<p>So basically I was accepted to both and they both cost the same. So let the persuasion begin.</p>
<p>Chicago and Wash U are athletic rivals!</p>
<p>I don't think anybody could fairly say "OMG U OF C" or "OMG WASH U" without more info on who you are and what you imagine is the ideal college experience. I think the schools have a lot of overlaps and a lot of differences, so you could conceivably be equally happy at either.</p>
<p>I personally would prefer UChic, just cause it's in a more popular location where there's more graduate recruiting. However, it really depends on what you plan on majoring. UChic is probably better for liberal arts while WashU is for medical fields.</p>
<p>Hope that helps and good luck!</p>
<p>I would also say go with the University of Chicago. It is just more reputable and Chicago is a great city. The campus is absolutely gorgeous and it is simply the better known of the two. Also, I know a Chicago undergrad that went Ivy League, Stanford, Berkeley for grad programs.</p>
<p>As described by many, Washington University while honorable and prestigious, is only known as an emerging(last 25-50 yrs)regional power. The University of Chicago on the other hand has a much richer history and most importantly it is world renowned for being an intellectual powerhouse for more than a century. From pioneering economic axioms to inventing sociology. The University of Chicago is not simply a college that you "attend" but rather a college that you are part of. The choice is rather simple with this perspective in sight.</p>
<p>I just came back from visiting both. The tour guide did not let us see the inside of a U of C dorm room. Wash U on the other hand was architecturally STUNNING! Plus the dorms were amazing. They were HUGE! The big downside was the humidity. That goes away by late September though. The weather is definetly better in St. Louis. For internships, the city of Chicago cannot be beat (except for NY) So it depends really on what you are interested in studying and what factors are important to you.</p>
<p>Do you not also believe that the University of Chicago is architecturally stunning, too?</p>
<p>I visited both last spring and would choose WashU for me, but, again, that is ME. I don't know what you like.
I'm interested in Biomedical Engineering and WU has a great program for that. Also, I have relatives in St. Louis. The weather was also MUCH better in St. Louis (about 20 degree sleet/snow storm in Chicago to a 60 degree spring day in St. Louis), but if you don't mind the Chicago weather, that wouldn't persuade you much. </p>
<p>What fields are you interested in? I think that's a good way to begin.</p>
<p>I see it as a matter of admissions. I go to U of C, and have been employed by admissions for a while now as a tour guide, but I thought this long before either happened. Wash U sent me, and everyone else with my SAT score (it was awesome, as is everyone's who applies to great schools like both are) 7 applications. SEVEN. They also called a lot, and seemed like they loved me. So I looked it up, and it turns out Nanette Tourbini, their dean of admissions, likes the "recruit to deny" strategy of luring people to apply, so the school looks good based on everyone it did not let in. They also love to waitlist kids, which ensures they get wealthy ones who don't need Financial Aid, because they don't have the endowment to offer it to too many kids. That to me is blatant dishonesty. </p>
<p>You got in, so that might not be an issue, but as something right out the gate, I see it as a real problem. Chicago's problem comes from jumping up the rankings due to a mistake in self reporting that we corrected a couple years ago. The rankings are obviously without meaning or merit, which I think we do a good job of remembering, but could always improve in. The fact that WashU ascribes to the rankings in everything their admissions dept does is anathema to what I believe an admissions dept should do, but judging from my SN, you already knew that.</p>
<p>So between WashU and UChicago, it comes down ultimately to students, because everything else (Faculty, libraries, internships and city) is clearly in the U of C's favor. Come here because the students are the most curious you will ever meet. There are smart 17-22 year olds at literally every college in the country, but we have the largest number of curious ones, who will contribute to new knowledge for the whole world to use. You honestly forget how prestigious anything is if you're in it long enough.</p>
<p>Come here because you only get to do college once, and if you don't like a year here, you'll have the tools and the work ethic to succeed anywhere else in the country, including St. Louis.</p>
<p>In some ways, the stereotypes you hear about both schools are accurate. WUSTL is "known" for a more lively, caring, and undergrad-focused environment, where as UC is "known" for a more buttoned-up and studious environment. But, they're MUCH more similar than they are different --- very smart kids, motivated, curious, intellectual, who value a work life balance. I really disagree with the "fun goes to die" motto of UChicago, but it does emanate more of a buttoned-up vibe than most of its peer colleges. In terms of academic reputation, it's essentially a wash in my opinion. It's an endless and circuitous debate to argue the academic strenghts of both, and most of the time people rely on hearsay and heard-it-from-a-friend to contribute to the academic strengths argument. </p>
<p>Anyway, I really want to address the cities of both colleges. Doing this in the case of these schools is especially interesting, as each college has its respective city's name in the college's name!! University of CHICAGO and Washington University in ST LOUIS. What's interesting is that neither are really in the "city." WU is about 5 miles from the downtown St Louis area, and UC is about 8 miles from the downtown Chicago area. (Although, St Louis has a second, "mini-downtown" area in fancy downtown Clayton which is right next to Wash U).</p>
<p>Chicago is more of a bumper-sticker city (everyone knows about it), while St Louis lacks the name recognition of a "big city". Yet, both are going to have museums, parks, restaurants, businesses, etc. Chicago has more of a bustling downtown area type of city; whereas St Louis has stretches of neighborhoods each with its own distinct character. </p>
<p>Neither of the schools are like Columbia or NYU, which are in the middle of NYC.</p>
<p>WUSTL has significantly better areas immediately surrounding it... a college hangout main-street area called the Loop, the giant Forest Park with museums and greenspace, and the posh neighborhoods of Clayton and Central West End. The areas immediately around UChicago are Hyde Park and Woodlawn and Kenwood, which are pretty rough. However, UChicago has a significantly better downtown area with tall skyscrapers but it does take time/travel to get to downtown Chicago. You can't just walk or bike there.</p>
<p>90% of your time at either WUSTL or UChicago is going to be on campus, in the dorms, in the quads, in the buildings. Only 10% of your time will be off-campus. At Wash U, that 10% of your time will be walking off campus to the Central West End or the Loop or Forest Park which are adjacent to campus... not as many people go to the downtown area. At UChicago, that 10% of your time basically MUST entail going downtown Chicago which will take at least 30 minutes with the "L" train and such. I'm all for urban development/exploration and surveying the lesser-traveled places of a city, but at UChicago it is kind of scary to go into much of the surrounding neighborhood. Most undergrads are not going to spend time in those neighborhoods around campus.</p>
<p>Talking to friends who are not from the midwest and visited each school, these are the most common impressions for the area around campus:
People who visited UChicago didn't realize how far it is outside the downtown area and the immediate surroundings are kind of rough.
People who visited WUSTL didn't realize how nice St Louis is and were surprised at the amount of things to do.</p>
<p>In my personal opinion, as long as you are going to a college in a town with a population of over 1 million people, it doesn't matter what city it is. College is what you make of it, and you're spending 90% of your time on the campus itself anyway (unless you go to NYU or Columbia). In any big or medium sized city, again, you are going to find restaurants, parks, recreation, coffeehouses, concert venues, businesses, etc.</p>
<p>I don't buy the Chicago versus St Louis debate whatsoever, because most people making an argument typically proclaim Chicago is better and haven't spent significant time in St Louis. This completely de-credits the argument itself. Most of the people haven't even lived or spent much time in one of two places, and rely on hearsay or rumors to base their argument. Each has pros or cons. The 10% of your time that's not being spent on the campus, in my opinion, isn't worth more than two seconds of consideration in the choice of these two colleges.</p>
<p>Answer: Washington University in St. Louis</p>
<p>thegenius you need to check that name because you are wrong
It is even in a U of C forum, b/c the op KNOW you cannot beat Chicago</p>
<p>We are the Phoenix, we are just better</p>
<p>Well amanahill, if you check, OP posted this in the WashU forum as well…</p>