Hi guys! I really need some help deciding which school to apply ED to this fall. I’m a white middle/upper class male. I plan on majoring in economics and then applying to medical school. I’m from Minneapolis, so I like the idea of the east coast, but I need to choose the school I’ll have the best opportunities at, and the school I have the best chance of getting into ED. Let me know what you think please!
Deciding factor for my son who chose NU over Penn - At NU, SAT IIs are recommended, not required. At Penn - and most east coasters, SAT IIs are required. My son was all tested out by end of Jr year, so he just said no to SAT IIs and was admitted ED to NU. Happy Ending: He graduated with engineering degree and MS in 4 years, thanks to doing well in his AP courses. To tie it all back to you, it is worth pointing out - He enjoyed the heck out of Minneapolis as a summer intern with a major corporation, and his girlfriend is in med school at NU 
Good Luck with your decision - looks like a win- win to me!
Very different neighborhoods…Penn is very very urban, & you’d have to be comfortable with encountering all the features of gritty urban life on a daily basis. NU is in a relatively safe & peaceful suburb just north of Chicago. Obviously top-notch academics at both.
I’m a Penn grad, and daughter is currently at NU. Both are excellent schools with rich academic opportunities. They have very different “campus vibes”, and you should talk to current students and visit the campuses to see which appeals more to you. We live in Philly suburbs, and Philly is a great town -lots to do (just like Chicago, but a little warmer). Heavy east coast vibe at Penn - lots of New York, NJ, and locals (Philly suburbs send tons of kids to Penn). At NU, she is one of just a few easterners- lots of kids from West (Colorado, Oregon, California), and midwest. Other thing to look into is the track record your high school has at each institution-- If no one from your HS has gotten into UPenn in the last 10 years and there are always a few kids going to NU, you will have a better chance at NU (and vice versa). Good luck!