UVA sci scholars vs northwestern vs CALS cornell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I have been accepted to the three above schools and I loved each when I visited. I am having an incredibly difficult time deciding which to attend and I would appreciate any advice anyone could offer.</p>

<p>I am planning on majoring in biological sciences with a focus on neuroscience and maybe pre-med, but I want a school that is strong in every discipline (Cornell?) because I am still interested by humanities. I prefer warm weather (UVa) but it is not so important to me and I would be able to deal with Ithaca. My favorite city is Chicago (Northwestern), and second is Charlottesville (UVa). I like school spirit (because I think it tends to lead to a strong alumni base after college) and I want to play club sports, but I don't really enjoy attending athletic events and so the Big 10 (Northwestern) or UVa sports aren't a huge draw for me. I like southern hospitality but consider myself a bit liberal and I think my personality probably fits in best with the Northeast. I'd prefer geographic diversity (Northwestern/Cornell) to economic diversity (UVa, mostly Virginians, state school). However, I would also like to do research during my undergraduate years, and because I have been accepted to UVa Science Scholars it would be guaranteed. I would like to join a sorority, but I think the greek scene is pretty prevalent at all three. I think the most prestigious would be Cornell because of the ivy status, but UVa close behind (although Northwestern is the highest on U.S. News rankings...). My parents can pay but not easily, and UVa is offering the most $ (but I'm still out-of-state). Finally, I want to study abroad and do community service.</p>

<p>Thanks so much! Please help.</p>

2

<p>I got into NU and Cornell (didn’t apply to UVA) and would rank them as follows:</p>

<p>NU
Cornell
UVA</p>

<p>NU is definitely on the up, while from my observations Cornell is becoming increasingly easier to get into (at least from my school… most people who applied to NU and Cornell got into Cornell and got flatout rejections from NU).</p>

<p>As for UVA… well I just don’t think it’s in the same league as the other two schools.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your input. It’s hard to know what determines a good school - rankings? acceptance rate? ivy? reputation?</p>

<p>It’s a bit overwhelming, and I’m running out of time. Ah.</p>

4

<p>I’d say academic profiles of admitted students, strength of faculty, reputation, and job placement. Rankings go hand in hand with reputation, in a way.</p>

<p>Acceptance rate matters very little, and “ivy” status means even less (considering that nowadays many schools are “better” than many of the ivies).</p>

<p>Also consider campus vibe, location, athletics?, etc.</p>

<p>But yeah I’d go with NU I think it has the brightest future of the three.</p>