<p>Calling all Northwestern students, ISPers, or anyone with info what do you know about ISP. I'm interested in applying for the program and am currently framing my Why Northwestern essay around the program.<br>
I've thoroughly examined the website but does anyone have the inside scope?</p>
<p>Well, this won't help you on your essay, but I have to tell you... ISP is extremely challenging. The majority of student's GPA's suffer, so it's generally not recommended for pre-meds (although there ARE highly intelligent pre-med ISPers who are doing just fine). I know many who are considering dropping out of the program after first quarter. It's really that difficult. Anyway, I would recommend this program mostly to those who want to do scientific research in the future and nothing pre-professional (though there are, of course, exceptions). </p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Gratzi, for the insight.</p>
<p>Being a chemistry major, I took the ISP-level chemistry and I am friends with quite a few people in the program. I agree with aquamarinee that most of them want to go into research -- in fact none of my friends in ISP doesn't want to do research after university. Also, as said, ISP is very challenging and you have to really be committed to the program to do well; it's quite easy to get overwhelmed with it all. But, that being said, don't be scared off by the program. It provides as thorough and comprehensive an education as you can find at NU. If you are at all interested in research and the sciences, it's definitely something to put some serious thought into. Hope that helps, and good luck!</p>
<p>ISP is like a mini-CalTech within NU.</p>
<p>Are the classes really small, cause I'd think it be annoying have extremely tiny classes.</p>
<p>From past experience even if you dont express interest in ISP, NU appears to identify certain potential candidates from their apps and stats and will send them an email informing them of ISP and encouraging them to apply.</p>
<p>pgtori,</p>
<p>The classes can't be "extremely tiny" or the program may have to be closed. Many ISP double-major and you can do just that so some of your classes will be large.</p>
<p>Although the program seems to be challenging, would you say that students enjoy being in it? In other words, is the amount of work that is put into the program justified by what you get out of it?</p>
<p>Also, do most students graduate within three years, or do many opt to take on the second major and graduate in four?</p>
<p>All the ISPs that I know graduate in four. And it seems like all the ISPs who stay in it past freshman year really love it - usually, if you don’t like it, you’ll drop out after freshman year.</p>
<p>When I visited NU back in the day to consider ISP, the ISP’ers I met were a lot like the people I had met a Caltech; almost hopelessly bogged down with work, cynical, and very hardcore into science. However, ISP’ers (and NU in general) did not have Caltech’s quirkiness or traditions. Basically, it ISP seemed like Caltech without the house system and being surrounded by people with significantly more free time than you.</p>
<p>That said, the ones who survived the program were doing well for themselves, mostly going to grad school. The ones I talked to were all heading out west to Stanford, Caltech, and some of the UC’s. A lot of them had doubled in chemistry, and were doing chem PhD programs.</p>
<p>pgtori,</p>
<p>Contact the ISP office at NU, Phone: (847) 491-7219, or Email: infoisp AT northwestern.edu and ask Steve to put you in touch with ISP students. ISP has made arrangements with many of their students to answer inquiries about the program. I am guessing they are to busy to read College Confidential!</p>
<p>I just read about this program, and it seems absolutely insane. I cannot even fathom how much work this would be.</p>
<p>Does anyone combine ISP with a non-science major? Like lit or philososphy or something. Also, are the classes significantly “better” than a normal NU course?</p>
<p>i am sure you can double major in ISP and a non-science major. the requirement of ISP is not excessive so there will be enough room for a second major of just about anything within WCAS. </p>
<p>classes are more accelerated and/or theoretical/quantitative than “normal” NU courses. NU offers three versions of introductory physics. The easiest one is for premeds who don’t want calculus-based physics (similar to APs). The middle one is intended for science and engineering majors and premeds and is calculus-based (but not extensively). The hardest one is intended for ISP and more advanced and uses calculus extensively.</p>
<p>if you are not sure what this means, check out The Feynman Lectures on Physics in any bookstore. it’s more calculus based than other “traditonal” physics textbook and caltech students use it. it is an awesome book. ISP students are probably using this book too.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.isp.northwestern.edu/currentstudents/courses.html#phys1251[/url]”>http://www.isp.northwestern.edu/currentstudents/courses.html#phys1251</a></p>
<p>I have to say, the intensity of this course is actually really attractive. What about socially? One of the reasons I want to attend NU coz they know to study AND party. ISP seems a little displaced from the northwestern as a whole. Is it?</p>
<p>That’s really all about what you make of it. You will live with bunch of non-ISP students in your dorm and you will be taking classes with other students. Your major doesn’t define your social circle unless you choose to make it that way. You can join a frat if you want. The actual challenge is more about getting enough free time to socialize while pursuing such a challenging curriculum; that depends largely on how talented you are and your time management skills.</p>
<p>If I"m a regular freshman, will I be able to take ISP courses while not being in ISP in the first place? That hardest level physics mentioned before sounds intriguing.</p>
<p>Yes, with consent of the physics department</p>
<p>ISP is tough, but the program has gotten a lot larger these last two years and the quality of the students has diminished significantly. The best are still very good, but the worst are pretty mundane now. </p>
<p>As for your work hard, play hard desire - you can still pull it off, but … you have to be proactive. I manage it ok, but I have a lot of friends who hate their lives lol. First few weeks are important.</p>