<p>I'm debating about whether to apply to UChicago or Northwestern....anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>Majors I'm thinking about:
Pre-Med
Economics
Pre-Law
Political Science
Engineering (I know UChicago doesn't have an engineering school, but I'm only kinda considering it)</p>
<p>What's the social life like at each of the schools?</p>
<p>How difficult are each to get into? (relative to each other and other top 20 schools)--I'm looking for a school that is a "good bet" school (in between safety and reach)....4.15 GPA (top 5%), 2010 SAT, 30 ACT, really good ECs (co-organized a benefit concert that raised $2500 for local environmental organization, started a tutoring program, captain of Relay for Life team for 3 years that raised $2000 last year, president of 3 clubs)</p>
<p>Anything else that you guys have to say about either of the schools--why I should or shouldn't go to either one? (I'm posting this on both UChicago and Northwestern forums)</p>
<p>Both schools have different identities that can be both good or bad depending on what you’re looking for. I personally prefer U of C because of the whole intellectually inclined atmosphere and “life of the mind” appeal, but to each his own. I would suggest visiting both schools and getting a feel for them yourself.</p>
<p>They’re pretty different schools though I do know some people that are applying to both. I would say that both of them are reaches for you (even though you are a pretty impressive applicant).</p>
<p>Neither college has a “Pre-Med” or “Pre-Law” major. Northwestern has several specialized schools, including an engineering school (and journalism/communications, buisiness, education . . .), so if you are interested in those areas you take most of your courses within the particular school (except business, which does not have undergraduate students other than in a certificate program that accompanies some other major in a different school). Chicago is all liberal arts education all the time – preprofessionalism and excessive specialization are discouraged (although there are plenty of pre-meds and pre-laws). And of course Chicago has its core curriculum.</p>
<p>Northwestern is in a more affluent area just outside the city limits. Northwestern is much bigger at the undergraduate level. Northwestern offers a much more mainstream college culture, with Big 10 sports, and strong Greek organizations. Chicago is more highly regarded for academics in elite circles, but Northwestern ain’t chopped liver by a long shot. In Chicagoland itself, Northwestern seems more highly regarded and has a much more effective alumni network. Chicago offers a much more self-consciously intellectual culture, and has a much bigger percentage of alumni obtaining PhDs.</p>
<p>The two colleges are almost the same as far as difficulty of getting in is concerned, and in terms of “stats” their student bodies are very similar. In fact, as others have mentioned, they have very different cultures, but plenty of kids would be happy at either of them. This summer, my recent-Chicago-graduate kid was paired on a project with a recent Northwestern graduate, and the two of them could have been twins – they had never met, but they grew up five miles apart, had many friends and acquaintances in common, had been in the same selective summer program in high school, and shared a whole bunch of academic interests and tastes (not to mention having the same job). They both loved their college experience, and they both would probably have loved their college experience if they had switched places.</p>
<p>No reason to decide between the two of them now – why not apply to both? They’re both excellent choices; you couldn’t go wrong with either. JHS has summarized the prevailing cultural differences nicely. </p>
<p>Note that in the real world, I have observed that U of C and NU “play together” very nicely, and they really don’t have any kind of rivalry - they each know that the other does certain things very well and there is a lot of mutual respect.</p>
<p>Really? You don’t reflect well on U of Chicago by saying such things. As a NU alum myself, I think it’s far more gracious to say that both schools are excellent and do great things, albeit with different style and character. But, go ahead and think that tearing others down makes your school look better.</p>