Thoughts on Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWU is severely overrated

Northwestern though is underrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWU is severely overrated

I don’t think this is true at all, but what makes you say so?

[Anonymous]

I thought that Northwestern was under-rated, but then Penn State manhandled them in the second half.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you want to study. If computer science or engineering, Cornell is amazing. If journalism, definitely northwestern. If public policy, Duke. If business, Penn. Make decisions based on program and opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Depends on fit. Many great schools that may fit better depending on your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what to make of it, DS likes it but also likes a number of other schools more. He's considering EDing for "strategic purposes" since it seems a bit easier to get into than some of his higher choices. Is Northwestern more akin to schools like UPenn, Duke, Columbia, and Yale, or more akin schools like Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and UChicago?

Hi, in terms of vibe, I would put NU with Duke and UPENN.
Or are you talking about prestige? I think at the selectivity level you are talking about, they are roughly the same and it should be about fit.

There is very little chance a kid who is a good fit at Duke is a good fit at JHU or UChicago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what to make of it, DS likes it but also likes a number of other schools more. He's considering EDing for "strategic purposes" since it seems a bit easier to get into than some of his higher choices. Is Northwestern more akin to schools like UPenn, Duke, Columbia, and Yale, or more akin schools like Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and UChicago?

Hi, in terms of vibe, I would put NU with Duke and UPENN.
Or are you talking about prestige? I think at the selectivity level you are talking about, they are roughly the same and it should be about fit.

There is very little chance a kid who is a good fit at Duke is a good fit at JHU or UChicago

Agree with the bolded.

[Anonymous]

Beautiful campus. Hard-working students. Seems like a great alumni network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure a NW ED is a good strategic choice. it's really difficult to get into from the DMV (a hair away from impossible) Also, if you're coming from private you better be a URM. 2023 admits from DC privates were about 10/10 URM.

Not true, according to school’ senior class Instagram pages, and a first-year admit/current student from the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what to make of it, DS likes it but also likes a number of other schools more. He's considering EDing for "strategic purposes" since it seems a bit easier to get into than some of his higher choices. Is Northwestern more akin to schools like UPenn, Duke, Columbia, and Yale, or more akin schools like Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and UChicago?

They're all great schools. And they're all difficult admits.

I'd toss out Columbia, Yale, Chicago and Hopkins. Different vibe from Northwestern.

I'd include Penn, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Brown for someone interested in Northwestern. For someone interested in STEM, I'd add Rice as well.

Be strategic with the ED app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what to make of it, DS likes it but also likes a number of other schools more. He's considering EDing for "strategic purposes" since it seems a bit easier to get into than some of his higher choices. Is Northwestern more akin to schools like UPenn, Duke, Columbia, and Yale, or more akin schools like Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and UChicago?

OP, I would suggest that he ED to whichever school he likes most. Acceptance in all these schools is so random that it's almost a lottery. My son got into Yale but was rejected by WashU. His best friend was accepted at Swarthmore but rejected by Colorado College. I suggest your DS gives himself the best chance of getting into his first choice by EDing there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is in a unique category. It has top notch academics, but is also part of the Big 10 sports league. It’s a school for really smart kids who are also social and like to go to games, parties, etc. In that way, it’s probably most similar to Duke. But Northwestern also has a great college town a few blocks away and is half an hour from a major city. I can’t think of other schools that have these same characteristics.

Boston College fits that description as does The U/Miami.

[Anonymous]

Definitely go Northwestern if a theater arts major. Also fantastic for law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is in a unique category. It has top notch academics, but is also part of the Big 10 sports league. It’s a school for really smart kids who are also social and like to go to games, parties, etc. In that way, it’s probably most similar to Duke. But Northwestern also has a great college town a few blocks away and is half an hour from a major city. I can’t think of other schools that have these same characteristics.

Boston College fits that description as does The U/Miami.

Thanks for proving the OP’s point. NU is unique in this regard.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern has great fundamentals - very solid academics, gorgeous location for a college, close to a major city, one of the strongest endowments in the country. Even if you take out the extra "fluff", these are extremely compelling characteristics.