<p>My answer to the 'Why Northwestern' question ... what do you think? </p>
<pre><code>In the end, our schooling and our education all boils down to one thing what we make of it. Whether we attend the most academically rigorous school in the nation, or a community college close to home, the chance to succeed hinges not only on the courses offered or the professors hired to teach them, but equally on the effort we put into achieving success. So in this year-long college search process, I have often found myself asking Why should I choose one school over another? And in the case of many colleges and universities, I honestly could not answer this question, because I could see that I would perform well at a number of schools. But based on interactions with former students and alumni, Northwestern University and its renowned Economics program stands out among many.
My first formal introduction to Northwestern took place at an area-wide information session provided at my high school. Several schools were represented at this session and each admissions representative took time to make a presentation and provide a question-answer segment. The Northwestern presentation was particularly impressive, highlighting the excellent academic reputation, the unique cohesiveness of the student body, the supportive and renowned professors, the vibrant city of Chicago, and the beauty of the campus. I left this session craving more information about Northwestern.
What Ive gleaned since that time certainly echoes what I learned that evening. A close family friend and recent Northwestern graduate convinced me that my education at Northwestern, and the economics degree I intend to pursue, would be best completed there. The Economics program and the accomplished, talented faculty and student body are indeed world renown. The possibilities for a unique combination of classes rooted in economic theory is intriguing, and the opportunity to then apply this knowledge to the real world as an intern at any number of places located just miles from campus in Chicago is one that any other school cannot match.
As a student who thoroughly enjoys working with numbers, I have always known that I would pursue a career that would best utilize my mathematical abilities, but only recently have I become passionate about a pursuit of a career in economics. This realization came to light during the recent unfortunate economic state of affairs what historians are now calling The Great Recession. What was a country known for its economic prowess was now being taken down by the very thing that helped it rise to such great heights its economic system. Somewhere along the line, someone had gotten the numbers wrong. Interest rates were too low, bank loans were miscalculated, and everything in between went wrong. All the mistakes leading to the crisis boiled down to one thing a mishandled economy. It wasnt just a simple math error here and there, but a complex, real world problem with its roots in math and economics. Such was the beginning of my fascination with the worlds economy, and the quest for an education that will inspire the understanding of it.
One look at the Northwestern Economics department website, and you know you will be surrounded by a passionate community dedicated to academic excellence and great challenge. A Nobel Laureate award winner; an impressive number of PhD candidates; dozens of economic papers, covering thousands of years and innumerable topics, published in journals around the world other institutions devote years just to achieve one of these accolades; Northwestern has accomplished all of this and more. This challenge, this reputation, its a tradition I wish to continue. And in such an environment, at a school that holds such high standards, I am positive that I will make the most of the skills that I have. Perhaps I wont be able to solve the economic crisis Americans have been stricken with, but with the high level of knowledge I hope to acquire at Northwestern, it will be my goal to ensure that such a thing never happens again.
A course selection and academic rigor that will challenge me; a physical location that will inspire me; and a campus life that will engage me its all here at Northwestern.
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