Northwestern versus Duke

Colleges & Universities Northwestern University
1

<p>Okay, so I was accepted both by Duke and NU. (Duke let me know I had been accepted because I was a merit scholarship finalist).</p>

<p>I still have to hear back from Ivies but until then, I want you guys to tell me where you think I would fit better. I am 90% certain I will go with Duke because I feel we are more compatible but I could be mistaken. I mean, being an international student, websites and student reviews are my only sources of information.</p>

<p>So here we go: I intend to pursue a career in Earth Sciences/ Environmental Sciences and my biggest passions are rock climbing, caving, trekking and nature in general. This is why I dream to become a sort of traveling scientist (an earth scientist who spends 3 months studying a volcano or a biologist who examines a species of insects for example and then goes back to the lab to write down her observations and publish them - something like that).</p>

<p>This is why my dream school has to have a strong Earth Science/Biology department, which I think applies to both Duke and NU.</p>

<p>Second, it has to have a climbing gym on campus or close by. Duke has a climbing gym on campus that is open for a lot of hours every day so that’s cool. But by using google maps and google in general, I also found a climbing gym very very close to NU’s campus. Am I right about this? Is there a climbing wall very close to NU? </p>

<p>Third, I don’t really need a big city close by because I really like isolation and wilderness. So Duke seems like a better choice but I’m afraid this could backfire. Durham is 120 miles from the Appalachians while Evanston is like light years away from any mountains but I’ve been told that 120 miles are still a lot if you don’t own a car.</p>

<p>I don’t own a car so the only chance for me is to find a cool Outing Club with members who own cars and go on trips. And I don’t know if this is more likely to happen at Duke (where I am limited to small Durham) or at NU(where Chicago’s endless opportunities are… endless).</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

<p>P.S.: Sorry if my sources are fallacious or if I am misinformed…</p>

2

<p>Congratulations! Both are excellent schools, and daunting admission challenges. You are fortunate to be in such a position. </p>

<p>I would suggest that with schools of such parity in overall academic excellence as well as in your program of interest, that money should be factored in perhaps as the determinative factor. Which one is cheaper for you? </p>

<p>The private beaches at NU are pretty spectacular and it’s lakefront location is a plus for those passionate about the outdoors (especially us beach volleyball nuts). But as far as mountain climbing (Sears or Hancock tower stairs are availalbe for a challenge?), I am not sure of your options.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. You are right, money will probably be the decisive factor. My family earns very little money so I will probably be on full financial aid (I haven’t received any financial aid packages yet: with Duke I have an interview on Tuesday that will decide if I get the University Scholars Program scholarship, which is a full merit scholarship; NU’s financial aid package will arrive in the mail next week) but of course this full financial aid could mean different things. For one university it could mean that I don’t even have to pay for my plane tickets, while for the other it could not mean that.</p>