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</p>
<p>Not listen to parents who think that dropping below the top 20 on USNWR is unacceptable – and look more broadly for fit, because anyone who does even a little bit of digging can figure out that Gtown, GWU and AU might be better choices for a kid interested in DC, internships and politics than NU, even though NU has a higher rank. </p>
<p>You’re welcome! It wasn’t that difficult of an answer!</p>
<p>Gee, sometimes I wish my NU sophomore child had “no social life”, as knowbefore complains about…I don’t see this in his case. He’s not a fraternity member, lives off campus, but has a very active social life. If one doesn’t care for the theater, for music, for lectures, clubs, community service, and an active town and big city nearby, then perhaps one would have an inactive social life. There is far, far too much to do/see/hear. In addition to doing one’s academic work. If a student focuses solely on academics and makes/takes no time to socialize, and is feeling oppressed by it, that could be a problem. But it could happen on any college campus.</p>
<p>They’re called Pre-meds Neumes ;)</p>
<p>OP, </p>
<p>I am not so sure what’s so glamorous about DC internships. Am I missing something? But many of them are easy jobs with great job security and benefits (at the expense of future generations). That said, the Fed is hiring like crazy; you should go check their job listings if that’s what you want.</p>
<p>Also, while GWU/AU may be better choices for someone that wants access to DC internships and get into politics, they are definitely worse choices for most people.</p>
<p>Rankings and prestige aside, GWU’s facilities are nowhere comparable to NU’s and they have higher tuition. The campus is tiny and not pretty. Also, DC is great for fed jobs but for finance jobs, it’s a bad place as none of the major banks has major operation there.</p>
<p>There are fabulous internship opportunities for GW students in and around DC. However, there are terrific opportunities for Northwestern students in Chicago. Each school has wonderful choices for its students. However, NW is much more prestigious</p>
<p>" Northwestern is billed as a place that is guaranteed to prepare you for a life of leadership in the field of your choice. It didn’t do that for anyone I know. Most of my friends are unemployed and live with their parents."
Hi KnowBefore- I am a mom of a 2008 grad. I thought perhaps I can give some advice from a different perspective.
1, There are NO guarantees. Unfortunately you and my daughter graduated in an economic slump. You are doing far better than many, including my daughter who has a college degree but is also disabled. You think it is difficult to find a job? count your blessings.
2. Make a change- Perhaps you can join “Teach American” or the Peace Corps. It will really put your life in perspective and you will be able to give back.
3. I remember when my younger brother graduated college (I’m 16 yrs older). He thought he could get out of school- make 80,000 in a great job and save the world. He learned fast- he started at the bottom and pay his dues. Life is not a straight line…there are ALOT of curves…> Eventually he did get that 80,000 job…2 yrs ago he got laid off…lost everything , including his house.There are no guarentees. He learned alot about life, what is truly important and he survived.This week he starts a great job with NIKE.
4. You have a college degree from a great University. That you will always have, My youngest has applied to the Medill School of journalism. We’ll see. SOunds like you are in a slump…But you will make it. Search your soul. It is not all about money. Find your passion.
Blessing-</p>
<p>I see that this thread has gotten confusing. </p>
<p>I think this is because I did exactly what I did not want to do with it: introduce more than one main topic.</p>
<p>So, I’ll try to summarize the various concerns I and others have with NU and higher education in general:</p>
<p>1) It’s not necessarily going to place you in a great, interesting job right out of college unless you add something yourself.</p>
<p>2) It may not have good training in legislative politics and quantitative public policy.</p>
<p>3) Many NU students are dissatisfied with the quality of the education. The professors may not be great teachers or may not have much free time for undergrads, the class offerings may not interest them, or they may feel grading is unfair. The academic environment among students may not be that great depending on your group of friends or major. In most of my classes, students were unable to discuss the readings most weeks because they don’t do them until the test approaches.</p>
<p>4) Many NU students and college students in general may not be mature enough to pick the right school and then study hard at a college.</p>
<p>I experienced #1 and #2 and to some extent #3 and #4. I would say that a decent way to avoid #3 is to study something that doesn’t rely on great teaching. I would guess that the hard sciences and mathematical subjects have been around for so long that their curricula are as complete and well-structured as possible.</p>
<p>This is not to say that other elite schools don’t suffer from the same problems, but I do not believe that there are no differences among schools and that students wouldn’t benefit from a more extensive search, if only so they’re not disappointed by what they get. This may not be news to you, but it’s something I wish I’d at least taken seriously when I was 17.</p>
<p>So what’s your point?</p>
<p>Sent the thread link to the wife. Here is what she said.</p>
<p>"The advice could be applied to any school; he just happens to be a NU grad. One caveat to those going to fancy schools is that the real world is out there when you graduate. Hence, the motivation for some admissions counselors to “stay in school” by working in Admissions!</p>
<p>People don’t know after sitting in a class for 3 lectures or doing the job shadowing. Sure, it works for some, but familiar routines can be boring to anyone. You are also at an invincible age and ‘know-it-all’
(hence, heavy recruiting into the military), so are you going to be able to judge your future reaction and attitudes (unless something’s really
adverse) ten or twenty years down the line? Much of his angst is just predicable in the process of maturing and getting used to life’s realities."</p>
<p>I have to agree that we are just dealing with someone who is facing the realities of being young and forging a career/life in the current economic/social environment. We all have our struggles with what to do. I was a geology major and changed to business to chase the almighty dollar. So I may be bored but I am fortunate. </p>
<p>So cheer up. Keep moving on till you find what works for you and fulfills your needs. Life is a journey and sometimes it takes time to find the direction. I am certain all us “boomers” can recount many of our tales of disappointment and disolution. It wasn’t easy for many of us and it sounds like it is not going to be for you. Good luck and fight on.</p>
<p>knowbefore, we both graduated in the same year and I had a completely different experience. I probably spent more time researching schools in college admissions process than you did in high school. Anyways, I am pursuing a field related to my undergraduate major (I followed my passions instead of the almighty dollar) and would choose NU again in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>mxjeff</p>
<p>I agree with you and your wife. Tough getting out of college and facing the real world at a young age (then and now). I believe it is one of the most difficult times in life. Also, I found in business that some NU students along with other Ivies were shocked and frustrated that they were passed up for promotions and opportunities from folks that had undergrad degress from lower tiered schools. Most of what happens after college depends largely on what you make of it. Almost everyone in a reasonably good college can obtain a great foundation (depending again, on the course of study). The rest is luck,personality, contacts/networking, hard work, determiniation and creativity-at least in business. Success is never guaranteed based on your university’s ranking or perceived image. May help, never guarantees.</p>
<p>N2S - Well said.</p>