Northwestern University

[SLP135]

Hello everyone! I just found this discussion and wanted to participate. I also visited Rush and NU and am having a difficult time deciding between the two. Overall, NU was just more impressive. There was a certain energy there that Rush did not have- a certain excitement. Everything seemed to "sparkle", so to speak. This was a little intimidating at first but in no time I just felt feelings of positivity from staff and students towards the program. They are very proud of their program and they feel top notch. Rush also seemed to have a good program. They are also highly ranked (#24, compared to NU's #5) and they have a lot to offer. In the end, they probably both offer a great education, only NU may have a better edge on certain things- like having a student placed on the top of a list for placement, as mentioned above. I did also feel that some of the "loftiness" on NU was just "talk". They may be a more challenging program but my gut tells me not by that much.

Here are some things that I am currently weighing for my decision- which will probably be NU. Before I begin, I wanted to note that NU gave alot more details about their program than Rush on the preview days. There are some details about the curriculum at NU that I love that may or may not be true of Rush, I just do not know. 

At NU:

#1- in the winter/spring quarters the class is split in two and one half focuses on pediatric in the winter and then adults in the spring, and then other half of the class does the opposite. When studying pediatric, you have a child as a client, and when studying adults you work with an adult. It just kinda makes sense. You are able to focus on one area at a time. 

#2 they have a class on effective communication which I think is pretty important. They said most programs do not incorporate this into the curriculum. 

#3 there is a strong emphasis in thoroughly understanding the material. For this reason they do not give a cumulative exam at the end of the program. They feel that the test would just be superficial and it does not serve much purpose to the students. They want people to become critical thinkers and truly engage in the material. 

Rush:

the only thing I think that was noticeably different at Rush was that they are so closely tied to the Rush hospital. They seemed to have more opportunity with that than NU. 

 

 

I walked away from NU with a much better understanding of their program than I did from Rush. They did a much more thorough job with presenting what their program has to offer. I think Rush is a great program but I certainly got the feel that NU was elite. One of their professors has a 12 million dollar grant for research. That's crazy! To me that means they are doing really good work in the field. There was a feeling that the professors at NU are top notch and what you will learn from them is just better, quantitatively and qualitatively. They really left the feeling that you will leave their program with the confidence that you will be a higher caliber clinician than if you were to attend other programs. 

Part of me also feels like- I'll just never know until I attend both programs, which of course won't happen. I think I am just gonna go with my gut and attend NU. I feel like- why not? What if I have better opportunities in my future because of it? The cost is higher, but it seems that the program has more to offer and that is why they charge more. 

 

[ENFPslp]

It always had me a little puzzled because NU is definitely easier to get into than Rush because their acceptance rate and class size are bigger than Rush. But then their program seems more padded so idk!!! I don't know why this keeps bothering me.. The acceptance rate. It's not as exclusive as they make it out to be. 

[SLP135]

I think part of it is they accept alot of people knowing that some people will be scared away. It could be some people do not even try and apply because it is so top notch. who knows how many applications they get. Rush got between 400-500 this year. For a class of 27 students that is a lot of applications. It is hard to say what makes it a better program. U.S. new and world report explains how they get their ratings on their website. It is hard to know what makes it higher rated. 

They do not advertise it as exclusive. Their class size is double Rush! I think because it is ivy league people assume it is exclusive. To me, they just offer a serious program and they really strive to be elite.

[languagegirl]

1 hour ago, SLP135 said:

Hello everyone! I just found this discussion and wanted to participate. I also visited Rush and NU and am having a difficult time deciding between the two. Overall, NU was just more impressive. There was a certain energy there that Rush did not have- a certain excitement. Everything seemed to "sparkle", so to speak. This was a little intimidating at first but in no time I just felt feelings of positivity from staff and students towards the program. They are very proud of their program and they feel top notch. Rush also seemed to have a good program. They are also highly ranked (#24, compared to NU's #5) and they have a lot to offer. In the end, they probably both offer a great education, only NU may have a better edge on certain things- like having a student placed on the top of a list for placement, as mentioned above. I did also feel that some of the "loftiness" on NU was just "talk". They may be a more challenging program but my gut tells me not by that much.

Here are some things that I am currently weighing for my decision- which will probably be NU. Before I begin, I wanted to note that NU gave alot more details about their program than Rush on the preview days. There are some details about the curriculum at NU that I love that may or may not be true of Rush, I just do not know. 

At NU:

#1- in the winter/spring quarters the class is split in two and one half focuses on pediatric in the winter and then adults in the spring, and then other half of the class does the opposite. When studying pediatric, you have a child as a client, and when studying adults you work with an adult. It just kinda makes sense. You are able to focus on one area at a time. 

#2 they have a class on effective communication which I think is pretty important. They said most programs do not incorporate this into the curriculum. 

#3 there is a strong emphasis in thoroughly understanding the material. For this reason they do not give a cumulative exam at the end of the program. They feel that the test would just be superficial and it does not serve much purpose to the students. They want people to become critical thinkers and truly engage in the material. 

Rush:

the only thing I think that was noticeably different at Rush was that they are so closely tied to the Rush hospital. They seemed to have more opportunity with that than NU. 

 

 

I walked away from NU with a much better understanding of their program than I did from Rush. They did a much more thorough job with presenting what their program has to offer. I think Rush is a great program but I certainly got the feel that NU was elite. One of their professors has a 12 million dollar grant for research. That's crazy! To me that means they are doing really good work in the field. There was a feeling that the professors at NU are top notch and what you will learn from them is just better, quantitatively and qualitatively. They really left the feeling that you will leave their program with the confidence that you will be a higher caliber clinician than if you were to attend other programs. 

Part of me also feels like- I'll just never know until I attend both programs, which of course won't happen. I think I am just gonna go with my gut and attend NU. I feel like- why not? What if I have better opportunities in my future because of it? The cost is higher, but it seems that the program has more to offer and that is why they charge more. 

 

I definitely agree with you about that sparkle! I feel like I am definitely on the same page with you about the program and the different energies I got from both open houses and programs. 

@ENFPslp I think there is a certain pride and joy that comes from being accepted to a school that is more selective. Especially one that is so selective for undergrad and then you wonder, huh did is it really that great an accomplishment or program if they accept more people than other programs? Well I think like @SLP135 mentioned they probably accept a lot of people just to be safe. I know a lot of people who are already declining due to the issue of money. I think it's more of a safeguard because they probably have experience with lots of people applying and then less than needed attending. In any case, I think it's a protective measure and I didn't feel it said anything bad about us as students (we were selected over hundreds of other applicants!!) or the program! So feel proud and special no matter what! Your accomplishments got you your spot.  

[lindsey8]

Is anyone planning on attending without a scholarship?? I'm wondering what other peoples' thoughts are on the high cost of attendance... 

[ENFPslp]

1 hour ago, lindsey8 said:

Is anyone planning on attending without a scholarship?? I'm wondering what other peoples' thoughts are on the high cost of attendance... 

I didn't receive a scholarship either which was a big bummer. I still accepted the admission offer because of other factors. 

[languagegirl]

On April 14, 2016 at 11:54 AM, lindsey8 said:

Is anyone planning on attending without a scholarship?? I'm wondering what other peoples' thoughts are on the high cost of attendance... 

I recieved my financial aid letter and also recieved no funding. Originally that wasn't an issue - I was very excited to attend regardless. If you've read this thread, you know I was so excited to attend NU. But in the end, I decided to go with Rush, as NU seemed uninterested in whether I attended or not, or so it came off that way in an email I recieved and other communications. While I was so impressed and ready to go (it really is a fantastic school and program), I just couldn't see myself giving them all that money if they did not care for my attendance in the slightest (based on my impressions of the admins I have talked to). I know other people have had different experiences!! All the best, the best choice is always the one you make for yourself!