<p>I applied to many schools within Northwestern's range, but also DePaul as a safety because I think I'd like to go to school in or near Chicago. Is this common, or (at the risk of sounding like a snob) is DePaul seen as too beneath the average NU applicant? Thank you in advance for the insight.</p>
<p>Not to sound snobbish either, but if you are a strong enough student to be a competitive applicant at NU, you should be able to get into far stronger schools than DePaul. DePaul to my knowledge is not ranked in the top 100 by US News and World Report. U of I would be a better choice for your money if you want to stay in IL. If you really like DePaul however for small class sizes, being in Chicago, specific academic programs, go for it. </p>
<p>As a current NU student, U of I was my backup and is the backup for most higher level students in and around Chicago. It’s not in the city, but it is a top school and offers a variety of great programs. It also has shuttles into the city if you really want to be involved in all of that.</p>