<p>Hi everyone, I recently got accepted by NU and Brown and I am undecided as to which to accept. Currently, I have deduced that Brown has a higher prestige, better liberal arts education but more expensive and its engineering program may not be as good as NU due to its broad based curriculum. On the other hand, NU may be better in engineering and has a comparable prestige though its not Ivy League. Supposedly I leave out other factors like college life and surroundings, what other things should I look out for? Which uni is more recognised? And which engineering department is better? I welcome any suggestions. Thanks!</p>
<p>I am not in engineering so cannot guess about relative prestige of the two departments. I think it is safe to say that both schools are very well regarded throughout the country in virtually any department.</p>
<p>I went to Brown-- and I humbly submit that you NOT "leave out factors like college life & surroundings" as you decide.</p>
<p>Can you visit the two campuses? There are very different school cultures at the two places. They draw different types of kids. Assuming your engineering education would be great either place, these other factors will be very significant to your enjoyment of four years and the people with whom you connect in college.</p>
<p>I don't know what you meant about the Brown curriculum. You can make it as focused as you wish. There can be a great deal of flexibility to take other subjects that interest you or to delve deep into selected areas, or both.</p>
<p>Both are good schools that could be "perfect" for the right student. Try to visit!</p>
<p>To help you make this decsion here is some data on the purely ACADEMIC side of the two schools. The information is for the relative ranking of the graduate programs at these school in the "broad" subject areas. Remember, academics in this case refers to "the fame of it's faculty among its peers" . That is, how good do engineering faculty think the particular engineering school is. </p>
<p>The fields: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English, Geology, History, Math, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, MBA, Law, Medical research, Engineering, Education, Nursing, Fine Arts, Music, Architecture, Drama & Theater, Film.</p>
<p>The following data only says if the school was in the TOP 20 or not.
Northwestern - TOP 20 in 14 out of 23 fields. Top 5 in 1
Chemistry 11
Economics 8
English 18
History 15
Political Science 20
Psychology 17
Sociology 9
MBA 3
Law 13
Medical Research 20
Engineering 18
Education 10
Music 6
Drama & Theater 10</p>
<p>Brown - TOP 20 in 5 out of 23 fields
Computer Science 13
English 14
Geology 18
History 15
Math 16</p>
<p>This data suggests that Northwestern has a significantly better faculty over a broad range of fields. </p>
<p>If you like Music and Theater around you (and the students it brings), Nothwestern is clearly superior. Northwestern attracts its share of outstanding musicians and budding actors and stage hands from around the world - and you will have something to see with your room mates in it regularly. At Brown you can always travel to Boston.</p>
<p>Summary: Brown is in between a small eastern college such as Amherst or Wellesley and a "intellectual" powerhouse such as Harvard (Top 20 in 17, top 5 in 12) or Michigan (Top 20 in 20 out of 23, Top 5 in 8) Northwestern leans in the direction of an "intellectual" power house while Brown leans toward "small eastern college" </p>
<p>Both are great colleges and you will love either one!</p>
<p>I'd say Northwestern's engineering is stronger than Brown's because NU has many disciplines in the top 20 and couple in top 5. The top 5 depts are industrial engg and mat science. The top 15 (or top-10, depending on the year) includes chemE, biomedical, civil, and mechanical engg. Overall, the undergrad engineering program is ranked 13th by US News. NU's Engineering First curriculum, which exposes freshmen to engineering concepts/application early, is quite unique.</p>
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<p>i think northwestern is more prestigious than brown. brown is sort of the "out there" ivy. it doesn't have a good rep for having strong academics. it's so loose that i don't think the degree would carry much weight.</p>
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<p>I would say the relative prestige has to do with what area of the country you are in. Many other sources would place Brown above NW in prestige but it is sort of splitting hairs to compare any two schools in top 20 Universities.</p>
<p>Remember, quality professors are one measure, but access to them is another. Brown is more undergraduate & interdisciplinary in focus. You have amazing access and very little red tape.</p>
<p>Brown has a very unique approach (one that is not for everyone) which works beautifully for certain kids. Because of Brown's great freedom, it chooses kids carefully-- those who can prosper in the system. Your peers will be, as one of my friends once put it, "5000 extroverts." There will be little to no 'competition' and a very tight, warm enviornment.</p>
<p>I think NW is a little more impersonal and a little more of a Rah Rah school. Brown is perhaps a little more quirky & nurturing. It really depends what you are looking for!</p>
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