<p>The OP should absolutely apply to Wash U and NU, because, as others have said before, more options are better than fewer options (especially when financial aid can come into play).</p>
<p>Also, regarding all the talk about job prospects from these three schools, it’s probably quite comparable, and depends much more on an individual student’s performance rather than anything else. All these three schools are recognized as being tops in the midwest, and they are all probably a step behind places like Columbia, Duke, etc. in the traditional job recruitment game. </p>
<p>Go with the best fit and, if anything, cast your net wide for RD - apply to some of Chicago’s other peer schools with demonstrably better job placement if that concerns you (i.e. Yale, Stanford, etc.).</p>