<p>Northwestern may seem intense because it operates on the quarter-system. In addition to the College of Arts and Sciences, it also offers 5 other undergraduate schools (Communication, Education, Engineering, Journalism and Music). As a result, NU students tend to have diverse career paths (e.g., business, education, entertainment, engineering, journalism, etc.). The student body is also more laid-back (with the exception of economics, not everyone is competing for the same careers).</p>