<p>I am very indecisive, and I am having the hardest time chosing between these schools, so I would really appreciate any advice! I am interested in science or maybe engineering. If I go to Northwestern, I will probably do the Integrated Science Program, and I would probably do Physics at UChicago and BME at Wash U. I am considering pre-med, but I am leaning more toward going to grad school to do research. </p>
<p>I have visited all of the schools, and I did get some feel for the atmosphere on the campuses. But I still don't think it's possible to get a complete picture of the school in one night, so I would love to hear opinions about social life, the type of people, etc. I honestly am not sure where I would fit in best...</p>
<p>Chicago doesn’t have engineering. Also, IMO Northwestern has more of a party school rep. WashU will provide you with a more traditional college experience, while Chicago has a more serious intellectual environment.</p>
<p>Well, I graduated from NU (a million years ago), S1 graduated from U of C (2007), S2 is a senior at Wash U and D is a second year at Chicago, so we pretty much covered all your options! If you believe you will want to major in engineering, or even want that as an option, clearly go to NU or Wash U. Both have wonderful engineering schools. That being said, if you change your mind mid-way. it is easier to move between schools at Wash U than at NU. Between those 2 options I’d have to say that the campus environment is pretty similar. Both have a good dose of greek life, both have wonderful, beautiful, suburban campuses and both have substantial populations of pre-professional students as one would expect from a university with separate undergraduate schools for engineering, journalism (NU), art/architecture (Wash U) etc. What separates Wash U and NU is sports. Clearly you will encounter a different type of school spirit at a Big 10 university than at a DIII school. Different – not necessarily better, or worse.
Chicago is a horse of a different breed. One undergraduate college, no engineering, world class academics (not that the others don’t have this) and a more intellectual reputation, not to mention the Core. As a science person you will need to be open to studying Hum, Sosc, Civ etc., as well as language and art. Smaller, urban campus, less greek life (though not lacking at all in ways to have fun, socialize, get involved), and even less focus on intercollegiate athletics than Wash U, though a DIII school.
You can’t go wrong with any of these choices, but only you can figure out which criteria are most important to you and which environment best suits your personality, academic goals and hopes for your college years. Good luck!</p>
<p>Here’s my advice: They are all great. If you don’t have a clear choice among them, you are part of the vast majority of good students who would fit in just fine at any of them. If you care about engineering, great, don’t go to Chicago. If you like the Core idea, go to Chicago. </p>
<p>But you don’t need to overanalyze, since you really don’t have downside risk at any of them. Go with your gut, or cut cards, or do eeney-meeney-miney-moe. You will be great no matter which one you are at, and no matter what silly thing you do to come to a final decision.</p>
<p>Just one thing: it’s very easy to move between schools (assuming this is between art&sci and engineering) at NU. I don’t think it can be any easier or easier at WashU. Of course, transferring to music or journalism is difficult for obvious reasons but I imagine that applies to fine arts at WashU too.</p>
<p>ozzie6: I am actually making the same decision, and I picked Chicago because I am currently in IB and I love it, like love-it love it. I actually found great number of similarities between the Core and the IB program (you’re both offered a menu of courses). I really like it.</p>