<p>sorry all of you guys prob have seen gazillion of these threads... but i just want some genuine advice! :)</p>
<p>so right now if cost is not a factor, im definitely leaning towards northwestern. i wont be visiting NU but i'll be visiting UCLA just to kinda give it a chance. </p>
<p>both northwestern and UCLA are great colleges, but i know that northwestern is better in the major that i intended to major in. i love california weather, and to tell the truth, im a little scare about not being able to wear flip-flops year round. both schools arent exactly close to home, but i know that if i go to ucla i would not experience the same geographic diversity as those offered by NU.</p>
<p>I’m considering both of those schools as well, so you’re not alone! I went to UCLA yesterday for the day, and here’s what I think:
Weather = PERFECT
Location = AMAZING
Students = Here’s where it goes downhill. I went to the engineering open house, and there was absolutely NO diversity - none whatsoever. I know that the engineering students are no reflection on the rest of the school…but hey, it’s still something. Also, the day was very poorly organized…maybe it’s a sign that the school doesn’t run smoothly?
Classes = Challenging, diverse, + all of the perks of a top university. However, the students I talked to said that when registration time rolls around, things get tough (this is, again, in the engineering school).</p>
<p>I haven’t visited Northwestern yet, so I can’t say much about it. I don’t know what your major is, but I’d suggest looking into detail at the professors, research, classes, etc.
Be picky!!! You’re choosing between two great schools, so really, you can be picky (:</p>
<p>If you put a high premium on California weather, definitely pick UCLA.
If you care more about getting a superb education in engineering from a highly respected school that has a great atmosphere and is in/near a great city, pick NU. But brace yourself for the winter! (And you can forget the flip flops for most of the school year.)</p>
<p>hey i’ve lived in Southern California almost all my life and must say, the weather is definitely something i shall miss when i head over to NU. With that said, i have to point out that UCLA and NU seem to be pretty much on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as college experience. The most obvious points would be location, size, student body… </p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure about either school’s engineering program, but i’ve always heard from many of my UC friends that at UCLA (and berkeley) it’s extremely difficult to keep up your grades in general because you’ve got such huge classes and tough competition. I can’t say NU would be any easier since it is after all a top school and i haven’t really had firsthand exp with NU, but i think it’s something to consider. The weather and location of UCLA is of course a huge plus, but really think about how successful you believe you can be as a student there.</p>
<p>that’s my two cents; good luck picking your school!</p>
<p>I find it funny how this post in the USC forum has the USC kids saying that USC is better, but in the NU forum the NU kids say that NU is better.</p>
<p>It might mean that both kids love their schools, and the decision is very clear cut. Either would result in an amazing next four years I hope.</p>
<p>I’m deciding between these as well! Seems kind of random, so I’m surprised to see others making the same choice.</p>
<p>I’m not from California, so one big factor is paying out of state tuition at a big public university like UCLA. </p>
<p>I recently visited UCLA and am going to check out Northwestern soon. I think there is a lot to be said for the weather–I mean, happiness and sunshine and beautiful surroundings are underrated. I can’t allow myself to be mislead by the springtime pictures plastered all over the Northwestern website–it is bleak and snowy there for about 85% of the school year.</p>
<p>I think I would like Chicago as a city more than LA, if it wasn’t freezing. And I think I would choose Northwestern as a school if it were in So Cal. But it is very very cold there. (I’m sorry if this paragraph didn’t make sense).</p>
<p>Let me know what school you decide on, should be interesting.</p>
<p>I’m just a junior but I saw this thread on the homepage and thought I’d give you some input on Northwestern. I’m from Chicago and I went to Northwestern with my best friend just for a fun day once. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Right on the lake! We went in the spring time. You can see the Chicago skyline from campus. Seriously everyone who went there was out bike riding/walking, enjoying themselves. I went inside a few buildings and the classrooms were really nice.</p>
<p>And we are pretty snowy in the winter time…this winter was especially snowy…it’s more of the freezing temps that are the problem. Hey that’s Chicago for ya. Just wear a good coat and you’ll be fine…lol. Pick Northwestern. (I’m biased)</p>
<p>Haha, just to clarify, I come from the Northeast. It’s quite cold where I live. Just so you don’t think I’m a whimp.</p>
<p>It’s not that I CAN’T put up with harsh winters–I’ve been doing it all of my life–it’s just that, well, in such cold climates, we tend to take weather-induced misery for granted. As if it’s an unavoidable part of life. But in certain climates, such misery is not NECESSARY. I’ll probably live in colder climates for most of my adult life; I just think it would be fun to be carefree and outside in beautiful weather year round for my college years.</p>
<p>That being said, I know plenty of people who have a fierce love(hate) relationship with Chicago, and the tough climate only brings that much more character to the people who live there (the “flinty Chicago toughness”, if you will).</p>