<p>Hey,
I have a question about the nature of NU. Ira Glass attended NU, but then transferred because he was fed up with people who were "only interested in getting graduate degrees and making money." This is one of the things about Emory that turned me off in a big way, that no matter how much they maintain that they are top notch in the liberal arts, the school has an austere, pre-professiol atmosphere. So, in considering transfer to NU, i wanna know for sure if NU is like Emory for the reasons I have stated, or if it has a warmer environment, with students who are interested in "the life of the mind" and so on. Thanks alot in advance for any insight you could lend. (Any response would be appreciated, i am nervous about transferring, and I wanna make sure I am making the right choice, I will be visiting this summer, but naturally school won;t be in session.)
Thanks,
Nat</p>
<p>Oh are you admitted already? From what I've heard, there's a good number of undecided kids who are adamant about receiving a well-rounded liberal arts education.</p>
<p>No, I am not admitted, I haven't even applied. I just feel I have at least a good shot of getting in, and I was interested in knowing whether or not I should pursue it.</p>
<p>no one have any input ?</p>
<p>anyone? no one?</p>
<p>I am not a student at NU but I just visited. I would say that this isn't the case (from what I experienced at least). Everone that I met made no mention of graduate school or making money after college. The only time I heard this was in relation to the theatre department in how the theatre faculty at NU has tons of connections in the business and how it helps a lot. But other than that, the students seemed as if they were truly interested in getting a well-rounded education and not as much with learning what to do to make the most money in your life. Someone who is a student at NU could probably tell you much better than I can but that is just the feeling I got.</p>
<p>Well..I'll try to help.
I'm finishing up my first year at NU and am transfering back to a east coast college. Anyway...um...I would say if what you want is a strong liberal arts department with a general intellectual air, NU may not be the right place. Don't get me wrong; its a great school but the university has many seperate schools that are open to the undergraduate: a jounalism school, a music school, an education school, an engineering school and a communications/theatre school IN ADDITION to the college (liberal arts school). What in effect happens is that there are many students who are already specializing say in journalism or theatre or engineering- preprofessional/professional vocations. Therefore, its definately not the same atmosphere as say Yale or Williams where liberal arts education is the main focus. Your engineers wont be reading Milton or Freud. That's not what there here to do. Nor are the musicians. They might get a course here or there but it's not a significant part of their curriculum. </p>
<p>Compared to peer institutions, its probably more like Cornell. </p>
<p>Therefore,I'd recommend coming here if you really want to specialize. As for a strong liberal arts degree, yes some people here pursue that in the college. But theres also a significant portion who aren't.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. Out of curiosity, where are you looking on the east coast? I go to a school out here, and I find the atmosphere more or less stifling, perhaps that's because this school has a largely regional draw... couldn't say for sure. I am desperately seeking a school that balances a decent social life, a liberal arts focus and mindset, and possesses the key criterion (for my case) of accepting spring transfer admission. I haven't met with so much success, as most of the schools that offer spring admission are of the "preprofessional type," i.e. NU, Cornell, Emory, WashU. What is the motive for your transfer, if I may ask?</p>
<p>Nat</p>
<p>"As for a strong liberal arts degree, yes some people here pursue that in the college. But theres also a significant portion who aren't."</p>
<p>That's been my experience here too. It's definitely a mix.</p>
<p>So in other words, there is not a strong sense of intellectualism, liberal arts focus/mindset, and I would be unhappy there if that is what I sought in the student body and faculty?</p>
<p>You should look into the University of Chicago, where "the life of the mind" is alive and thriving. Getting a good job is rarely mentioned - except by some of the economics majors, though that is expected.</p>
<p>Well...frankly yes. I mean..engineers are so preoccupied with their problem sets they can care less about philosophy and politics.<br>
Musicians and Actors can also for the most part care less. I'm not saying its the right attitude nor am I saying it applies to every engineer or musician but for the most part, that's not what NU is about.<br>
It is about specialization.</p>
<p>Right, UChicago is not an option for me however, because it does not offer spring admission, and by all accounts lacks any discernible "fun" social scene. NU appealed to me because of its size, rep and locale. Additonally, I have heard good things.</p>
<p>This is clearly not the ideal place for you. However, there is a chance it will end up being the best option you've got. If it does, you aren't doomed to be unhappy here if you don't want to be. You'll need to work for it and get involved with student groups. Not everyone here is going to be like how you want, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to find a solid group of people. Size, rep, and locale are very important things to take into account. You need to decide if, for you, the lack of a campus wide liberal arts mindset is worth compromising those.
Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>how would you characterize NU students (i know this is not easy, and requires some stereoptyping) but how would you characterize the bulk of the students, trends you have noticed etc?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Very motivated and ambitious, but not competitive with each other in a mean spirited way. People here are very intelligent and each and every person has something interesting about them waiting to be found out. I've also been impressed with how well Northwestern students work together, for the most part.
It's a friendly, happy, dorky, motivated, inspiring student body, in my opinion.</p>