NU v. ND

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
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<p>I saw a similar thread about this but didn't like the direction it was heading in so to save myself and all parties involved, the trouble of hijacking the thread, I decided to make a new one.
ND v. NU Round 1, fight!</p>

<p>I got into both and I'm having a really hard time making up my mind. I'm not sure what I want to major in, probably something that is universal and relating to business such as math but I would like to keep medschool and businss/mba viable options. I don't want to fully commit to business (else I would go to NYU) which is why I want to have access to good premed opportunities. I also want a full enjoyable college experience- friends, networking, parties, drinking, girls (frats...won't join one, but don't mind them) etc.</p>

<p>I visited both schools and here are the impressions I got from both schools. </p>

<p>Northwestern</p>

<p>Pros:
Slightly better in academics (all around) than ND
Close to Chicago - more internships, opportunities, things to do (i live an hour away from NYC so it's comforting knowing there's a major cultural center near me)
Good for business despite not having an undergrad business program.<br>
Great premed, especially in chemistry and bio
Better ranked</p>

<p>Cons:
Huge and difficult course load
Hard to have a good time/social life there.
Not so good networking among students.
Lots of nerds+socially inept
Trimester system...but i think i'll get over it.</p>

<p>To sum it all up, I visited and the thing that turned me off the most about NU (aside from the school colors d= haha) was the social atmosphere. None of the students in the dorms seemed to be friendly with other students. Everyone was in groups of 2-3 doing their own thing. No one aside from the people who volunteered for wild cat days avoid talking to the 'prospies'. A lot of the students seemed to have underwhelming social lives = were nerdy, hard to hold a conversation about none academic topics with, etc.</p>

<p>Notre Dame</p>

<p>Pros:
Good enough academics
Nationwide recognition
Beautiful campus, good food
Vibrant social atmosphere, nice people, lots of good looking girls
Legendary networking
Good premed and business from what they tell me</p>

<p>Cons:
Isolated - limited internships, opportunities, no major city near it
No co-ed dorms/residence halls
Catholic identity - hard to relate to as a noncatholic
Strict rules and tradition
Required to take theology classes
Social events seem to revolve around sports and or off campus things</p>

<p>I'm a big fan of the campus. But not of its isolation. Biggest turn off about ND is that it's a catholic school. 80+% of the students are catholic, Caucasian. Abides by a lot of strict catholic traditions. I don't know too much about Catholicism myself but parietals seem very strict and do not sound like fun. </p>

<p>Hope I didn't offend anyone, I realize my exposure to both schools have been rather limited. That is why your input on these 2 schools is greatly appreciated. And please, feel free to try and clear up any misconceptions I might have about these 2, overall great schools.</p>

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<p>As you say, your exposure to both schools has been limited. Based on everything I have seen and heard from my kid about NU over the last couple of years, I think you might have gotten a misleading impression about the social atmosphere and social life there. I think that both are vibrant. My kid is a serious student and works very hard, but is very social and still has a great social life and does plenty of stuff unrelated to academics.
Frankly, I do not think you can lose. In my personal opinion, you are choosing between really good (ND) and even better (NU).
Good luck!</p>

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<p>coril, congratulations on your acceptances. I am inferring from your post that you read the thread in the Notre Dame sub-forum but may have missed the parallel thread in the Northwestern sub-forum: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/687715-nu-nd.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/687715-nu-nd.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you do choose NU, a residential college (Willard, for example) might be a good option to provide you with some extra social cohesion. I wouldn’t necessarily rule out going Greek either. I did not, but I have some friends who had good experiences in fraternities and sororities. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>It sounds like you were in a small south campus dorm, or someplace like Slivka, etc. Check out the reputation of places like Bobb and Elder- those dorms are notorious for being social to extremes.</p>

<p>I would tend to agree, your description of NU was one of a different school than what I attend. I find the social scene plenty lively, and I’m not even one of the ones who’re in the “high” social scene that goes out on week-nights. Going greek also helps this- they’re probably not what you think. I won’t lie that there are lots of nerds and socially inept people (though those two are not one in the same here), that’s not really a good reason to discredit NU- there’ are plenty of people who are neither.</p>

<p>You also forgot NU has a lakefront. And you won’t get beat up if you ever go to Ann Arbor wearing NU colors. Can’t say the same for ND.</p>