<p>don't really like the campus. Maybe it was because I visited when students were gone for break, there were no leaves on trees, and it was cold. The whole campus felt like a mess of buildings and didn't seem to have a "center of focus." The buildings for the most part were bland and boring, all gray colored, some gothic and some blocky modern buildings. I didn't actually go inside too many buildings so perhaps that was another reason. Unfortunately, I think this means NU has dropped a few notches down on my list. Can anyone offer anything to get it back up there? Or is that just how the Northwestern campus truly is?</p>
<p>I visited in the summer, and LOVED the campus - what I saw of it anyway. I was absolutely thrilled with the number of trees, especially in the area just behind the NU arch. Compared to anywhere else I visited, Northwestern had the most treeful/shady/grove-like spaces.
Of course you’re there more in the winter than summer, so your visit was probably a representation of what you’ll see more.</p>
<p>[Yahoo</a>! Image Search Results for northwestern university](<a href=“Yahoo Image Search”>Yahoo Image Search)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinoismediacenter/images/pics/HighRes/Chicagoland/northwestern_university.jpg[/url]”>http://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinoismediacenter/images/pics/HighRes/Chicagoland/northwestern_university.jpg</a></p>
![http://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinoismediacenter/images/pics/HighRes/Chicagoland/northwestern_university.jpg[/url]](http://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinoismediacenter/images/pics/HighRes/Chicagoland/northwestern_university.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>Northwestern’s campus isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. That said, I transferred from WashU, which is supposed to have one of the prettier campuses, and I like Northwestern’s campus better. I may be a bit strange but I also like it more than Stanford’s campus, though I didn’t feel that initially (I went there for my master). Stanford’s campus was very impressive at the beginning and I feel like I was in one of the most gorgeous places. After a while though, the campus got a little too sterile and I got bored with it. I think I just got used to the seeing the buildings which never change; so it may be something for you to keep in mind. I started to miss NU’s campus more. Stanford doesn’t have a lakefront or a beautiful lagoon (the one they have is kinda messy and it’s on the outer edge of the campus; it also leaks so it’s dry most of the time). These do change seasonally. I don’t know of any campus where you can you ride bikes along the lakefront or just sit there watching sailboats passing by. For me, the natural scenary was more than enough to keep the campus look interesting.</p>
<p>Ohhh, man, today would have been an awful day to visit campus! I mean, it’s desolate as it is on Friday of exam week when almost everyone is gone, so I can hardly imagine how empty it feels when everyone really is gone. You should, if you get the chance, visit sometime during Spring Quarter. The campus can be really lovely and it’s usually really really busy.</p>
<p>ohhh there were sooo many prospies on Friday. I agree it was not a good day to visit as the campus was empty for the most part. </p>
<p>However, I concede that NU’s campus is not traditionally beautiful architecture-wise. The setting is gorgeous (did you get a chance to go by the lake?), but the eclectic mix of architecture is a turn-off for many. However, unlike you, I still liked it when I first visited even though I wasn’t in love with it. If just can’t see yourself liking it ever though, NU might not be a good fit for you. Don’t ignore your instincts, but definitely visit a second time if you can just to make sure.</p>
<p>It’s going to be cold in winter quarter… That part is true, unfortunate and won’t change.</p>
<p>However, when it is warmer, the campus in my opinion is gorgeous and teeming with students walking everywhere. The lakefront is incredible to look at, especially its view of the Chicago skyline.</p>
<p>@Sam Lee: Stanford has one of the worst campuses I’ve ever seen. I live in the Bay and I can honestly tell you the campus sickens me. It has one of the least “collegey” feels of any campus I’ve ever been to, including NYU. You feel like you’re in the middle of the suburbs. Streets going through everything. Cars everywhere. Crazy bikers. You never really know when you’re off the campus. Tons of parking lots everywhere. It just doesn’t have a campusy feel at all.</p>
<p>^ Okay, so I’m not crazy about disliking Stanford! I am also from the Bay Area, and I recently visited Stanford…definitely not sure why people love the architecture and stuff so much…</p>
<p>We visited our son in late February to see him in a production and it was beastly cold, especially the lakefill, where the rocks were completely coated with ice. Brutal wind! It’s was freezing all weekend (our son said, “You think THIS is cold?”) But the weather doesn’t stop anyone (we saw plenty of runners at the lakefill)–what a lively place! For example, after my son’s opera, he went with friends to a student written/run/acted play (11:30pm). Sometimes it’s hard to decide which event to go to, he says. There’s an incredible energy at NU–there is a high percentage of movers and shakers on the campus. We didn’t see at move-in week because only the freshmen and a handful of other students were there. You should really go back when school is in session, and attend something, don’t just walk around. True, there’s some homely architecture, but there’s some lovely stuff, too. Look up the story about the Dance Marathon on North by Northwestern or the Daily Northwestern’s online papers–that was done in a tent!</p>
<p>I realize visiting during the winter was not the best time to do so, but I doubt I’ll be able to visit again any other time. I do agree with posters who said that architecture-wise, their buildings are not the prettiest. At least, the modern ones look very blocky, almost like anyone could have designed them. Of course, when decision season is over, I’m going to carefully research into each school I"m accepted to and decide from there. I’ll just have to tell myself that when students are there, the campus is more exciting!</p>
<p>nooob, I know it’s tough to visit at the drop of a hat. Unlike his older brother, our younger son is not going to have the luxury of flying around and seeing colleges and will apply sight unseen to any colleges beyond a several-hours’ drive. In fact, he may not apply to colleges that are flying-distance, but that may not be an option for you. And a busy sports/singing/whatever schedule may be prohibitive. You can learn a lot online, thank goodness, so take a look at school newspapers and online alumni magazines to see what graduates are doing. Many colleges have Youtube and iTunes offerings (Northwestern has a whole raft of podcasts on iTunes from operas to lectures. I’ve only looked at the musical podcasts, so I couldn’t tell you about the others, so take a look. And keep in mind that in the “olden” days, lots of us applied and went to colleges sight unseen!</p>
<p>I’ve never visited but by the looks of those pictures, I think I’d fall in love with the campus…</p>
<p>Hopefully I get in and the financial aid package makes it worth considering…</p>
<p>Fall, late spring, and summer are stunning. Winter is pretty when they’re new snow. But in barren winter the campus is slightly unpleasant to look at… but you won’t be outside enough to worry about that.</p>
<p>The other thing to note is that the tours only bring you to the south end of campus. Anyone who visit definitely needs to check out north campus- it is easily the most beautiful part of campus aside from the lakefill. The tour route is actually terrible in all aspects except logistics. Also, Harris hall is presently under renovations, which ruins one of the nicer parts of south campus. Just believe me when I say the rock pavilion is usually really nice.</p>
<p>Also, check out the inside of Annie Mae Swift.</p>
<p>The campus impression depends so much on the weather of that day and how much light there is. In the summer and in the very short fall and spring there is in Chicago area, the campus is very nice, i think. You’ve got the beach right by you too. In the winter, when there’s little light and snow all over, i must say the campus does get sorta ugly in my eyes.</p>
<p>I was there for three weeks for CTD. My main issue with the campus is that it seems physically bisected west and east by Sheridan and socially segregated north and south.</p>
<p><a href=“ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs”>ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs;
<p>That is a panorama taken from [this</a> spot](<a href=“Google Maps”>Google Maps) on the lakefill.</p>
<p>[Edit] Oh, it was taken this past autumn.</p>
<p>As for the physical bisection- so little of campus is on the “west” half, that that is NOT the impression any student has. Plus, crossing Sheridan is pretty easy, even more so when you learn the traffic patterns.</p>
<p>I have to agree with everyone else that the worst time to visit the campus (this goes the same for most Midwestern and Northeastern colleges) is the winter. The summer and fall are usually the best times to visit campuses. When I first visited NU, it was the month of March and the weather wasn’t so cold outside.</p>
<p>One thing I did enjoy about Northwestern was the lake front view. As someone who lives near a lake in Michigan, it can be a beautiful scenery.</p>
<p>I visited this weekend also, and while the tour didn’t really impress me (we only went into one building and no dorms) I thought the campus was really pretty, especially the lake. I also think its important to remember that while its prettier in the warmer months, you probably saw it the way it more usually is. Winter definitely happens in Evanston. In a big way.</p>
<p>I live in the area, and trust me, that’s just the Chicagoland area in the winter. No leaves, cold, overcast. It becomes an amazingly beautiful campus in the spring (and spring in Chicago doesn’t come about for another couple weeks). Mind you, we had six months of snow this year, so there’s going to be more of this than summer campus.</p>