<p>I was accepted to both schools, and I have NO IDEA which one I'm going to choose. I want to major in Political Science (doubled with Economics), and at the moment hope to end up in politics (I've also been told that I'd make a pretty fab staffer.) Whose programs are stronger? </p>
<p>More stuff about me: I'm gay, and have spent my entire life on Long Island, where there are surprisingly few out gay teenagers. Obviously college is not all about dating, but I'd really like something of an open community to join. Wesleyan has a pretty good rep on this point, but I don't know all that much about NU's scene. I'd like to try new things at college...dancing, painting, more theater, etc. I've done a lot of theater, and wish to keep up with that as well. This may sound silly, but I would like to be able to see stars during college (damn LI light pollution.)</p>
<p>More: On the one hand, I want to meet new people and try new things AWAY from the east coast, but on the other hand I don't love flying, I'd like to be home with my friends on breaks and be able to get back home relatively quickly if necessary.</p>
<p>Most of the schools that I applied to were liberal arts colleges, but NU appealed to me too and now I'm actually stuck with choosing between apples and oranges! Help? Thanks guys!</p>
<p>This is indeed an apples v. oranges situation. Wesleyan is a cross between Amherst and NYU: very hip, very diverse, with a venerable, old New England college buried somewhere at its center.</p>
<p>Northwestern is a major research university situated in a rather staid, Republican, suburb of Chicago (no alcohol sold within town limits -- that kind of Republican.) The campus is not that attractive, but it does have a nationally recognized communications/theater department and a kind of tepid Big Ten athletic culture. It's biggest rival is the University of Chicago, so you will be drawn into that whole Chicago/Bears/White Sox vortex, if not careful. And, lastly, beware of Chicago winters; NU is located right on Lake Michigan and the wind can get pretty blistery.</p>
<p>JohnWesley's accurate regarding Wesleyan; not accurate regarding Northwestern. For one, Evanston's no longer conservative--it now leans liberal. Also, alcohol is sold within the town limits, and has been since the '80s. To say that the campus isn't attractive is ridiculous; it's like saying Wesleyan's campus isn't attractive.</p>
<p>Northwestern is one of the top schools in the country. If you look into the programs that it offers, that becomes clear quickly.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is one of the few, maybe the only, research university (albeit, a tiny one) in the country where all classes are taught by tenure-track faculty (no TAs, no adjunct profs.)</p>
<p>Intro classes tend to be large (at Wesleyan, a 150 student lecture would be considered large) but can get quite tiny as one moves up to the more difficult courses. One added advantage at Wesleyan is that science majors who wish to complete a masters degree get a "fifth year" free.</p>
<p>Sciences are very strong at both schools. Undergraduate research is easy to come by at both schools; moreso at Wesleyan due to decreased competition. It's true: Wesleyan sci. majors get an inordinate amt. of attention from profs.</p>
<p>Profs are top-notch at both schools... You can't go wrong either way.</p>
<p>yea, if you're looking for a gay scene, then their is always backup if you have a city nearby(Chicago). Wesleyan's in a suburban if not rural area.</p>
<p>yes, but the liklihood of finding someone, A) the same age as you and, B) the same life experience, in a gay bar in a strange city is next to zero.</p>
<p>Heh, the gay thing sounds settled for me...neither one really wins, because I'm really just interested in having the possibility of prospects and leaving token-hood behind. </p>
<p>My big thoughts/concerns now are 1) trimesters at NU, 2) is Wesleyan dominantly New Englanders/Mid-Atlantic-ers? and 3) professors. I'm sure most of you can't make any comments about NU, but are Wes classes taught by profs with PhDs? And, well...are they for the most part interesting/good professors (especially in polysci and econ)?</p>
<p>As noted, I've attended both schools--and yes, courses at Wes are taught by profs with phDs.</p>
<p>Wes is better for poli sci than Northwestern. Forecon, they're about equal.</p>
<p>Most people at Wes are Northeasterners, or from the Mid-Atlantic.</p>
<p>Trimesters at NU are a double-edged sword. The downside is that the workload is INTENSE--moreso than at Wes. The upside is that you get to take more courses--and if you don't like a course that you're in, no need to worry: it's over quickly.</p>
<p>If you have any questions about either school, please feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Why do you say their econ is about equal? NU's econ is #8 in the country. Not that graduate ranking necessarily means a lot for undergrad education but I am under the impression econ at NU is matched only by a handful. Wes must be particularly good among LACs in econ to have a chance to be as good as NU. Is that the case? Or is it more like the common saying that they are about the same because the difference being likely insignificant among top schools?</p>
<p>I'm a gay midwesterner interested in politics who visited and got into Wesleyan. I also visited Northwestern, but chose not to apply.</p>
<p>Northwestern is larger. The campus IS beautiful. It has a very large fraternity scene and came off to me as more preprofessional.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is smaller, but large for a liberal arts college. It's quirkier, and probably has a larger gay population to jump around in (and is known for being very liberal and accepting in general).</p>
<p>Both are excellent universities - they're just different.</p>
<p>Yes, Wesleyan does have a particularly good Econ program--perhaps the best among LACs. The 'College of Social Studies' combines econ with history, gov't, and philosophy. It's one of Wes' most highly regarded majors.</p>
<p>As we both know, NU's econ dept. is stellar--easily one of the best anywhere.</p>
<p>Also, to answer your question, I don't agree that 'the difference is insignificant among top schools.' Econ is just strong at both schools.</p>
<p>just to note, there are a LOT of people at wes from chicago, los angeles, and atlanta. i think it's 79% outside new england, with a fairly high % also outside the mid-atlantic.</p>
<p>my RA (residential advisor) here at Wes is a senior Econ major who is going off to Wall St. to work for Merrill Lynch beginning this summer. He got the job before even starting his senior year...</p>
<p>Ten per cent of the student body majors in psychology, according to one guide that I've seen. Neuroscience is also very big at Wesleyan and a possible way of fulfilling some of the basic requirements for both. I agree with JuJu, in that when it comes to basic liberal arts and science programs, it is probably a wash.</p>