<p>i would definitely apply to both. </p>
<p>i’ll be honest with you that i may be a bit biased, because i will be a freshman at uchicago next year. </p>
<p>however, i may be able to help. i was accepted to both uchicago and northwestern this past year, and i have friends at both uchicago and northwestern. i selected uchicago in the end.</p>
<p>the two schools are VERY different in my opinion.
i loved the intellectual vibe, the variety and passion towards academics, the incredible professors, and the curiosity of the students at chicago. northwestern just seemed a bit dry. and the campus is BEAUTIFUL (not that northwestern isn’t beautiful though also.)</p>
<p>chicago is in hyde park. northwestern is in evanston. while yes evanston is a nicer place than hyde park, hyde park is relatively safe as long as you’re smart and you avoid the south side. it’s actually a really nice intellectual/artsy/worldly neighborhood.</p>
<p>hydepark.uchicago.edu
(check that out)</p>
<p>overall evanston may be better, but uchicago is literally less than 15 minutes by bus into the heart of downtown chicago. </p>
<p>both are on the quarter system, but i love uchicago’s core curriculum. it’s such an amazing core. it doesn’t limit you, but actually offers you so much flexibility in the types of courses you want to take.</p>
<p>overall, both schools are tough to do well in because of the quarter systems, but uchicago is known to be one of the most rigorous schools academically on par with MIT and CalTech. so if GPA is what’s most important than you, then you may be better off at northwestern.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>check out both schools on (students review.com)</p>