<p>Northwestern is closer to the Harvard/Yale smart socialite atmosphere, and UChicago is closer to Reed/Swarthmore quirkiness. Most schools these days are pre-professional in that they’re heavily invested in making sure their students to get into top consulting firms and top employers with the realization that the academic market is flooded with PhDs who are jobless. Who can afford not to get a high (or at least decent)-paying job after 4 years of expensive schooling?</p>