Northwestern, UIUC, or Wellesley?

<p>I live in IL, about an hour from NU and three hours from UIUC. </p>

<p>Money is not an issue, since financial aid from NU and Wellesley has been very good and I'll be paying the same if I choose between these three schools. </p>

<p>I'm not sure which school to choose between the three. I want to major in intl relations at Wellesley and I like the thought of small classes and more personal attention; UIUC's chemistry department is very strong (will be a chem major); and NU's global health minor (along with their cutthroat pre-med) all appeal to me. </p>

<p>But! I am as far away from liberal (Wellesley liberal - sorry, should be clearer, people around here toss the word liberal around very casually to describe anyone, but I'm talking hardcore left wing) as you can get (people say that this would pose problems for me?), UIUC has a horrible pre-med program (much better for the research/scientist types I suppose), and I don't really like NU's quarter system. </p>

<p>So...any advice for me? thanks!</p>

<p>What exactly do you mean by "Wellesley liberal"?</p>

<p>If your only objection is the quarter system, then I'd go with NU. It really isn't much of a bother.</p>

<p>I tend to agree with arbiter. Besides, NU has an AWESOME Chemistry department...possibly ass good as UIUC's. To me, this is a pretty simple decision.</p>

<p>Honestly, if money is no object, then it comes down to NU vs Wellesley, and take UIUC out of it. UIUC is a fine school but if you've gotten into better ones and you can afford it ....</p>

<p>Thanks guys! </p>

<p>I'm just worried about the quarter system because people say it feels like you get really interested in the class and then it's over, and that you have to more exams than everyone else.</p>

<p>You do take more exams, but think of this: After every set of finals, you're on break. Never will you have exams staring you down on the other side of finals.</p>

<p>I prefer a semester system, but I wouldn't make a choice of schools based on that.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm not sure which school to choose between the three. I want to major in intl relations at Wellesley and I like the thought of small classes and more personal attention; UIUC's chemistry department is very strong (will be a chem major); and NU's global health minor (along with their cutthroat pre-med) all appeal to me.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>At NU, you can do chem+IR+global health minor; it's doable mainly because how quarter system allows you to take larger number of courses more easily each year.</p>

<p>The only thing bad about quarter system is that your summer break comes later (and you start later in the fall too).</p>

<p>nu all the way.</p>