Northwestern vs. U Penn? Help!!

<p>I want to major in biology and I'm especially interested in cell biology and molecular biology. I've checked out both of their websites and I still can't decide which one is better for me!!! Help!!</p>

<p>At this level of undergrad schools, both are equally good. Aside from HPME, there is nothing you can do at NU that you can’t do at Penn and vice versa. It’s more about location, cost, environment, and other non academic factors about the different schools that should go into your decision. If you search through my posts you’ll see me highlighting the advantages of Penn interms of research and premed and whatnot.</p>

<p>They’re really similar in a ton of ways. Pick which you like better.</p>

<p>first get into both(easier said then done), then worry about which one you want to go to.</p>

<p>I would stongly suggest going to Penn solely because you think there are more research opportunities…</p>

<p>between northwestern faculty in Evanston and the various medical facilities on the chicago campus (the nu med school, the women’s hospital, the cancer research center and the multiple pavilians of the main hospital) anyone who does some investigating will quickly find that there is nothing that Penn offers in terms of research that NU lacks (and this includes accessibility)</p>

<p>Agree with Colleges-- get in to both and then decide.</p>

<p>Are you actually kidding me? I’m in no position to question your academic abilities or other achievements, but even for a person who gets a 2300 on the SAT, Penn is not exactly a shoe in, and at the pace that Northwestern is increasing it’s admission standards – neither is it. </p>

<p>But, in all realistic terms, assuming you were, by some divine intervention, accepted into both school, I would say it would simply come down to specifics. Financial aid, atmosphere, living arrangements, blah blah. The science departments at NU are second to none. While I know very little about Penn (I know it has a good business school) compared to other top tier schools, I personally have not heard much about their science departments. </p>

<p>All in all, no one on the internet is going to be able to tell you which school you should go to, except perhaps if you’re chatting with your mom on facebook. </p>

<p>It’s summer dude, get outside.</p>

<p>Northwestern and Penn are much more alike in academics and personality than many realize. The big departments at both (across the board) - biology and subspecialty areas most certainly included - will be quality-wise indistinguishable from one another at the undergrad level. If differences are to be found, they’re in more niche areas like mat sci and many engineering depts where NU will generally hold an advantage. Same applies to programs like journalism, music, theater, and education at NU. Penn’s elephant-in-the-room advantage lies with Wharton and a nursing program not available in Evanston.</p>

<p>Concentrate instead on other factors. Look at location, the heavy east coast (especially NY/NJ/Pa) student concentration at Penn, and its inner city Philly feel. Contrast that with the much larger midwestern student concentration at NU and a location that may adjoin Chicago but feels much more city separate, even buccolic, by comparison. Again, academics, especially in your area of interest, shouldn’t drive this decision.</p>

<p>May want to watch these admissions videos. I find videos help more than websites:</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGpOizUIY60]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGpOizUIY60]YouTube</a> - “True Learning” - University of Pennsylvania<a href=“Penn”>/url</a></p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/freshman/media/rmvideo.htm]Admission”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/freshman/media/rmvideo.htm]Admission</a> video - Real Player, Video and Media, Freshman, Office of Undergraduate Admission - Northwestern University<a href=“Northwestern”>/url</a></p>