Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 07:03     Subject: Re:Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:People here are still stuck in the 80s and 90s when they applied to college, and when Northwestern lingered around #20. I think generally, it tends to fade into the background despite having some excellent programs, as it doesn't have many controversial qualities or recent news (it's just a bit quiet). ED there is a reliable admit for kids at many private schools and top publics. Overall, great school, but posters wearing DCUM blinders discredit it.


With roughly 4000 colleges in the country I don't think anything ranked as high as Northwestern has "faded into the background"
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 06:55     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
I think you may be confusing Northwestern with Northeastern.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 06:38     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:Because DCUM is full of idiots


^ this
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 06:38     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
It was very popular with top kids from my HS in NJ in the 80s.

Had a few kids go from my class.

Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 06:30     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
No one knows NU on the east coast. Alum here.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 05:36     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:I went to Northwestern and to the extent anyone cares about undergrad past a certain age it's more "Oh that's a great school". The more common criticism of NU is the whole "nerdwestern" thing (which was somewhat fair when I attended, though the theater kid parties were wild).

But it can't be emphasized enough, once you get out of the college bubble and start working, people really don't care where you went to undergrad. I've mentored fantastic interns with bright futures from all sorts of schools.


This. I went to a T300 school. Once I got my first job, nobody ever asked me, or cared, where I went.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 03:31     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
I went to Northwestern and to the extent anyone cares about undergrad past a certain age it's more "Oh that's a great school". The more common criticism of NU is the whole "nerdwestern" thing (which was somewhat fair when I attended, though the theater kid parties were wild).

But it can't be emphasized enough, once you get out of the college bubble and start working, people really don't care where you went to undergrad. I've mentored fantastic interns with bright futures from all sorts of schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 02:46     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Because DCUM is full of idiots
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 02:35     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:I feel like there’s a disconnect between Northwestern’s U.S. News ranking (tied for 7th) and the way people talk about it on DCUM. Why do you think that is? What isn’t showing up in the U.S. News methodology? Conversely, is NU better than people think?

Never noticed
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 01:47     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen any one disparaging or discrediting NU here. It's a bit invisible, but most posters have very high regard to this school.

IMO, NU is on par with Penn.


100%.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 01:38     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen any one disparaging or discrediting NU here. It's a bit invisible, but most posters have very high regard to this school.

IMO, NU is on par with Penn.


We know you said that just to be controversial and wake up the Ivy-or-bust moms.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 01:34     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen any one disparaging or discrediting NU here. It's a bit invisible, but most posters have very high regard to this school.

IMO, NU is on par with Penn.


Yes, they're ranked the same, so most agree - but 70% would choose Penn per Parchment data.

IMO, Northwestern is in the T10 tier with Penn, UChicago, Duke, and Columbia. All powerhouses with standout programs.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 01:23     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
I haven't seen any one disparaging or discrediting NU here. It's a bit invisible, but most posters have very high regard to this school.

IMO, NU is on par with Penn.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 01:18     Subject: Re:Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
People here are still stuck in the 80s and 90s when they applied to college, and when Northwestern lingered around #20. I think generally, it tends to fade into the background despite having some excellent programs, as it doesn't have many controversial qualities or recent news (it's just a bit quiet). ED there is a reliable admit for kids at many private schools and top publics. Overall, great school, but posters wearing DCUM blinders discredit it.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 00:58     Subject: Northwestern - disconnect between U.S. News rank and DCUM comments
I feel like there’s a disconnect between Northwestern’s U.S. News ranking (tied for 7th) and the way people talk about it on DCUM. Why do you think that is? What isn’t showing up in the U.S. News methodology? Conversely, is NU better than people think?