Social scene

<p>How is the social scene at depaul? I would be coming in not knowing anyone. Does depaul have a commuter school feel? How easy is it to meet people?</p>

<p>Not really an answer, but I was wondering the same thing. Im going to (hopefully) be going there for my MAcc, knowing absolutely no one. Never been to Chicago before, but I would assume it would be farely easy to meet people. Anyone, correct me if im wrong.</p>

<p>anyone? What’s the party scene like?</p>

<p>come on, anybody</p>

<p>I don’t go there but I know a few kids that do. The social scene I hear is revolved around bars and clubs. I believe there is a greek system but chances are it isn’t big.</p>

<p>I did an overnight thing for the Theatre School, and their scene is basically going to plays and getting drunk. But they don’t really have friends outside the Theatre School…</p>

<p>Same, but was wondering if it was more like a commuter school… ?</p>

<p>My D is graduating from DePaul this June. Came from 1,000 miles away not knowing anyone. She and I talk often and we’ve visited her about 6 times and she ALWAYS has something to do. Through classes, jobs, and volunteering around Chicago, she developed a varied group of friends (from other schools too, not just DePaul) who enjoy the stuff that Chicago is known for… studying/tanning along the shore of Lake Michigan on sunny days; rock concerts in Grant Park; art museums on days when they open free to the public; FOOD: she and her friends will meet up at diners at 2am or get-together at someone’s apt and have sushi delivered to their door; then there’s live theater, indie movie theaters, the Lincoln Park Zoo (free), the oncampus Meyer gym with swimming pool and exercise classes; a U-Pass that gets you on all public transportation with a swipe of your card (oh, if you have a bike, bring it for the nice weather). It is NOT a typical college campus and has no real Greek system or football team. Many kids commute while about 3,000 are in dorms and school-owned apts. Most likely by your Jr yr, you’ll live off-campus and thus you become a “commuter”. That’s part of the reason that this school has a commuter-type status; not enough dorm space forces out-of-town students to move into local neighborhoods and they lose the friendships and comraderie that they found in the dorms (unfortunately, D saw many good friends transfer to other schools because of this).
She stayed because she loved her classes & her profs; it was the perfect fit for her academically (was offered scholarship in exchange for Community Service…LOVES the volunteering aspect of her curriculum). All-in-all, Depaul is very much a learning experience with its ups and downs; just ask a lot of questions ahead of time and know what to expect. Ask yourself…is this the RIGHT place for me?</p>

<p>This is one of the aspects that excites me and concerns me at the same time. I’m hoping to go to Depaul as a grad student. I would be getting my master’s in accounting, so most, if not all, of my classes would be at the Loop campus. But I’ve been thinking it would be better to live in or around the Lincoln Park campus. I would go not knowing anyone (I’m from NC), and I am eager to meet new people. Everything that I’ve read and heard about Depaul has convinced me that this is where I want to go. Anyone have an idea of how easy it would be for a grad student to meet people? I would only be there for a year before its off to the “real world”. Also, any ideas of grad student housing? Looking to be near the action without the late nights.</p>

<p>dsteve- If you check Depaul’s web for Loop Housing options, you’ll see that they co-own the UCC (University Center of Chicago) a high-rise complex in the Loop that they share with Columbia and Roosevelt colleges. (D has many artsy Columbia friends). Google-map <em>University Center of Chicago</em> on South St, you’ll see its location; can walk to parks, live theater, Aquarium, waterfront, museums, library, …etc… not to mention some of the best restaurants and shopping you’ll find anywhere. Lincoln Park is great for Liberal Arts undergrads; it’s a nice gentrified neighborhood of families, stores, dorms and apt buildings but I really think you should seriously look at the UCC in the Loop before you settle for LP.</p>

<p>Monty_mum, thanks for the advice, and thanks for keeping the depaul forum alive. It seems that not a lot of people are active on here, and your responses have been the most helpful to me. If you don’t mind me asking, where does your daughter stay? Does she enjoy her housing area (loop or lp)? I know you say lp is a good spot for the liberal arts undergrads. I may be a business major, but I tend to have a thing for the somewhat artsy but still down to earth people. But, as you said, there is still plenty to do around the loop area as well. Im just looking for as much advice and insight as possible. Any tiny bit of info is helpful. Charlotte NC is a long stretch from Chicago.</p>

<p>dsteve-D has lived in 4 places in LP in 4 yrs (inc 1st yr dorm); currently she shares apt w/ 2 friends 2 blocks from campus. She’s had a few Loop classes but never lived there. Best advice I can give you is the same as I did with D; when she showed interest in Depaul, we hopped on a plane to see it in person. There is NOTHING like experiencing a campus/city through your own eyes. You currently live in a city with over half a million people; D comes from a small NH town of 9,000 with 2 stoplights. There was no way I’d have let her go 1,000 miles to Chicago without us experiencing it in person (and yes, it truly is the WINDY city). Other people’s opinions can point you in a certain direction but you are the only one who can weigh the pros and cons while you are actually there. I think you should contact someone from the graduate division and arrange a tour with maybe an on-campus overnight? Watch the weather for Chicago and try to go when it’s sunny ( visit zoo, botanical gardens, waterfront…).and take the time to visit the Loop and LP neighborhoods and see for yourself if it’s right for you.</p>

<p>That is great advice, and it is appreciated. I plan to get out there either this summer or the next, depending on the timing of my internships, and money. But yeah, thanks again for the advice. If you decide there is anything else you would like to add in the future, please do.</p>