Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z DePaul University
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<p>I know how stressful college admissions can be, I was there too! I am currently a student at DePaul and would be happy to answer any questions anyone has about the school. I used to spend long amounts of time posting questions on here only to have them left unanswered, this is the least I can do to give back :) </p>

<p>Btw, if your question is a little more urgent feel free to pm me and I will answer it as fast as I can. I would prefer that people ask on here though, so others can benefit.</p>

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<p>Hi allthecoolkids, thanks for taking time to do this!!</p>

<p>I have a few questions:</p>

<p>1) How do you like it at depaul, just in general? Pros and Cons?</p>

<p>2) What are the best and worst dorms? Right now my top three would be Seton Hall, University hall, and Corcoran hall.</p>

<p>3) How is school spirit/ involvement?</p>

<p>4) Do you know anything about the community service scholarship? Like the stats of people who have won it?</p>

<p>5) Just anything else you have to say about depaul, life, classes, friends?</p>

<p>Thanks again! sorry it’s so many questions!</p>

3

<p>1) How do you like it at depaul, just in general? Pros and Cons?</p>

<p>Pros:
-In Chicago. I know everyone says this, but Chicago is honestly one of the best cities I have ever been to.
-The facilities are immaculate (I am madly in love with the Ray Meyer Fitness Center)
-When it comes to classes, there is a wide selection of difficulty (from extremely easy to extremely hard) You always have the opportunity to challenge yourself. </p>

<p>Cons:
-Commuter School. Campus is empty on weekends. Many people return home, or have off campus housing so it can get a tad boring.
-I am having personal problems with the atmosphere, it may not be something others will run into, but I will outline it at the bottom anyway.
-It can get to feel a bit suburban. Many times I forget I am in Chicago. Particularly in the winter months, lots of freshmen are not fond of going out into the city. It can get frustrating trying to find more people willing to go other places not in Lincoln Park.</p>

<p>2) What are the best and worst dorms? Right now my top three would be Seton Hall, University hall, and Corcoran hall.</p>

<p>When it comes to appearances, the best on campus dorm is Clifton Fullerton, worst is Corcoran. </p>

<p>When It comes to activity and bonding among people living in dorms, I think it is tied between Seton and Corcoran. </p>

<p>I currently live in Clifton-Fullerton which is really nice. It is suite style so there are two people in two rooms with an adjoining bathroom. It is pretty new. Contrary to that, Clifton-Fullerton can be really dead at times, especially compared to the other dorms (the three you named in particular). Many students in CF do not talk to each other, the way the rooms are positioned within the building makes it seem like a hotel. Very private, and many times very quiet.</p>

<p>If I had to do it again, I would choose one of the dorms you mentioned because of how close knit a lot of the students are, and their proximity to the EL station (In regards to Seton and Coco). I went to Coco (nickname for Corcoran) one night during the fall to visit a friend and there were hoards of kids outside hanging out with each other. Lots of floors intermingle which is really cool and different than CF. </p>

<p>3) How is school spirit/ involvement?
There is definitely some school spirit, the blue crew has a pretty decent sized following on campus that pumps up the following for our sports teams. There are so many clubs to join, it can be quite overwhelming. Still, this school is a highly commuter school. Many people live off campus. On weekends it can get to be a bit dead if you’re living in a dorm that is not that active. </p>

<p>4) Do you know anything about the community service scholarship? Like the stats of people who have won it?</p>

<p>I know a few people who won community service and leadership scholarships, and to be honest, their stats were all over the place. Some people had really high numbers, and some not so high. I think admissions looks more at your character than just numbers. If you focus and put effort into really portraying who you are as a person in your app and essay, I think you will be successful at getting a scholarship. </p>

<p>5) Just anything else you have to say about depaul, life, classes, friends?</p>

<p>I wanted to reserve this for last because I didn’t want my credibility to go down lol. I am actually transferring out of DePaul for my sophomore year. It sincerely has less to do with the school as a whole, and more to do with my own relationship with the school. I am originally from DC and a Poli-Sci and International Studies major. I thought that since I would be working in politics for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t miss DC for four years, but it turns out I really do. DePaul doesn’t have the political atmosphere I need, many students aren’t active in politics which is totally fine. It just does not fit me. I cannot down DePaul as a school just because I am leaving, because I know for a fact it can be (and is) a great fit for many students. I just know I won’t get the benefits I need as a political junkie remaining a student here.</p>

<p>At DePaul, you are going to experience some truly awesome things that you can only experience here at this school. I know many times over this year I have been in awe of the people and places around me. I have met friends and professors I hold dear to my heart and hate to leave. I just hope all prospective students evaluate what they truly need out of a college before they commit to going to one off of bogus reasons. </p>

<p>Please don’t apologize for your questions! That is the whole reason I am doing this! I actually should apologize for giving you this book to read! lol</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any other questions!</p>

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<p>Bumppp. I am doing this to help people out!</p>

5

<p>Thanks allthecoolkids. I just saw your post! It was very informative thanks for the information!!</p>

<p>I have one more question, Is depaul a big commuter school? I saw you post something about it earlier, and that makes me really nervous about going, I am from Washington, so going to Depaul i would know no one. How many people leave during the weekends or just commute in general, and how many stay on campus during the weekends? Is there stuff going on, on campus during the weekends?</p>

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<p>Yes DePaul has a huge commuter population. Campus usually empties out on the weekends which can make things very boring. I think my living in Clifton made my problem worse, an abnormal amount of freshmen living in my dorm go home on the weekends. But generally yeah the campus empties out pretty significantly once thursday hits. There are usually events going on in the student center on weekends (different groups will host conferences and stuff) but even the student center is a lot less crowded than usual. </p>

<p>I was told that the percentage of commuters was in the 70s or 80s, not completely sure of those numbers. </p>

<p>I actually have a friend from Seattle that lives on my floor, she is not a huge fan of how empty the campus gets (she also didn’t know anyone) but she made friends with other out of state kids (me for example) and kids from other schools and is doing fine.</p>

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<p>Allthecoolkids</p>

<p>Thanks for all your input. It is really helpful. I was considering to apply to the honors college. I was just wondering if a lot of students are in the honors college? Is it really hard to get accepted? Thanks in advance and if you don’t know the answers that’s fine! I just can’t find this information elsewhere.</p>

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<p>Thanks ATCK!! We just came back from visiting, and were extremely impressed with the school and Chicago. It is a beautiful and exciting city which is big enough to seem extremely interesting, but small enough not to be completely overwhelming. The most important lesson we learned? There is a big difference between outside air temp and inside air temp. We thought we could stay warm using long underwear under clothes (the weather was lovely but 23 degrees) but it really works best if you have a long (knee length) coat and lighter clothes underneath. My legs were freezing, and then I was HOT from my layers when I went inside! The public transportation is extremely easy to navigate, and the people are wonderful. </p>

<p>The “shadow” for me is the commuter aspect. My DD did not get to attend her scheduled class on Lincoln Park, but I actually talked my way into a business class on the loop while she was at Lincoln Park. I was shocked that prior to class there was not a single sound - you could have heard a pin drop. 6 weeks into the semester, and it was clear the students did not know each other’s names! The class was excellent, and I realized partway through that it was a graduate level class which makes a huge difference, but it did worry me. Do you find this at the Lincoln Park campus? Are students distant from each other in class, or friendly? At the school I went to, you pretty much knew every kid in every class quite quickly - does that happen at LP?</p>

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<p>One other question - I have heard that many many students who are “commuters” live on the boundary of school, and really it is semantics. That is different from people who go home to suburbs or live at home. Do you have any idea about the portions of people who are technically off campus but live with other students vs more significantly off campus with family or others? </p>

<p>Also, what is your impression of the sorority life? do a lot of people pledge as freshman? That seems like another way of bonding with people who most likely live on campus or just outside vs. at home/married/etc.</p>

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<p>Hey sorry It took me so long to respond, professors are piling on the work before finals :P</p>

<p>I know quite a few students in the honors college actually. DePaul seems to be pretty straightforward about their stats for acceptance (3.5 or higher, top 10% and high ACT) but I think they take your whole record into consideration rather than only stats. I am pretty sure that GPA is required regardless. I have heard rave reviews about the program, and honestly I am a little jealous of the opportunities they have (XD) If I were staying here I would definitely transfer into the HC.</p>

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<p>You are definitely on target about the weather! Lol Being a DC native I have not mastered the art of being comfortable both inside and out :relaxed:</p>

<p>Even the LP campus can be quite distant at times. In my English class for instance, we only have 3 weeks left before the quarter is over. I honestly only know about 5 people’s names out of 30. This is odd for me because I am a very very outgoing person(I was the class clown back in HS XD). This is what happens in many classes, you make conversation a bit during class but in many cases you don’t learn names or hang out outside of class. Now this is not to say that you never meet people, My Italian class is extremely close. But most of the people in my 102 class were in my 101 with the same professor, so we talk quite a bit and know each other now. The fact that quarters are only 10 weeks might contribute to this a bit, it makes it hard to make friends when time flies so fast.</p>

<p>Most students move off campus after freshman year. You’re very right about the commuter thing, lots of commuters live just outside of campus. But even in my discussions admin, I was told (as an out of state student mind you) that it would be very hard to find on campus housing so I began looking off campus. I do not have actual percentages, but I know that after freshman year off campus is the overwhelming option. </p>

<p>I do not know much about greek life. My roommate pledged, and she seems to like it but they do not hold as many events as I have seen at many schools. The events that I have seen them hold have great turnout though, and she has made quite a few friends through her sorority. There is no greek housing here at DePaul, so many events take place at off campus apartments or in the student center. Sometimes on the quad if it is nice outside.</p>

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<p>bumpppp…</p>