Northwestern U vs. WUSTL for Econ. Undergrad

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>I am looking for a school for my son with a top-notch undergraduate economics program (within a College of Arts and Science, not an undergrad B-school). We would like to find an academic challenging program combined with a school that will give him opportunities for internships and on-campus recruiting by Wall Street and consulting firms. Two schools that we are looking at are NU and WUSTL (so I am posting this in both school forums). Can somebody familiar with these schools tell me the following:</p>

<p>1) How good are the Econ programs and how large are typical frosh/sophomore class sizes?</p>

<p>2) What are the opportunities for internships and recruting by banks and consulting firms?</p>

<p>3) I noticed that both schools have only around 5% international students, which I assume are mostly Asian STEM majors. Are there many British and other European students?</p>

<p>Thanks, Londondad</p>

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<p>1) How good are the Econ programs and how large are typical frosh/sophomore class sizes?</p>

<p>Undergraduate econ programs are undergraduate econ programs. So long as you go to a top tier school, you pretty much learn the same thing at the same difficulty level. </p>

<p>2) What are the opportunities for internships and recruting by banks and consulting firms?</p>

<p>We are semi-target for both of them. The only consulting firm that I know that really recruits heavily at WashU is Deloitte. We have a decent number who end up at McKinsey/BCG/Bain etc, but Deloitte is definitely the main one. A fair number of us have good placements at bulge brackets, if that is what you are referring to when you mention banks, but we are the minority not the majority. </p>

<p>3) I noticed that both schools have only around 5% international students, which I assume are mostly Asian STEM majors. Are there many British and other European students?</p>

<p>There are a good number but they seem to be concentrated at the bschool or engineering.</p>

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<p>Any other views from WashU students/parents/alums?</p>

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<p>I apologize for keeping this short, but currently swamped with homework. I believe I’ve commented on the Econ dept before.</p>

<p>I completed a major, but my primary interests are in engineering.</p>

<p>The program at Wash U is good, but not great. I don’t believe NW would have a much different program though.</p>

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<p>Also there really aren’t many Europeans at all (slightly more at grad level).</p>

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<p>Marvdvl-Thanks. Good luck with finals.</p>

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<p>There are some European study abroad students that I’ve come across but that’s mostly for one semester.</p>

<p>If you have any specific specific questions about the dept let me know and I can find some time to answer. Im just not able to provide a decent response on open ended questions until summer.</p>

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<p>We love WashU. But, if Wall St. is your thing, look into some other WashU’s or NU’s peers, like Duke, for example.</p>

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<p>I’ve been really happy in the Econ program here. It’s rigorous, has great faculty (one nobel prize winner), and the seniors I know have had no issues getting into great grad schools or consulting/analysis jobs. Go to the school that fits you better… the biggest differentiating factors between Wash U and Northwestern will be how you like the community, living environments, campus culture, events, etc.</p>