<p>I'm a rising senior and I want to apply early to one of these schools. I don't know what my exact gpa is (my school doesn't release it) but my overall average is in the low to mid 90s. My ECs are pretty standard for these schools.
My sat grades are:
Reading: 760
Math: 700
Writing: 720</p>
<p>Basically I think that I have a fair shot at any of them. I know that I will have an easier time getting into Vanderbilt than the other two. I have visited all three and I liked Vanderbilt the most, but I feel like (if I get accepted) I may be better off going to one of the tougher schools that has a better reputation.</p>
<p>I am not asking if I can get into each of these schools because I know that your guess is pretty much as good as mine. What I am asking for is any reasons why you would/wouldn't go to one of these three schools.</p>
<p>I think Vanderbilt has every bit as good of a reputation as the other two schools, if not better. Besides that, Nashville is an awesome town and the school is really nicely integrated into the city.</p>
<p>Maybe you should replace WUSTL and NU with schools that are tougher to get into, but still apply to Vanderbilt of course. Given the relative reputations of these three schools, "liking Vanderbilt most" is a solid reason to take Vanderbilt over the other two without a second thought.</p>
<p>I'm leaning away from NU simply because of the climate. I live in New York and I think that I might prefer the warmer climate of Vanderbilt or WUSTL. Having said that, I don't think that I should rule out NU simply because of the cold winters; I could definitely put up with it for four years.</p>
<p>I'm going to Vanderbilt next year, while my twin is going to Northwestern. Both excellent schools. They are actually more the same than what people make them out to be. Academically, the schools are similar - both rank consistently in the Top 20 and both institutions have stellar reputations of sending students to top tier graduate programs. Socially, both campuses are dominated by Greek life. Both have struggling football programs, but they are strong in other sports (Northwestern - softball; Vanderbilt - basketball/baseball). Both are close to major cities; Evanston is a 10 minute bus ride from Chicago, while Vanderbilt is virtually right in the center of Nashville. Don't be fooled, Nashville gets some nasty winters as well. Though not nearly as bad as Chi-towns', I've been to Vanderbilt during those early February days and it reaches subzero Celsius temperatures quite easily.</p>
<p>I chose Vanderbilt because I love the South, great scholarship money, and its slightly smaller student body. Different strokes for different folks.</p>
<p>the vast majority of students, when accepted to all three schools, pick northwestern, followed by vanderbilt, with washu trailing far behind the two:</p>
<p>Nashville doesn't get "nasty winters". There ARE 4 seasons, but neither winter or summer is very extreme. There are a few very cold days and a couple of light dustings of snow or ice, but it doesn't last long. I think it is a perfect climate, and I have lived in the northeast, in Chicago and in Texas. I bailed out of Chicago after 5 years (3 of law school and 2 working) because I could not stand the LENGTH of the winters.</p>
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I think Vanderbilt has every bit as good of a reputation as the other two schools, if not better.
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<p>More [subtle] Northwestern bashing my MomoWC shocking!!!</p>
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Both have struggling football programs, but they are strong in other sports (Northwestern - softball; Vanderbilt - basketball/baseball).
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<p>I wouldnt exactly call winning 3 Big Ten football titles since 1995 struggling (more than all other B10 schools during that period except for Michigan and dOSU).</p>
<p>Yeah, NU doesnt have the luxury of reloading every year like the traditional powers, but NU has done alright for itself - going 5-3 in the B10 for 3 consecutive years (prior to last year where the team had to use 3 different new QBs due to injury) and going .500 against Barry Alvarez led Badger teams.</p>
<p>And oh, about half of NUs varsity teams have made the NCAA post-season this past year.</p>
<p>All three are excellent universities. They have excellent reputations and amazing resources. Personally, I would pick Northwestern over Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt over Washington University for three reasons:</p>
<p>1) Chicago ROCKS! It is my favorite big city in the US. Nashville is very nice too. St Louis...well, I never really liked it.</p>
<p>2) Big 10 sports are awesome and Northwestern fields some good Football teams from time to time. Vanderbilt is part of the SEC, and they have decent sports teams too. WashU has not sports.</p>
<p>3) Northwestern has a very strong reputation in academic and corporate circles and a very well regarded name internationally. Vanderbilt does ok in that domain too. Washington University not as much. </p>