Poll: Northwestern or Michigan (for undergrad)

<p>Which school do you think is better for the undergraduate experience?</p>

<p>My brother's at Michigan and he loves it.</p>

<p>It might depend on what you plan on majoring in. I doesn't seem like many people know to much about those schools here. I would try posting a thread for each school to see what people who go there think are the positives and negatives of each school.</p>

<p>Northwestern.</p>

<p>i would probably say northwestern, i got accepted to both, so i am unbiasedd.</p>

<p>Go with Northwestern. I say this as a completely unbiased OSU fan.</p>

<p>HAHAHA, "completely unbiased OSU fan." Nice try.lol</p>

<p>They are totally different. I would say both are awesome. Northwestern is smaller and a little more intimate and has Chicago (my favorite large city in North America) right next door. Michigan has more spirit and Ann Arbor is more pleasant and fun than Evanston. Academically, they are equals in most ways (except Michigan has Business for undergrads, Northwestern doesn't).</p>

<p>There is a tie breaker:</p>

<p>Michigan operates with a Trimester system. That means two short semester and long summer vacations starting in late April and ending in early September. Northwestern operates with a Quarter system. That means three short terms, with summer starting late (June) and ending later (sometime in late September I think).</p>

<p>Northwestern</p>

<p>Ann Arbor....</p>

<p>NW is a little bit more prestigous but...there's more to do at UMich, you'll still graduate from a top tier university and have similar chances at the same grad schools, and it'll save you 5K if you're outta state.....24K if you're in-state</p>

<p>More to do at UMich? Are you aware that the third largest city in the United States is right next to Evanston? I'll agree that in absolute surrounding area then Ann Arbor is better than Evanston, but Ann Arbor is the only thing around UMich while Chicago is a short train ride away.</p>

<p>UC_Benz, most of my friends who went to Northwestern seldom got to go to Chicago. I actually went to Chicago more often than they did! LOL Obviously, there is far more to do in Chicago than there is to do in Ann Arbor...if you are loaded and have cash to spare. Otherwise, I would say Chicago is a constant tease! At any rate, I do agree that there is more to do on campus and around campus at Michigan than at Northwestern.</p>

<p>Well, I can't help but jump into this debate. </p>

<p>Evanston itself is a pretty nice city. The lake is the biggest attraction, but downtown Evanston has plenty of neat shops and a ridiculous number of places to eat. Chicago is very easily accessible, but you don't NEED a lot of money to have fun in Chicago. There are all sorts of free events and places to go.</p>

<p>And I cannot help but agree. I love Chicago. It is my favorite city in North America. And Evanston is indeed within a reasonable distance from Chicago...and Chicago does in fact have many affordable venues. I just don't think that it is reasonable to assume that Northwestern students can exploit what Chicago has to offer all that often. </p>

<p>As far as Evanston itself, as you say, it is nice and very pleasant, but it is no Ann Arbor. And campus life at Northwestern is not as lively as it is at Michigan.</p>

<p>Like I said, they are very different schools, both awesome in their own ways. Northwestern is close knit and has a convenient proximity to one of the coolest cities in the US. Michigan has more school spirit and is more dynamic and it has Ann Arbor. Academically, they are even.</p>

<p>I would choose NW due to better academics and smaller undergrad student body. Umich is a GREAT school though with solid business and engineering departments. Two different experiences, both great, but for undergrad NW definitely beats Umich IMO.</p>

<p>Michigan. Top biz school, top university as a whole, great placement, great atheletics. Other than the crappy fin. aid. for out of states it has more or less everything.</p>

<p>id pick northwestern due to its prestige and smaller class room sizes</p>

<p>Michigan has the better social life. I don't know about you, but that's something I look into; at least at the undergrad level.</p>

<p>People over-estimate how much fun being in the chicago-AREA is. Evanston is a good ways from downtown...requiring a rather lengthy el-ride + cta buses (scary as sin!). And do remember that Chicago is hella-expensive. I live in the area..and I can count the number of times I've been to chicago on my hands.</p>

<p>I'd pick Northwestern...Michigan has better a better engineering school, but is too too large</p>