<p>I am a Senior who has already applied to DePaul, I love the city of Chicago but I was wondering how much of a commuter school is Depaul? I kind of want the college experience of living in a dorm and having events on campus but I do love city life. I just don't want to go to a place where it will be difficult to make friends and where it will be a ghost town on the weekends, any help would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>My son is currently a freshman at Depaul, and his friends all live in the dorms or have an apartment. He has not found that his friends go home alot, and most are from illinois.</p>
<p>Hopefully I can help shed some light on this topic!</p>
<p>I am a current Junior at DePaul University, and while I now live in an apartment a few blocks away from campus, I stayed in University Hall during my freshman year. Truthfully, DePaul does attract a lot of people who commute. That’s the beauty of a city school-so many people from surrounding areas are able to get a wonderful education. But almost all of the commuters do not live in the dorms and live at their homes in the suburbs. That being said, the students who choose to live in the residence halls are students who come from all across the country. I can tell you from experience, the dorms are not a ghost town on the weekends. With living in the city of Chicago, there is ALWAYS people around and ALWAYS something to do. And if some people who live in the dorms do go home a lot, they are the ones missing out on meeting and making new friends. But I made so many great friends from those who lived in the same residence hall as me (two of them being my current roommates!)
If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Cassie Snyder
DePaul University Communications Intern
Office of Admissions</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your help! Honestly if I am admitted to DePaul and receive a somewhat generous financial aid package, I honestly think DePaul is the place for me. Are there activities on campus that can help socialize people? I’m a pretty sociable person but for the first time in my life I will not have a single person I know around me, I just want to make sure it will be easy to make friends and be involved on campus. Also, as far as off-campus housing, I heard DePaul owned some off-campus apartments that are shared with other Chicago schools, if so is it really competitive to get those apartments? Also is it easy/affordable to get an apartment that is within walking distance of campus?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>To reallyradryan:
Great to hear that you have such an interest in DePaul University 
DePaul has 300+ groups and organizations for any and all to join on campus. One of the most exciting parts of starting school somewhere completely new is all of the opportunities to meet new friends! We have everything ranging from greek life, to intramural sports, community service groups, faith based groups, to even the skydiving club (which I am VP of, not that I am biased or anything!). Take a peek at our student life page at: [OSI</a> Home](<a href=“Student Involvement | Departments | About | Division of Student Affairs | DePaul University, Chicago”>Student Involvement | Departments | About | Division of Student Affairs | DePaul University, Chicago) to get a better preview.
The off-campus building that is shared between DePaul, Roosevelt and Columbia is called the UCC which is located 2 blocks away from DePaul’s downtown campus. That building does have a tendency to fill up quickly, but my personal recommendation would be to live on the Lincoln Park campus in one of the dorms. About 90% of DePaul freshman stay on that campus, making it easier for you to meet other people. And finding an apartment off-campus that is still near DePaul is easy, but it can be more difficult depending on the number of roommates and budget limitations. But it is definitely possible, you just have to take initiative and really search. But that is exactly what me and my roommates did and we have been very happy with our apartment for the past two years. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any more questions!</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Cassie Snyder
DePaul University Communications Intern
Office of Admissions</p>