Anonymous
02/11/2026 10:40
Subject: Northwestern vibe
My kid is an athletic recruit. Reports a huge social divide between athletes and the rest of the student body, which they think is very nerdy.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 10:32
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Why are you here trashing a school your kid doesn’t attend? Abject boredom?
Exactly. I've noticed this pattern. I wonder if its the some pathetic bored mom.
+1
Anonymous
02/11/2026 10:30
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Why are you here trashing a school your kid doesn’t attend? Abject boredom?
Exactly. I've noticed this pattern. I wonder if its the some pathetic bored mom.
This NW moms seem really nice and low key.
Stop trying to police any somewhat negative thing said about the school.
Exactly, for the sin of saying NW (Duke too) is not nearly as social as it used to be, something that is pretty widely acknowledged, I’ve been called pathetic and accused of being jealous because my kid couldn’t get in.
been called pathetic and accused of having . Some of us have not matured above the middle school level apparently. Parent pool is something I’d consider op.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 10:25
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Why are you here trashing a school your kid doesn’t attend? Abject boredom?
Exactly. I've noticed this pattern. I wonder if its the some pathetic bored mom.
This NW moms seem really nice and low key.
Stop trying to police any somewhat negative thing said about the school.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 10:01
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Why are you here trashing a school your kid doesn’t attend? Abject boredom?
Exactly. I've noticed this pattern. I wonder if its the some pathetic bored mom.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 09:47
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
+1. So true
+2 Northwestern and Duke are GRINDY and nerdy. Not “rah rah” anymore. For private schools, I think USC still has this vibe. Not a top20, but schools like BC, Tulane, Wake Forest, UMiami are much more rah rah and similar to what Duke and Northwestern used to be like. But the parents on here like to bash all these schools as “party schools.” These schools do, in fact, have great academics, research opportunities, and studious students!
Agree, would add Michigan UNC and UVa. Grinders have taken over the T15. Nothing wrong with that, some kids thrive in that environment but it’s laughable trying to pretend NW hasn’t changed a lot, same for Duke.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 08:33
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
+1. So true
+2 Northwestern and Duke are GRINDY and nerdy. Not “rah rah” anymore. For private schools, I think USC still has this vibe. Not a top20, but schools like BC, Tulane, Wake Forest, UMiami are much more rah rah and similar to what Duke and Northwestern used to be like. But the parents on here like to bash all these schools as “party schools.” These schools do, in fact, have great academics, research opportunities, and studious students!
Anonymous
02/11/2026 08:22
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Duke::Vandy. Northwestern::Cornell
My reasoning - Tons of overlap in who applies. Both are for kids who want top academics and can handle bad weather. Both have sports and Greek life but also not crazy party schools. You can find the fun but it’s a subset of the students. Cornell is just a fraction easier admit arguably because it’s just bigger and also the state college component adds higher chances if in NY.
My reasoning - Tons of overlap in who applies. Both are for kids who want top academics and can handle bad weather. Both have sports and Greek life but also not crazy party schools. You can find the fun but it’s a subset of the students. Cornell is just a fraction easier admit arguably because it’s just bigger and also the state college component adds higher chances if in NY.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 02:00
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Why are you here trashing a school your kid doesn’t attend? Abject boredom?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 00:49
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.
never applied, got into SCEA school.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 00:36
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
What about Vanderbilt? Not as sports, focused, but doesn’t Cornell fall into this bucket as well?
I was referencing T10 schools. Vandy is excellent, but a tier down academically than Duke and Northwestern.
OK so who can complete this one
Duke:Vandy::Northwestern:_______
??
Anonymous
02/11/2026 00:22
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
What about Vanderbilt? Not as sports, focused, but doesn’t Cornell fall into this bucket as well?
I was referencing T10 schools. Vandy is excellent, but a tier down academically than Duke and Northwestern.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 22:36
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
What about Vanderbilt? Not as sports, focused, but doesn’t Cornell fall into this bucket as well?
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:18
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Or Duke.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:18
Subject: Northwestern vibe
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you want a school that effectively balances the academics of a T10, with the feel of a traditional “rah rah” campus - you have 2 choices: Duke and Northwestern. Great schools, great vibes, great students.
Someone thinks it’s still 1995.
Someone’s kid didn’t get into Northwestern.