Northwestern or WashU?

<p>I'm deciding between which one. </p>

<p>I recently got admitted into the Medill school of Journalism at NU, and Olin at WashU. I don't know which one to choose!</p>

<p>Pros of NU: nice campus, driven but chill people, location, slightly bigger name, proximity to home is better, sports/school spirit
Cons: weather, quarter system </p>

<p>Pros of WashU: even nicer quality campus, food, driven but chill people, offered a bit more money, everyone there seems very nice (professors esp)
Cons: location isnt as good as NU, not much about sports</p>

<p>I like business, but for me straight up business would be bland. My strength is writing, and I like being involved with journalism somehow. I guess I was thinking to go to Public Relations, a combo of the two. If I went to Northwestern, I would minor in econ or get a Kellogg certificate. For WashU, I would study business and writer for the paper. </p>

<p>A factor that I also want to take into account is how successful I would be out of college--journalism is certainly not a dying industry if I take the integrated marketing communications and I enjoy it-- but the parents are paying a lot so success is pretty important to me too. </p>

<p>Most people have been saying NU. Tell me what you guys think! Thanks so much.</p>

<p>Both options are great choices, obviously. I do think washu offers more for potential journalists than just the school paper. If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s a great resource for those interested in journalism and/or communications:</p>

<p>[Journalism</a> & Communications](<a href=“http://admissions.wustl.edu/About/Academics/programs/Pages/Journalism.aspx]Journalism”>http://admissions.wustl.edu/About/Academics/programs/Pages/Journalism.aspx)</p>

<p>I’m not sure if I can particularly recommend one school over another, as I don’t know nearly enough about this area to have an idea about the relative strengths of the two programs. Washu tends to have fairly decent job placement, although I don’t know how northwestern compares in this instance.</p>

<p>RyanMK is, IMO, quite correct. You have a decision based on personal fit. I would point out that there is little stopping you from doing a second major at economics at WU. Or, you could switch to LA, do an economics major with a minor in English Comp (unfortunately there is, as yet, no English Comp major). Also, English Comp minors are permitted to take up to three journalism courses at WU’s University College (night school), which can include an internship.</p>

<p>Ha, you are asking on WashU forum, the natural tilt is toward WashU. But, I think, if the costs are equal and you really like journalism, the obvious candidate is NU. Isn’t Medill the best journalism school in the country? I thought someone told me once. The quarter system has it good and bad (I went to a quarter system school): If you don’t like the course, it ends before you know it. Not too painful. On the other hand, it seems like term papers, midterms, lab reports are constantly coming to your way.</p>

<p>I am currently enrolled in a quarter system school as well, and I would have to agree that I certainly do not see that as a con. While my quarter system has a different schedule than NU, I know a lot about the NU system because I have many friends who attend the university. They go to school later than everyone else and get home later than everyone else, which is unfortunate, but honestly not a factor I would take hugely into consideration. As jvtDad pointed out, you will have more midterms and finals, but you also will be finished with classes you aren’t enjoying in less time. I personally have grown fond of the quarter system.
I am a student who has recently been accepted as a transfer student to WashU and am seriously considering going there, but NU is an amazing school and honestly if it has programs that you think you would enjoy, I don’t think you can go wrong there. They have tremendous school pride and I have heard unbelievable things about students’ experiences there.
I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but I do think you should take into consideration the sports and enthusiasm that goes along with that in a school like NU, because as someone coming from a small LAC, I can certainly say that I think it provides something to the college experience that you won’t find at other schools.
Good luck with your decision, and although my response may seem slanted towards NU, I think WashU is an amazing place and you might want to think about the fact that their students were ranked number one for friendliest on huffington post, and people can’t seem to stop raving about the student body there. Both places offer tremendous opportunities and have everything going for them.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision</p>