red04captain

I am having a lot of trouble deciding between Northwestern or Middlebury for next year. I know they are very different schools, but I am still having a hard time. I must be honest that I am leaning towards Northwestern, but there is still hesitation. I was accepted to Weinberg, and I am interested in International Relations and Business. How are those departments at NU? Also, do you find the class sizes at NU to large to have any sort of personal contact with your professors? Finally, are there any other arguments that you have for NU that could make this decision easier for me? Someone please help me out here. It's coming down to the wire with this decision.

Sam Lee

NU is heavily recruited by top firms in the business world due to it's highly ranked econ program; even it doesn't have an undergrad business major, it still benefits from the halo effect of the Kellogg school. Now Kellogg starts offering undergrad certificate so things are changing for better, as far as those biz-oriented students are concerned. You will probably be majoring in econ with IR as the adjunct major, which is also very popular.

red04captain

What do you know about this business institutions minor? Is it worth seriously considering? I ask this because although I am into business, I have never been a heavily math oriented guy, and I am into the less heavy mathematical econ. side of business? Does the business institutions program fit that description? If not, is there a way to be successful with that type of buesiness interest at NU?

Sam Lee

The business institutions minor is very popular and there's no competitive admission. There's a huge list of electives so you can pick those that suit your interest and comfort level. Regardless, it's definitely not math oriented like the Kellogg certificate.

red04captain

What are class sizes at NU generally like and do you think there is enough opportunity to get any kind of personal attention from professors at NU?

brackis

Yes and no.
To get help and discuss relevent topics related to the material, definitely.
To win empathy points and finagle your way into a better grade, no.

Sam Lee

The class size is nothing like the public U. It's just like other private peers (Duke, JHU, Stanford, Harvard...)

Sam Lee

http://ugadm.northwestern.edu/commondata/2005-06/i.htm

Scroll down to the bottom.

eternity1115

go to Northwestern
it will get you into better business grad schools + the kellogg certificates sound like a great program for people who want to go into business

Sam Lee

red04captain,

There are 200 or so econ majors every year. Seeing you don't want heavy math-oriented econ and want more personal attention. Maybe you want to check out the LOC program at the School of Ed and Public Policy. I don't mean you can't get personal attention as a econ major, however. Anyway, SEPS is a lot smaller and advising has been known to be amazing.

arcadia

According to the Wall Street Journal, there's a negligible difference between Middlebury and Northwestern when it comes to admission to top grad schools.

http://www.wsjclassroom.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf

Middlebury will provide a more intimate learning environment.

orinthesea

Kellogg. Many people tend to completely ignore the name values, however, it can be important if you are ever going to work in other countries. Big businesses will know "Kellogg"

Beside, personal attention can be available even in huge public schools like UCLA and Berkeley, if you really try to communicate with the professors. People who just sit in class and sleep, of course, won't get any personal attention in Northwestern and later complain.

Again, Mid has the best foreign language department, so "if" you are into languages, I'd definitely recommend Middlebury.

Romanson1

NU's location is more dynamic. Unless you want to live in a peaceful rural area for 4 years, go to NU