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I'm going through the process of applying ED to Northwestern right now, but I'm beginning to doubt the decision. I still have time to change to regular. I've been looking at Wash U in St.Louis, and they look great too. Should I change to regular Northwestern so that if I get into both schools later on, I can decide? By the way, I live in Chicago, and love it. BUT, I think it'd be fun to leave home for college... I've heard that even though Wash U is beautiful, the city itself is pretty boring.. So what do you guys think.. If i get in early to Northwestern, which i think I have a semi-OK chance at, should I not regret it? Or shoudl i just change to regular so that I can decide between schools later. Is Northwestern better? Oh, and I think i will be doing pre med.
Any advice is appreciated!

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 06:58 pm: Edit

Both schools are excellent and difficult to get into, although Washington U. may be slightly easier (this means nothing, though). Northwestern has a wider reputation and some may say it is more prestigious, but that doesn't make it any better than Washington U. For pre-med, I think Washington U. would have a slight edge (I know its medical school is only second to Harvard and tied with Johns Hopkins). Northwestern is a better all around school (strong in a huge range of subjects). Bottom line is that the schools are great choices, and you cannot really tell which you would fit into better until you visit both (I assume you have visited Northwestern already). Because of the difficulty of admissions to these two highly competitive schools, I suggest you do early to one of them, that is, of course, after you have scrutinized which one you like better. If you're split on the decision, then yes, do regular decision for both. You don't want to commit to one school when you are not sure.

As for location, I have never been to either Chicago or St. Louis, but from common knowledge, I can say that Chicago probably has more excitement. This doesn't mean that St. Louis doesn't have any, but Chicago is just a step up.

By Ycnan7 (Ycnan7) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 07:38 pm: Edit

Thanks spiffybrownboy, you've helped clear my thoughts a bit

By Swtaznangel4eva (Swtaznangel4eva) on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 08:03 pm: Edit

yea ycnan, you should apply early to NU... go wildcats... too bad they suck!!!

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 10:52 am: Edit

This might help - Northwestern's RD acceptance rate: 33%, ED: 53%; WUSTL's RD acceptance rate: 24%, don't have figures about their ED rate.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 11:01 am: Edit

Wash U accepts about a third of their kids early. Last year they had a bumper crop of applications. In the last several years their acceptance rate has been more like 30%, up from 40% from a few years before that.
A trend that is occuring with a lot of schools that get "hot".
I don't suggest early decision, unless you know you want to go there. Your chances of transferring into either is much lower than any of these statistics. Good luck in deciding--this is the big problem with ED.

By Bada1712 (Bada1712) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 12:36 pm: Edit

hey ycnan, I was also debating b/t wash u. and northwestern. I'm applying ED to NU. I definitely think Northwestern is the better choice.

By Ycnan7 (Ycnan7) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 06:09 pm: Edit

Thanks for your input everyone. I don't think my decision will change much with applying ED to Northwestern now. I love northwestern, but i'm just afraid of getting in and regretting it because i didnt get to compare it to another before making my decision. oh well, maybe i can just go to wash U for med school.