in your college decisions. If you have any chance with attractive girls to begin with, and you have any personality then you’ll attract who you want. Also, it is a catholic school, so you know, there will be a lot of… catholics… </p>

<p>I’m pretty Conservative and I’m going to NU. Everybody there (Most people, I guess) are respectful, and would rather discuss politics than tell you you’re stupid for your opinion. Diversity is good, it helps you learn about the world. A person who isn’t like you won’t bite, I promise. An intelligent, moderately attractive girl, is better than a drunk, super attractive, idiot. Northwestern kids are weird in the same way that intelligent, but socially acclimated kids are weird. Very diverse, like a lot of different stuff, but overall cool. NU is known for some of the best parties any of the top schools has to offer, and there are plenty of attractive girls in the NU 2017 group.</p>

<p>UVa sounds the best for you. It’s probably more prestigious than ND in many eyes, has a party atmosphere for you, lots of sports, etc. I’d rather you not go to NU though, as you sound very judgemental (“weird” kids, “unattractive” girls, etc.) and that’s not the NU type at all.</p>

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<p>“strongly opinionated Libertarian-Conservative”</p>

<p>“want to go into investment banking”</p>

<p>“a school with a lot of gorgeous women”</p>

<p>“I’m not a huge fan of liberal arts”</p>

<p>“I like to drink and smoke”</p>

<p>NU - “a little too diverse for me”</p>

<p>Go to UVa or ND.</p>

<p>Please.</p>

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<p>^^^ +1 (10 char)</p>

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<p>The first things you mention are prestige, girls, social atmosphere, and alcohol. That says to me that you might do better at a big big big state school with a solidly ranked set of sports teams. Northwestern is the baby brother of the Big 10, and, while we love our fun, it’s nothing as crazy as, say, Madison.</p>

<p>Northwestern’s biggest claims to fame are Medill, the SoC, and the Kellogg school. If you aren’t interested in diversity, and feel repelled by the idea of a liberal campus, then maybe it isn’t the place for you.</p>

<p>That said, I’ve never had an issue with anyone on campus because of my political beliefs. There’s a lot of respect for what you believe. Just make sure you know why you believe what you do.</p>

<p>Also, make sure that you know what you’re getting into with investment banking, business, etc. It’s a lot of ***** work and long hours, followed by eventual fatigue and burnout. Then you get a real position, if you can hack it. It’s one of those careers where people see all of the glamor and none of the work.</p>

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<p>I second Bala’s sentiment.</p>

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<p>Hi biglou22-
My knee-jerk reaction to your inquiry is to suggest that you choose a different school than NU.
But my sense is you really have some great choices, and a bit of an unknown that you might have your offer of admission rescinded due to your most recent grades in Spanish.
Couple that with suggestions from the “first” choice (ND) school’s current students suggestion to you to attend UVa…
None of which helps you make a decision that is right for you.
My guess is that you have already made a decision, and I encourage you to submit your acceptance based on that. At the end of the day…this is your choice.
Good luck-
APOL-a Mum</p>

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<p>Go to Notre Dame</p>

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<p>FYI - he posted this question over on the UVa forum, and everyone there told him to go to Notre Dame.</p>

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<p>Go to Notre Dame</p>

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<p>Lol “too diverse”?</p>

<p>Is diversity honestly that frightening to you?</p>

<p>NU is fairly liberal, but there are plenty of differing opinions too. The main thing with NU is virtually no one is ignorant and most everyone is willing to, at the very least, entertain an opinion different than their own. People tend to have respect for you and your opinions, as long as that respect is reciprocated and as long as you are at least open to alternative opinions. </p>

<p>Also, you will never feel alone in your beliefs or interests at NU. There’s a consistant array of jocks, nerds, hipsters, average-joes, preppies, and pretty much any other type of person at NU.
Beyond that there are people of varying races, religious beliefs and there’s an evident LGBT population. But again, this need not be feared-there is a group for everyone at NU and I’m sure you’d find yours too.</p>

<p>NU isn’t a university where an overwhelming emphasis is placed on “hot girls.” That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of attractive girls- there are -, and overal most people would agree that the students at large are fairly attractive, but most people here tend to be fairly grounded, and less superficial. There is more emphasis placed on intelligence, opinion, and personality than sheer looks, in my opinion. </p>

<p>I think academically NU is your best bet given your interests. NU is the most prestige of your universities and a Kelllogg certificate goes a long way.
However, given your social desires, I think UVA might be more up your alley.</p>

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<p>I just want to say thankyou to Allcapella. You were the only one who actually posted something helpful.</p>