<p>I'm deciding between these two after ruling out Rice and Dartmouth from my visits. I loved my visits to both WashU and Northwestern, so I think my decision will come down to prestige. If it matters, I'm from the West Coast and ultimately want to return here. Thanks guys.</p>
<p>what are you studying?</p>
<p>Why were Rice and Dartmouth ruled out so we can understand what you like apart from prestige.</p>
<p>NU is more prestigious among the masses. WUSTL is not even that well known in most parts of the midwest.</p>
<p>Many people in the northeast confuse Northwestern U with Northeastern U, and since NEU is an OK school, then so is NU.</p>
<p>Many people in the midwest think NU is a public school since it is in the Big Ten, and also has a directional name.</p>
<p>Many people in the midwest think Wash U is in DC.</p>
<p>Many people in DC think Wash U is in the state of Washington. </p>
<p>I suspect that in most cases NU is better known, not because of their academics, but because they play football in the Big Ten. From an education perspective, they are essentially the same.</p>
<p>NU has strength in the same areas that WashU does plue is superior in engineering, communications and the arts. Overall NU is stronger and deeper.</p>
<p>You’re really making a college decision depending on which one is more “prestigious”… <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Northwestern is definitely more prestigious, but I think Dartmouth is just as much prestigious as Northwestern, if not slightly even more so, for undergrad.</p>
<p>Haystack,</p>
<p>I graduated from NU and have lived in different parts of the country. I have never met one person confusing NEU with NU. That’s right, not even once!</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I am a graduate of NU; live in the midwest now but lived for years in the SW; and I have to tell people all of the time that it is a private school and ‘different’ from the likes of Iowa, etc. I don’t live in the NE but have had numerous friends tell me of the NEU/NU confusion.</p>
<p>You probably hang with a higher class of people than I do.</p>
<p>
This. It’s disappointing a high schooler pointed it out when others didn’t.</p>
<p>Choose based on location, DI vs. DIII athletics, the presence/absence of hammocks on campus…seriously, anything but prestige. They’re both excellent universities.</p>
<p>^It seems the student already ruled out other colleges based on fit (he/she visited all 4 campuses) and is looking for a tie-breaker.</p>
<p>Globally, definitely Northwestern.</p>
<p>[QS</a> World University Rankings - Topuniversities](<a href=“http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011]QS”>http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011)
QS World University Rankings:
Northwestern: 24
WashU: 78
Dartmouth: 99
Rice: 117</p>
<p>[|ARWU</a> 2010](<a href=“http://www.arwu.org/ARWU2010.jsp]|ARWU”>http://www.arwu.org/ARWU2010.jsp)
Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities:
Northwestern: 29
WashU: 30
Rice: 99
Dartmouth: 151-200</p>
<p>[Education</a> - Image - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Education - Image - NYTimes.com”>Education - Image - NYTimes.com)
International Herald Tribune Survey of Top Employers Worldwide:
Northwestern: 6
Dartmouth: 25
Rice: not ranked
WashU: not ranked</p>
<p>Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management has worldwide recognition.</p>
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<p>I second this.</p>
<p>Po-TAY-to – Po-TAH -to.</p>
<p>They’re both up there. Northwestern is probably better known (it’s a Big 10 thing), but Wash U has an excellent reputation.</p>
<p>Needless to say, both will give you a terrific education, despite Northwestern being higher-ranked.</p>
<p>There probably isn’t a single person from my high school in northern Michigan who has heard of Washington University in St. Louis. </p>
<p>I would assume a good amount have heard of Northwestern. One teacher talked about it in class but it was solely because Stephen Colbert went there (lol).</p>
<p>So, at least where I’m from, Northwestern has more name recognition and prestige.</p>
<p>NU > WashU</p>
<p>I’ve heard many students were admitted by both. or some were admitted by WashU, but rejected by NU. There is no one admitted by NU but rejected by WashU for the people I know.</p>
<p>Hmm… snow storms or tornadoes?</p>
<p>If you’re going to choose based on prestige, then choose Dartmouth…</p>
<p>Base your choice on things other than prestige.</p>