<p>well...i've now heard back from everywhere i've applied. i was waitlisted at my number one choice (columbia) and rejected from my second choice (brown). those were the only schools i really felt passionately about, and now i have to choose between three schools i feel somewhat lukewarm about: northwestern (weinberg), nyu (cas, honors program), and notre dame (honors), all of which gave me full scholarships (though some of nyu's are loans). i am definitely staying on columbia's waitlist no matter what, because i am still absolutely in love with the school and would definitely attend if offered a spot, but i need to choose which school i will attend (barring the ever-so-slight chance of getting off the columbia waitlist). </p>
<p>here's what you should know about me:
-i am currently undecided as to what i would like to study, but i am interested in english/creative writing/screenwriting, film studies, psychology, and law...gosh, maybe even pre-med. (unfortunately?) i have many interests.
-i prefer an urban environment for the abundance of social/cultural/career opportunities it brings.
-i consider myself highly motivated and intellectual, but am laid-back and extremely social. i love to party and socialize, but i am not sure if i have any interest in greek life.
-i am politically liberal.
-sports don't really matter to me (i could go either way).</p>
<p>i'm concerned because i've heard northwestern is full of antisocial geeks/the quarter system is overwhelming, notre dame is incredibly strict and thus not conducive to a very social environment, and it's hard to make friends at nyu/nyu is not very renowned for the particular areas of study in which i'm interested. i feel stuck...i've realized that i don't think any of these schools are a "fit" for me, and i think that's the reason why i'm not too keen to let go of the hope i still have for columbia, the only school i've ever truly wanted to attend. i would give anything to get off of that waitlist.</p>
<p>any suggestions? i would appreciate some advice/commentary/help :)</p>
<p>Everyone is waiting to get off the waitlist at Columbia. If you want to be realistic, here's what you should do. Think about everything you just said and decide for yourself. No one else can do it for you. As for Northwestern being full of antisocial geeks---I will be attendign in the fall and I can guarantee you that myself and others as well are far from that. I have spoken to current students and know some and they find the perfect balance of work and play. The environment at Northwestern, they say, is very friendly. Maybe you should actually VISIT these schools if you haven't done so already. I know you have ur heart set on Columbia(#9 in US) because it is an exceptional institution but hello...if you got to Northwestern(#12)..you're not losing out except maybe 3 places on rank lol oh wow lol....the ivy league of the mid west some people say...besides dont people complain Columbia doesn't have the feel of a college environment--no "rah rah" spirit--but hey--if thats what u want. Go for it!</p>
<p>yeah, i know i have a .0002028% or whatever of getting off of the columbia waitlist. i'm trying to be realistic, and i'm fully aware that no one can decide for me---i was just looking for a little bit of guidance. </p>
<p>you mentioned visiting each college; i have visited all three, and all three were strikingly different, yet i felt i could comfortably exist in any of the three environments. the environment at northwestern IS very friendly, and i definitely take that into consideration when thinking about where i will attend. and the thing about "antisocial geeks" is not really my perception but rather a stereotype that seems to pervade everything i've read about northwestern.</p>
<p>as far as national rank goes, i don't really assess colleges based on what USNEWS says, but i'm very aware that northwestern is extremely well-ranked and quite prestigious. prestige is not really a deciding factor in my decision, though i would like to attend a school that is esteemed in fields i'm interested in.</p>
<p>I do not know much about Notre Dame, but with your interrest in so many studies Northwestern may be a good fit. I believe that it is easy to double-major their because of the quarter system.</p>
<p>Given your self description I would steer clear of northern Indiana, and while Notre Dame is a fine school it may not have the ideal personality for you. NYU and Northwestern are both great matches though...for a creative career and urban life Greenwich Village is hard to top, but Northwestern has a longer and stronger reputation for academics generally.</p>
<p>i realize this is a northwestern board, but i live right in new york city and the area around NYU is the most fun and culturally-rich environment i can imagine-- especially since you mention liking urban areas, socializing, and being politically liberal (protests galore!). i got into northwestern ED, but if not i would have tried for NYU. </p>
<p>(sidenote: notre dame's middle-of-nowhere-ness frightened me, but that's just my being a city person)</p>
<p>
[quote]
-i am currently undecided as to what i would like to study, but i am interested in english/creative writing/screenwriting, film studies, psychology, and law...gosh, maybe even pre-med. (unfortunately?) i have many interests.
[/quote]
Sounds like NU to me, along with the rest of what you said. My daughter chose NU last year with similarly diverse interests. She is beyond happy there. </p>
<p>Also, I certainly have never read or heard that NU students are antisocial geeks. That certainly hasn't been my daughter's experience - quite to the contrary.</p>
<p>thank you all so much for your opinions! i've definitely thought that notre dame wasn't really ideal for me, but i was kind of forced into applying...it is in the middle of nowhere, which i really don't like.</p>
<p>i guess it's between nu and nyu...thanks for your input.</p>
<p>leaning toward NU now...i'm going to go to "preview NU" april 18-19th and i'll see how it goes from there! NYU's financial aid is definitely not as good for me as NU's because NU gave me no loans and covered pretty much everything. thanks again for your opinions, everyone!</p>