<p>I have spent the last several days thinking of pros and cons for attending each school. I am just grateful to be in this position at this point, but nonetheless I want to make the best deicision for me and I would love to hear some feedback from you guys. With that said, here are some background info.</p>
<p>Potential Major: Economics
At this point, it seems like econ is what I'll most likely major in. Of course, this is subject to change. But if my mind does alter about a major, I am sure it'll still be something in the social sciences. </p>
<p>Career plans: Definitely planning on attending grad school. I am still deciding whether I want to attend a business school or law school. I am leaning more towards business schools, however. </p>
<p>What I want to college - Obviously academically challenging experience, but also a good deal of fun social life as well. I do not really have a preference for student body population, although I do look forward to having small class sizes. </p>
<p>Any perspectives would be very kindly appreicated! Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>While Swat and Chicago have similar vibes, Northwestern and Williams are very different from them. What exactly do you mean by an ‘academically challenging’ experience? Do you like the idea of a core?, etc. More info would probably help us give pros/cons.</p>
<p>sorry for the ambiguity. by academically challenging experience I mean an environment where I can have deep discussions about course materials that exist not only in class but outside of the class as well. </p>
<p>and i don’t mind the core at all. i am actually in a mini “core” (humanities magnet program) at my high school where i basically take philosophy/social institutions/art history/religion classes - which, i think, would help me transition into the core at chicago.</p>
<p>Of course your plans might change once you are enrolled but you should consider that law schools seem to care mostly about GPA and LSAT. So the relative grade deflation at UChicago may become an issue. Also a LAC vs. a university is also a different vibe. A visit would definitely help, especially an admitted student weekend visit.</p>
<p>Northwestern MMSS is a fabulous program. The closest Chicago equivalent would be math with specialization in economics, a particular track in Math Department recommended for people who ultimately want to go to grad school in econ. But you could pretty much replicate MMSS from within the economics major, if you wanted, or from sociology or psychology, too. A lot of good, quant-y work goes on at Chicago throughout the social sciences.</p>
<p>I don’t think you are going to get anywhere near the depth of math offerings at either Swarthmore or Williams that you would get at Chicago or Northwestern. That’s true of advanced social science courses too, of course, but that’s probably less important because what you do at a LAC is exhaust what the faculty there can teach you, and by the time you do that you are finished. At Swarthmore, with some difficulty (but not impossible at all) you can take classes at Penn if you want.</p>
<p>Swarthmore and Williams really have diametrically different vibes, even though their class stats are similar. (And the same is true of Chicago and Northwestern, I guess.) Swarthmore is also a lot closer to civilization.</p>
<p>People go to law school or business school from all of them. The one where you feel happiest and most stimulated will be the one where you do best.</p>
<p>ahaah thank you all you guys. i am really not sure about it even after all the helpful comments. fortunately, i will be visiting and hopefully i can clear some things up from the trip. each school has its own unique appeal, and i guess only time will tell…</p>