<p>we visited both northwestern and the university of chicago this summer. loved both! northwestern has a wonderful reputation--beautiful campus, and beautiful community. university of chicago was probably one of the most spectacular campuses we visited the entire summer. every building was amazing. the grounds were beautiful and the "C" bench was quite interesting. </p>
<p>university of chicago suffers a bit of an identity issue. when i would tell people we had been there, they all assumed we meant university of illinois-chicago campus. but people who know about the reputation of the university of chicago knew. </p>
<p>both of these campuses are relatively close to home, but i think my son has decided to apply elsewhere. but neither was taken from his list due to "perceived" reputations. both are excellent! both have tremendous histories!</p>
<p>Id prefer if you called it NU not NW, but whatever. I didnt go to Penn for the same reasons I didnt go to all the other schools into which I was admitted: I like Northwestern better, plain and simple. Im not a prestige-whore; I chose to attend the school I thought would fit me and my needs, not the school highest on some random ranking.</p>
<p>but u also said: "I don't know. It would be nice for a change for me to say to someone: "I go to Northwestern" and get a "wow" or something of the sort, but whatever. I mean, after the four years of AP and honors classes in high school, and the boatloads of work I receive here, it would be nice to get a little positive reinforcement"</p>
<p>Therefore, you would like to get more of the "wow factor" from people, so in the end, everyone like urself to a degree cares about that. I know exactly what you are talking about. When I got accepted Rice, probably only like 10 ppl out of the 300 kids in my school heard of it. I think it is a fabulous school.</p>
<p>Well, no. What I was saying is that I want reinforcement, that is a pat on the back every now and then, not really to boast. Its not the so- called wow factor that I am seeking, but just well wishes. Everyone in college needs to know that the work into which he is putting into his education is commendable. There is a huge difference between this and choosing a college because a magazine told you to.</p>
<p>listen, everyone is influenced by that stuff. U r telling me that if Northwestern was ranked #36, and u got into Penn at #5, u would still go to Northwestern. Plzzzz...</p>
<p>Who ru joking? I do not know any person that even GAVE a thought about turning penn down for nyu if it didn't have to do w. financial aid. Listen, anyone who can get into penn will get substantial merit aid from penn, i didnt even get in, but i got like 10,000 in merit scholarships, not financial aid.</p>
<p>"anyone who can get into penn will get substantial merit aid from penn, i didnt even get in, but i got like 10,000 in merit scholarships, not financial aid."</p>
<p>Northwestern has quite a global MBA following worldwide- especially in asia. They're done some partnerships with leading Asian Uni's and the reception is quite insane. As for undergrad economics im not too sure. I have mixed feelings for it because for me it really is overshadowed by the economics program at U of C. </p>
<p>UofC has a really good rep that for people that actually know what is good and not. But then, I haven't heard of UofC before the whole admissions process. I didn't even hear about Northwestern either. The only really good business and economics I heard were Harvard (duh) and Upenn(wharton).</p>
<p>NU isn't as often recognized by your everyday person, especially out of the midwest, as i've noticed. While this doesn't contribute anything to it's "prestige," the alumni base at NU is very strong. Especially in the journalism and film programs, alumni are more than eager to help out recent graduates, and that in the long term will help you better than it's "prestige." contacts contacts contacts.</p>
<p>talk about the midwest, on the west coast, no one knows of it. The smart kids in my classes heard of it, but other than the communication/journalism/music, the arts/science program isn't that highly regarded.</p>
<p>You are really misinformed if you think the arts/science program isn't highly regarded. Its chemistry and econ programs are among the best in the country. By the way, the engineering school has top 10 programs in civil/matsci/mech/industrial engg and top-15 programs in environmental/biomedical/chemical engg. NU has also established itself as one of the best research centers in nanotechnology.</p>