So I got into two schools, Northwestern and Vanderbilt. Was very excited about NW and going there, but got an email from a 2nd uncle with connection at Brown University where I was waitlisted saying he may be able to get me off the waitlist if im willing to make some effort too.
By asking him for a favor, it would be in very poor taste to be accepted and not attend the school. There is no sure thing with me getting off WL, so i have to decide whether I want to make that push or not.
Please refrain from the "these are all such good elitist rich kid schools so stfu noob" comments.
Ideas? This is the biggest decision of my life thus far, well at least since I matched my socks this morning. If anyone goes to Brown and would be willing to host me for a night or two, it would be great because as a non-admitted student they likely wouldn't allow me to attend any Brown organized visit weekend.
Any personal insight?
The following are my impressions and generalizations about the two schools that may or may not be true.
Pros of NW for me:
- Great Social Policy school niche for me that is specific in curriculumn but broad in grad/vocational opportunities. (260 undergrad students and 22 fulltime faculty)
-Large city (chicago) for me to study and become involved in social programs, non-profits, politics etc..
Cons:
-Cold and in the midwest where I know no one
-Lots of frats
- Possible emphasis on grad students over undergrads (50% grad students and "the best" grad programs, especiallu in my "niche" school which is highly ranked for it's graduate programs)
- large school outside of specific school I was admitted to
Brown
Pros:
-"Ivy League prestige" (even if it is ranked equal to NW which also has prestige, the Ivy cachet does have value to it whether good or bad)
-Closer to my hometown of Boston while still far enough away (Miss my elderly dog living away from home and being able to see him often would give me some peace of mind)
- No core curriculumn requirements
- I felt a larger emphasis was put on undergrad education (5000-6000 undergrad and <2000 grad)
- Know a few people who go there (with different academic interests)
- Large endowment that could give me some undergrad fellowships to further pursue social welfare projects. (Same total endowment at NW with less than half the population)
Cons:
-Heard that lots of people are potheads, druggies or otherwise wierd folks
- Hippy persona sometimes implied
- No specific school for my interest, although they do have a great public policy major and have just about anything I could want for classes and majors (and a "create your own major" major)
By asking him for a favor, it would be in very poor taste to be accepted and not attend the school. There is no sure thing with me getting off WL, so i have to decide whether I want to make that push or not.
Please refrain from the "these are all such good elitist rich kid schools so stfu noob" comments.
Ideas? This is the biggest decision of my life thus far, well at least since I matched my socks this morning. If anyone goes to Brown and would be willing to host me for a night or two, it would be great because as a non-admitted student they likely wouldn't allow me to attend any Brown organized visit weekend.
Any personal insight?
The following are my impressions and generalizations about the two schools that may or may not be true.
Pros of NW for me:
- Great Social Policy school niche for me that is specific in curriculumn but broad in grad/vocational opportunities. (260 undergrad students and 22 fulltime faculty)
-Large city (chicago) for me to study and become involved in social programs, non-profits, politics etc..
Cons:
-Cold and in the midwest where I know no one
-Lots of frats
- Possible emphasis on grad students over undergrads (50% grad students and "the best" grad programs, especiallu in my "niche" school which is highly ranked for it's graduate programs)
- large school outside of specific school I was admitted to
Brown
Pros:
-"Ivy League prestige" (even if it is ranked equal to NW which also has prestige, the Ivy cachet does have value to it whether good or bad)
-Closer to my hometown of Boston while still far enough away (Miss my elderly dog living away from home and being able to see him often would give me some peace of mind)
- No core curriculumn requirements
- I felt a larger emphasis was put on undergrad education (5000-6000 undergrad and <2000 grad)
- Know a few people who go there (with different academic interests)
- Large endowment that could give me some undergrad fellowships to further pursue social welfare projects. (Same total endowment at NW with less than half the population)
Cons:
-Heard that lots of people are potheads, druggies or otherwise wierd folks
- Hippy persona sometimes implied
- No specific school for my interest, although they do have a great public policy major and have just about anything I could want for classes and majors (and a "create your own major" major)
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