<p>^^ THere is no undergrad school per se at Kellogg. As of the last couple of years, there is a limited-availability (and hard to get into) certificate program at Kellogg for which NU undergrads can apply.<br>
That program, for those who make it through the rigorous screening process, is probably as impressive to a prospective employer as an undergrad degree from Wharton. As for an MBA program, which program is the most heralded depends on the specific field of concentration. Most people would rank Kellogg in the top 5 or 6 MBA programs in the country (with Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT and maybe Chicago). For example, however, if one is seeking to concentrate in marketing for the MBA, Kellogg is probably tops in the nation.</p>
<p>“That program, for those who make it through the rigorous screening process, is probably as impressive to a prospective employer as an undergrad degree from Wharton.”</p>
<p>Ok, as an entering NU freshman hoping to do the program, even I think that’s a little farfetched.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Eh, lots of Whartonites end up in less prestigious positions. The huge majority MMSS kids I have known (and MMSS is a step down from Kellogg Cert) end up in BB IB or at top consulting firms. </p>
<p>It’s really hard (and not entirely fair) to compare the two because Kellogg Cert is a very small honors program, while Wharton is by comparison a huge school. It would be like comparing whether it’s better to simply graduate from Harvard or be salutatorian at Duke. Just sayin’</p>
<p>vanillachocolate,</p>
<p>This is FYI: [Kellogg</a> School of Management Undergraduate Certificate Programs - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s too bad we don’t know the names of the companies. But the job functions seem very impressive and I’ve been told some of the them are typically off-limit for undergrads.</p>
<p>“MMSS is a step down from Kellogg Cert”. This is not really correct because half the entering class for next year’s FE certificate is MMSS. The programs are meant to complement each other.</p>
<p>No disrespect intended to Northwestern (a truly distinguished institution), but if you are concerned about “fame” it is really a matter of perspective. Northwestern may have an edge when it comes to “lay prestige” within the United States, but UChicago likely has the reputational advantage both internationally and in some “elite circles” in the U.S. (academia, and probably upper levels of government as well; in elite business circles it is probably a wash). You should make your choice based on “personal fit” rather than someone else’s perception of prestige. Some will be more impressed by a Northwestern degree, others will be more impressed by a UChicago degree; most will be equally impressed (or unimpressed). You are really splitting hairs here.</p>
<p>HST- I think you are spot on. The choice should be made based on personal fit, because comparing “prestige” is akin to a study of angelic terpsichore on heads of pins (not my phrase, but it’s both catchy and apposite).</p>
<p>vanillachocolate - No, it’s really not farfetched. I hope you get into the program so you can find out for yourself! Good luck!</p>
<p>vanillachocolate,</p>
<p>Both certificate programs were under-enrolled; there are more spots available than the number of people that meet the admission standard (which may be mostly As in all the pre-reqs). The pre-reqs are tough and highly quantitative. They can be a bit intimidating to many students. There may not be that many people that want to pursue the application at the first place. Some people may figure that the pre-reqs could ruin their GPAs and then the whole plan would backfire; others may think they don’t need all that technical courses from Kellogg to get IB/consulting jobs anyway and so it doen’t seem to worth to put up with all that stress and risk. It seems to me if you do well in all those pre-reqs, you will get in because the rigor of the pre-reqs already does most of the filtering.</p>
<p>Haven’t been able to go on the internet in a while. Thank you so much for your responses. I am still unsure of my decision but this has definitely helped. I am wondering about the quality of NU’s economics program vs Chicago’s. I know that Chicago has a better economics program, but how different will the education be? Will there be a large difference? And also, will the Kellogg certificate program (if i can get in) be more beneficial to me in your opinion than a better economics program at Chicago? I apologize in advance if these questions sound stupid or unanswerable.</p>
<p>collegepat, if you really love econ and are thinking about grad school, then I would go with chicago. but if you want to work then I would go with northwestern. actually, this summer I worked at a bulge bracket bank downtown and none of the (20?) summer interns were from chicago undergrad (interpret this anyway you want). </p>
<p>Also, I am doing the FE certificate next year so if you have any questions about getting in, let me know. Unfortunately, I can’t really say how much the program helps until recruiting starts.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s much difference at the <em>undergrad</em> level. The fact that NU’s undergraduate team has beaten them in every College Fed Challenge (midwest regional) suggests that’s the case (NU is a three-time national champion). Keep in mind NU’s econ still has a top-10 ranking, though not #1 like UChicago; so the difference isn’t gonna be significant even IF graduate rankings are indicative of the strength of undergrad program.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your responses, that’s very interesting. Sam Lee: I’m actually enrolled in MMSS (partially thanks to your advice a few months ago:)), so I’m pretty sure I’ll fulfill all or almost all of the prereqs in my general coursework. I really wasn’t aware the program was THAT highly regarded. I was really just looking at it as a chance to take a couple more interesting econ classes.</p>
<p>drizzl and all other members. </p>
<p>Well my plan is to double major in econ and political science. Then I plan to hopefully get a good job and some work experience before applying to get a mba.</p>
<p>Which tends to have better need-based financial aid? (My family’s income is probably somewhere between 70k and 100k.)</p>
<p>journeeverte: northwestern, no contest.</p>
<p>^Nah. It really depends and there’s always the luck factor. But one thing is certain: they are not among the most generous.</p>
<p>collegepat,</p>
<p>I am not sure what you meant by “beneficial”. If you meant job placement, the answer would be Kellogg cert. [Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/career.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/career.htm)
<a href=“Certificate Program for Undergraduates | Kellogg School of Management”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/students/jobs.htm</a></p>
<p>This is an honors program after all; there’s always the risk of not getting in. So keep that in mind.</p>
<p>vanillachocolate and Sam Lee–thanks for your replies :)</p>
<p>Hey collegepat,
Bear in mind that there’s always the chance that your plan (major/careerwise) will drastically change just because that’s just what happens sometimes when you get exposed to a lot of different subjects in college. So you really do want to consider which place will offer you a well-rounded college experience, looking past just one or two particular programs.</p>
<p>That said, both schools are amazing institutions regardless of what some may try to lead you to believe. So…the main dealbreaker would have to be a visit to both campuses so you can TALK to students and sit in on classes and basically see if it’s home.</p>
<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>