<p>Folks-- Not to interfere with the food fight, ****ing match going on here, BUT
the kids at Northwestern just scored their 14th National Championship
in Debate. Fact, this is a big deal. They scored this win over debate
squads from the finest schools in the country. Real WOW!</p>
<p>Further, over the past three years Northwestern’s football team has
participated in post regular season bowl games while graduating 99%
of these student/athletes. Real WOW!</p>
<p>The Wellesley web site reflects a ton of WOW! I look forward to my
daughter’s application to this WOW liberal arts college. </p>
<p>If the young lady who initiated this thread remains interested and is a
potential communications/speech major, I recommend she studies the
Northwestern School of Communications (formerly Speech). It is one
of the finest in our country. Theatre, debate, Communications, Communicative
Disorders and Public Address all are ranked at the top of their disciplines
with alumni success stories to prove it. </p>
<p>So she doesn’t think NU has the “wow” factor Wellesley does. Oh well. Remember, we’re Northwestern, we don’t have to be arrogant about it - that’s not our brand character. It’s not important for a school to be known by the masses. It’s only important for it to be known by the people who know better. And I feel quite confident in saying that the people who know better will think highly of both schools and it needn’t be a context. Wellesley might have more of a wow factor among old-school east coast WASPy elites. Northwestern might have more of a wow factor in other circles. I think it’s possible that Marama, living in California, may not fully understand the prestige that NU has in other parts of the country. Oh well. I don’t need to worry about that. We’re parsing small differences here, and nothing that should materially impact the OP deciding between the two. I would take prestige as being separate-but-equal and make the decision based on Boston vs Chicago, girls vs co-ed, LAC vs university.</p>
<p>N.B. What people think I know or don’t know about Northwestern really has no bearing on anything. What’s important is for the original posters to get a sense of each school to help them make their decision. </p>
<p>Would it be possible to leave my name out of this discussion from here on out? It would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>I have a sister that goes to Wellesley and I can tell you that although its a small college and located a little bit out of Boston, it presents wonderful opportunities. Not only can you cross register for classes at Harvard or MIT but you also can experience the social lives there (buses run on weekends that you can go to parties). Being a small college its much more intimate than such a large school as NU. Depending on your area of study there are so many things that you can do that people at most schools cant. Professors take students on trips places around the country and even the world. You can really make the most of it if you want too</p>
<p>I think if you take the specifics of W vs NU out of it, this is really a discussion about highly-ranked LAC versus highly-ranked university. As with anything, there are tradeoffs. Which is better can only be answered in the eye of the OP.</p>
<p>I would say if you like partying and such go to Northwestern…I go to Wellesley, and honestly is kind of hard to make new friends outside. But you always have the option of joining a society (sorority) or taking courses in MIT. I mean it is hard to socialize but not impossible…</p>
<p>If you have any other questions you can always let me know. I think its good to get perspectives from students that are currently on campus.</p>
<p>Definitely Wellesley. I agree that NU has a better reputation, at least for the general public. However, Wellesley will offer you a much better education than can be gotten at a huge university. Class sizes are small and after sitting in on a class, I can say for certain that the professors make the effort to engage his/her students and to from relationships with them. </p>
<p>There is a benefit of being in a college town close to Harvard and MIT. You can mingle with them as well as make connections, take courses over there and make friends from different schools. I hear that Harvard students throw amazing if not exclusive parties. Finals clubs anyone? Even though the actual campus is quite empty on the weekends, Boston isn’t very far away, you have all your girlfriends with you so go party it up somewhere else. </p>
<p>Wellesley is number one for number of women getting a PHD in economics as well as the yielding the greatest number of Fortune 500 CEO’s. I remember reading that somewhere, I’ll try to find the source later. </p>
<p>In other words, if you’re a woman and want to rise above, go for Wellesley. NU is good but won’t give you as many opportunities as Wellesley.</p>
<p>Gang – opportunities aren’t a zero-sum game here. There are tons of opportunities at Wellesley, and there are tons of opportunities at Northwestern. They are just different opportunities. There are more opportunities at any school in the top 20 on either the LAC or university list than any one human being could ever take advantage of … so whether there are 20,000 at one school and 25,000 at another school is a distinction without a difference. Substitute in any top LAC for Wellesley and substitute in any top university for Northwestern.</p>
<p>I have long maintained that if my kids were to (hypothetically) get into any school in the top 20 on either list, none of them are “better” than the others and I’d tell them to make the decision based on personal preferences and desires. For a number of different reasons, I have a D who sparks to Wellesley’s intimacy, sisterhood, “bubble” campus and rich traditions. I have a S who sparks to NU’s larger campus, school-spirit-rah-rah, location right next to Chicago, and a whole different set of rich traditions. This is really silly to try to compare prestige or opportunities. It’s ALL GOOD. And I guarantee that my kids each are very proud of their twin for making the opposite choice. Please. </p>
<p>OP, do you envision yourself in a small LAC setting or more of a university setting? Does the single-sex aspect of W thrill you or chill you? Where do you live, and is it more of a stretch-outside-the-comfort-zone to go to Chicago or to Boston? These are the things to think about. Not “prestige” or “opportunities.” It’s all there, in spades, in both places. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>D tells me that there are a few of you out there who are deciding between W and NU. I know she will agree with me that there is no “right” choice / answer. It will be a fun journey for me to see how both these great places unfold over the next few years. Go Blue and Go Wildcats!</p>
<p>No horse in this race, but once schools of this caliber are on the table, I don’t think a choice in terms of prestige is the best way to proceed.</p>
<p>As pizzagirl said, depends on which pack you run in.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine not having a gut reaction about which environment you’d prefer. I think folks do best when they’re inspired, so choose the environment that inspires you.</p>
<p>I have difficulty with the comment that Wellesley is at the top of the"sisters". Doesn’t seem very sisterly. As the mother of a Barnard grad I was never push Barnard ahead of any of the remained five, four others when we subtract Barnard.</p>
<p>Barnard is more selective than Wellesley; Wellesley has slightly higher SAT’s. Barnard has a slightly higher GPA. D took half her classes at Columbia, pretty prestigious, if anyone cares. I don’t.</p>
<p>And here’s a shout out for Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Bryn Mawr too. Long may you all thrive and education some of the most interesting women in our country.</p>
<p>Actually, I’ve been studying many of the “sisters” schools
you bring up in your post. All strike me as fine LAC’s. My
at the top re Wellesley was simply based on the US News…
recent rankings-- and, not meant as a put down-- just
quasi data based.</p>
<p>Also, this summer my daughter and wife will be in NYC looking
at your Barnard. The interface with Columbia is educationally
impressive. We are sort of curious as to how daughter will
react to Barnard’s location in NYC. Obviously, Barnard is a
very different setting than Wellesley-- educationally quite
equivalent but urban vs suburban. </p>
<p>bn12gg: No offense taken. It’s just that infighting between the sisters is so unseemly. I understand that wasn’t your intention.</p>
<p>Barnard does poorly on USNWR because the resources of Columbia that are so available to Barnard women are not counted in financial calculations. Barnard women get used to this – ranking significantly lower than the resources available.</p>
<p>It gets especially unpleasant, I think, when some folks tout Smith ahead of MoHo.</p>
<p>I know my D thinks Barnard is best, but that’s understandable. She’s chauvinistic about her school.</p>
<p>I would have been thrilled for her to attend any of the five. They really are sisters, each with a slightly different personality.</p>
<p>And I would tell anyone not to go to Barnard if she doesn’t like NYC. NYC is Barnard’s classroom. The orientation process is fabulous so all the women can navigate the city by their second week there, subways and all. This is not everyone’s cup of tea.</p>
<p>My S loved being in his Williams bubble; my D wanted to “start her life” – her words. She plans to spend her life in NYC and is in law school there right now. She enjoyed the continuity.</p>
<p>Others may love the four secluded years in the ivory tower.</p>
<p>No right/no wrong. </p>
<p>PM when the time comes if your family wants any Barnard info. or suggestions for places to frequent/eat.</p>
<p>I thought I would add my thoughts to the NU vs WC discussion. I attend a public high school in the Midwest. Our hs enrolls about 1400 students. As for name recognition I can tell you that everyone at my high school is aware of the colleges and universities in the Midwest. Many of our high achieving seniors apply to and are accepted at Northwestern, Notre Dame, UChicago, Kazoo College, and UMich. The last 5 years we have sent our students to Duke, UPenn, Harvard, Stanford and Yale. All of the schools I have mentioned have great name recognition in the Midwest.</p>
<p>Two years ago my brother was accepted ED to Amherst College. When he told his friends that he would be attending Amherst, they thought he was referring to Elmhurst College in Illinois. Practically none of the student body at our high school had heard of Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, Bowdoin and the other LAC in the East. </p>
<p>Everyone at my high school (faculty, counselors, and students) knows Wellesley College. Wellesley is viewed as a great school…an unattainable school. We don’t have many students applying to Wellesley for two reasons: 1. The female students at our high school believe they have little or no chance of getting into Wellesley. 2. The idea of attending an all women’s college does not seem appealing. </p>
<p>When I received my letter of congratulations from Wellesley, I became very emotional and I had to share the news with my friends. Everyone was happy for me and shared in my joy. When my brother received his letter from Amherst, he wasn’t able to experience the same kind of emotions and support from his friends because they had no idea there was an Amherst College. </p>
<p>Northwestern is seen as a top-notch university. We send our students to NU every year. But in the Midwest, Wellesley College has a certain aura or awe factor attached to its name.</p>
<p>Lenacleff, I know you will decide the right college for yourself…for the right reasons. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>There is no doubt that both W and NU are great schools. It depends on which school you are more fitted in. I cite some interesting discussion about LAC vs University from CC as follows:</p>
<p>"A good LAC is like a formal sit-down restaurant. Helpful waiters lead you to a booth, bring you the menu and explain the options available. There are several choices for each course, and each one will be nicely prepared and brought directly to your table. It’s very safe and cosy, and you’re unlikely to be surprised or disappointed by anything you order. But if you want something that’s not on that menu – or if you don’t like the people you’re seated with – you’re just out of luck.</p>
<p>A good university is like the midnight buffet on a cruise ship. There are literally thousands of choices, from sushi to enchiladas to chocolate truffles, and if you want something you don’t see on the buffet, you can ask them to whip some up for you. You can sit wherever you like, with whoever you like, and change seats several times if you want. You can return to the buffet to try different things multiple times. However, it’s your job to pick the food you want and your responsibility to bring it to your table. There are helpful staff members available to give you a hand if you need one, but you have to get up and find them and ask them questions. If you just sit at your table and wait, you’re going to starve."</p>
<p>Hopefully this will be helpful in your decision. My daughter has to decide between W and Emory. She will finalize her decision after the SOC at Wellesley. I guess that most likely she will choose Wellesley.</p>
<p>It was just announced on the morning Mike and Mike sports show. Yes, yes,
yes,---- Northwestern and Notre Dame will play a home and home schedule
beginning in 2014. The initial game in this new series will be in South Bend.
Tough football tickets. Pat Fitzerald quote “I can’t wait.”</p>