<p>Which is tougher to get into: University of Chicago or Northwestern University?</p>
<p>Well, I'd say that University of Chicago is pretty self-selecting; most of the students who apply understand that they are undertaking a rigorous four-year trek through academia where learning and thinking is of utmost importance. I find it amazing that the school only has a 38% acceptance rate (better for me, I guess).
Northwestern, not so much; I don't know much about the school at all, but I'm pretty sure it differs significantly from UChicago.</p>
<p>Self-selecting claims may have some truth behind them but in the end it really doesn't matter. What does matter are the incoming stats and admission rates of the two schools (data from College Board, so a little old):</p>
<p>Northwestern University
30% acceptance rate
1410 avg SAT</p>
<p>University of Chicago
38% acceptance rate
1425 avg SAT</p>
<p>It looks like the two are very similar in terms of difficulty. Northwestern may be slightly harder to get into though particularly since it has only recently adopted the Common Application and experienced an increase in applicants.</p>
<p>We had a big fight about this one earlier-- I'm going to try to pull up the thread.</p>
<p>In short: this question is like going to a comic books convention and saying, "So... Marvel or DC?" U of C. vs. NU on these boards turns into a major blood sport on these forums because the schools are so, so, so, so, so different.</p>
<p>Suffice it to say that if you get into either, or even both, you should be a very happy person.</p>