Tell Me About Northwestern

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I just got accepted to Northwestern, as a mechanical engineer. </p>

<p>I want someone (preferably a current student) to tell me about the school. Sell the school to me. Or, if you prefer, tell me why not to go there. </p>

<p>A few questions I would like to have answered:</p>

<ul>
<li>How well are the engineering students integrated into social life with other students? </li>
<li>In general, how do people act toward one another? </li>
<li>Are the students attractive (in an emotion sense - are they good people that are welcoming and happy, and also in a physical sense)? </li>
<li>How are the class sizes? </li>
<li>Are professor approachable and willing to help? </li>
<li>How brutal is the weather (I'm from CA)? </li>
<li>How is the food?</li>
<li>Are the dorms social? </li>
<li>What is there to do during the weekends? </li>
<li>How often do you visit Chicago, and what is there to do there for undergrads? </li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks to anyone who helps!</p>

2

<p>i can address one thing:
the weather is brutal. i’m from CA and i lived in chicago at some point in time. dude, it’s hard to explain just how bad it is here. the wind chill. ugh. don’t ask. chicago weather is horrible. however, if you can brave the weather, you are facing a great time man. the food in the area is amazing and the culture is absolutely awesome.</p>

3

<ul>
<li><p>How well are the engineering students integrated into social life with other students?
Entirely? Other than taking different classes, there’s no difference.</p></li>
<li><p>In general, how do people act toward one another?
In general? Exactly the same as everywhere else. You can’t generalize that, because there are so many distinct pockets of campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Are the students attractive (in an emotion sense - are they good people that are welcoming and happy, and also in a physical sense)?
Physical? I think they’re plenty attractive, but you hear people complain alot. Honestly, they’re probably just as attractive as at any other school of similar calibur, but since the winter is long and hard, people don’t look as attractive without tans and under heavy layering. I find most people to be friendly and warm- it is dominated by midwesterners, after all!</p></li>
<li><p>How are the class sizes?
Depends on the class. Intro’s go up towards 200. The vast majority of my classes (in the humanities) have been under 30, usually under 18.</p></li>
<li><p>Are professor approachable and willing to help?
Absolutely.</p></li>
<li><p>How brutal is the weather (I’m from CA)?
It’s harsh, but just layer. You’ll get used to it fast.</p></li>
<li><p>How is the food?
Fantastic. Just not the dining hall food… Dining hall food is ok.</p></li>
<li><p>Are the dorms social?
Varies from dorm to dorm, but mostly yes.</p></li>
<li><p>What is there to do during the weekends?
The entire city of Chicago, the city of Evanston, frat parties, theater parties, club parties, club events, philanthropy, shows, concerts… the list goes on. If you’re bored, you’re doing something horribly wrong.</p></li>
<li><p>How often do you visit Chicago, and what is there to do there for undergrads?
What is there to do? I mean, whatever you want to do in a City? Helps if you have an ID so you can go to bars/ clubs. I go into Chicago about 2-3 times a quarter, but some people go in 2-3 times a week, and some people never go. The more involved you are on campus, the less you have time/ desire to go out into the city.</p></li>
</ul>

4

<p>Thanks both of you, just the answers I was looking for! </p>

<p>Anyone else have any input?</p>

5

<ul>
<li><p>How well are the engineering students integrated into social life with other students?
Yes, people don’t just hang out with people from the same school.</p></li>
<li><p>In general, how do people act toward one another?
Not sure what you mean by this question but generally in an upper class manner, which means no calling attention to yourself, being humble, and repressing your animalistic tendencies.</p></li>
<li><p>Are the students attractive (in an emotion sense - are they good people that are welcoming and happy, and also in a physical sense)?
Yes, most are nice but some are arrogant. People are generally fit (might be an upper class thing), but are they especially good-looking, like face-wise? No, not really. Probably the same as its peer institutions. The girls have an interesting air about them though that makes me think they’re pretty cute.</p></li>
<li><p>How are the class sizes?
All large classes have a discussion component. Otherwise, generally pretty small, like under 15.</p></li>
<li><p>Are professor approachable and willing to help?
Oh yes. </p></li>
<li><p>How brutal is the weather (I’m from CA)?
I love the cold but I personally don’t like anything below 20F. There was one week this quarter when the windchill was ~30, and it was just downright intolerable. I had to run around to get to places because I didn’t have a face mask.</p></li>
<li><p>How is the food?
Good. I don’t understand how it’s different from WashU’s food (the two are often compared in this sense).</p></li>
<li><p>Are the dorms social?
Depends on the dorm. I was in Allison last year and my floor was pretty social (actually far too social for my liking). I lived in Foster-Walker this fall, moved out for winter because I thought I wanted to live off-campus but am moving back in because I miss it :slight_smile: People complain that F-W is anti-social, but I just roll my eyes. It’s not like we’re hermits… we just don’t go to the bars all the freaking time because that’s not our idea of fun. We have a UChicago-like idea of fun, I’d say. Also, we just want our own living space.</p></li>
<li><p>What is there to do during the weekends?
There are always all kinds of shows/events happening on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>How often do you visit Chicago, and what is there to do there for undergrads?
Haha, I go to Chicago like everyday (I’m probably the only one) because I like doing my work Downtown, and I like the grad students :slight_smile: I also meet up with some friends who don’t go to NU. The Intercampus Shuttle that runs M-Sat makes going to Chicago super easy.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>There’s plenty you could get involved in. Check out:
[ASG</a> | Student Group Directory](<a href=“http://groups.northwestern.edu/?set=asg]ASG”>http://groups.northwestern.edu/?set=asg)</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>Ha, that’s good. </p>

<p>I mean just in general, is there a cutthroat competition that underlies the campus or is everyone willing to lend a helping hand and work together to succeed academically and socially?</p>

7

<p>I got in too [!!] and had some questions:</p>

<p>-Everyone moans about the quarter system… how bad is it, truly?
-I come from a pretty small, private school with a white majority and a lot of cliques. Does this happen at NU, generally? [and no “You can avoid it if you try,” answers, I mean really, do people intermix a lot?]
-follow up to above, how’s the diversity? I know it’s a top-tier institution but again, is there intermixing? I’m Asian, lol, so this is something for me to consider</p>

<p>Most importantly: What do you love/hate the most about Northwestern?</p>

8

<p>There is so much to do in Chicago it’s not even funny.</p>

<p>And I would say everyone is willing to help one another out, most definitely.</p>

9

<p>Northwestern gives really really crappy aid to internationals.</p>

10

<p>What about aid for students who aren’t international?</p>

11

<p>

</p>

<p>In my experience there is competition in the sense that people are going to try their hardest because they know that there are a limited number of A’s available (at least in most classes), but I have never had anyone say “I won’t help you” or anything like that. People are motivated to do well but they aren’t going to purposely screw you over so they get a better grade. There are definitely times when people have asked me to borrow my notes and problem sets, and sometimes I said no if I thought they had no good reason for missing class or I thought they should do the problems themselves so they actually know the material. Whether you see that as cut-throat competition is up to you, but in my three years here I have never had any experience in my courses – premed ones included – where I felt like people deliberately placed their own primal desire to succeed ahead of a humanistic compassion to help others. Obviously there are some that are less willing to offer help, but they never did it so as to benefit themselves.</p>

12

<ul>
<li>How well are the engineering students integrated into social life with other students?</li>
</ul>

<p>Okay, so I’m an English major, but I have so many engineering friends that it’s not even funny. They hang out with everyone else- it’s very balanced.</p>

<ul>
<li>In general, how do people act toward one another?</li>
</ul>

<p>I’ve found some really good friends here. I guess it just depends on what group you’re in- some of my friends are really sarcastic, some are really awkward, others are affectionate; but for the most part, everyone is really polite. At least in my experience.</p>

<ul>
<li>Are the students attractive (in an emotion sense - are they good people that are welcoming and happy, and also in a physical sense)?</li>
</ul>

<p>Emotionally, I think so, for the most part. There are some arrogant pricks, but I think that just happens wherever you’d go. As for a physical sense…there are some really attractive people here, but I don’t think we’re an <em>amazing</em> campus, facewise, at least for the guys. </p>

<ul>
<li>How are the class sizes?</li>
</ul>

<p>Intro classes=huge. The seminar classes are nice, though.</p>

<ul>
<li>Are professor approachable and willing to help?</li>
</ul>

<p>In my experience, yes.</p>

<ul>
<li>How brutal is the weather (I’m from CA)?</li>
</ul>

<p>Well, it can be pretty bad. There was a day where it was -20 outside without windchill and we still had class, but I made it through- just layer!</p>

<ul>
<li>How is the food?</li>
</ul>

<p>Meh. I love the Buffalo Chicken Wraps at Norris, though!</p>

<ul>
<li>Are the dorms social?</li>
</ul>

<p>Mine is very social! Not like Bobb-McCulloch social, but Willard has its own charm.</p>

<ul>
<li>What is there to do during the weekends?</li>
</ul>

<p>So much!! You have no idea.</p>

<ul>
<li>How often do you visit Chicago, and what is there to do there for undergrads?</li>
</ul>

<p>I myself haven’t gone too often, but there is soo much. Soooo sooo much to do.</p>