<p>Transfer student, English & Econ/Business major...WashU vs Univ of Chicago...thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thank you!</p>
<p>I think WashU has undergraduate business program and Olin is not considered one of the top 5 (sometimes, not even one of the top 10) programs in nation, although I don't think ranks mean that much. However, I know for sure that, there are at least a handful better BBA programs our there: Wharton (UPenn), Ross (Michagan), Stern (NYU), Sloan (MIT), Haas (Berkeley), McComb (Texas),Tepper (CMU)...</p>
<p>Talking about econnomics programs, "Big Three" are Chicago, MIT, Harvard. While Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley and Columbia, UPenn, Northewestern, Yale are in a lower group. WashU will be at least a couple of more groups lower - I am talking about not only ranking, but real academic reputation/quality in econ field.</p>
<p>Anybody else gives some ideas about english, please.</p>
<p>Take a look at the University of Virginia. The McIntire School (undergraduate business) was just ranked #2 by BusinessWeek, and the English department is first class.</p>
<p>I personally don't have a lot of respect for Wash U. They are good at marketing themselves, but honestly, in what departments are they superior to UChicago? None that come to mind, not that that means anything. I'm not familiar with official rankings, but I do know that UChicago Econ is debatably the best in the world, but they don't have a Business major. As for English, there is a "Chicago school" of literary criticism. I will make a disclaimer that I am in love with U of C, and harbor a general dislike for WUSTL for mostly inexplicable reasons.</p>
<p>I agree. UVA is cool. So are Michigan, Berkeley. These three public elites all have good BBA programs. If someone doesn't mind class size that much, top state schools like these three are great.</p>
<p>you're obviously going to get biased answers here</p>
<p>U might want to post the same thread in Washu forum just to look at it from both side. I bet you have done it already.</p>
<p>lol, yes I posted the same ques. in the washu forum...those there cited student/admin friendliness, great dorms&food as reasons to pick washu, as well as great academics, but contended that chicago did have a more intellectual environment and rep...I was waitlisted by chic and deciding how vigourously to pursue that, and accepted by washu...thanks guys, though, for the input!</p>
<p>washu is overrrraaaaaaaated and CHI-CITY > STL</p>
<p>and when i told a professor at ku that i was going to uchicago, she asked if i liked literature. obviously, uchicago has a strong humanities/liberal arts program.</p>
<p>Hmm yeah I don't think it's a good sign when the WUSLT kids are plugging their dorms and food. Good though they may be, that's not a reason for intelligent people to pick a school. Sorry if that sounds mean, but it's just my arrogant opinion.</p>
<p>just my arrogant opinion</p>
<p>haha, nice...well, question though for all you UC'ers...seems like a lot of students at Chicago dont wanna be there...i think i read a recent survey that showed that kids are most unsatisfied at chicago than peers at any other top school...does this have any truth to it and if so, why? (just trying to make the best choice, personally...)</p>
<p>okay, another question...according to business week online, the med. starting salary for someone with a bachelors from washu's business school is $50,000 </p>
<p>...does anyone know where i can find such info for a chicago econ grad from their undergrad econ program (or english)? its probably pretty high, i just cant find it on the web...thoughts?
thanks!</p>
<p>obviously, uchicago has a strong humanities/liberal arts program.</p>
<p>yeah, school of literary criticism does seem to be a lot stronger than washu's english program</p>
<p>Looks like you know a lot already..</p>
<p>As you can see from responses, UChicago is the school for a special kind of person - person for whom learning means everything, and things outside of learning mean nothing. These people have typically no interest (or negative interest) in social life (if not related to academics), sports (if not related to academics), quality of life issues - dorms, food, safety and convenience of campus, etc. (again, if not related to academics). These people are quintessential nerds (nothing wrong with that). </p>
<p>WashU professors are almost as accomplished (most are Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Cornell PhDs) but more focused on undergrad, there are more opportunities for research (because of smaller workload), extremely flexible curriculum. Students there are for the most part normal - not nerdy. So, people who go to WashU will typically be very happy there.</p>
<p>Nerds who go to UChicago will be very happy at UC, because they get what they came there for - extremely challenging academics.</p>
<p>It is "normal" kids that got into UChicago for whatever reason (e.g. it being most prestigious school they got into) that sometimes can be unhappy because of overwhelming workload and minuses on non-academic front (social life, weather, neighborhood, dorms) and knowing that employment opportunities-wise their sacrifices are completely unnecessary.</p>
<p>So, look in the mirror and see what kind of person are you - that will determine which school you will be happier at.</p>
<p>Dtan, that was very insightful, thanks</p>
<p>Looks like you know a lot already..</p>
<p>yep thanks to CC</p>
<p>"UChicago is the school for a special kind of person - person for whom learning means everything, and things outside of learning mean nothing."</p>
<p>I would not characterize most U of C students this way. My S and his friends who attend do not fall into this category. They have a very active social life, actively participate in IM and club sports, even traveling to the west coast for competitions, have been involved in plays and other performances at Mandel Hall, go to parties, play paint-ball as a team from the house, and just generally hang-out. And on top of all this, they do love their academics and the intellectual intensity. S and a classmate are currently making a 15 min. movie where the script had to be entirely written in a (very difficult) language, and then the movie shot speaking only the language as part one of a two-part final. They are shooting all over Chicago. What could be more fun?</p>
<p>A little note on academics. It is not just the work load that makes Chicago intense, it is the product expected from that work that accounts for most of the intensity. For example, it is not sufficient to produce a well thought out 10 page paper, they are looking for an original argument that provides an insight, based on evidence and logic. This extends to course discussions and often to discussions with peers. Everything is open to analysis and becomes second nature. Even the trajectory of paint balls shot at particular angles in the wind (which allows for shooting around corners) and strategies based on ancient armies for organizing offenses (all of which allowed the most novice team to emerge victorious), under go such scrutiny, it is a part of the fun. It was takes an ordinary fun activity and turns it into an extraordinary fun activity.</p>
<p>It still gets down to different kind of people and their definitions of "fun". Many activities that typical UChicago students (or their parents) would qualify as fun, would not fall under definition of fun for majority of high-achieving students at other top colleges.</p>