I was having a talk with my friends at school, but I deduced that they didn’t know how prestigious NWU really was. It’s also rarely mentioned when people refer to “The Hidden Ivies” and stays out of media when the topic of top colleges comes about. Does anyone else think this is the case? Why (or why not) so?
I don’t consider NU underrated at all! It’s consistently ranked in the T20, usually T10, and has a sub 10% acceptance rate. Definitely an elite school.
Nothing against your friends but it’s not like most high schoolers know a lot. NU definitely isn’t underrated by employers or grad schools. Which isn’t surprising because it is a true Ivy-equivalent, matching the Ivies in how well it’s alumni acheivements.
It’s the name. 
Where do your friends live? I’ll be honest, as a lifelong east coaster, I had no idea of the prestige and reputation of NWU until we toured the campus on a whim while we were in Chicago looking at other schools with my kid. I mean, I knew it was a “good” school, but I didn’t realize how good (or how expensive, LOL). I think New Englander just have no idea because there are so many great schools in New England that many never look to the Midwest.
@Amkngk yup, we’re east coasters as well!
Most people don’t know anything about college until they start delving in for applications. I had no idea that WashU wasn’t in Washington State. I had never heard of it before. I couldn’t tell you the difference between Northwestern and Northeastern. I thought Pomona was a community college in New Jersey. Most people think USC is a state school. They think Miami University is in Florida. They only know CalTech because of the Big Bang Theory. I wouldn’t worry about what anyone thinks.
Your friends are not representative. Look at the number of applicants, admit rate and test scores. If high achievers didn’t think NU is prestigious, fewer of them would have applied and the test scores wouldn’t be so high. It’s ranked in the top-10 even back in the 90s. It’s been consistently ranked within the top-14 in the last 3 decades. Anyone cares to would probably know.
Why do you care anyway? . Go to the school that is the best fit, affordable and gives you a great education. Yes, in the Midwest Northwestern is known as a great school. Some will say world class. But it does strike me that many as stated really didn’t know that. @gallentjill… Very funny. Same with WashU and we live 5 hours away… Lol…
People, please, it’s NU not NWU. That, on its own, shows you’re sort of out of the loop in terms of Northwestern’s “it factor.”
Well see, here in New England, NU is Northeastern.
Dude don’t pay attention to your friends. Do what’s best for you. Northwestern is ranked #10, tied with Hopkins, and ahead of Dartmouth and Brown. The acceptance rate is 8.7%. U.S. News apparently doesn’t think its underrated. Why should you?
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