Northwestern vs. Chicago University

[Axelrod]

<p>Aren’t the two schools related ? I thought that the University of Chicago was Northwestern’s junior college.</p>

[Consolation]

<p>The number of snarky comments on this thread demonstrates that anti-intellectualism is alive and well. Do I hear the distant whine of ax-grinders running overtime?</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>Who’s anti-intellectual? One can be intellectual and also enjoy other trappings (Greek life, sports, etc.). Or one can be intellectual and not care for or wish to participate in those trappings. Intellectualism doesn’t have to come in only stereotypically-geeky flavor to be real. That’s where it crosses into either poser and / or arrogant territory.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>

Both schools attract smart students, but Northwestern’s students are more yuppie-strivers while UoC’s students revel in pseudo-intellectual hipsterdom. Northwestern is more “fun”, while UoC tends to be “anti-fun”. Both schools’ students are very competitive and focussed on achievement and grades. Both schools have great facilities and highly selective admissions. But both schools aren’t necessarily “best fit” for smart students.

</p>

<p>I think a core difference is that Northwestern’s brand equity is tied up in “we have interests for / a place for everybody, whether you’re a theater major or an engineering major, whether you like sports or not, etc.” and U of Chicago’s brand equity is tied up in “we are deliberately NOT for everybody, we are a club that not everyone appreciates.” These things are neither good nor bad, just different brand positionings. I’m quite certain the good folks at both Kellogg and Booth would agree with this assessment. (Disclosure: I’ve lectured at Kellogg.)</p>

[tk21769]

<p>

In Chicago corporate entry-job market, Northwestern or UoChicago undergrad degree has about same buying power as DePaul or IIT or Big 10 undergrad degree.

</p>

<p>I can believe that.
However, I doubt that more than a small fraction of NU and Chicago undergraduates seek corporate entry-level jobs in the Chicago area. About 18% of Chicago class of 2011 students did take full time employment in the Chicago area after graduation. However,that includes jobs in teaching, government, journalism and the arts (as well as jobs in finance, consulting, IT, etc.) </p>

<p>According to Chicago’s career advancement data, in recent years about 20% of their graduating classes have gone directly to graduate or professional school. According to stateuniversity.com, about eighty-five percent of graduating students seek to receive a graduate/professional degree within five years of graduating (a figure I’d like to see verified by another source, since it seems so high). </p>

<p><a href=“https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/about/outcomes-data[/url]”>https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/about/outcomes-data&lt;/a&gt;
[University</a> of Chicago in Chicago, IL - UC - StateUniversity.com](<a href=“University of Chicago (UC) Introduction and Academics - Chicago, IL”>University of Chicago (UC) Introduction and Academics - Chicago, IL)</p>

[sally305]

<p>

This UChicago thing is a pathetically unnecessary marketing ploy.

</p>

<p>U of C (no, I won’t use the new, “hip” nickname, which I only became aware of during a visit with my son) has invested a TON of money in marketing over the past few years, using a highly paid agency in Chicago. It’s funny, because Kellogg (at NU) has arguably the best marketing/brand management MBA program in the country.</p>

<p>My son visited both schools and we were astonished by the difference in mail that came afterwards from the two. U of C sent him slick, clever postcards and viewbooks for months; by contrast I think we had one or two forgettable pieces from Northwestern–even though my son was a double legacy there.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>As someone who still lives in the Chicago area, I still don’t really see U of Chicago getting a lot of local “play.” More than 20 years ago, but not a lot in the absolute. Part of it is that Hyde Park isn’t an area where people normally go unless they have specific business at the U of Chicago, whereas Northwestern’s grad programs have el-primo real estate right off Michigan Avenue, and Evanston is a mini-destination in and of itself for dining. That’s not a reflection on U of Chicago, of course, just an observation.</p>

[Consolation]

<p>

Who’s anti-intellectual?

</p>

<p>Not you. :)</p>

<p>

I think a core difference is that Northwestern’s brand equity is tied up in “we have interests for / a place for everybody, whether you’re a theater major or an engineering major, whether you like sports or not, etc.” and U of Chicago’s brand equity is tied up in “we are deliberately NOT for everybody, we are a club that not everyone appreciates.” These things are neither good nor bad, just different brand positionings.

</p>

<p>I would agree.</p>

[Axelrod]

<p>@Consolation: No need to be snarky; learn to have some fun. Don’t take the motto “Where fun goes to die” so seriously.</p>

[Blah2009]

<p>learn to read Wildcatalum:</p>

<p>1 out of 20 posts for NOT mentioning Yale is likely an UNDERestimation.</p>

[tk21769]

<p>

As someone who still lives in the Chicago area, I still don’t really see U of Chicago getting a lot of local “play.”

</p>

<p>I guess some things play well in Peoria …
<a href=“http://dailynorthwestern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FIGHT_Rafi-Letzter_111512_web-595x396.jpg[/url]”>http://dailynorthwestern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FIGHT_Rafi-Letzter_111512_web-595x396.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>… and some don’t
<a href=“http://moda-chicago.■■■■■■■■■■/post/12217558103/lascivious-ball-rachel-reid[/url]”>http://moda-chicago.■■■■■■■■■■/post/12217558103/lascivious-ball-rachel-reid&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://moda-chicago.■■■■■■■■■■/post/12214533948/urban-grunge-moda-magazine-2010-lily-lai[/url]”>http://moda-chicago.■■■■■■■■■■/post/12214533948/urban-grunge-moda-magazine-2010-lily-lai&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[Pizzagirl]

<p>Yes, undoubtedly sports plays a role in that. No argument here. Of course, U of Chicago doesn’t want to have big time sports – not part of their brand character. Simply a different positioning, that’s all.</p>

[Cue7]

<p>Pizzagirl - I think you need to define “local play” a bit more carefully. From certain key constituent groups (like high school students), UChicago is certainly getting a bit more “play.” I believe, last year, a boatload of students from New Trier, Highland Park HS, etc. applied to UChicago, and this really didn’t happen ~10 years ago. </p>

<p>So, that “play” probably leads to a ripple effect as well - more students applying, which means that the school has increased visibility with parents, schools, counselors, etc. In fact, long-term, I think marketing to HS students, coupled with the real strengths of the university, can have good, long-lasting effects. I’d be surprised if people who traditionally didn’t think much of UChicago in certain areas (Chicago suburbs, parts of the city), now have it more on their radar. In this way, I think the “play” has increased quite a bit.</p>