I have visited both WashU and Uchicago and enjoyed the unique aspects of each school.
I find the that the primary difference for me is the pre professional programs. Meaning WashU seems to be strong in premed, while Uchicago has an excellent Econ department and buisness minor program.
I want to either go to med school or try to get a job on Wall Street after college. I know these are two very different career paths but I hope college helps me decide which one I like more.
Which school do you think would be better for keeping my options open, I’m leaning to WashU because Uchicago grade deflation would make med school admission hard.
Business and medicine are very different career tracks. In case you need to switch your focus halfway (say after 2 years), which school would offer more flexibility?
I think the decision could come down to how you feel about the Core. My kid absolutely loved UChicago’s campus. I mean LOVED it. Even though they loved WashU’s, there was something about Hyde Park or Chicago that trumped WashU’s, and all the other dozen or so campuses we visited.
However, after they dived into the Core, it quickly became apparent that they could not handle the strict paths of the various requirements of the Core. They tried for weeks to try to convince themselves that they could make it work. Eventually, they faced the fact that they did not want to spend the first couple of years in such a prescribed curriculum. In the end, UChicago came off their list and WashU remains.
There really isn’t much difference (WRT the Core). It really comes down to studying three disciplines at UChicago vs getting away with only two at WUSTL.
WUSTL
Basic Requirements **
Analytical Writing (U11 111)*
Critical and Researched Writing (U11 203)*
One additional 3-unit advanced writing course, chosen from U11 304, U11 3120, U11 324, U11 331, or Rhetoric.*
One 3-unit course in numerical applications with a minimum grade of C-, which may be applied to the relevant distribution area as noted below. To meet the numerical application requirement you must take one of the following: Econ 231 (Economic Statistics), Math 1011 (Intro to Statistics), Math 123 (Programming in C), Math 141 (Pre-Calculus I), Math 142 (Pre-Calculus II), Math 155 (Calculus I), Math 156 (Calculus II), Math 205 (Applied Statistics Online), Math 210 (The Art of Mathematical Thinking), Math 212 (Sports and Statistics), Math 255 (Calculus III), Math 256 (Calculus IV), any 300 level and higher math classes, Programming with Python (U20 133), PolSci 323 (Introduction to Quantitative Methods) or Psych 300 (Psychological Statistics).
One course in moral reasoning, which may be applied to the relevant distribution requirements noted below.
One 3-unit course in cultural diversity, which may be applied to the relevant distribution requirement as noted below. Courses that satisfy the cultural diversity requirement explore issues of global human diversity and the interactions among cultures, with a focus on societies of Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East, or indigenous people of the Americas.
36 units, 9 units in each area noted below. Major courses also may fulfill basic and distribution requirements, however, each distribution area must include course work from at least two disciplines:
Distribution Requirements
Humanities: (9 credits) Courses from Art History, Classics, History*, Literature, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
Social Sciences: (9 credits) Courses from: Anthropology, Economics, History*, Political Science, Psychology, Social Thought and Analysis.
*History courses may satisfy either the Humanities or Social Sciences requirements, but not both.
Natural Sciences & Mathematics: (9 credits) Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Physics, and Science.
Languages and theArts: (9 credits) Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film Studies, Foreign Languages, Music, Speech, and Studio Art.
UChicago requirements:
General Education (Core)
These requirements, commonly known as the Core, teach you the skills of critical inquiry, argumentation, and analytical thinking in both quantitative and qualitative settings, creating a foundation for all later study in the College. Designed to be completed in your first two years, the Core is a quintessential element of the “Life of the Mind.” Most Core requirements are completed with sequences comprised of two or three courses, and, collectively, they require a total of 15 courses (1500 units of credit). Most students will focus primarily, if not exclusively, on Core courses in their first year.
There are seven general education requirements all students must complete, falling into three categories:
[Humanities, Arts, and Civilization Studies]
[Social Sciences]
[Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences]
Not denying that WashU has requirements. It’s the three pathways of the Core that my kid felt were too strictly defined for them. WashU allows a mix and match approach—a flexibility that is missing at UChicago.
Believe me when I say that I wanted UChicago to work for my kid. They loved it that much. It truly came down to the “fit” that everyone talks about.
I’d disagree with that, there is only a little more flexibility at WashU (after you take all the required courses). WUSTL has 12 required courses (and the “basic required” are specific courses - 3 writing, 1 math, 1 moral reasoning, 1 cultural diversity) plus 6 courses in the same basic areas UChicago requires. UChicago requires 15 courses in the core but none of them are “basic required” they have multiple courses within the disciplines to choose from.
From UChicago’s website:
“Students must explore a particular civilization or cultural theme in depth by taking two or three courses in the same sequence…”
In each theme, the two or three courses must be taken sequentially, and there is no choice in those courses. Once you choose your theme, you are locked into taking those two/three predetermined courses. There aren’t five courses available, for instance, and you choose the three you like best. The student’s choice comes earlier, when they choose their theme.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but while I think you can choose a special pathway (I couldn’t quickly find the name of the program) at WashU—where you choose to be part of a group of students who study a specified focused curriculum—students aren’t required to join such a curriculum path. Those who don’t choose to be part of that program can choose individual classes that fulfill the requirements and can choose (absent prerequisites, I would imagine) when they take those courses.
This may be a small or inconsequential distinction to many, but for my kid, it was a very unfortunate deal breaker.
Point is that most schools have some sort of core requirement (Brown being an exception). I know my DD finished with a double major in 4 years at UChicago (MolEng and Creative Writing) so the core was not a hinderance. In fact, she felt the core was the best part.
Back to the OP, if the goal is Med School then WashU, if the goal is Wall Street then UChicago. You have to decide.
I’m very familiar with both schools. My oldest is at WashU and my S23 just toured UChicago. Both are interested in business among other areas of study.
Both schools would provide an excellent foundation for premed so I don’t think that would be part of the decision process. Don’t think that WashU would be easier when it comes to grades! The level of rigor and competition is significant at both schools and they both have grade deflation.
What WashU offers over UChicago is undergrad business. Olin is a top business school and classes are available for both a major or minor for all WashU students. A major would require a transfer into the school and a minor would allow you to take courses.
UChicago has a lot of great pre-professional courses in business and outstanding economics. However, they don’t have as many opportunities for business courses.
Chicago has a new business economics major. Its the closest they have to an undergrad business degree. This is the first year that students will graduate with the degree, but most will probably end up in finance careers.
If you want to go into premed, I think WashU is probably a better choice. But for wall street, Chicago has the edge. You might change your mind along the way, so pick a school where you think you can succeed.