questions about personal expenses, bikes, social life, etc.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Okay, I actually have quite a few questions:
1. How high are personal expenses? Does it really vary? I know the campus is very close to Chicago.
2. How is the amount of work for college kids?
3. Do a lot of people ride bikes around campus? I just recently visited MIT and there were bikes EVERYWHERE.
5. Are there any essential items you wish you had brought when you first went to Northwestern?
6. Pros and cons of greek life? Is it the quintessential greek system where kids are drunk all the time or do people get serious about their work? </p>

<p>If anybody could answer any of these questions, I would really, really, appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>1) It does vary. If you use your meals/points wisely, you really don’t have to pay for food (get some tupperware to take cereal, fruit, sandwiches, pizza…anything, really, from the dining halls to save some meals). Some people spend money on fancy coffees and Jamba Juices, as well as the general toiletries and the like. I found that I generally had to restock on toothpaste/shampoo/etc. all at once, so that was a big trip to CVS on occasion. Also, budget for symposiums, films, student performances, or theatre shows (usually $3-$10) if you think you might want to go see those. And! Everything is cheaper at Jewel-Osco, which is about a mile walk. You can get there easy peasy on foot, though walking back with bags and soda cans and the like can be a pain. There is a shuttle drop off/pick up point right there, so make use of it!</p>

<p>2) As in, school work? Depends on the classes, but it can be a lot. But it really varies. Engineers seem to never stop studying; others, as it comes.</p>

<p>3) There are plenty of bikes on campus. Enough to notice, but it’s not as if no one walks. Bikes are super helpful, though.</p>

<p>4) Not really, but having things like meds (cough syrup/Nyquil, Advil, bandaids, that sort of thing), kleenex, basic cleaning supplies, and good organizers for your supplies/closet stuff is super helpful. I wish I’d gotten a better mattress pad, just for comfort’s sake. </p>

<p>5) Big question! But about a third of campus is Greek. It is what you make it. Any sorority/fraternity has partiers and drinkers, but the average GPA for everyone in the Greek system is higher than the overall GPA for NU, I <em>think</em>. You can use Greek life to do whatever you want. My sorority has parties, study groups, people who go out, people who stay in and watch movies, and all sorts in between. Pros, I would say, getting to meet people, getting to bond with a large group, resources/planning for fun events. Cons, if you let things like partying get in your way, really. It really is what you want it to be here at NU, at least for the girls.</p>

3

<ol>
<li>They will be higher than you are used to (assuming you come from a medium/small city) but are doable. I think during freshman year I spent around $1500.</li>
<li>The amount of work is pretty high, so you need to have good time management. Being able to control your time throughout the day is very important.*</li>
<li>Some people ride bicycles, some are content with walking and public transportation. Personally, I found a bicycle extremely valuable for getting to Norris, Main Library, or Downtown Evanston from my north campus dorm. If this is still a question for you in September, just bring $200-500 extra to school so you can buy a bike there.</li>
<li>You skipped 4.</li>
<li>Coffee maker, even though it’s disallowed in the dorms–nobody checks. And an iron, in case you get offered a job interview and need to look nice. I would definitely do those.</li>
<li>It is definitely possible to be “serious about your work” and be in greek life…it’s a choice, being in a frat doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be perpetually drunk. You can keep a good GPA and focus on studies if you want to.</li>
</ol>

<ul>
<li>This is from the perspective of an engineering student, me and most of my classmates in the engineering school found freshman year extremely challenging, with lots of late nights and stunningly bad grades (compared to what we got in high school), and some weekends fully spent studying. other schools can be less difficult.</li>
</ul>

4

<p>Oh! I second the iron idea. Otherwise, get a “wrinkle releaser” - it comes in a bottle, it’s sort of like Fabreeze but then you smooth out the wrinkles. Or just get a spray water bottle, plan ahead, and do the same the night before.</p>

<p>Also? A standing good lamp. The ones in the dorm, or at least in my dorm, are awful. My roommate and I spent all year on one dim standing lamp and our respective desk lamps pointed up into corners to bounce light into the room…and it was not fun.</p>

5

<p>I totally agree about the standing lamps and desk lamps. The lighting in my daughter’s Freshman dorm was AWFUL!!! She brought a desk lamp but we also wound up buying one of those three headed floor lamps so they could have some better lighting.</p>

<p>Daughter’s not in a sorority and couldn’t care less, it’s only minorly significant Freshman year and then it’s a non-issue.</p>

<p>Oh and she loves having her bicycle saves time and money. Once she moved off campus we bought baskets for the back so she can carry groceries by bike. Good questions!</p>

6

<p>Another vote for a standing lamp. My son’s freshman room was also really dark. </p>

<p>You might think about a refrigerator - my son rented one freshman and sophomore years, and while I am sure there were other beverages in there as well, he usually kept milk there so he could grab a quick bowl of cereal before morning classes and for late night snacks.</p>

<p>My son used a bike a lot the fall quarter of freshman year, but not so much after that.</p>

7

<p>Thank you so much for this advice!</p>

8

<p>Yet another vote for a standing lamp. This was the only item my S and roommate asked me to make a run back for. I gather it was pretty dark their first night (1835 Hinman, 4th floor.) </p>

<p>My S also liked the convenience a bik provided. Caveat: During the heaviest snow months, don’t count on being to use it much.</p>

9

<p>Now, bikes CAN be used during snowy months, but the walkways are notoriously tricky right after snows and if it freezes over. If you have a sturdy, fat-wheeled bike, you’ll probably be able to get from point A to point B a bit easier than a skinny, low-traction road bike.</p>

<p>However, if a blizzard comes along and dumps two feet of snow on the ground in one night, expect to visit your bike in its icy prison (example by my dorm: <a href=“http://i55.■■■■■■■.com/33lz91u.jpg[/url]”>http://i55.■■■■■■■.com/33lz91u.jpg&lt;/a&gt;) more often than ride it. ;)</p>

10

<p>^
That picture is hilarious! Was it taken, say, on February 3rd?</p>

11

<p>The 2nd, I think (I only remember because I had a M/W/F class cancel a quiz because of that blessed blizzard), but yes! :wink: We were knee-deep in snow just trying to GET to Sheridan, which we had to cross for lunch.</p>

12

<p>Now that I think about it, the lighting in my dorm was pretty dark too. Or at least, it wasn’t great. I brought 2 desk lamps, and there was a ceiling lamp installed in the room. A floor-standing lamp that shines at the ceiling would definitely have improved my room.</p>

13

<p>About winter riding:</p>

<p>During blizzard/heavy snow, don’t bother going outside. You’re just asking to get injured, lost, or killed.</p>

<p>The rest of winter, however, here’s a site that’s dedicated to providing tips and suggestions to those braving the cold.</p>

<p>[Home</a> | Bike Winter](<a href=“http://bikewinter.org/]Home”>http://bikewinter.org/)</p>

<p>I was planning on only bringing my roadie to commute, but I’m going to buy a cheap mountain bike and fit it with studded tires to hold me over the winter months.</p>

14

<p>^ That sounds like a good idea. I bought my bike a long time ago (freshman year of high school; can’t believe it still fits!) so back then I thought I’d only use it for cruising around the neighborhood or going to the library. </p>

<p>If I had known that in 4 years I would be using it year-round for transportation, I would have gone with a mountain bike and an extra set of wheels/tires. Now…I have to wait until my bike gets lost/stolen/run over or breaks.
Which hopefully won’t be soon!</p>