UChicago vs. Northwestern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) would be "almost" equivalent to the University of Chicago (Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago) ONLY IF your child either:

(1) knows with certainty that they want to major in journalism or theater (as Northwestern has very strong programs in those areas);

or (2) your child knows with certainty that they plan to remain in the Chicago area for the rest of their lives, and have their careers there (as Chicagoans view and regard both those "hometown" Universities favorably).

Otherwise, the University of Chicago is a much better university than Northwestern University, much more highly regarded by academics and employers alike.

That said, the University of Chicago is not the right school for everyone. In my experience (as a graduate student there in the 80s) it appears to be a good home for intellectually-focused, very academic, serious-minded students, and some artistic or "brooding" types. Then throw in a sprinkling of "partiers" who appear to have taken a wrong turn, and seemingly reject the pervasive intellectual climate.

I would not say that the campus is a "fun" place, or even "obviously" full of life. There is a rich social life to be had there, certainly, but your student will need to make an effort seek out their like-minded or similarly-interested contemporaries through engagement in campus activities and extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Chicagoan with experience at both schools here. OP, what does the kid in question think of U Chicago's core curriculum? It is a big deal and if the idea doesn't excite them they should probably not choose U Chicago. NU has distribution requirements but at a whole other level. Based on your mention of journalism NU sounds like a better fit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) would be "almost" equivalent to the University of Chicago (Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago) ONLY IF your child either:

(1) knows with certainty that they want to major in journalism or theater (as Northwestern has very strong programs in those areas);

or (2) your child knows with certainty that they plan to remain in the Chicago area for the rest of their lives, and have their careers there (as Chicagoans view and regard both those "hometown" Universities favorably).

Otherwise, the University of Chicago is a much better university than Northwestern University, much more highly regarded by academics and employers alike.

Re #2. I took DC to tour Northwestern last fall and every local we encountered who asked why we were in Chicago (e.g. cab driver/prof/kid her own age/waiter) responded by saying "You've got to visit U of C. Northwestern is a good school, but U of C is a great school. It's world-renowned!"

[Anonymous]

I agree that University of Chicago is a much more world renowned school, especially in academia, but really, Northwestern has a fantastic reputation that will carry weight not just in Chicago but nationally both in terms of grad school and jobs. I don't think you are limited to the Chicago area with Northwestern degree in the least.

[Anonymous]

FWIW I have many friends who attended U of C (I used to live in Chicago) and none of them managed to graduate in 4 years. Most took 5 or 6 to get their BA or BS

[Anonymous]

NW is very, very pre-professional, and Chicago is for quirky kids who march to their own beat. Both can be good school for the right student, and both probably turn out to be bad fits for more students than other universities that are similarly rated. Proceed with caution.

[Anonymous]

I went to one of these schools and grew up in the immediate environs of the other, and I agree with the broad strokes of what PPs have said. I think your child has a decent chance at both schools and should apply to both. Then have DC visit (either before or after applying) to see where she feels most at home. Have her sit in on some classes, too, if that's possible.

Yes, there are significant differences between these two universities, but they are both very very good and I don't think your child can make a "wrong" choice between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I married a Chicago boy, & here's his opinion: NU is better for journalism. Politics/history are equal but UC has a better Middle East program. Crime is much lower around UC than it used to be. (I'll vouch for this. I considered grad school at UC back in the day, but was scared off by the crime map they printed in the weekly student paper ). Overall, they're both good & highly respected schools. DH's family has grads from both schools.

UChicago's institute of politics >

[Anonymous]

I'm an NU grad-- what I loved about NU was the total university experience (marching band, game day, greek life, excellent academics, all kinds of cool dorms/residential colleges, great departments, varied social life opportunities, on and on) but it was smaller than a huge State university. The campus is stunning -- on Lake Michigan -- and near Chicago for all that that city has to offer. I loved it, except the deep frozen winters.

I think U of Chicago is also a great university but just offers a different experience. Just visit both, it should seem pretty obvious.

Go Cats!

[Anonymous]

Northwestern is a bigger school, with a wider variety of offerings. Journalism and theater are very strong, as a PP noted, as are speech language pathology, engineering, and the school of music. For many kids, NU would be the obvious choice, because it has the major they want.

I agree that if you have a student who wants to study a discipline that's offered at both schools, which generally means a traditional academic discipline like Math, or Political Science, or History, U of C is the stronger of the 2.

-- NU alum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an NU grad-- what I loved about NU was the total university experience (marching band, game day, greek life, excellent academics, all kinds of cool dorms/residential colleges, great departments, varied social life opportunities, on and on) but it was smaller than a huge State university. The campus is stunning -- on Lake Michigan -- and near Chicago for all that that city has to offer. I loved it, except the deep frozen winters.

I think U of Chicago is also a great university but just offers a different experience. Just visit both, it should seem pretty obvious.

Go Cats!

This. We just got back from touring both and DD thought NU was much more well-rounded. We left the UChicago tour thinking, "OK, maybe good for a certain kind of student, but not for someone who wants a more traditional university experience."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NW is very, very pre-professional, and Chicago is for quirky kids who march to their own beat. Both can be good school for the right student, and both probably turn out to be bad fits for more students than other universities that are similarly rated. Proceed with caution.

Agree with this. Honestly I don't think there's a debate. One school is for one kind of person and the other is for the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) would be "almost" equivalent to the University of Chicago (Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago) ONLY IF your child either:

(1) knows with certainty that they want to major in journalism or theater (as Northwestern has very strong programs in those areas);

or (2) your child knows with certainty that they plan to remain in the Chicago area for the rest of their lives, and have their careers there (as Chicagoans view and regard both those "hometown" Universities favorably).

Otherwise, the University of Chicago is a much better university than Northwestern University, much more highly regarded by academics and employers alike.

Re #2. I took DC to tour Northwestern last fall and every local we encountered who asked why we were in Chicago (e.g. cab driver/prof/kid her own age/waiter) responded by saying "You've got to visit U of C. Northwestern is a good school, but U of C is a great school. It's world-renowned!"

I am a third generation native Chicagoan who lived there for 30 years and I have a hard time believing this. Both are exceptionally well-regarded in Chicago, but differently regarded.

[Anonymous]

It happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) would be "almost" equivalent to the University of Chicago (Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago) ONLY IF your child either:

(1) knows with certainty that they want to major in journalism or theater (as Northwestern has very strong programs in those areas);

or (2) your child knows with certainty that they plan to remain in the Chicago area for the rest of their lives, and have their careers there (as Chicagoans view and regard both those "hometown" Universities favorably).

Otherwise, the University of Chicago is a much better university than Northwestern University, much more highly regarded by academics and employers alike.

Re #2. I took DC to tour Northwestern last fall and every local we encountered who asked why we were in Chicago (e.g. cab driver/prof/kid her own age/waiter) responded by saying "You've got to visit U of C. Northwestern is a good school, but U of C is a great school. It's world-renowned!"

I am a third generation native Chicagoan who lived there for 30 years and I have a hard time believing this. Both are exceptionally well-regarded in Chicago, but differently regarded.

I heard this convo all the time when I lived in Chicago. I was on the WL for UChi for LS and all my Chi native friends were flummoxed why I didn't withdraw.