I’ve grown up in Chicago, and I’m very interested in Northwestern, but I do not want to feel too close to home. Can NU students from Chicago still feel like they’re away, or do all NU students seem to migrate to the city to look for fun?
I don’t know how students from Chicago feel (I haven’t talked in depth with any of the Northwesterners from Chicago I’ve met about this), but not all students go into the city to do fun things. Yes, there are many students that go to Chicago once or even multiple times every week, but there are many who go only once a quarter, if that. You can definitely seal yourself away from Chicago if you want, and honestly, you don’t have to try that hard to do so. On campus, there are parties and theater/music/dance performances, and there is a surprising amount of good or at least decent restaurants in Evanston. Plus, if you’re into running, biking, or adventuring, the North Shore has some cool places to go, especially if you’re willing to go on longer adventures. You might get bored of staying in Evanston and the surrounding suburbs all the time though - I certainly would.
Personally, when I am in Evanston, I feel like I am in the little town of Evanston, which just happens to be connected to Chicago and the endless surburbs or Chicagoland. If that makes any sense.
I would say so. However, if you plan on going home every weekend, or having old family and friends visit all the time, don’t expect it to feel like you went away for school.