<p>I am a rising senior and I am having difficulty deciding whether I like Vanderbilt or Northwestern more, since I plan on applying early decision. I plan on majoring in economics along with taking business curriculum like finance or marketing. I know that both schools overall are both very highly ranked and I do not consider their 5 rank difference meaningful. however is one economic and Business curriculum far superior to the other? Also I consider law and MBA school placement more significant than job placement. Also another concern of mine is the social life. Are both schools passionate about their division 1 teams? I prefer football and basketball. Also how is the social and frat life? Is one far superior and how are they different. Is one focused on more off campus? Also how are the personalities ofnthe students and how attractive are they? I have heard Vandy girls are hotter but that Vandy students are snobby and arrogant. Is that true? Also I am very worried about the weather. As having grown up in south florida I have never had to live long term through any weather as extreme as Chicago. However I enjoy some cold weather but I am not sure for how long. Is chicago weather really that bad? I would appreciate any input.</p>
<p>I think Northwestern has a definite edge in placing into finance and consulting, which are traditional MBA feeders (MBA placement and job placement go hand-in-hand). There is an NU advantage there for sure. </p>
<p>In terms of overall quality of life, I think you’re right, Vandy might be a little more “snobby” but its beautiful whereas Northwestern is probably more down to earth but its also cold. If your goal is law school there won’t be too much of a difference in terms of placement.</p>
<p>As far as academic options related to economics and finance/marketing go, NU has an astonishing array of programs/courses for a mid-size university. In fact, you will have a hard time choosing among them.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The economics program is widely considered a top-10 program. They just had the a Nobel winner this year. They had a close call few years ago when the winner just switched to UChicago (the research leading to the prize was totally done at NU). That may or may not translate to superior undergrad program, however. But the reputation is there.</p></li>
<li><p><a href=“http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/[/url]”>http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/</a> if you like math and modeling, this is a fantastic program that goes well with economics. Originally, it was meant to help generate student interest in research careers in the social sciences, but the students have been highly sought after by many companies. </p></li>
<li><p>[Certificate</a> Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Certificate.aspx]Certificate”>Certificate Program for Undergraduates | Kellogg School of Management) You’d have to finish the pre-requisite courses before applying. The four courses are graduate-level courses and more rigorous than typical undergrad finance courses. NU may be in the process to develop a third certificate program in marketing. [Kellogg</a> to add new business certificate program for undergraduates - Campus - The Daily Northwestern - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/campus/kellogg-to-add-new-business-certificate-program-for-undergraduates-1.2468869]Kellogg”>http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/campus/kellogg-to-add-new-business-certificate-program-for-undergraduates-1.2468869)</p></li>
<li><p>[Medill</a> - IMC Undergraduate Certificate](<a href=“http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/imc/undergraduatecertificate.aspx]Medill”>http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/imc/undergraduatecertificate.aspx) The graduate program is the best in the field with some courses taught by Kellogg marketing professors (Kellogg is #1 in marketing). I don’t know if you’d get them for the undergrad certificate courses.</p></li>
<li><p>[Industrial</a> Engineering and Management Sciences : Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.iems.northwestern.edu/]Industrial”>http://www.iems.northwestern.edu/) This department is ranked in the top-5. It’s sorta a hybrid of engineering and managerial analytics. Courses like financial engineering is offered there.</p></li>
<li><p>[Undergraduate</a> :: Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ugrad/academics/conc/loc/curriculum/]Undergraduate”>http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ugrad/academics/conc/loc/curriculum/)</p></li>
<li><p>[Harvey</a> Kapnick Business Institutions Program – Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University](<a href=“Harvey Kapnick Center for Business Institutions - Northwestern University”>Harvey Kapnick Center for Business Institutions - Northwestern University)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It sounds like that Northwestern has an edge in financial/econ areas, but is it far superior to Vandy’s programs? Also what about on campus social activities for both? Like would I have fun at both schools ON CAMPUS?</p>
<p>"Yale Law School:</p>
<p>Yale University (87)
Harvard University (76)
Stanford University (35)
Princeton University (27)
Columbia University (22)
Brown University (21)</p>
<p>Dartmouth College (15)
University of Pennsylvania (14)
Duke University (14)
**University of California at Berkeley (12)
University of Chicago (12)</p>
<p>Cornell University (10)
University of California at Los Angeles (9)
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (9)
Northwestern University (8)
Washington University <a href=“8”>Missouri</a>
Swarthmore College (7)
New York University (7)
Georgetown University (7)
Wesleyan University (7)" From most prestigious schools…top prof." thread.</p>
<p>Since you care about law placement more, I would suggest looking at other options like Yale or Columbia. I honestly don’t think Vanderbilt and Northwestern is right for you since both are very pre-professional. </p>
<p>(Personally, I got accepted into MMSS, which Sam mentioned, but declined their offer after realizing that the program was more geared toward getting a “prestigious” job rather than preparing you for grad school and “learning for learning’s sake”. Vanderbilt has something similar called “financial economics”. )</p>
<p>I am not saying I want to just get into law or mba school. But I obviously want good placement and I feel both these schools provide good placement. I am still very concerned about on campus social life at NW since I have heard Vandy’s is great. Also I feel as if Vandy’s arrogance is partially overemphasized. Is that true?</p>
<p>
None of the MMSS coureses are geared toward getting a prestigious job. Maybe you meant many MMSS students want prestigious jobs but that has nothing to do with the curriculum itself. The program is all about developing great quantatitive/modeling skills; it’s up to you what you want to do with that knowledge. No one stops you from applying that to economics/social sciences research or PhD if you want to; in fact, that’s what the program was originally intented for.</p>
<p>The schools are not significantly different academically. I have been in Nashville for 5 years and have a lot of contact with Vandy students. My daughter just finished grad school there. There may be a tiny percentage of snobs, but no more so than anywhere else. Southerns are friendly and Nashville is an amazing city. I went to law school in Chicago and worked there for a few years. Nashville is the best place I have ever lived. Coming from Florida, you would be miserable in Chicago. This is just my opinion, but I would pick Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Also, you will LOVE SEC sports. Football is coming on at Vanderbilt with an awesome new coach. Basketball is the most fun thing ever and baseball was World Series this year.</p>
<p>As an MMSS alum, I agree with Sam Lee two posts prior, and I’d also agree with MOWC that they are similar academically and the choices come down to personal preference. NU is more earnest and Vandy more social, but you couldn’t go wrong with either.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the comments, but I would like to hear about how NW’s social life in comparison to Vandy’s. I know Vandy’s is better, but how weak is NW’s in comparison?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that Vandy has a better social life. Although Greek life is a little less exclusive, there are plenty of parties and activities. Maybe because the Greek scene is less exclusive it makes for a more welcoming atmosphere. The students are also very rah rah about their teams and of course students get in free to all sporting events.</p>