<p>Kind of last minute, yeah, but at this point any input is good input.</p>
<p>I got into Medill at NU and the Monroe Scholars program at W&M and am totally at a loss as to where I want to go. Sent in deposit to NU, talked to admissions office at WM about postponing my decision, so deadline being past isn't too much of problem. Anyone have any input about relative plus/minuses that I wouldn't have gotten from way too much time on school websites and the preview NU weekend?</p>
<p>I'd definitely stick with Northwestern. Being very near an INTERESTING big city like Chicago without actually having to get worn down by the daily concerns of big-city life is the best of both worlds. A lot of the more isolated places that are not near an interesting big city are fine, but at some point you will feel the campus and your studies closing in on you, and it's wonderful to have somewhere close where you can get get a change of pace and refresh yourself.</p>
<p>I disagree completely - College is awesome, you don't need a city. There's always so much happening on campus. But I'd choose Medill if you want journalism. Bigger name (northwestern) and great program (journalism).</p>
<p>Everyone has different preferences for a college, but Northwestern's location is definitely a plus for many. I would easily choose Northwestern over W&M, especially if you are interested in journalism.</p>
<p>I'd stick with Northwestern if you want journalism, the program there is probably more specialized. You can still go into journalism very successfully from W&M, but I doubt you would be taking the same courses.</p>
<p>Does the location of the schools matter to you?</p>
<p>Slipper, you don't read very well. Maybe you should go back to Dartmouth and re-take English 101. Nowhere did I say you NEED a city. I'm not a big city guy by any means, but having spent time on urban, rural, small city, and suburban campuses (Boston College, Indiana U., U of Iowa, Chaminade U of Honolulu, U of Toronto, and U of St. Andrews), I think I'm in a good position to say that when in an isolated place things can get claustrophobic. And it is NICE to have a vibrant big city to escape to where nobody knows who you are and you can recharge the batteries.</p>
<p>soccerguy - Location does matter to some degree (New Englander born, but Floridian raised) as I have a reflexive hatred for cold, but am willing to make attempts at getting over it. The big city/smaller town thing I can go either way.</p>
<p>Main issue is that I'm not 100% sure of my devotion to journalism at this point, and think that in my other areas of interest (anthropology/sociology/history) I'd be better off at W&M.</p>
<p>NU's also being difficult beyond belief about financial aid, and I hear the appeal process can drag on for months; I've been told not to make my decision based on money but don't really want to be $200,000 in debt just after graduation.</p>
<p>TourGuide, I think you need to chill out.
He was disagreeing with this if I'm not wrong. "but at some point you will feel the campus and your studies closing in on you, and it's wonderful to have somewhere close where you can get get a change of pace and refresh yourself."
He never said you HAVE to have a city, you interpreted that he said that, which seems to be your mistake and not his...</p>
<p>I think you will get a very good education at W&M that would serve you very well if you do decide that you want to continue in journalism. On the other hand, Northwestern would probably educate you quite well in those other fields also.</p>
<p>If W&M is cheaper for you, that would be something to consider. W&M is definitely warmer.</p>
<p>Ride, you're not reading well either...where on earth did you get the idea that I thought Slipper said you have to have a city? Slipper wrote "I disagree completely - College is awesome, you don't need a city." I had proposed that a city was a nice thing to have nearby to give you a change of pace from the academic bubble of the campus. I would agree that you don't "NEED" a city. I never claimed anyone NEEDED a city. The point I was making is that sometimes you hit the saturation point on the whole studies and campus thing. In which case the campus itself doesn't provide a change of pace to give you a reality check and clear your head because that is exactly the place that is closing in on you (as opposed to Slipper who was indicating that relief from the pressures of studying could come on the campus itself). The OP is clearly looking for even the smallest insights to help make the choice between NWestern and WandM. NU's proximity to a fascinating major city, I would propose, is the sort of thing that is appropriate to consider.</p>
<p>You're extremely melodramatic. Are you sure you're not a thespian gone awry?
Need, in this case, translates to 'don't have to have'. You're treating it as an end all be all statement.
You were making it sound like not being in a city is life-threatening. I'm sure the disagreement was with that.
So chill out and stop telling people they can't read.
Awfully elitist of you...</p>
<p>You STILL can't read.</p>
<p>tourguide..you are amping up things to the rude point for no good reason. telling posters "they can't read" isn't kosher in my book.</p>
<p>OP..I am a Virginia parent with plenty of exposure/love for Wm and Mary. It is a historic school with a sort of East coast vibe. I tend to think journalism and Chicago go together and had a roommate I used to visit up there at NU in grad school. She was in music so she was in heaven in Chicago re world class cultural institutions.
Life is cheaper and less stressful in Wmsburg of course. If you want personal relationships with the majority of your teachers and warm weather, consider Wm and Mary for your undergrad years. Monroe is an honor. Both schools are special, but they are not very much alike. You need to decide if you want a smaller school experience for undergrad or if you want Chicago for a playground right away.
good luck and congrats on 2 fine options.</p>
<p>Thanks for being cool Faline, but unfortunately some people get a powertrip by telling off kids on online boards :-)</p>
<p>To the OP, you do have two amazing options, and you can't go wrong.
I think that it'll be beneficial to go to NU for Journalism because you are in the city and you'll get plenty of internship opps during your college years. In Chicago and for Journalism, that's an amazing opportunity.</p>
<p>Northwestern for journalism</p>
<p>yeah, i agree, lets keep things happy!</p>
<p>yeah, if you're going into journalism or even sciences for that matter, northwestern is that choice. my sister went there, and i was about to go there for the med program, visited it waaaaay too many times, but i loved it each time. it's a very nice campus, with the benefits of both the suburban area and the urban area of chicago. if you have any questions bout northwestern, i have a couple friends that go there and i can always ask my sister! hope it helps! =D</p>