Northwestern University Top Questions

It is fantastic!

Oh man. Where do I begin? Let me start off by saying this: A lot of schools say they are the best college in the world, but they all forget about Northwestern. There is no place I would rather be than in Evanston come this fall. And for details about why its the best, I'll go ahead and answer all of Unigo's questions. Best thing about NU? The students. No joke. The academics are amazing, Chicago is great, I love the professors, we have our own beach, leaves actually change color, and we're rich enough to fill in Lake Michigan when we need more space, but it all comes down to the students. Quick little story. When I was applying to schools, I got accepted to three amazing schools. Reed College in Portland, Oregon, the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. After a rather interesting weekend, I quickly ruled that Portland was not the place for me. But after my trip to Austin, I was in love with UT to the point of telling my parents that we didn’t need to even visit NU; I knew where I wanted to go to school. But my mom put me in my place by reminding me that we had already gotten plane tickets and that I got to miss 2 days of school for a trip to Chicago. Why not give NU a chance? Long story short, I barely thought about UT or Austin for the four days I was in Evanston and Chicago, unless it was to compare the two schools. And while there was a million different ways to compare the two schools, it really came down to the students. Don’t get me wrong, I love the kids that go to UT. Some of my best friends go there and the girls are 10x hotter than at NU. I hang out there during breaks and everyone is so friendly. But when you put the typical NU student up against the typical UT student, Northwestern sweeps the longhorns. NU students are some of the most intellectual people I’ve ever met, and not in a really nerdy sort of way. From day 1, I could talk to people about topics that would have anyone else red faced and furious and not feel weird about it. Everyone was super friendly and open in a way that I had never seen before. I left that college visit stunned by my peers. Well, I ended up at NU because of that and my first impressions haven’t been far off. I love the people at Northwestern. Some of my closest friends I’ve met there and I can’t wait to get back and continue hanging with them. NU has smart kids that can socialize. We party, work hard, and have a great time with each other. We all have our quirks, but who doesn’t? And we all come from a thousand different backgrounds. The students are number one on a list of many amazing things about Northwestern University. Whats one thing I would change? Well, if I could? The weather. Winter in Chicago can be pretty tough. But of things within my power, I would install air conditioning in some of the residential halls for those two weeks of summer that get pretty hot. Or change our school schedule so that we would start and end at normal times. Is the school size to large, small, or just right? Its perfect. Its big enough that I am always meeting new people in a class of 2000 students, but its small enough that I know plenty of people when walking to classes or going to parties. The size is great for developing great friendships without getting sick of anyone. How do people react when they find out I go to NU? It depends. Back home in Texas, they ask about the weather because it never gets below 30 degrees there. When I’m in Chicago, they tell me I’m smart. NU academics has a great reputation nation wide. Where do I spend the most time on campus? Haha, the dining hall. Just kidding but I can honestly say it varies. Typically, I would spend loads of time in SPAC, which is the amazing gym on campus. But I am on the triathlon team, so other than swim practice, I try to workout outside unless I feel like a pickup game of basketball. After that, I love Norris Student Center, one of the cafes on campus, the library, or of course, my dorm room. Can’t get enough sleep. “College town” or “what college town”? Seems like a simple question, right? Not quite. Chicago is surrounded by about a hundred independent neighborhoods and NU is actually located in the town of Evanston, just north of Chicago proper. So when your in Evanston, it has its own downtown that feels a lot like being in a college town. However, when you go into the city (30 min train ride), its big and wonderful, but its no college town. Best of both worlds, I guess. How’s the schools administration? Look, every administration makes a boo-boo here or there and misses taking care of a student. But NU is a lot better about caring for their students then the University of California or University of Texas school systems (to name a couple). The advisor system is amazing. I can always get help or get questions answered. The administration is pretty on top of things. And don’t forget Morty. Our president is amazing. Is there school pride? YES, YES, YES!!!!!!!!! GO WILDCATS!

Northwestern is large enough and diverse enough for most people to find a comfortable niche. It has a great reputation with employers and draws in a solid recruiting pool. While Evanston can sometimes feel a bit sketchy, overall, it's a pretty wealthy suburb with a good amount of college-friendly eateries, and a tiny bar scene. Exciting update: Trader Joe's is coming to Evanston, which means no more overpriced groceries from Whole Paycheck (things that really only matter when you live off-campus and don't have a car).

Overall, I'm happy with my experience at Northwestern. I will admit, however, that there have been times that I wouldn't have answered this question as positively. Since accepting my position here, my priorities regarding my education and the path that I wished to pursue have changed, and at times the fact that Northwestern didn't match perfectly with all of my goals and expectations frustrated me. For instance, as a senior in high school I assumed that the quarter system would allow for me to take a wider assortment of classes and thus provide me with a certain amount of flexibility. However, I found that this wasn't necessarily the case when combined with the pre-medical track that I was on. In addition, the location seemed ideal: close enough to chicago that it'd be accessible, without the stress of living in a big city. Yet, as most Northwestern students will tell you, you have to be incredibly determined in order to make this work. The 45 minute to an hour long commute into the center of town is more of an impediment that one might expect. All of that being said, after having adjusted to the quarter system and slogged through the first two years of entry levels classes required for my degree, I find myself enjoying life at Northwestern more and more. Because it is both a liberal arts college and a research school, I've been able to take a number of engrossing classes in a number of disciplins. With a few acceptions, my professors in these upper level classes have been engaging, approachable, and even entertaining at times. Though I'll admit that at times it seems as though the administration is almost providing you with too much attention, I would much prefer this to the experiences I've heard described by my peers in larger state schools.

Northwestern offers A LOT! There are tons of support for just about anything. There are three reasons I chose to attend NU, which I think are the best things about the university. First, if I changed my major, I knew all of the other schools and programs were great. Second, I wanted to attend a university that has equally strong social, athletic, religious, and cultural components in addition to academics. I knew if all students did was study, I would miss out on a very important part of growth during my college years. Finally, I wanted to be around like minded people who would be willing to challenge me and try new things. If I could change one thing, it would be how labels can pigeon-hole people into filling certain roles. I think sometimes people become known for certain activities and don't want to disappoint others or compete with people who have been working at them longer. Labels are limiting and that's one thing some students have taken from the world and applied to college. We are in a college town but have access to Chicago which is filled with other universities, so we have the best of both worlds.

Northwestern is known across the country as a prominent school with hard-working students and extremely qualified professors. While size truly varies based on a student's personality, I find Northwestern to be the perfect size for me. There are about 8,000 students on campus, and it is pretty average in population compared to other schools. Evanston is an incredible "college town." There is so much culture and so many restaurants and sites to see. I didn't explore it as much as I should have last year, but I have definitely embraced having such a beautiful and unique town nearby this year. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the public display of sexual activity put on for a Psychology of Sexuality class. Everyone off campus was upset with the professor who allowed this to occur, and the student body was divided over the issue. The most frequent student complaints have to do with the quarter system. Rather than normal semesters, we take more classes a year, with less time to cover the material and more exams. Many students struggle to keep up with the workload, and a semester system sounds so much easier.

As all homes, you gotta love them and hate them. Things I love: -The honors mathematics program called MENU. I got a great professor from this program who still helps me find jobs and teaches me cool mathematics topics. -Kind faculty members. I haven't met a single faculty member who doesn't want me to succeed as a student here. -My friends. You can make some really great friends here and really make this place your own. -The opportunities. I have been able to do research, teach, and get advice on summer programs and independent studies. The opportunities are endless as long as your willing to go after them. -The ability to grow. I'm big on personal growth and if there is one thing Northwestern provides is a way to catalyze your personal growth. Hate: -The administration is a bunch of red tape and old thoughts. They don't want to listen to students about what they need and what they want. It is very hard to get stuff done through the administration. -The Greek system really gets under my skin. They are "wanna-be-stereotypical" students. They try to be all fratty or sorority like, but they go to Northwestern. Come on, your smart get over it. Overall, Northwestern has changed my life. Without this place, I don't know who I would be.

I really love Northwestern and the longer I've been on campus, the more I've grown to appreciate the community we have. From my residential college experience, to my classes, to the beautiful campus and writing for student publications, I've had so many opportunities. Professors have even been really supportive in encouraging my professional journalism endeavors. There's so much to do on campus that it's easy to never leave, but at the same time, Chicago is at our fingertips and a free Northwestern shuttle takes you right to the heart of the city.

Northwestern is big enough to have a wide variety of opportunities and a multifaceted social scene, but small enough to have good advising, small class sizes, etc. Students are proud and happy to go here (I swear--when I graduate, I'll never be able to look at purple again. It's EVERYWHERE). I was never much of a school pride person in high school, but that has been changing rapidly since I got here. As for the town--you never have to leave Evanston for any reason. It's a large town, and you can get everything you need here. On the other hand, Chicago is right there. I love going into the city, and I do it as often as my schedule allows. The only problem is that the El ride is long--it takes an hour to get into the heart of the city. If I could change one thing about Northwestern, it would be that. Still, though, as a dyed-in-the-wool city kid (born and raised in Philadelphia), I've felt surprisingly un-stifled in Evanston.

I adore Northwestern! My dad always told me to be suspicious of a university that won't tell you its faults, but I have encountered very little to be disappointed about. The very best thing about Northwestern is its balance. We're a Big Ten school, so we have a vibrant athletic program, but we're also consistently ranked in the top 15 academic universities in the nation. We're close to Chicago, but not so close that you feel buried in the city. I like Chicago, but I like nature, too, and Northwestern provides both of those things. Having grown up in Indiana, Northwestern is close enough to home that I can see my family, but just far enough away that I still have my independence, and Chicago's transit system makes it easy for students to catch trains, flights and buses home. Northwestern is a university of approximately 8,000 undergrads, but it is full of smaller communities that give it the intimacy of a smaller school. The town is beautiful, safe, and student-friendly, a relationship our president, Morton Schapiro (Morty!), works very hard to maintain. Of course, there are a few things not to like about Northwestern. The town is a little expensive. The only grocery store within walking distance is Whole Foods, and sales tax is currently something like 9.5{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. The dorms don't allow microwaves, hot plates, coffee makers, etc., in your room, but we have communal microwaves anyway, so it's not such a big deal. Lofts are also technically banned, but enforcement of that rule really depends on your dorm. Chicago is infamously cold and windy, but we've had abnormally beautiful weather so far this year. Everything is just completely subjective. I wouldn't say that I am an especially brain-washed Northwestern student, either. I love my school, and so does just about everybody else on campus. We have a lot of unity here. We are a campus committed to happiness (complete with the Happiness Club) and success. We have a reputation and a heritage to be proud of. And we reeeaaaaally like purple.