<p>I was accepted to both U of Chicago and Northwestern A and Sciences. Which one should I attend, and I do NOT classify mself as a "nerd." I am interested in pre-med and to learn and to get a fabulous education. Any opinions are welcomed.</p>
<p>Dude, you don't need to be a nerd to fit in Chicago.</p>
<p>We visited both - have you? My D decided not to apply to NW, with my agreement, because it was not a student friendly as Chicago. You don't apply to the school, but to a college, and if you want to take classes in other colleges, they probably won't work for you (we were told it was very difficult to do that.) At Chicago, you can take graduate courses if you choose, no restrictions, if the subject is taught only at the grad level. Take anatomy, for instance, want to use it for your science requirement? Take it at the med school. Flexibility and student-centered curriculum was what we looked at. NW, when we visited was all about NW - little about the students and his or her needs.</p>
<p>The character of these two schools is SOOOOO different, you really should figure out where you fit in. NWU is preppy (think J. Crew), frat/sorority driven and more pre-professional than Chicago. </p>
<p>Chicago is more "style does not matter" with more unusual characters, I suspect. It's approach to academics is probably more intense. For example, my D, a first year at Chicago, is taking a biology seminar course with grad students.</p>
<p>NWU has true strengths in fine arts and engineering, both areas lacking or weak at Chicago. </p>
<p>Both are great places. You could not go wrong with either, as long as you fit in.</p>
<p>Full disclosure: Spouse is a NWU grad. I'm a UC alum (MBA) whose D is a first year there.</p>
<p>If the name tag of being a 'nerd'(or the fact that your college has that repuation) bothers you, then the U of C may not be your place to be...!</p>
<p>Go with your gut feeling because you'll get a great education in either of those schools... Pick the one that you love...! I'd say that based on your post above, NW seems to be the one.</p>
<p>P.S.-Personally, I fell in love with the U of C for its nerdiness and its uniqueness.</p>
<p>My best friend really wants to go to NW and I truly adore UC. We are pretty similar peopel but i think it comes down to what you are looking for in your education. Both schools are great but they have two very contrasting approaches. UChi is not about nerdiness it's about a love for learning and if you see those to things as synonymous then UChi is not for you. I get the impression that NW is more about preprofessionalism where as UChi is focused on providing a generous liberal arts grounding. Good luck either way and congradulations on getting accepted to two very exceptional schools.</p>
<p>newmass: I think you may have overstated the prepiness of NU. When I visited my brother there two years ago and met all his friends, there did seem to be a few rich preps on campus, but they certainly weren't the majority.
I love NU and UofC both. and will too be deciding between them this week, pending a visit.. see my thread "Chicago or Northwestern" under college search and selection for more on that.
I certainly wouldnt call my brother a prep ( I think he bought something from J-crew at the outlets once).. and his friends seemed like they could have very easily been berkeley or chicago students. I did also meet two of his roommates, who happen to be president and vice president of NU College Republicans (he lived in the public affairs residential college).. and they both were wearing Polo Ralph Lauren stuff all 4 days that I was there. So i guess you have a mix, my fear is that you have overstated the case at NU.</p>
<p>Just like how people are overstating the nerdiness of UofC.</p>
<p>Its a balance, people, the schools are not diametrically opposed. Certainly, if you could average prepiness, and average nerdiness.. teh NU student is going to be more preppy and less nerdy, while a Chicago student will be more nerdy and less preppy... but both schools have a mix, I believe. </p>
<p>We'll see if any of that has changed when I visit the schools for their overnights this week.</p>
<p>TheCity,</p>
<p>I was on the NWU campus last weekend. I never said the majority of NWU kids were "rich preps". As clear as the differences in culture between NWU and Chicago are, debating the degree of preppiness at NWU is curious. Anyway, it does not matter. You really need to visit and decide for yourself. As another thread shows, different people can react to similar situations in very different ways.</p>
<p>BTW, lest you misunderstand, preppiness is not a negative thing. Nor is a fondness for Div 1 sports. I loved the football and BB games I went to as an undergrad. But not every kid wants to spend money on clothes and game tickets. They should be entitled to options. </p>
<p>So, I suggest one not ignore or downplay the cultural differences of any campus. Rather, spend time to see where you'd fit best. The differences are real, and probably greater than any differences in academic quality that seem to be endlessly debated.</p>