Opposite Schools: Northwestern, Vanderbilt, or UT Business Honors Program?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I truly have no idea.</p>

<p>Let me explain my situation, I am a history/international studies guy who probably wants to go into Business. I've heard law is awful, and sadly I'm too ambitious for teaching. I live in Texas and have been itching to leave, but on the same token, UT BHP is instate tuition. I received 23k Financial Aid for both Vanderbilt and Northwestern without a re-evaluation yet. However, I probably won't get nearly as much Fin Aid next year as my sister graduates this coming year. Though, my parents have told me not to factor in cost into my decision, but for some reason I can't get it out of my mind. (185k compared to 80k) </p>

<p>Beyond all that, here is a over simplified version of my reasoning thus far:</p>

<p>For some reason, I think Northwestern is the least selective of the aforementioned schools (vandy and BHP), and I'm not sure if the school is on the decline or rise. </p>

<p>I'm not quite sure how much better Northwestern/Vandy's history department is than UT's. Northwestern only takes 2 AP credits. UT would take all 11 of my AP Credits. So I could probably triple major fairly easily (it's all relative) in four years. Also, It kind of irks me that all my hard work has gone to waste.</p>

<p>If I studied History at Northwestern/Vandy, I would most definitely double major in something else. Probably economics or international studies, so I'm not useless in the business world. I think this would be just as difficult if not more difficult than triple majoring at UT BHP. UT BHP wants its students to succeed and coddles them. I believe 60% get B's and 40% get A's. (It may even be the other way around) I would enjoy the special attention.</p>

<p>I really want to get out of Texas. UT is over 90% instate or something ridiculous. </p>

<p>Does anyone outside of Texas know what UT BHP is? Will it actually help me to have an undergraduate degree from the BHP? Do graduate schools know what it is? Or would it be more beneficial for me to graduate from Vandy or Northwestern with history and econ double major?</p>

<p>Last, I'm a huge believer that you create your own happiness. So, I'm pretty certain I'll be happy wherever I go. So the question is, which school will provide me the best tools for the future?</p>

<p>Right now, I'm just not sure which good option to take. Any thoughts, answers to my questions, and input would be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>UT Business Honors is just as prestigious as Northwestern in business related fields and moreso than Vanderbilt. I realize that you want to go out of state, but seriously reconsider going to UT because the program to which you’ve been selected is very elite - not to mention the significantly reduced cost.</p>

<p>On another note, why didn’t you apply to Michigan?</p>

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<p>If you are aiming for the business world, UT-Austin and Northwestern are the best schools. Furthermore, if you’re serious about finance, Northwestern is a target school by most top recruiters.</p>

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<p>@ Recharge
I didn’t apply to Michigan because I was a little silly and didn’t feel like paying OOS for a public school when I knew I had UT Austin. Congratulations on your decision and acceptance though :)</p>

<p>@tenisghs
Is Undergraduate Northwestern a target school for recruiters? Or just Kellogg?</p>

<p>Thanks for the opinions. Any additional insights would be unbelievably helpful</p>

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<p>Go for UT BHP, it is a very targeted program by recruiters.</p>

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<p>@maxellis</p>

<p>That is a very straightforward opinion which I appreciate. However, could you elaborate on your opinion? (Personal experience? etc.)</p>

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<p>I think you should take the UT BHP offer. </p>

<p>To answer part of your question, NU and UT BHP are more heavily recruited than Vandy. Based on postings from others in IB, NU is the most recruited among the three but you have to consider the fact that even you got those firms coming to NU, there would still be intense competition for getting interviews, let alone offers, from any of them. So I don’t think it’s wise to bet 100k for any of those offers. Outside of IB, which is really a niche field, there’s probably no overall difference between NU and UT BHP anyway. </p>

<p>Kellogg certificate kids seem to have great job placement so far; but again, there’s no guarantee you’ll get into that program. The pre-reqs are quant-oriented so you have to be pretty good at math.</p>

<p>By the way, I think NU is the most selective of the three. But it shouldn’t really matter for your decision now.</p>

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<p>

Take a look at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management Certificate Program for Undergraduates:
[Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/]Kellogg”>Certificate Program for Undergraduates | Kellogg School of Management)
[Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/career.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/career.htm)</p>

<p>

Northwestern is more selective than Vandy. USNWR ranks Northwestern’s selectivity #15 compared to Vandy at #20. Northwestern’s SAT range (1360-1530) is higher than Vandy’s (1332-1500).</p>

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<p>Thanks for the input. However, so far the focus of the discussion has been purely business-centric. Do you guys think there would be any substantial difference in the history programs at UT when compared with Northwestern? </p>

<p>Also, I should note that I’m not 100% certain that business is what I want to do - mostly because my brother began as an International Business major at McGill and hated it. Should I factor this uncertainty into my decision?</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Out of date. FWIW. Hardly a reason to make to a choice anyway.</p>

<p>NU 1360-1530
Vanderbilt 1350-1520</p>

<p>I certainly don’t think Northwestern is on the decline. The Chicago area is a great place to be a student. I happen to think Nashville is also a great place to be a student. </p>

<p>Beowolf, I think you are on target that you will create your own happiness. You have three good options. Have you visited both NU and Vanderbilt?</p>

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<p>Yes, I have visited both Northwestern and Vanderbilt for prospective student days. When I visited Northwestern, I remember thinking that I could see myself happy as a student there. When I visited Vanderbilt three days later, I thought the same thing… AHHH lol</p>

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<p>^^^Hmmm, </p>

<p>OK, does weather matter? Personally, I don’t mind cold weather (I’ve lived very happily in Wisconsin and Massachusetts), but there are people who think the NU campus is a bit…chilly and windy.</p>

<p>Nashville has nice weather during the school year. Too hot and humid for many during the summer, but even my cold-weather fan son has not found it too bad during the last two summers there (when he stayed on campus to do research). The school year has the kind of weather that generally permits out-door activity all year, although this winter had some ice and even a bit of snow.</p>

<p>Pre- business, i.e. explicit pre-business, is not particularly big at Vanderbilt. There is no undergraduate business school. However, quite a few students who do ultimately plan to work in the business world major in HOD in the Peabody school. It sounds like you are in A and S, though.</p>

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<p>@midmo
Weather is a factor, albeit a very small factor. I am from Texas but have lived around the world so I don’t think it’s too big a deal for me. And correct assumption in that I am in at A and S at Vandy. </p>

<p>Desperate Bump.</p>

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<p>I would stay in Austin 100K is ALOT of money. As for the other options - Northwestern all the way! But its based on my geographical preference and a slightly stronger academic nod.</p>

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<p>I vote for Texas. Great school, and a great value. Northwestern is a good choice too, but it is not $100,000 better.</p>

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<p>Another thing about Texas is it does have the best accounting program in the nation and is very well-connected to the Big 4 firms. Though Big4 are not in the league of ibanks, they still provide great opportunities (big4 have biz advisory, valuation work, some M&A (deloitte), tax advisory, transfer pricing…etc, not just auditing) by most people’s standards.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the opinions. If anyone has 2 cents about anything to give, I’ll take gladly it. </p>

<p>Also, does anyone know if there would be any difference between Northwestern’s undergraduate history program and UT’s? (in terms of class size, intimacy, etc.)</p>

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<p>shameful bump</p>

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<p>^^^Well, I guess I can offer some shameful (or shameless) generalizations in response to your shameful bump.</p>

<p>I got a first undergraduate degree in history from a different very large, well-regarded public flagship university (highly ranked for history). Classes were large, even upper level classes. I did not find it easy to get to know professors. The classes were well-taught, they were interesting, but very little opportunity to get into deep discussion about the subject matter. Whether or not that is at all relevant to UT I cannot say.</p>

<p>My son attends Vanderbilt, one of your prospective choices. From what I hear, the classes are smaller, involve more discussion than I experienced, and the professors are accessible. That is a university known for undergraduate focus. The same may be true at Northwestern, but I don’t know that for a fact. Hopefully someone with some experience will weigh in. (Also, my son is not a history major; he is a cs/math major with a humanities minor, so he has some, but not extensive, experience with liberal arts courses.)</p>

<p>EDIT: A bit of trivia: The Chancellor of Vanderbilt was a fellow history student at the univ. I attended (I did not know him. I only know this because I read an article about him in recent years). It didn’t seem to hurt him studying history at Big State U. He went to law school and became the chancellor of a top private university. FWIW.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the additional insight midmo. And you nailed my desire for deep discussion, I figure that anything I can learn about history from a power point lecture, I can learn from a book. </p>

<p>Discussion-less lectures are my nightmare…</p>

<p>bump</p>