<p>So, I got waitlisted to both of these amazing schools. I’m staying on the waitlist for both of these schools, and I recognize that the chances of getting off of the waitlist is slim to none, but a girl can dream right? After researching, I really think Emory is more for me. My mom is convinced otherwise; she wants me to focus on Northwestern and doesn’t like the idea that I prefer Emory. What are the advantages of Emory? How is their financial aid compared to Northwestern’s?</p>
<p>My daughter was admitted to both and the reasons she preferred Emory were that (1) she thought Northwestern had more of a “silo” administration making it more difficult to cross academic disciplines and (2) Northwestern’s linear campus guaranteed long walks in the atrocious winter weather. However, they are both great schools and you will get a first class education at either. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>^It’s extremely easy to cross academic disciplines at NU. The only exceptions are journalism, music (performance), and theater (performance) for obvious reasons. Note that you can still study musicology and drama in the school of arts and sciences. The number of people that double majors at NU is insane. For example, 60% of industrial engineering and management science majors also major in economics. Both Rhodes Scholars two year ago were triple majors. NU offers over 4000 courses a year, which is astonishing for a mid-sized university.</p>
<p>NU got into interdisciplinary fields much earliest than probably any school in the country. Well-regarded programs like integrated science programs (ISP) and mathematical methods for social sciences (MMSS) have been around since the 70s. NU created the first material sciences and engineering department in the world in the 50s. It’s also the first to have combined medical program (60s) and one of the earliest to have biomedical engineering department (60s). They have a unique engineering curriculum that integrates math, sciences, and computing for freshmen when students in most other schools are still taking physics, chemistry, computer sciences courses separately. Also, as far as I know, NU is the only school with top music programs that provide dual-degree in music and engineering. Based on what others wrote in CC, other top music programs really discourage music students from pursuing another major.</p>
<p>The Northwestern waitlist is much easier to get through than the Emory waitlist because Northwestern waitlists much fewer people.</p>
<p>Emory pulls from their waitlists to fill demographic holes; no idea what your demographic is but if what charlie5504 says is true, and you are a white female from the mid-atlantic/northeast, he is probably right…</p>
<p>Your mom is probably just going w/prestige and rank which is fair. However, the two are actually very different and you probably have reason to prefer Emory because you recognize this. Perhaps our interdisciplinary approach/depts. were more relevant to you.<br>
Most of those examples that Sam cites are in science and engineering which we don’t even have (as in engineering), so it isn’t fair to compare there. We also don’t have a “top” music school/program (though it is really good for its kind). And a lot of my pre-med/pre-engineering (they are doing the 3/2 program with Tech) are music majors and love it. And even then, one should probably look into places like Georgia Tech for that stuff if they really want it. Both are actually excellent with the interdisciplinary areas based upon what Sam describes (and other things I’ve seen). Our strengths (as in cross-disciplinary) just manifest themselves in different areas throughout the science. We have the huge neuroscience, psyche, biology, anthropology, environmental, global health, etc. intermixing. And then Emory seems to be trying to add more integration of the liberal arts type teaching and issues into the sciences, which why we have the center for ethics and similar outlets. Basically doing science at Emory will not alienate you from non-science folks. They are trying hard to develop a legit intellectual community and curriculum the results in intermingling of two communities that would generally be so separate at most schools. In this sense, not having engineering is beneficial I guess. It seems as if having one would lead to nearly irreparable polarization of the natural/hard sciences and the social sciences. The number of people double majoring here is also crazy (but often it is two completely different majors). </p>
<p>Basically Emory has developed an interesting approach to interdisciplinary studies/depts that indicates its desire to maintain its liberal arts core. </p>
<p>As for Silo at NU, not sure about that. Normally places like Harvard are known (or cited) for high polarization between depts/schools, but I don’t know how much of it is hyberbole.</p>
<p>Sam:</p>
<p>“Also, as far as I know, NU is the only school with top music programs that provide dual-degree in music and engineering.”</p>
<p>Michigan does as this as well through it’s college of engineering:</p>
<p>Dual Baccalaureate Degree Opportunities
Students with interest in more than one program offered by the College may work for additional bachelor’s degrees concurrently if they plan the course elections carefully. Students will find that it is possible to satisfy the subject requirements of both programs in a minimum amount of time by conferring early with the respective program advisors. Approval by involved departments is required. Opportunities to obtain an additional bachelor’s degree in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, the School of Business Administration, the School of Music, and other academic units are also available.</p>
<p>Michigan, as I’m sure you are aware, has top music and engineering programs. :-)</p>
<p>thank you, this helps a lot! As far as geographic holes go, I am Asian-American and I live in Southern Illinois.</p>
<p>sorry, I mean demographic holes.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m pretty sure you have no advantage at Emory. I hope you get into one.</p>
<p>^ Thank you! Me too. :]</p>