Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone could tell me an specific differences in the styles and atmophere of each residential college. I’m debating mainly between Shepard and Willard right now (im looking for somewhere south campus mainly), but i was also wondering how each dorm compares to others like the freshman only dorm Elder or maybe even a non-residential college like Allison. I’m liking Shepard and Willard because there more generalized themes and it seems like they have a lot of fun random activities to get to know people and learn new stuff. Are there any major pros or cons to each? I was intially wasnt too set on Shepard just because it didnt have a dining hall, and now im starting to think like Willard may be too big a dorm for me and might be overwhelming with all the activities going on compared to shepard. Also just facilities-wise is one more recently remodeled or have nicer study and main areas and rooms than the other? Any advice (for me and just all people in general deciding now) would be appreciated!
So Shepherd will actually be housed in the building called SMQ right now, since the normal Shepherd is being renovated. It’s in the sorority quads, very close so location isn’t much different. However, SMQ is being renovated, so you would be the first person living in the room after the renovation. I think just for that fact, it’ll be better haha. Honestly it’s close to Willard if you want to go their for dining, but Allison and Plex are both better anyway, and they’re on the way to most other things, about a 3 minute walk maybe? I hear more people who love Shepherd than those who love Willard, and that’s saying something considering like you said, Willard is larger. Willard is also really awkwardly secluded in my opinion. It’s the furthest west dorm, so it’s kind of strangely placed.
I’ve heard horrible things about the Shepard/SMQ situation so I’d avoid that if I were you. I think Willard would be the best for what you’re looking for. It’s pretty nice and close knit and you can get as involved as you want. Allison tends to be less social. Elder is super social but not as nice and pretty loud.
DEFINITELY willard. Nobody eats at willard tho (not a problem, it’s pretty close to other dining halls like plex/allison and you can always head downtown - lou’s (the best pizza in town!) is literally 10 seconds away.)
Even though Lou’s has been voted the best pizza… the more discriminating taster prefers Giordano’s.
Complete list: http://dailynorthwestern.com/2015/02/27/lateststories/presenting-the-2015-best-of-evanston-winners/
BTW OP - too bad you are looking South - Slivka is the best Res College, from what I have heard. A/C, Suites, good amenities, including an elevator, and great study areas. And although it is the Engineering Res College, you do NOT have to be an enginerd to reside there. Congrtats on your admit to NU - have fun and enjoy!
Thanks so far for the responses everyone! I live nearby and yeah Lou’s and Giordano’s are both great (though once I almost choked on all the cheese on Lou’s Pizza… Still eat it at least monthly though anyways)! Thanks for the heads up about the Shepard situation I had no idea from their website that they’re going to be under construction next year so that will probably influence my desirability for applying there at least until the building’s back to normal. Willard, Allison, and Elder all seem like good choices and maybe one more place on south (maybe even Shepard still if it’s not that bad). Are their any other decent south campus alternatives good for first years that are more general where it’s easy to meet people and maybe even do activities or stuff? I was intially thinking residential colleges just because it has more of a community vibe to it, but at the same time I don’t want it to be overwhelming either especially since I tend to be a small groups sort of guy. Is there a definite different feel between residential colleges vs other dorms? Also for the more specifically themed dorms like Ayers, Chaplin, PARC etc does the lifestyle and type of people living there tend to be heavily influenced by the theme in comparison to say the residential style of the general themed Willard or Shepard?
The themes have virtually no bearing on the atmosphere. While you might, for example, have more humanities students in Chapin, by no means are non humanities students left out. If you’re looking at res colleges, I think the most important things to consider are size and location, not theme.
I’m just gonna reemphasize the fact that SMQ is going to be newly renovated, and therefore really nice. The guy who said he’s heard horrible things about the switch is just hearing current Shepard students whine that they can’t live there for a year. There is NOTHING wrong with needing to renovate a building, and they’re putting them up in what will prove to be a super nice area.
Slivka is nice, but it is pretty significantly far from south campus.
As for the themes having no bearing on the atmosphere, that’s not really true for every residential college. CRC (Communications Residential College), Jones (Performing Arts), CCI (Commerce and Industry), Green House (environmental), and maybe a few others are definitely decently noticeable.
@Crimsonstained7 Slivka seems really nice and convenient for engineer majors, but CRC and some others seem to have more traditions.
Does Slivka even have firesides and munchies, let alone their unique traditions? (I realize this may be because Slivka is so new)
Woandering - Yes, Slivka has Firesides and Munchies!
And FYI - Slivka is FILLED with traditions - and the newest one is kicking Buttocks in IM Sports. ASFAIR They won in IM Football 2013, and finished 2nd in Dodgeball 2014. Plus it’s a fun place to live. It’s like Big Bang Theory with cool Enginerds.
See link. http://slivka.northwestern.edu/