<p>Hey guys--</p>
<p>Kind of have a dilemma with the whole dorming vs. commuting issue. I don't think my rents really want me to dorm, but I kind of want to because I think it will be better not just socially, but also academically because you don't get that academic atmosphere at home. I live about a 15-20 minute drive from Northwestern and I didn't get any financial aid so I'd have to pay the 10,000+ to dorm. Any suggestions on what to do? Commute or Dorm?</p>
<p>Dorm your freshman year if it won't put a financial strain on your parents, commute if it will. Sophomore year, there's no reason not to commute or get an apartment (which is usually cheaper).</p>
<p>Good advice by lilybbloom... From the start I commuted to NU, and in retrospect, I missed out on some social aspects... Not academic aspects so much--I went to the library, which worked well.
If possible, try to convince your parents to spring for a dorm room during freshman year... Sophomore year, perhaps live off campus--there are a lot of cheap apartments near NU.</p>
<p>Unless you are VERY social and don't have a problem pretty much only making friends through classes, I wouldn't recommend commuting as a freshman at all. You just don't get a good sense of campus life or community, and less people will know you.</p>
<p>I think I would have paid in blood for the amazing experiences and solid friendships my daughter has from living in her res college as a freshman last year. (Although we don't live in the area, so she didn't really have a choice.)</p>
<p>I saw an interview with the president of Stanford once, and he said they acknowledge up front that about 80% (fi I remember correctly) of the information students learn in college, they actually learn from each other instead of from professors. NU has a brilliant student body, and it would be a shame not to dive head first into that pool.</p>
<p>If you can't do it, I'm sure you'll find ways to make the best of your experience at NU, but live on campus if you possibly can during your freshman year.</p>
<p>nan, I agree with you 100%. D has learned alot from her friends. D is going to visit her roommate this weekend and they will see other friends in Evanston, too. She told me yesterday she couldn't wait to go "home" to Northwestern.</p>
<p>Isn't there free board for students who work in dining halls? That would cut the 10K somewhat. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if a student can go through rush if they live off campus? That could be an option and would save the money while at the same time giving social opportunities.</p>
<p>Rush would be tough for a guy living off-campus. Houses want to get to know guys during the fall, so the guy would really have to make an effort to get to houses and just meet people- there aren't opportunities for meeting frat guys who live in your dorm like that or anything. It would be tough. For a girl, it probably wouldn't matter too much.</p>
<p>I don't see how.... As long as you attend events, why would it matter where you live?</p>