I recently got into Northwestern, WashU, and Rice, and I plan to study business/econ. I’m currently deciding which school to go to, and I have a few questions for current students at these schools:
-How would you characterize these schools’ general atmospheres (e.g. I heard that Northwestern has a preppy, cutthroat competitive vibe)?
-How do these schools’ job placements in the business field (esp. investment banking in NYC and start-ups in SF) compare with each other?
-Which schools have more national prestige?
-Which schools’ students have better social lives?
-How easy is it to switch schools/majors (e.g. Medill to Weinberg or Weiberg to Medill)?
-How COLD is Northwestern?? And do people get sick a lot there?
Northwestern has been my FIRST choice for a long time, but Rice gave me merit scholarships that significantly lower the cost of attending, and WUSTL has an undergrad business school. I know that Northwestern has a solid record of job placement in investment banking, so would that partially offset the cost of attending? Also I want to get a minor in Computer Science; is that doable at Northwestern??
Too many questions which I can’t answer but I’ll tackle the ones I can:
–A CS minor is definitely doable at NU. In fact, so is a double major (quarter system makes it easier to fit in classes).
–I did not find NU to be cutthroat at all. I don’t know where you got that idea.
–It’s very easy to switch in to most majors at NU (ones like Theatre or MMSS are competitive). If you have questions about particular ones, I’d ask the school.
–I’d say NU places better in to IB. Definitely more NU grads in IB than from the other 2 schools.
–Do people get sick a lot? I would not say more than normal. Where are you from? Chicago definitely gets cold in the winter. StL is a little better, but still gets cold in the winter.
Too many questions which I can’t answer but I’ll tackle the ones I can:
–A CS minor is definitely doable at NU. In fact, so is a double major (quarter system makes it easier to fit in classes).
–I did not find NU to be cutthroat at all. I don’t know where you got that idea.
–It’s very easy to switch in to most majors at NU (ones like Theatre or MMSS are competitive). If you have questions about particular ones, I’d ask the school.
–I’d say NU places better in to IB. Definitely more NU grads in IB than from the other 2 schools.
–Do people get sick a lot? I would not say more than normal. Where are you from? Chicago definitely gets cold in the winter. StL is a little better, but still gets cold in the winter.
(Reposted for some reason)
Thanks for clearing up my misconceptions! I’m from cal, so I’m really worried about the cold…
By the way, I’m also thinking of attending USC b/c it’s closer to home, and Marshall is pretty good. Do you think that it’s generally on par with these other schools, or will I be missing out?
On par in what way(s)? Missing out in what ways?
It’s not really an IB target like NU (more semi-target, so closer to WashU and Rice). I hear that they have a strong alumni network. The faculty definitely isn’t as strong in research as NU’s (but I’m not sure that matters to you).