<p>You could, but I’m in a long term relationship, not in Chicagoland, and very much in debt :P</p>
<p>@arbiter213 - ah well, any rich-handsome-nice-friend suggestions will be welcomed, as I think your idea is splendid (hah!). I suspect D wouldn’t agree but hey, you can’t blame mom for trying. ;-D</p>
<p>LOL Momcares! Don’t you know that anyone you introduce your D to will be rejected simply b/c is was your idea 
!!! That is the treatment I get hahahaha!!! :)</p>
<p>Wow - I didn’t know that about Mikhail Barishnikov!</p>
<p>@Calmama - It almost sounds like you know D. ;-D</p>
<p>@Pizzagirl - Yup, at least one of his kids is there now.</p>
<p>And 2 of Meridith Viera’s kids attend… Just saying!</p>
<p>Outstanding academics with gorgeous campus near one of the greatest cities in North America with terrific theater and athletic entertainment opportunities on campus – what’s not to like about NU?</p>
<p>I don’t understand the pursuit, in college, of things that require talent (like theater?) Nor do I understand the appeal of having famous peoples kids go? what does that mean??</p>
<p>I only mentioned some famous NU family’s to say that we’re not one of them (i.e. not so wealthy that D won’t have to earn a living when she graduates). It also indicates something about the quality of a program when people at the top of their profession, and who could send their kids anywhere, choose Northwestern.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I understand. Do you think talented kids shouldn’t go to college, and/or that theatre doesn’t require training in addition to raw talent?</p>
<p>I have degrees in both engineering and theatre, and I can assure you that both require a college education equally, and for very similar reasons. You can learn to do both engineering and performing without going to college, but your career will be severely limited in either field without a solid degree.</p>
<p>Would it be easier to view tuition as a financial investment if D’s passion was brain surgery? Absolutely! But as I say, our family views education as more than a financial matter, and I suspect that if your child was a talented and passionate performer you would understand. ;-D</p>
<p>I’m still a grad student, but I have some of the same sentiments MomCares has. If my kid wanted to study theater or English or Celtic Sexual Studies, I’d be all for it (as long as it’s at a school at the caliber of Northwestern).</p>
<p>At these top schools, undergrads from any major have strong chances at being picked up by a multitude of recruiters in a variety of industries–I know at Kellogg, many of the MBAs who were in consulting had humanities/liberal arts degrees at Ivys and other peer institutions.</p>
<p>@momcares - I wasn’t taking a shot at your D, I was just reflecting on “Theater” as a field of study. I liken it to pursuing a degree in baseball. You either have the talent or you don’t? And because I thoroughly enjoy it? I still can’t buy my way (or my D or S’s way) onto a D-1 team. Talent isn’t something learned. Knowledge and skill is what can be learned (or honed).</p>
<p>My D is presumably as passionate about softball as yours is about theater. My D has been recruited for athletics and academics, although for athletics only up to the D2 level. She’s resigned to the fact that she just isn’t (yet) good enough to attract the attention of the Drohan sisters (NU’s head coaches) and she just can’t choose softball as a major. If she’s going to play D1? she has to earn her way onto the team, and only after 1st being admitted to NU. And even then? Softball is an EC, not an area of concentration or major.</p>
<p>@giterdone - No worries! I didn’t assume you meant to dis our D or us, and totally understand how it seems odd to pay for a degree in Theatre. I can’t pretend DH and and I never wished D would discover a hidden passion for biotech, but she was a born (and very talented) performer so at some point you can’t fight it. ;-D </p>
<p>A significant difference between baseball and theatre is that most universities have a drama department, so becoming a college Theatre professor is only one of many examples of paid work in Theatre that require a creditable degree. </p>
<p>I think our kids are both incredibly fortunate to be passionate about something at such an early age. One of D’s best friends is a swimmer at a level similar to your D, and I know it involves a huge level of skill and commitment. Even if only as an EC, developing a nationally-notable skill by age 18 is a huge accomplishment which demonstrates a dedication that will serve them whatever they end up doing. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your D! I hope she ends up in a great place, and hopefully NU will be among her menu of options. It sounds like wherever she lands she will be very successful!</p>
<p>@momcares - Thanks. Fingers crossed. I’m hoping that NU is an option for her. It’s weird how this whole college selection process evolves. That she went RD for NU has kind of moved NU to the back burner what with being accepted to Mich and now getting all their propaganda? I sense she’s getting sucked in! :0 But thanks for your well wishes and contribution to these threads and to all of us going through this for the first time.</p>
<p>Take care.</p>
<p>@giterdone - I totally understand the getting sucked in part! Even applying ED, D already had several good BFA acceptances and was being heavily wooed by a couple schools, including near-daily phone calls, full-ride merit scholarships, paid trips to campus and the like. Theatre is probably like baseball in that schools really do want to attract top talent, since both sports and theatre form an important component of any school’s public outreach efforts in attracting alumni and community support.</p>
<p>UMich is a great school (D attended a summer program there last year) so it’s nice that your D already has a strong option on the table. Congratulations to her, and best of luck for additional acceptances in the coming months!</p>
<p>Here’s a great example of the unique opportunities to double-major that are available to students at Northwestern.</p>
<p>Music student wins prestigious Churchill Scholarship to study astrophysics at Cambridge</p>
<p>[Trumpeting</a> A Music/Science Combo : Northwestern University Newscenter](<a href=“http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/02/churchill-scholar-kyle-kremer.html]Trumpeting”>Trumpeting a Music/Science Combo - Northwestern Now)</p>
<p>to answer the OP…the #1 answer my family member (who is an undergrad in a demanding course of study) would likely give is being highly satisfied with the quality of the professors and teaching at this university.
There seems to be a lot of strength across the board in academics at NU - as opposed to a narrow strength (or omitted program/course of study) one might find at some universities.
The system of distros they have at NU (depends on course of study) seems to result in a very worthwhile undergrad education.
The city of Chicago is also a major asset. The outstanding quality of the arts in Chicago is another plus.
I suggest people watch the Youtube video (I think it is on the NU home page at the bottom - what students say about NU or some such) to get a feel for the experience there.</p>
<p>Resurrecting this thread – since decisions are out.</p>
<p>My D accepted NU-McCormick over several schools that were offering significant money as well as one Ivy (Cornell) and other similarly ranked schools.</p>
<p>Basically, we are blessed and able to afford to send her to NU, so while money was a factor certainly, it wasn’t the deciding factor.</p>
<p>As to the other peer institutions – it really came down to intangibles. She basically fell in love with the campus at first sight.</p>
<p>How would NU compare to a small liberal arts college (LAC)? I’m actually referring to Wellesley specifically so though it might not be relevant for all, instead consider a place like Swarthmore or Amherst. I want to major in Economics and clearly both schools are on par in terms of education. But what about the intangible benefits of an LAC - e.g. close relationships with professors; INCREDIBLY strong, close-knit, and reliable alumni network; very well-placed jobs and internships; more leadership opportunities, etc. Money is really not a factor here, but I’m just interested in an LAC vs Northwestern comparison, if anyone can help me out?</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>@aangel - I can’t speak directly to your question since no one in our family attended a small LAC, but I will say that when we visited D during Family Weekend early this year, after she’d been at NU less than 2 months, we didn’t go anywhere in Evanston without one of D’s new friends rushing up, giving her a big hug and introducing themselves to us. She is by no means an extrovert but she’s had NO problem finding a very warm community at NU. In her opinion NU is the PERFECT size school.</p>
<p>Also, I think at 1:8 the teacher/student ratio at NU enables students to really know professors in their department. Even as a freshman, D has already had a chance to meet and work with most of the key players in her department.</p>
<p>Similar to zephyr15…S accepted NU-McCormick + ISP over similar ranked schools (D having attended Cornell was naturally in favor of her school!) and he is super happy with his choice; in ISP, the Profs know him on first name basis due to pretty small size class. Engg is different at least right now (he is a freshman).</p>