How is Depaul?

<p>oh a couple more things, about the 54% rate of graduation, as someone mentioned, its really not THAT low compared to a lot of other colleges.</p>

<p>But also something to consider which would have a significant (if not all that huge) effect on that stat is that DePaul has both a Theatre School and School of Music that are hugely competitive, and many students in these programs don’t make it through to graduation (at least not in the same program) because of how demanding they are. For example the Theatre School cuts half it’s BFA acting class from the program before sophomore year. </p>

<p>Also, some people might not like the Loop campus, or find it ugly, if you’re not a city person then downtown Chicago isn’t for you. I, myself am in love with Chicago and I think the Loop is one of the most interesting areas in the city but I grew up in a major urban centre and am the kind of person who gets antsy when I’m not in the middle of a busy city. my attention span is too short for suburbs lol. To each is own…</p>

<p>oh and (sorry to be posting so much i just keep thinking of more to say…)</p>

<p>as far as the ‘typical’ DePaul student I can of course only speak of the ones I know which is a small sample of the student body that is known for being “diverse”, but for what its worth… I think DePaul gets a bad rap for being just a bunch of spoilt rich kids, and I don’t really think that’s fair. If you look at me and my brother for example, we’re completely different people with different likes and tastes and DePaul ended up being the perfect place for both of us. He’s a competitive NCAA golfer who’s majoring in commerce and wants to be a big business man or whatever, he went to a preppy high school in the neighborhood we grew up in whereas I commuted downtown Toronto for high school to go to an alternative hippy arts school… in his spare time he hits the gym or watches football, I dance and do yoga… but Chicago is such a versatile city. There really is something for everyone there if you’re willing to look. However I think scout59 is right when she says “it’s not a hand-holding kind of place.” It is a big city and the school is fairly central and I think there’s a certain amount of independence that is necessary to thrive in a place like that. I could certainly see that not everyone would be comfortable in that environment. </p>

<p>anyways… i think that’s all I have to say… for now at least.</p>

<p>burningbright811 - where in the UK were you? I’m from London (explains the pretentious JaneAusten nametag!). Were you at drama school there or at Uni?</p>

<p>DePaul is a lot of money if you don’t get aid of any sort. They gave us only $7,000 and that’s made up of loans. I think everyone is terrified of the financial commitment when there are so many financial unknowns - tuition could go up and then housing on top of that etc…oh my brain hurts</p>

<p>Hi…i m from india…just found it place while googling.
Planning to do MS-computer …I got admit from 5 colleges ie uncc,missouri-rolla,njit,umbc …but i really liked the depaul`s course ,proff etc .
The only thing thats stopping me is the money …its kinda costlier than the other colleges. is it worth ??
Also ,i m from mumbai and loves city-life …I hope i wont be disappointed with Chicago :)</p>

<p>Jai Ho!!</p>

<p>Hi forum 67- Well my family is from Mumbai too and my parents loved Chicago; my dad had his first job in that area. Also, I think Depaul is the best choice out of those 5 schools.</p>

<p>What is Greek Life? lol. And is it a good thing it isn’t? I’m pretty sure it means partying school. But, isn’t that a down fault if a student wants to party?</p>

<p>hey guys, if im a commerce major and have classes in the loop campus, can I still have a dorm at the Lincoln Park Campus? That area seems more appealing to me.</p>

<p>you can still live in the lincoln park campus if you’re in the college of commerce. you’re going to have most of your first year courses there anyway.</p>

<p>“Greek Life” refers to sororities and fraternities. While DePaul does have some sororities and fraternities there are not nearly as many, nor are they as popular as most big private colleges in the country. It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing. It just just depends on whether or not thats something you’re looking for in a college experience.</p>

<p>I just got back from a spring break spent in Chicago. I’d been previously thinking about going somewhere in the city, but I really like the downtown area and don’t really want to be on the South side. I (stupidly) didn’t visit while on vacation, but I only live about 3 hours away so visiting shouldn’t be a problem. DePaul seems like a really good fit for me - I’m a pretty independent person, so off-campus housing after freshman wouldn’t freak me out, I live in Wisconsin so I’m used to the brutal winters, and I’m familiar with Chicago and have tons of family there so I wouldn’t feel too isolated. But enough blabbering, and on to my questions! </p>

<p>I’d really like to attend the Loop campus. I’m not going to major in Business, is the Loop campus only for business students?</p>

<p>How are DePaul’s Psychology, Journalism, and Playwriting programs? Also, I was looking up DePaul on the CollegeBoard website, and under its majors it lists “Playwriting/Screenwriting”, and its definition is “Students of playwriting and screenwriting learn how to write plays for the theater and screenplays for movies. Classes cover such topics as creative writing, script development, stage or camera instructions, and the making of entire theatrical or film productions.” Is this just CollegeBoard’s description, or does DePaul’s program actually involve film/screenplays?</p>

<p>Finally, how important is religion? Probably a stupid question for a Catholic school, but I’m just curious. I’m (technically) Catholic but non-practicing, I never did Communion or whatever. Does that affect admissions at all? I’m also pretty liberal, is God constantly being talked about and pushed? I’m a pretty big gay rights activist, and I’d like to go to a school where I could join a club or attend rallies or whatever. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Catholicism plays little to no role in DePaul on a daily basis. and has no affect on admission! it’s merely a catholic university because it was founded by a catholic church in memory of St. Vincent DePaul (or something along those lines) It has no effect on the day to day life of the average DePaul student! (unless you want it to I guess…)</p>

<p>Just to piggyback on bb’s comment - you DO have to take religion class(es) in order to graduate, but there are tons of religion classes to choose from (not just Christian classes, either.) My D is very liberal and has not found the atmosphere a problem. And DePaul is very gay-friendly; in fact, they offer a minor in “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies”.</p>

<p>yeah, my brother who’s a Junior, took a class on Buddhist art and artifacts to satisfy the religion credit. </p>

<p>and the campus is EXTREMELY liberal. so don’t worry.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help everyone! I was just talking to my counselor who knows me well because I’m involved in tutoring and mediation as a peer counselor, and she recommended I consider majoring in Physiology. If I decide to put Physiology on my application, but decide to transfer into business if I don’t like Physiology, how hard is it to transfer into the college of commerce? </p>

<p>Also, will I be fine with about a 3.5 GPA and 1900 SAT, super amazing EC’s, and good Rec’s?</p>

<p>bump bump bump</p>

<p>Yes, as far as I know you are more than fine. I mean, obvi we’re going into different programs and I don’t know specifically about the academic bar for your program… but I got in with lower stats than you which means your basically kicking my brother’s ass in terms of the marks/scores (his scores were WAY lower than mine ha) he got in with and he’s in the school of commerce… sorry I don’t have more specific info on your program… but I hope that makes you feel better.</p>

<p>if you’re on facebook (and really who isn’t these days?) there’s a “DePaul class of 2013” that I’m sure you can ask questions on where I’m sure there must be someone in your program who could tell you more specifics about the grades/scores they got in with… there’s over 700 in the group i think so your chances are better than on CC me thinks…</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

<p>well, i’m going to depaul starting this fall so as far as admissions process/questions on the area/all of that go, i may be of some help. i’m in chicago frequently since i live in the burbs, i’ve been through the admissions process, and know lots of people that go there now, including siblings.</p>

<p>honestly, i was surprised with the bad reviews about getting in touch with the university. i had no problem at all, but then, i took the initiative. i emailed and expected a reply within 1-2 business days; when i didn’t get one, i’d call. the one time i didn’t get a prompt email, it was because they were examining my case and their response not only provided a solution to my problem but they made my life easier by going beyond what i asked for. the people were extremely helpful and courteous and i didn’t get any attitude whatsoever. with a few interactions like these i got my financial aid appealed and received another 6k. soooooo they might make a few mistakes-- from my experience applying to colleges, these were the same mistakes all unis with thousands of applicants made.</p>

<p>um, about partying – i get conflicting comments, haha. the school obviously wants to remain reputable so they don’t call themselves a ‘party school’ and its not like they have frats or stuff like that (fun fact: in chicago a household with 8+ people of only women is considered a brothel). furthermore, there is an attendance requirement that becomes factored into your grade. easy as it is to stay at home and get the entire lesson/notes online, depaul wants its students attending class. but i knowwwww that most of the chitown unis go to depaul to party. so.</p>

<p>i don’t understand this rich brat stereotype at all. depaul is consistently rated in the top ten of most diverse universities in the nation by the princeton review, and i think it placed top three, if not first, in 2007. people come from all walks of life – racially, religiously (most at depaul are not catholic, and following christianity in its majority is islam), and income-wise. all places have rich jerks who pay off tuition with a shrug of the shoulders, but i don’t sense that this population is overwhelming at all. campus seems relatively humble, seeing as we’re talking lincoln park here. if you want to see rich *****es, look at northwestern (maybe that was a low blow, sorry ;p ).</p>

<p>i don’t make much of the 54% grad rate, honestly, because i don’t see how this is far from other universities. i’m also intrigued by the amount of people that return to depaul for graduate degrees.</p>

<p>finally-- housing – yeahhhh it sucks, but i dunno. we’re talking downtown chicago. there are also dozens of apt opportunities in places shared by other universities, especially if you’re thinking the loop. out of state and athletes are given priority, and from there, its the normal race to get dorms but the people i see whining about getting them are mostly people who are just picky about what building they’re in, or put it off and didn’t apply as soon as able. i have a couple of friends who lived all four years. plenty of sophomores don’t have this issue. what mostly see are people assuming that they will, and are often eager to, live off-campus. bear in mind that several buildings depaul offers housing in are ‘off campus’ but literally across the street from campus. and even if you’re in other parts of chicago, commute is ridiculously easy with the upass. most people decide to leave their cars at home because they just don’t use it.</p>

<p>soooo thats it really, just pitching in my few cents. (:</p>

<p>Thank you all very much!</p>

<p>If anyone else has something to add, please do so!</p>

<p>anybody else?</p>

<p>I want to go to depaul so badly…this forum has helped a lot.</p>