<p>Hi, I am a rising senior debating between applying Early Decision to either Northwestern or Vanderbilt. I want to major in Economics and maybe entrepreneurship as well. I am interested in the pros and cons of each school compared to the other.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is moderate politically and has a more social/athletic crowd. Northwestern is more liberal and has more theatre/artsy types comparatively.</p>
<p>Check out the following at Northwestern:</p>
<p>[Roads</a> to Business at Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/]Roads”>http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/)
[Home[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://fcei.northwestern.edu/entrepreneurship-at-nu/]Northwestern”>http://fcei.northwestern.edu/entrepreneurship-at-nu/]Northwestern</a> Entrepreneurship Network: The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://entrepreneur.northwestern.edu/]Home[/url”>http://entrepreneur.northwestern.edu/)
[Best</a> Courses 2011: NUvention at Northwestern University | Inc.com](<a href=“http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110401/best-courses-2011-nuvention-at-northwestern-university.html]Best”>Best Courses 2011: NUvention | Inc.com)
[From</a> MIT to Stanford, college classes where a startup is the final exam | VentureBeat](<a href=“http://venturebeat.com/2012/07/21/make-or-break-college-classe/]From”>From MIT to Stanford, college classes where a startup is the final exam | VentureBeat)</p>
<p>By the way, Northwestern’s econ is ranked in the top-10. It also got a great College Fed Challenge team if you are interested. NU has won the national championship four times, the most in the nation.
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_National_Fed_Challenge[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_National_Fed_Challenge</a></p>
<p>Northwestern :-)</p>
<p>For me, the whole thing would hinge on living in the South vs. living in the North. One of those options does not appeal to me in the slightest.</p>
<p>First off, most important question: How do you like Born Sinner?</p>
<p>NU Economics no question. Top ten program in the nation. Better pipeline into economics/finance jobs as well.</p>
<p>Do you have any cultural preferences?</p>
<p>My daughter just graduated from NU, my husband’s godson just completed his freshman year at Vanderbilt. Two hugely different schools in almost every respect. I don’t really agree with timetodecide’s description, Vanderbilt has a large theatre/music contingency and NU is a Big 10 school who beat Vanderbilt in football last year. </p>
<p>To me, the best way for me to summarize the difference - after completing his freshman year at Vanderbilt he attended his sisters high school graduation dinner at a family style Italian restaurant in NY wearing a seersucker sports jacket and tie, everyone else was in shorts and t-shirts. If that works for you, go to Vanderbilt, if not, try Northwestern.</p>
<p>The schools have very similar student profiles, in terms of academics. They have somewhat different approaches to financial aid, which may be of significance to the OP. Northwestern does not award merit scholarships; Vanderbilt does (although these are HARD to get). Both schools are need-blind regarding admissions. </p>
<p>Northwestern appears still to include loans in its need-based financial packages for some admitted students: [Aid</a> Overview and Financing Options: Office of Undergraduate Admission - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/financial-aid/aid-overview-and-financing-options.html]Aid”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/financial-aid/aid-overview-and-financing-options.html) . Vanderbilt does not: [Undergraduate</a> Students<em>|</em>Office of Financial Aid<em>|</em>Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/]Undergraduate”>Undergraduate Students | Office of Financial Aid | Vanderbilt University)</p>
<p>They’re both great schools; some students will feel less comfortable at one than at the other. Can you visit, OP? (There will be seersucker sports jackets at both schools.)</p>
<p>They’re both standout schools, but I would personally go with Northwestern. It’s economics and business programs are some of the best in the country, and it’s near Chicago, which is bound to be full of opportunities. However, there are other factors which might sway your decision (like proximity, family alumni, size of the campus (Northwestern is about 6,000 students larger) etc.). Also, Nashville is a really cool city with a unique urban vibe. Ultimately, they’re both awesome colleges and you really can’t go wrong with either, it’s just a matter of personal preference. Good luck!</p>
<p>frazzled - Seersucker is a summer fabric, not something you would see in Evanston. But the point is that Vanderbilt has a more formal approach to clothing - women wear dresses to football games, this kid is wearing a jacket and tie when everyone else (including parents and honoree) is wearing shorts.</p>
<p>Sorry if my tongue in cheek view of social differences between the two schools was not clear.</p>
<p>I know what seersucker is. 
I also know a bit about Vanderbilt’s approach to clothing, since one of my daughters is a 2009 alum. Some students wear dresses to football games at Vanderbilt some of the time. My daughter, who enjoys dressing well, is the person who told me that dresses at Vandy football games are not always de rigueur. She wore shorts and T-shirts to some of those games, too.</p>
<p>I suppose I was trying to make the point that one seersucker jacket and tie worn to a family event does not necessarily indicate that people who prefer shorts would find that Vanderbilt doesn’t work for them. It does sound as if the OP’s better academic fit, considering his interests, might be Northwestern.</p>