Anonymous wrote:Of these I would do: NU, Vandi, Wash U. WashU has turned into a Penn runover and I think most kids think it's a grind and not in a good way! Student body at NU is smart, fun, and warm. Evanston/Chicago is a much better choice than St. Louis (and I know it). Vanderbilt is much preppier, bro vibe, but fun athletics as well.

WashU is deficiently not a grind - strong on student life. Food is known to be great - they recently added actual restaurants on campus for variety. Lots of impromptu ice cream trucks, food trucks, etc. Dorms are very nice all with tempurpedic mattresses. Also, lots of student run businesses on campus. Academically, very easy to change majors/schools.

Of these I would do: NU, Vandi, Wash U. WashU has turned into a Penn runover and I think most kids think it's a grind and not in a good way! Student body at NU is smart, fun, and warm. Evanston/Chicago is a much better choice than St. Louis (and I know it). Vanderbilt is much preppier, bro vibe, but fun athletics as well.

WUSTL and the area are blue - rest of the state is red. Happy to have my kid voting there TBH.

Wash U & NW are far above Vandy.

Anonymous wrote:I am the NP from 10:30. Thanks for the replies thus far.

Honestly, have no agenda re: Evanston. There were some sketchy people around (multiple times and areas), particularly around the L station (not far from campus). Just trying to get a feel for the surrounding area.

My DC is leaning heavily toward NU or Vandy and trying to weigh pros and cons.

Academics are easier at Vanderbilt--which could be either a pro or a con.

Better weather at Vanderbilt & Nashville is a great city (as is Chicago if you avoid certain areas).

Northwestern is very well respected on both coasts, Vanderbilt is still best known & respected in the South.

Vanderbilt loves high standardized test scores.

My honest opinion: On paper, Vanderbilt appears to be the more well rounded school leading to a better 4 years, but Northwestern is better for students who demand a lot of themselves. Northwestern's setting on Lake Michigan is gorgeous, but gets cold & windy. Vanderbilt is all lollipops and sunshine.

Anonymous wrote:I am the NP from 10:30. Thanks for the replies thus far.

Honestly, have no agenda re: Evanston. There were some sketchy people around (multiple times and areas), particularly around the L station (not far from campus). Just trying to get a feel for the surrounding area.

My DC is leaning heavily toward NU or Vandy and trying to weigh pros and cons.

NP here. The downtown area where restaurants and shops are is safe. There is WholeFoods, Target, CVS, tons of restaurants etc all blocks from the campus. Students go there a lot, both day and night. As with any area you should be safe and go in groups at night. There are some homeless people, but I haven’t heard of an issue. I’ve never been to the L station, so I can’t speak to that. NU runs a shuttle to the downtown campus where med and law schools are so don’t have to take train unless want to.
We looked at all three of these and my DC fell in love with Northwestern. Liked Vanderbilt and was lukewarm on WashU.

I am the NP from 10:30. Thanks for the replies thus far.

Honestly, have no agenda re: Evanston. There were some sketchy people around (multiple times and areas), particularly around the L station (not far from campus). Just trying to get a feel for the surrounding area.

My DC is leaning heavily toward NU or Vandy and trying to weigh pros and cons.

The part of Evanston bordering the Northwestern University campus is very safe. Any posting differently has an agenda against the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My DC is trying to decide which of these schools to ED1 to. OP are you around? Which one did your DC pick?

As to Evanston, was there recently and it didn't feel super safe.

Above PP again. The other PP is right that ED odds at WashU are higher than for Northwestern. WashU is a safe campus but borders unsafe areas. Frankly I would prefer Evanston to WashU's location, but the difference would not move the needle either way for safety.

There is a lot of misconception about the neighborhood that WashU is in which gets propagated on DCUM like its gospel, probably from those who have never visited or researched it. We visited the campus last month as DC was interested in applying. It's in a very safe and nice part of St. Louis called Clayton. The campus itself is gorgeous with Collegiate Gothic architecture surrounded by new, airy/sunny buildings. The campus borders Forest Park which has over 1300 beautifully landscaped acres and home to the St. Louis Art Museum, Science Center, St. Louis Zoo, Jewel Box greenhouse, Missouri History Museum and the Muny open-air theatre. The campus sits about 10 miles from the dangerous parts of St. Louis. We were surprised ourselves as we had the impression that the neighborhood was seedy and dangerous. Don't believe what you hear and do you own research.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My DC is trying to decide which of these schools to ED1 to. OP are you around? Which one did your DC pick?

As to Evanston, was there recently and it didn't feel super safe.

Above PP again. The other PP is right that ED odds at WashU are higher than for Northwestern. WashU is a safe campus but borders unsafe areas. Frankly I would prefer Evanston to WashU's location, but the difference would not move the needle either way for safety.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My DC is trying to decide which of these schools to ED1 to. OP are you around? Which one did your DC pick?

As to Evanston, was there recently and it didn't feel super safe.

I've been there twice in the past year and lived in nearby Wilmette many years ago. It seems quite safe to me, no less safe than any other college in a city. Evanston is nicer than it was 20 yrs ago. Specifically for location purposes, I'd be thrilled if my kid chose Northwestern. Way easier to deal with for safety purposes than that other school on the South Side. Seems at least as safe as Georgetown and GWU.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My DC is trying to decide which of these schools to ED1 to. OP are you around? Which one did your DC pick?

As to Evanston, was there recently and it didn't feel super safe.

Chances at Wash U ED literally double the other two, so if you
are truly neutral, do that.

NP here. My DC is trying to decide which of these schools to ED1 to. OP are you around? Which one did your DC pick?

As to Evanston, was there recently and it didn't feel super safe.

Parts of Evanston safe and parts unsafe. Nearby Chicago in general has deteriorated during Covid and under their current mayor