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| Northwestern University Welcome Center |
I just returned from a few days in the Windy City (it was quite
chilly and breezy, typical for March in the Midwest), where I enjoyed visiting the
Art Institute and seeing “Hamilton,” while also taking in a couple of campus
tours: University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
The more campus tours of elite private universities I take,
the more I see similarities among schools.
They all offer similar “perks” and emphasize the same educational advantages. Both information sessions at Chicago and Northwestern
featured their tier #1 research opportunities and liberal arts curriculum and both
described small class sizes, excellent faculty mentoring, fantastic
internships, transformative study abroad experiences, and collaborative
learning environments.
Before I visited the schools, I speculated that one of the
main differences between the two would be the urban (Chicago) vs. suburban
(Northwestern) campuses, but Chicago’s great public transportation system plus
Hyde Park’s less dense urban feel minimized that difference for me. There is a distinct difference in “vibe” at
the two schools—Chicago being more intellectual and quirky compared with Northwestern’s
energetic enthusiasm, but in this post I want to delineate the perhaps minor
but essential differences in curriculum, career development and social life.
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| University of Chicago quad |
First, the two schools’ curricula are distinct. Chicago maintains its core curriculum approach
to general education (courses outside one’s major). This is a set series of discussion-based courses
covering eight subject areas that all students must take. Chicago is famous for its “great books”
approach to education which has now been adapted to our more multi-cultured
society in the form of a series of three courses called “civilizations.” There are
a number of choices within each category but overall the university offers a
more structured approach to general education.
Northwestern, in contrast, stresses the flexibility and breadth of its
curriculum. All students do satisfy general education distribution requirements
by taking two courses each in six broad areas such as literature and fine arts,
natural sciences and historical studies.
Both Chicago and Northwestern are on the quarter system; however, Northwestern
particularly emphasizes the advantages of students taking more courses overall
during their four years and encourages students to double and even triple major,
as well as add on minors and certificates—which are smaller clusters of courses
that demonstrate pre-professional skills.
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| University of Chicago Doorway |
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| Northwestern University Arch |
Second career development is approached differently at the
two universities. Recently, Chicago decided
to “flip” career development on its head by concentrating on freshman instead
of seniors. All freshman are matched
with a career as well as an academic advisor and during the first year every
freshman takes on some kind of externship or trek to gain direct career
experience/observation. They benefit
from special Metcalf Internships arranged reserved for University of Chicago
students that offer even more hands-on learning and are all funded.
Northwestern, by contrast, is less systematic in career exploration though some
schools like Medill (journalism) and the College of Education and Social Policy
require internships. The university makes
its large alumni network available to students early in their academic careers
and encourages, though doesn’t require, students to explore work opportunities
in Chicago and further afield. On campus there is an incubator/maker space
called the “Garage” where students and alumni meet to work on entrepreneurial projects.
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| University of Chicago Library |
Finally, social life and the campus vibe at each school is
unique. Both schools have Greek
organizations, yet at Northwestern, up to 40% of students participate in Greek
life. That’s a high percentage, which
can tend to dominate weekend campus events.
Northwestern is a Big Ten Division #1 school, where sports enthusiasts
have free access to all games. Chicago
stresses its campus wide scavenger hunt as a signature event while Northwestern
brags about its huge, student-run music festival every spring.
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| Northwestern University dorm |
Many high achieving and ambitious students would no doubt be
happy at either campus, yet it is worth considering how one’s educational and
social experience might be distinct.
