UVA vs. Northwestern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parchment? Oh ok.

Based on actual data. What actual data do you offer?

Continue on. We are all giggling.

+1. Parchment is not data. Kids at NU and UC were either early admits or cross-admits looking at Cal, UCLA, Illinois, Michigan, Washington — not Ivies, Stanford, MIT or Duke. So called low Ivies are still more prestigious, more traditions and much superior geography vis a vis flyover county Chiraq.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're very close with two young gals that recently graduated from Northwestern and their experience seemed far more state school than elite private. If it weren't for US News, the crazy tiger parents from the coasts wouldn't be anywhere near so obsessed with it. It's a good college if you're in the Chicago burbs or in the Midwest and your kid can take a train there and back -- but it's truly not anything to obsess over.

I think there is some truth to it.

What about UChicago? How does it compare to NU?

Peer schools with a lot in common. NU has Big Ten sports (some kids might be into football and basketball), Chicago doesn't. Their grad programs are stellar, I don't think very many people are super impressed to see NU or UChicago undergrad. Quintessential "good school(s)" -- but certainly not jumping off the page like an Ivy, MIT, Duke or Stanford.

I’m the person who’s been around Northwestern and UVA. I think that Duke is a fine, well-known school that (like Northwestern, and UVA out-of-state) is absurdly hard to get into. But, outside of the South, it’s about at the same level, in terms of raw prestige, as Northwestern, UVA, Wash. U, the University of Texas or Emory.

I think the University of Chicago is in a slightly different image category. To me, it seems to be the place where liberal arts majors who are too bright and wonky for the Ivy League schools go.

My impression is that a place like the University of Indiana might be a lot like Northwestern and UVA, in terms of academic atmosphere, and that the University of Chicago is more like William and Mary. I feel as if the University of Chicago and William and Mary might be places where a higher percentage of the students want to drink from the cup of knowledge, not just learn what they need to get a good job.

That's not the cup most college students want to drink from . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is trying to choose between UVA and Northwestern for ED. They are both her top choices.

Would love insight into the two schools from people who have experience with them. (Btw, I'm doing this for me, I'm going to let her make her own decision of course). Cost doesn't make much of a difference as we're not in VA anyway. Thanks!

NU is like the public ivy of the Midwest ( without the public price tag for anyone). Great school but makes zero sense if you happen to be from one of the five or so states with incredible flagships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're very close with two young gals that recently graduated from Northwestern and their experience seemed far more state school than elite private. If it weren't for US News, the crazy tiger parents from the coasts wouldn't be anywhere near so obsessed with it. It's a good college if you're in the Chicago burbs or in the Midwest and your kid can take a train there and back -- but it's truly not anything to obsess over.

I think there is some truth to it.

What about UChicago? How does it compare to NU?

Peer schools with a lot in common. NU has Big Ten sports (some kids might be into football and basketball), Chicago doesn't. Their grad programs are stellar, I don't think very many people are super impressed to see NU or UChicago undergrad. Quintessential "good school(s)" -- but certainly not jumping off the page like an Ivy, MIT, Duke or Stanford.

I’m the person who’s been around Northwestern and UVA. I think that Duke is a fine, well-known school that (like Northwestern, and UVA out-of-state) is absurdly hard to get into. But, outside of the South, it’s about at the same level, in terms of raw prestige, as Northwestern, UVA, Wash. U, the University of Texas or Emory.

I think the University of Chicago is in a slightly different image category. To me, it seems to be the place where liberal arts majors who are too bright and wonky for the Ivy League schools go.

My impression is that a place like the University of Indiana might be a lot like Northwestern and UVA, in terms of academic atmosphere, and that the University of Chicago is more like William and Mary. I feel as if the University of Chicago and William and Mary might be places where a higher percentage of the students want to drink from the cup of knowledge, not just learn what they need to get a good job.

Absolutely. Please just pay attention to YOUR lovely son or daughter. These schools are all great. Their vibe is different. Please just pay attention to fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is trying to choose between UVA and Northwestern for ED. They are both her top choices.

Would love insight into the two schools from people who have experience with them. (Btw, I'm doing this for me, I'm going to let her make her own decision of course). Cost doesn't make much of a difference as we're not in VA anyway. Thanks!

NU is like the public ivy of the Midwest ( without the public price tag for anyone). Great school but makes zero sense if you happen to be from one of the five or so states with incredible flagships.

Northwestern makes the most sense if you are (a) aiming for a management consulting role, OR (b) receive financial aid and want to become a journalist, an actor, or a musician.

I've heard anecdotally that Northwestern is also one of the very few elite privates that offers hefty financial aid for middle class applicants, and that the SES spread is a bit more equitable than many other comparable schools.

[Anonymous]

UVA is probably more fun. Northwestern seems a little nerdy.

[Anonymous]

While UVA is one of the premier state flagships in the U.S., Northwestern is in a completely different tier. If all else is equal and you have the choice between the two, pick Northwestern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While UVA is one of the premier state flagships in the U.S., Northwestern is in a completely different tier. If all else is equal and you have the choice between the two, pick Northwestern.

Meh. I’m from the Midwest and have no concern about UVA, but this sounds like someone who has a grudge against UVA. As a six generation midwesterner and three generation Ivy Leaguer (probably because of the geographical and then legacy hook lol) I can tell you that Northwestern sends a slightly odd vibe of someone who’s trying for an Ivy and didn’t make it. Feels like Cornell (which is not great but at least it’s “Ivy” if that’s actually your goal ). There are so many other schools of its caliber how have more solid things going for it. But It does draw the east coasters looking for that just missed Ivy feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While UVA is one of the premier state flagships in the U.S., Northwestern is in a completely different tier. If all else is equal and you have the choice between the two, pick Northwestern.

Meh. I’m from the Midwest and have no concern about UVA, but this sounds like someone who has a grudge against UVA. As a six generation midwesterner and three generation Ivy Leaguer (probably because of the geographical and then legacy hook lol) I can tell you that Northwestern sends a slightly odd vibe of someone who’s trying for an Ivy and didn’t make it. Feels like Cornell (which is not great but at least it’s “Ivy” if that’s actually your goal ). There are so many other schools of its caliber how have more solid things going for it. But It does draw the east coasters looking for that just missed Ivy feel.

I'm also an "Ivy Leaguer" (though not "three generation," as if that were something to brag about), and I can definitively say this is one of the stupidest comments I've seen on DCUM. And no, not Cornell. I graduated from Yale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While UVA is one of the premier state flagships in the U.S., Northwestern is in a completely different tier. If all else is equal and you have the choice between the two, pick Northwestern.

Meh. I’m from the Midwest and have no concern about UVA, but this sounds like someone who has a grudge against UVA. As a six generation midwesterner and three generation Ivy Leaguer (probably because of the geographical and then legacy hook lol) I can tell you that Northwestern sends a slightly odd vibe of someone who’s trying for an Ivy and didn’t make it. Feels like Cornell (which is not great but at least it’s “Ivy” if that’s actually your goal ). There are so many other schools of its caliber how have more solid things going for it. But It does draw the east coasters looking for that just missed Ivy feel.

I'm also an "Ivy Leaguer" (though not "three generation," as if that were something to brag about), and I can definitively say this is one of the stupidest comments I've seen on DCUM. And no, not Cornell. I graduated from Yale.

+1!

[Anonymous]

How is this even a question? For Virginians UVA is $16,776 for tuition (DD lived off campus last year). Northwestern is $80K plus travel from Virginia. We banked the difference and can now send DD to Oxford on the difference. Yes, OOS is much closer in cost but the smaller size makes UVA the pick unless there is some program at Northwestern that is particularly compelling. The comments about UVA being Southern are absurd. It's as sophisticated as D.C./NOVA/Bethesda. People gripe about UVA because they are envious. MD doesn't have as good a selection of higher ED as Virginians. Same for D.C. Many Virginians pay for years and are discouraged by their high school college counselors (as we were, correctly, about one child) about even applying because it is so difficult to get into. So the bulk of NOVA Virginians are unhappy because either their child didn't even bother to apply because there was no point; applied and didn't get in; they, themselves, applied and didn't get in, and had to go somewhere much more expensive.

The real question you should be asking is "can my child get into UVA". There are only 4,500 slots. UVA has already seen a record 32,000 ED/EA applications. Last year the total was 41,000. This year the total will be much more due to families' financial situations impacted by COVID. SCHEV reports the enrolled students for 2020/21 had a 75th percentile SAT of 1490. ACT of 34 and GPA of 4.48. On top of that, students in VA are competing against the other applicants from their own high schools. You need to be at least in the top 10 percent of your high school class if not hooked. It's not like UCLA or Michigan where the flagships are enormous universities - which is IMHO a good thing, but makes getting in all the more difficult.

[Anonymous]

UVA has the Jefferson Scholars program which OOS students who might otherwise go Ivy can compete for (in-state, too, but it's a really nice package for OOS). Full ride. https://www.jeffersonscholars.org/scholarship

[Anonymous]

If money is not a concern, UVA, a public school, is much less prestigious than Northwestern. If you are a VA resident and money is a factor, then that is a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is trying to choose between UVA and Northwestern for ED. They are both her top choices.

Would love insight into the two schools from people who have experience with them. (Btw, I'm doing this for me, I'm going to let her make her own decision of course). Cost doesn't make much of a difference as we're not in VA anyway. Thanks!

NU is like the public ivy of the Midwest ( without the public price tag for anyone). Great school but makes zero sense if you happen to be from one of the five or so states with incredible flagships.

This shows people having no clue at all try to comment on DCUM. Northwestern is private. Please do your basic research before saying something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While UVA is one of the premier state flagships in the U.S., Northwestern is in a completely different tier. If all else is equal and you have the choice between the two, pick Northwestern.

Meh. I’m from the Midwest and have no concern about UVA, but this sounds like someone who has a grudge against UVA. As a six generation midwesterner and three generation Ivy Leaguer (probably because of the geographical and then legacy hook lol) I can tell you that Northwestern sends a slightly odd vibe of someone who’s trying for an Ivy and didn’t make it. Feels like Cornell (which is not great but at least it’s “Ivy” if that’s actually your goal ). There are so many other schools of its caliber how have more solid things going for it. But It does draw the east coasters looking for that just missed Ivy feel.

I think it's helpful for people to periodically receive impartial feedback on their personalities so here goes: you are an utter imbecile. You're welcome.