<p>“To me it seems like the consensus on this thread is:
If OP wants employment immediately after college, go to UMichigan.
If OP wants to get a PhD and go into academia, go to WashU.”</p>
<p>Where did you get that consensus of opinion?</p>
<p>
SWHarbor is right. Both schools are terrific. </p>
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</p>
<p>WashU in my opinion is a very academically zealous institution that is a “Research Powerhouse.” I think the students at WashU generally tend to be academically driven and research types. However, from my experience and reading posts on CC, it seems that the running opinion is that WashU undergraduates are really friendly, supportive, and encouraging of one anothers’ academic goals and projects. I have not heard a single negative word about the WashU undergraduate body. I’m sure there are similar students at UMichigan. Perhaps the OP could visit both campuses, find current students who are willing to answer questions about their schools, and decide from that. Also take zenith’s advice and email professors about the Economics department at each school.</p>
<p>“Weird. I have a bunch of friends in China and I doubt they’ve heard of UMichigan or WashU.So international prestige wise, neither wins.”</p>
<p>Well then you must be an authority! Aside from your friends, there is little doubt that Michigan>WUSTL for international prestige. Sorry, but your statement is nonsense.</p>
<p>rjkofnovi always sounds really aggressive in his posts here, for whatever reason. Calm down a little there man. By the way… I think the only schools people are really aware of are the Ivies. The Ivies get such a big name recognition all other schools “pale in comparison.”</p>
<p>I’m not at either of these schools (at an Ivy League), and I count myself as a pretty academic person (the type who reads up on papers and looks for research and such)… I actually heard of Washington University- St. Louis first before UMichigan. When I read this statement: "To me it seems like the consensus on this thread is:
“If OP wants employment immediately after college, go to UMichigan.
If OP wants to get a PhD and go into academia, go to WashU” </p>
<p>I must say this is pretty accurate. WashU does have an immense renown in the academic world and is very good at giving its students research projects. UMichigan has more of a laymen reputation. Both schools are in nice locations-- UMichigan is in Ann Arbor and most of WashUSTL is actually in a rather upscale place called Clayton. </p>
<p>Pretty much depends on what the OP wants to do.</p>
<p>^^^^C’mon already. The exact same thing can be said for Michigan.</p>
<p>“UMichigan has more of a laymen reputation.”</p>
<p>If you mean that WUSTL is hardly known outside of academia, then I concur.
I highly doubt that Michigan is lacking a strong, if not stronger, reputation in academia as well over WUSTL.</p>
<p>Sorry but I think most schools aren’t known outside academia, rjkofnovi -_- </p>
<p>For example…Even not all of the Ivies are well-known…sadly even people stare at me when I say I got to Cornell…some people think University of Pennsylvania is Penn State…it’s rather sad. But I don’t care. As long as I know the school I’m at is good at getting me where I want to go.</p>
<p>That’s why I say it’s up to the OP to decide what he or she wants to do. ie. if you wanna go into academia/research/PhD/become a professor then go to WashU. If not, go to UMichigan. uh pretty much what the above posters have been saying (besides you rjkofnovi)</p>
<p>So I may be biased, but I think WashU is hard to beat with its </p>
<p>“Academics + beautiful campus + academic reputation + top faculty who are accessible +happy students + high quality of life” package</p>
<p>But that is where I disagree with you Lilbluewhale. You can go into academia, do research, and become a PhD just as easily graduating from Michgan as you can from WUSTL. The resources and faculty are in all place to go as far as you want. It is up to the individual to make the effort.</p>
<p>I am biased too zenith602. I just think living in a college town like Ann Arbor for four years and going to a world-class institution cannot be duplicated at an isolated campus in a near suburb of a large city.</p>
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</p>
<p>Hey this sounds like a pretty good package to me!! How much does it go for? Depending on cost issues, the OP may decide between WashU, a private school, and UMichigan, public school?</p>
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</p>
<p>Okay; i will bite. The OP said she’s interested to enroll in economics and politics. Show me proofs that UWStL is significantly stronger to UMich for undergrad econ and politics please.</p>
<p>I would pick UMich if I wanted to live on top of a toxic dump, or experience a nearby war zone.</p>
<p>Not really, just felt like posting with the same annoying attitude as rjkofnovi.</p>
<p>^^They can’t RML. But the campus does have flowers blooming all year 'round in the quad!</p>
<p>WUSTLFuture,
The OP is international and so cost will be the same for both schools.
</p>
<p>And I agree with EricLG: rjkofnovi, what is with your attitude anyways? Please like someone already said before, calm down!</p>
<p>“student quality, class sizes, teaching prowess, financial resources and willingness to spend on undergrads”
Student quality: WashU wins
Class sizes: WashU wins
Teaching prowess: WashU has been great in my experience, but same could be true of UMichigan
Financial resources: dude, WashU is top ranked for money money money
Willingness to spend on undergrads: WashU!</p>
<p>Sources:<br>
<a href=“http://admissions.wustl.edu/faq/Pages/AboutWashingtonUniversity.aspx[/url]”>http://admissions.wustl.edu/faq/Pages/AboutWashingtonUniversity.aspx</a>
<a href=“University Facts - Washington University in St. Louis”>http://facts.wustl.edu/Pages/Research.aspx</a>
<a href=“University Facts - Washington University in St. Louis”>http://facts.wustl.edu/Pages/WUcompares.aspx</a></p>
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</p>
<p>I have never heard of the above distinction. In fact, no one here has even implied that. </p>
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</p>
<p>Internationally, no one has heard of WUSTL. The OP is an international student. USNews college rankings has its flaws (with the exception of Peer Assessment scores). Michigan not only offers more top-15 programs than WUSTL, it also has a better international reputation.</p>
<p>I would pick UMich if I wanted to live on top of a toxic dump, or experience a nearby war zone."</p>
<p>Times Beach is pretty close to WUSTL. I suggest you look it up. Also, have you ever been to E. St Louis, IL? A lot closer to WUSTL than Ann Arbor is to Detroit.</p>
<p>“And I agree with EricLG: rjkofnovi, what is with your attitude anyways? Please like someone already said before, calm down!”</p>
<p>I am perfectly calm. I am just tired of all the propaganda here on CC that smaller private schools are always going to be the better choice because of…Well you name it!</p>
<p>rjkofnovi,</p>
<p>You are wrong. The majority of WashU is actually in Clayton, an upscale/affluent neighborhood. Only part of WashU is in St. Louis, and even the surrounding part of St. Louis is rich and relatively safe. The campus structure of WashU is also closed-campus, and students are very safe. There are police patrols and also student escorts for those who like to stay later in the library.</p>
<p>tenishs,
Internationally, who has heard of UMichigan?
Like lilbluewhale said, most schools are not that well known outside of academia. Not even all of the Ivy League schools are well-known.</p>
<p>“You are wrong. The majority of WashU is actually in Clayton, an upscale/affluent neighborhood. Only part of WashU is in St. Louis, and even the surrounding part of St. Louis is rich and relatively safe.”</p>
<p>How am I wrong? Did you read what I said?</p>
<p>“I just think living in a college town like Ann Arbor for four years and going to a world-class institution cannot be duplicated at an isolated campus in a near suburb of a large city.”</p>
<p>“The campus structure of WashU is also closed-campus, and students are very safe. There are police patrols and also student escorts for those who like to stay later in the library.”</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is a part of Michigan and Michigan is a part of Ann Arbor. There is no isolation. It is also very safe. No need for police escorts during the day anywhere in town.</p>