<p>I was on the Princeton Review website and DePaul was listed as having the major that I plan on entering. I was really excited because not many colleges have my major. Then I noticed DePaul is in Chicago, which is awesome because I really want to attend college in a major city. I continued to read about DePaul on the Princeton Review site, as well as in two of my college guides and depaul.edu. It seems like a wonderful place where I would like to be (diverse, open students into helping the community, not to mention it's ranked the happiest college). Plus, it's one school that I really like AND think that I have a shot of getting into it. <em>Sigh</em> I think I'm in love...</p>
<p>BUT, I see that only 30% of the student body is from out-of-state. I'm afraid that everyone will know everyone and form cliques based on the fact that they're from Chicago...and then I'll be the lone Ohio girl. My mom knows a woman who went to DePaul and she said that it didn't feel like a commuter school. My question is, how hard is it for out-of-state students to make friends with the kids from Chicago and Illinois in general?</p>
<p>I don't go here, but i know plenty of people who do.
Although it IS known as a commuter school, there are still plent of out-of-towners who get along fine.
And my friends that are there are friends with people from all over the country, not just the US.</p>
<p>Oddly enough, no-one i know there is super close with people they know. At least at my school, DePaul is where you go when you don't want the 'oh-emm-gee friendzz synce 8th gradez!' feel... The people i know there hated high school and want an identity completely seperate from it. So they would more than welcome 'the lone Ohio girl.'</p>
<p>My D is freshman there. She's 1,000 miles from home & went there knowing absolutely no one. About 2 weeks before classes start, DePaul has the OOS students move onto campus and into their dorms while they go through orientation, advising, signing up for classes. THIS is when you'll meet some of your dorm-mates and partake in the school's Discover Chicago program where the OOS, 1st-year students like yourself visit different parts of the city to learn about Chicago's diversity and neighborhoods. We visited D last week and as we walked through the campus and dorm, kids kept saying Hi to her and her cell was ringing with DePaul friends making plans for the weekend. She's met kids from Chicago, the burbs, and many different states throughout the US; they all mingle together to become DePaul students. I have never seen my daughter so happy! While there may be lots of commuters, there are still over 3,000 students in on-campus housing and she's found it very easy to make friends. They go to the zoo, Navy pier, beach, shopping, Milennium Park, and eating at the all the different ethnic food places imaginable. But she says her DORM is her favorite place to be and I think that says it all. </p>
<p>Re-nuh: go for it!! and when you get there, embrace the city and your new friends. Going to Depaul could be the best decision you ever made.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies! I found someone from my city that goes to DePaul and they said the same thing---it's a commuter school, however, there are enough people that live on campus to create a typical college feeling.</p>
<p>re-nuh,
When we visited, we specifically asked about the commuter image. We were told that they technically must count anyone living in an apartment as a commuter, but that many of the students live in apartments literally within blocks of campus. They even pointed to one directly across the street from the building we were in at the time. Supposedly these apartments feel just like dorm housing (apartment style) due to their proximity and being filled with students. (They can be expensive, however). We were also told that out-of-state students get higher priority for remaining on-campus (They do not guarantee campus housing all 4 years).</p>
<p>My d. is also from out of state, and will be applying this fall.</p>
<p>Glad to hear all the positive feedback on DePaul. </p>
<p>I visited with my son in July and had the same concerns regarding DePaul being a commuter school since we are from NJ. They must be very sensitive on the issue since we received the same response as kjofkw did when the question was asked during our visit. </p>
<p>He is a Jr. this year in HS. DePaul ranks high on his list on potential schools.</p>
<p>My D is OOS and a sophomore this year. She has made many friends both OOS and natives. She lived in a residence hall last year, but is now sharing an apartment with three others music students. It is only a short walking distance to campus. She loves Chicago!</p>