<p>Do NU students go into Chicago often? I don't mean going in every few weekends to see a museum (which is what all of the college brochures seem to consider "taking advantage of the city"), but instead going into the city frequently, just for fun. The one downside for me about Northwestern is that it is not in an urban environment, but if students frequently go into the city I could let that go. I assume that I could find a group of students that would go into the city often, even if it wasn't a part of the school's culture, but would finding a group like that be difficult?</p>
<p>Honestly, we don’t go into the city that often- most people are too busy on campus to trek down to the city, especially since it takes a large amount of time to get there, the El is cold, and things are expensive. I grew up about an hour outside Manhattan by train, and I’ve never really understood the concept of going into the city “just for fun”. City’s are great and all, but just wandering the streets has never struck me as much fun, certainly not in the Chicago winter…</p>
<p>I used to go a lot (3 or 4x a week) but I have a lot of commitments this year so I don’t anymore. Dorms will often arrange trips to Chicago and offer huge discounts to events. As far as just a bunch of friends going, you’ll find the upperclassmen doing that more (going to bars, alumni-sponsored parties, internships, etc).</p>
<p>Depends on the type of person you are, the quarter, if you live in Chicago, etc.</p>
<p>I would say the average NU student goes 1-2x a quarter. People that like to see shows go more. People go there for bars even more.</p>
<p>have u been to evanston? i think one of the reasons why many NU students don’t go to Chicago as often as one may expect is that Evanston has almost everything students want. the downtown area got ~80 restaurants/cafes and an 18-screen movie theater. it may be more urban than you think.</p>
<p>i’ve actually gone at least 10 times this quarter…just for fun…in like the past three weeks lol</p>
<p>I think that Sam Lee’s comment is worth the OP’s noting: while the NU campus is suburban, Evanston has most of the advantages of the city, which is why many students don’t feel a need to go beyond Evanston that often. But there is no question that many students do go into Chicago frequently, “just for fun.”</p>
<p>Definitely take advantage of Northwestern’s FREE shuttle system. It’s more convenient than the El because stops are located right along Sheridan Road, literally footsteps away from some dorms. It also operates on most Saturdays from 12pm-10pm, which is great if you want to go into the city on the weekends. It takes an hour at the most to get into the city with the shuttle, but it’s so so worth it. Chicago’s a great escape if you just want to get away from college life for a while. I think that’s something that suburban schools like NU can offer and that rural/urban colleges cannot. You really get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Evanston boarders Chicago, and technically, it takes you only 10-min bike-ride to get to Chicago from NU campus. There’s no town/city between them. If you live near the boarder, it may take you 1-min walk!</p>
<p>When people say it takes 45 mins to an hour to get to the City, they are referring to downtown Chicago. But the neighborhoods between Evanston and downtown Chicago are actually where the locals like to hangout. You’ll find most of the nicer neighborhoods of Chicago there. Many people feel Evanston is just an extension of that and that’s why Evanston has had a hot housing market and has been popular for even young professionals. As in many cities, the locals don’t really go to their downtowns that often for their weekends but hang out in their own neighborhoods. In some ways, NU students do the same for probably similar reason, other than being busy. I didn’t go to downtown Chicago that much but I went to Lakeview and Argyle more often. Sometime, I passed through downtown to Chinatown.</p>
<p>I’ve only been to the city a couple of times so far, but that’s because for some reason, my parents are kind of leery of the city so I grew up with a negative impression of it. As that’s wearing off, though, I’ve warmed up to the idea of going to the city more. </p>
<p>I agree with brebeuff that dorms often organize trips into Chicago that you can take advantage of if you want. Also agree with Sam Lee that Evanston has a lot of the things that people would go to the city for. Lots of shopping, restaurants, the movie theater…</p>
<p>That said, I do know at least one person who goes to Chicago all the time. Every single weekend he goes there and watches musical performances. OP, you might think this is the equivalent of going to museums, but if you’re into stuff like that, it really is fun.</p>
<p>And to answer your question, no, I don’t think it would be difficult to find a group of people who want to go to the city on a regular basis.</p>
<p>I was really disappointed with DD- I was hoping she’ll use her four years there to really get to know a second city, but from what she tells me she only goes 2/3 times a term.</p>
<p>So, from what your responses tell me, NU students’ use of Chicago varies greatly, but there is definitely a large population of students that will venture out of Evanston (I do not mean to imply that Evanston is boring). I assume that even in an urban school there is a substantial population that stays close to the campus, so NU is probably similar to an urban school in use of the surrounding city.</p>
<p>Really depends on each individual and the people he/she socializes with.</p>
<p>My friends and I went to Chicago 1, if not 2 times a week (mostly going to bars - whether it be the bars by Loyola, in Wrigleyville or on/adjacent to Halsted).</p>
<p>While I wouldn’t really count this as “going to Chicago” - there are a couple of bars just across the Chicago border which students frequented on “cheap pitcher” nite.</p>
<p>Besides barhopping - students also go to Chicago to catch a Cubs game (whether it be the one organized by the student association or just a bunch of friends going), there are usually a couple of concerts in Chicago organized by the student association, and fraternities/sororities often have formals or other events planned in Chicago.</p>
<p>The frequency of going to Chicago is probably helped by having some friends who are from the Chicagoland area.</p>
<p>Also, there are usually planned trips to the Kentucky Derby and Indy 500, as well as the NCAA BB Tournament (when held in Indy).</p>
<p>I didn’t go to any of those, but did make road trips out to Champaign, Madison, Bloomington, Ann Arbor, etc.</p>
<p>I spent 18 years in a metropolis of 4-5 million, so I think finding friends who’d be willing to travel into the city will be a factor if and when I have to make a decision about NU.</p>
<p>It’s likely the fellow Singaporean students have the same mentality. The Hong Kong students were just like that and they went to Chicago many times, mostly for the more authentic ethnic food.</p>
<p>I’m not a Singaporean and I really wouldn’t want to spend my time within ‘the Singaporean circles’. I want to meet new people from new places but I’d definitely look out for fellow cityphiles.</p>
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<p>Don’t know about students, but when I lived in HK & S’pore in the 80s, the adults in both places hated to be classified in the same category as the other, or for that matter acknowledge they had anything in common. Pretty good rivalry between the HK and Lion City branches in our company too.</p>
<p>^oh, I totally know how different (and better) Hong Kong is - more character, more creative, more fun, more freedom, more storied, and more important as a financial center! :D</p>