<p>Ok read the NU thread. Show the two threads to your parents. </p>
<p>Again, I would not worry about the unsolicited recommendation.
CMU and NU are peer universities. If one peer gives you an acceptance, there is a good likely hood that other peer colleges will give an offer. NU extended a bit more FA than CMU because 1) NU is a peer to CMU and matched their offer plus a sweetner. CMU does the same to NU; 2) NU assumes that you are vetted by CMU and thus there is little risk to them; 3) NU has a larger endowment than CMU, they could probably afford the extra incentives; 4) Being on a school board is thankless. Sometimes, people assume that taking a thankless but absolutely necessary job shows good character and perhaps this trait is also imparted onto the offspring. </p>
<p>If CMU is your decision. Good for you.
I’d also write, a hand written note to the NU admissions officer, a sincere thankyou but no thanks and mention your reasons as you mentioned in this thread. Leave out the Chicago (NU is in Evanston, far from Chicago) vs Pittsburgh.</p>