Hi everyone. I recently received acceptances from these four wonderful colleges but it leaves me with a very tough decision. Regarding cost, my parents have told me that they would be fine paying for any one of these schools. I live in DC which means that I qualify for DC Tuition Assistance Grant, a program in which the city provides 10K a year towards any public school or 2.5K a year towards any school in DC. I’m undecided but I am looking to potentially study something in STEM (probably math or physics), English or psychology. I prefer a school that is academically flexible and collaborative.
WashU: I really like the feel at Wash U, the campus is gorgeous and the students were simultaneously very welcoming and impressive. It is strong in all the areas I am looking to study and has the academic flexibility I want. Students seemed very collaborative. I’ve read that the food and dorms are very good. My biggest concerns are the lack of economic diversity and that WashU doesn’t have very good name recognition (having to constantly explain that Wash U is not actually in Washington is a struggle). I also really don’t like the colors (which isn’t that important but worth considering if I’m going to be wearing the colors for four years)
Northwestern: For me, the main pro for Northwestern is the strength of their journalism program, seeing as that’s something I am kinda interested in pursuing as a career. I also really like Evanston and Chicago, which is a great city. I like that Northwestern has school spirit (and I love the colors). I have family in the area which is a large plus. My concern with Northwestern is that it isn’t as academically collaborative and it’s my most expensive option (by about 5K a year). Also, I really dislike cold weather.
Georgetown: I really like Georgetown’s location. DC is amazing but seeing as I live there right now, I am concerned about going to college so close to home. I think I will want to be in DC after college so Georgetown sets me up well for that. I like Georgetown’s campus and the students I’ve met there. Because of DC Tag, Georgetown is slightly cheaper than the other private schools. In terms of concerns, I’ve heard that Georgetown doesn’t have particularly strong STEM programs.
U Mich: Seeing as I’m writing this while watching NCAA, Michigan’s strong school spirit appeals to me. Other pros for Michigan include Ann Arbor and the cost. My concern with Michigan is that I will find it too big. I’m also not a big party person so I don’t know if I will fit in socially. Also, I’m under the impression that Michigan’s student body is rather competitive. It’s also very, very cold.
My dad doesn’t want me missing too much school so I’m supposed to narrow the list to three colleges I will attend admitted students days at.
I’ve also been waitlisted by Brown, Tufts and Penn but I’m assuming I won’t get off any of these waitlists.
Thanks for any advice! I’m very grateful to have these wonderful options.
I recommend Northwestern. Students are more collaborative than you think, and Chicago is very accessible. Northwestern is also the most selective you got into RD, so there’s that extra cache too.
I went through your post. You have put down your preferences quite clear and unambiguous. To me, it appears, you are more inclined to Washington University.
Ann Arbor is not “very very cold” when compare to DC area. It is a little colder but it actually has less snow storm than DC area in recent years. Party or not, it is up to the student. The student body is extremely diverse at UMich. The school is big, but you may also find your niche easier.
@charliebean There are certain majors/departments at colleges that are world class and above the rest. For Northwestern that’s Journalism. If that’s your field of interest then this decison is a no-brainer. Go to Northwestern. $5,000 per year more than the others is not too much to overcome and should not deter you from your decison. And aside from Journalism Norhtwestern is as good or better than your other choices, which are all basically peers of each other in terms of top ranked national Universities. You did extremely well in getting accepted to all these schools. Kudos on your accomplishments!
Congrats! My son is looking at Georgetown too. It is at the top of his list right now with UVA. He absolutely loves the school. But from what we read and hear, it is not flexible about changing majors between colleges. So, if you were admitted to the College and may flip flop in a major in the College you will be fine. But trying to change to another may prove challenging. Good luck in your decision.
If you really dislike very cold weather, your only option is Georgetown. St Louis is a bit milder than Chicago and Ann Arbor, so that could be a good choice as well.
I think you are overestimating Northwestern regarding “school spirit.” A minority of students supports the football & basketball teams, even though they get in games for free. A significant % of students come from the northeast, where professional sports tend to be far more important than college sports.
If you weren’t admitted to Medill, it’s a moot point to consider Northwestern’s strength in journalism. They said, Northwestern is ranked higher than WashU in all the areas you mentioned in case you weren’t aware of. It also gives out $1 million of grants just for undergrad research each year. There’s no evidence one is more or less collaborative than another. They are both filled with many midwesterners.