<p>I would like to know the pros and cons of NU and U Chicago from an international student’s perspective. I have been awarded the Murphy Institute scholarship and the Deans Scholarship at NU (with full need based aid). I have also received the merit scholarship at U Chicago (all expenses covered). I hope to study Applied Mathematics.</p>
<p>I would like to know the characteristics of both universities and here is some criteria to start with:
International recognition of the unis
Future employment prospects
Strength of Alumni network
Quality of Academics and Professors</p>
<p>I have three days to decide, given the extension that has been given to me.</p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated regarding the above criteria or any other information you may have.</p>
<p>Good to see some fellow international students. Unless the financials situations are vastly different (although it doesn’t seem so from your description), I would choose Chicago. </p>
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<li><p>I’d say Chicago is a little more well-known than Northwestern, although there’s no huge difference between the two. Chicago’s GSB is highly regarded abroad, and the college definitely benefits from that. </p></li>
<li><p>Where you get your undergraduate degree would not be significant when you’re getting a job. Given you major, I’d say that you’d probably want to do graduate work, so where you get your Masters/PhD and the quality of the research you put out there would be much more important. Same goes even if you’re thinking about going to business school. Where you go to business school will be much more important than your undergrad degree. </p></li>
<li><p>Once again, no huge difference between NU and Chicago in terms of the alumni.</p></li>
<li><p>I’d give the edge on this one to Chicago definitely. Many recognize Chicago as one of the most intellectually minded colleges with an extremely good undergraduate education. (Mind you, I think NU provides an excellent education too.) </p></li>
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<p><strong><em>ALSO… MUY IMPORTANTE</em></strong>*
If you’re certain about studying mathematics seriously, I’d choose Chicago in a heartbeat. Along with social sciences, economics, and physics, mathematics is one of the strongest departments Chicago offers. And it is highly regarded among mathematicians as one of the best places to study math. Again, the math classes at Chicago are very demanding, which could be a pro or con for you…</p>
<p>A few differences with pnb here, but not much. I agree that Chicago has the better “name”, although the difference is eroding over time. I agree that the difference in effect on your future employment prospects is not calculable and probably not significant. </p>
<p>Northwestern is much larger and, traditionally, more regionally oriented than Chicago. (It has almost twice as many undergraduates as Chicago now, and 20 years ago when today’s alumni network was in college it was three times as large.) Accordingly, it has a much stronger alumni network in the Chicago area, as well as in fields where it is especially strong such as the media. Also, Chicago graduates have tended to go disproportionately into academics and government, so its alumni network in business is somewhat weaker than Northwestern’s.</p>
<p>As for applied math, you may want to look at Northwestern’s Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences program (I think that’s what it’s called). Chicago certainly has a better faculty in pure math, but that may be a better undergraduate program for some people. I really am not competent to judge.</p>
<p>I am a huge fan of Chicago, and not so much of Northwestern. I think Chicago is a much more interesting, intellectual learning environment, and attracts much more interesting students. If that’s what you care about, the choice should be pretty clear for Chicago. If what you care about is reflected in your questions, it’s a much harder decision.</p>