<p>My impression of how well Northwestern is “known globally” would be, at best, on par with Ohio State or something – a slightly smarter big 10 jock school. Perhaps the recognition problem also lies in its name: “Northwestern” usually is accompanied by “Missouri State” or “Oklahoma State” or some such. Thus, I presume people unconsciously link the name to some figment of geography (Northwestern what? where?) and are fairly cluless as to exactly what the school is or represents. Or, may I say plainly, you can go to a small village in China and they are likely to know what “Harvard” is; they will be clueless about Northwestern – so, so much for your “global” name recognition. Outside of a few prep schools and a 50 mile radius of Chicago, no one really knows that school.</p>