Northwestern is mostly annoying pre-professional strivers who couldn't get into an Ivy (even Cornell!).

Cornell is clean cut CA-NY-NJ legacy kids and type-A boarding school kids and Asian grinds pursuing STEM.

Without question Big Red is a better undergrad experience.

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern undergrad is meh.

Low Ivy is still an Ivy.

So what? Ivy is just a sport conference

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No meaningful difference in prestige.

Both are cold. Really it comes down to one thing: do you want to be near a big city, or far from a big city?

This.

+1

IMO they are pretty comparable in a lot of ways. I'd decide based on campus visit or maybe if a niche academic area (journalism) is being considered.

+2 (from an NU grad who chose it over Cornell after visiting both)

There is literally no difference in prestige. Cornell is barely an ivy. Just focus on where you fit in better.

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern undergrad is meh.

Low Ivy is still an Ivy.

More like the lowest Ivy, not just low Ivy. Still an ivy tho, I agree. Cornell is slightly more prestigious than NU but there is no huge difference here. Also there is no difference in terms of quality. I would advise looking past the (very) small difference in prestige and focusing on fit.

Northwestern undergrad is meh.

Low Ivy is still an Ivy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No meaningful difference in prestige.

Both are cold. Really it comes down to one thing: do you want to be near a big city, or far from a big city?

This.

+1

IMO they are pretty comparable in a lot of ways. I'd decide based on campus visit or maybe if a niche academic area (journalism) is being considered.

Your DC needs to visit both campuses to get any real idea of what would work best. The "prestige" question is just...irrelevant, really. Both are excellent schools for those majors. Don't let so-called prestige sway you into thinking your kid should go to Cornell if DC really preferred NU after visiting, or vice versa.

If you want to work in NYC finance, cornell will definately have more recruiting/network advantage BUT it also will have more competition within your school for those jobs.

Northwestern is better for management consulting.

Anonymous wrote:No meaningful difference in prestige.

Both are cold. Really it comes down to one thing: do you want to be near a big city, or far from a big city?

This.

Anonymous wrote:No meaningful difference in prestige.

Both are cold. Really it comes down to one thing: do you want to be near a big city, or far from a big city?

One is windier than the other. One is hillier than the other.

Cornell probably slightly better reputation nationally and internationally. Undergrad education would be the same.

No meaningful difference in prestige.

Both are cold. Really it comes down to one thing: do you want to be near a big city, or far from a big city?

Would your DC prefer a rural or urban living experience?

Have you looked at University of Chicago? Math and Econ are areas that they are particularly well known for.

Which is better and more prestigious overall for undergrad? DC is interested in Math and Econ.