Trying to decide which one to ED to this fall. I’m interested in being in a sorority and going out around 2 times a week, but I also want to have a good school environment that will help me reach my goals. Right now I see Vanderbilt as more of party school than Northwestern. I feel like the social life at Northwestern is a little dull based on what I have read. Opinions?
Both are incredibly difficult to get into, neither is a “party” school, and “dull” doesn’t describe either one.
I have a friend at northwestern and she said the social scene is great espically if you’re involved in Greek life!
Northwestern is a classy school with amazing programs, but Evanston (as great as it is) doesnt really have the kinds of casual bars and hangouts you associate with a " college town." Whereas Vanderbilt has a bunch of such places adjacent to campus, and a heck of a nice downtown not far away. Chicago is of course a wonderful city, but the NU students don’t seem to go into the city as much as you would think.
Have you picked out your sorority yet? Maybe you can apply to those schools they have a chapter
Have you visited each school already? That may help you decide if you haven’t.
I’ve visited both and stayed at Vanderbilt. I’ve grown up going to Vanderbilt a lot because my Dad went there and I live close by. I really love Northwestern, but still can’t figure out the social life.
What @moooop said. Do you mind going out twice a week in the freezing cold? Does dressing nice for classes interest you? Where is your major more highly regarded? If legacy accounts for anything I’d consider using it.
@2muchquan I’m from the South so I am used to the weather at Vanderbilt but definitely not Chicago. Everyone keeps telling me I will not survive a Chicago winter, but I do hate the heat of the south. Where do they dress nice for classes? I’m a legacy at Vanderbilt. I plan to get involved in nonprofit work after college and I feel like both schools can help me reach my goals. Chicago is a bonus in that it has an environment that is suitable for the charity work I am looking to do.
@honey15 what would she describe it like?
Seems like you might like to look West. Why not add USC in LA into that mix? They don’t have ED so you can apply in addition to others. USC might check off some of your boxes, including great weather in a great city. Also not easy to get into and along the lines of Vandy/Nwern. Better for tanning, and the sushi is to die for.
She said it’s a great way to make friends and it gives you a lot more social oppertunities. And she said there is basically a sorority that would fit everyone. There’s sororities that revolve partying and drinking, there’s sororities that focus more on their philanthropies, and sororities In between
You need to visit both. Vanderbilt has a different Greek system with only the officers living in the Greek houses, everyone else lives in dorms or off-campus housing. What do you plan on studying? If you are leaning toward engineering -NW , music or education - Vandy, others are mixed or equal.
NW is on Lake Michigan and the wind in the winter can be really bite. The past few winters have been relatively warm, not much snow, and most young people don’t have a problem with it. You can’t go wrong either way. Vandy has much better FA than NW, plus really great merit scholarships - I would look at that carefully too.
NU also has a definite edge in investment banking.
I don’t know what you mean by “casual bars and hangouts you associate with college towns”. If you google map, you’ll see there are more bars, restaurants, and coffee shops within walking distance of NU campus than Vanderbilt campus. Evanston, believe it or not, is more urban and walkable with more dining and retail options than anywhere in Nashville including its downtown (I travelled to Nashville twice before). The high density makes Evanston more like an extension of Chicago than a suburb.
Comparing “cities” and “surburbs” in America is often like comparing apples with oranges. Suburbs like Berkeley, Evanston, San Mateo make many American "cities’ look like suburbs.
I wanna help, If you don’t know what casual college-town bars are, you’re not in a position to say whether or not Evanston has them.
Evanston does indeed have a lot of places to eat and drink, but their atmospheres and prices are more geared for affluent folks ages 30-plus. That’s why the only real NU hangout is the Deuce, whuch isn’t even in Evanston. Whereas adjacent to Vandy are multiple inexpensive & casual hangouts.