<p>Do all freshman live together at Northwestern? If not, how does Northwestern help freshman bonding?</p>
<p>I’m a starting freshman at Northwestern in WCAS. No, not all freshman are in the same dorm. There are a few different types of dorms and I suggest that you look into them (North By Northwestern has a good guide). To me, it looks like there are many ways that NU has been promoting bonding. For example, I’m doing a pre-orientation week program (there are a few to choose from) where a group of incoming freshmen go hiking for about a week. Another example is a leadership/team building trip to michigan (I believe). </p>
<p>The orientation week itself is just for freshman and consists of programs designed for bonding, culminating in the March through the Arch, a campus tradition. </p>
<p>Finally, the residential college option is another way to induce bonding.</p>
<p>Elder is the all-freshman dorm, if you’re really shooting for that sort of experience. There’s a facebook group for our class, we sort of bond ourselves together pretty well. It’s actually a bit Call Me Maybe-ish. Not gonna lie.</p>
<p>If you’re worried that they like to leave the froshies as a pile of helpless people flailing around… don’t worry. I’m feeling good about this fall.</p>
<p>I hear they have been working on some great new compounds to help with freshman bonding over in the materials science department.</p>
<p>Well, if that’s the kind of bonding you’re looking for, good old superglue should be more than enough.</p>
<p>I think a great way to get to know other freshmen is to live in one of the large non-theme residential colleges such as Shepard or Willard (google for their websites). The themed residential colleges tend to be small and not very popular. The large themed ones, which are popular, have lots of planned social activities.</p>
<p>Midwestmom - I LOL’d at your post - but then realized it makes perfect sense. I laughed, because I realized my advice would be the exact opposite - I think the best option are the Res Collges, because of their closeness, and themes and planned activities. But your post makes perfect sense, because it points out that NU and other colleges need a range of options to fit the widest range of students.</p>
<p>So my kids elected Res Colleges, but I am sure that the kids in Bobb, Willard or wherever, are just as passionate about their choices. And as someone mentioned up thread - it’s not where you live - it’s who you live with and how you interact with them - that can make it a memorable experience.</p>
<p>Good luck to all. Go out and do something.</p>