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@nugraddad @CaliCash Before I click submit on my ED application to Northwestern, I had a few concerns.

  1. The dorms. I heard they were pretty shoddy given the tuition we're paying. Thoughts?
  2. This might be hearsay, but I've heard that NU students can be cliquey and it's hard to strike up conversation with a random student.
  3. When people say that social life is dominated by Greek life, what exactly does that mean? I have no intention of going Greek, so is it still easy for me to make friends and hang out?

Thanks so much!

Ariz0na -

  1. Not all dorms are shoddy - my kids both went ResCol - and they were happy with that. BTW - Slivka is best res college and physical plant on campus… http://www.northwestern.edu/living/housing-options/res-colleges/slivka-programmatic/slivka/index.html NU is also going through some upgrades on campus housing.
  1. All students can be cliquey... and my kids are both on the quiet side - enginerds as they called themselves proudly... BUT they both participated in their dorm's IM sports, and joined club sports - and have a great group of friends. My D and her group all fly to East Coast every year to get together. Son's group of close friends were all the kids he met at his res college freshmen year - and still close to at graduation - and we have the pictures to prove it! :) The Res College study groups were also helpful in meeting & developing relationships with other students.
  2. Neither of my kids were Greek - even though Big Brother was an officer with a frat at anther school. So, to answer your question - yes, you can make friends outside of Greekness. Even if you are on the quiet side.

Good Luck - You can PM me if you want more details.

@nugraddad Thank you. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself here, but if I am accepted I think Slivka would be my first choice. Your kids’ positive experiences are good to hear.

Bumpity.