<p>"To my understanding, the NU mafia runs the Colbert Report."</p>
<p>Stephen Colbert was in my class at NU :-).</p>
<p>"I guess I hoped that, in Chicago, NU would clearly get the respect for the level of school it is more so than it does back home."</p>
<p>I mean this nicely - what were you hoping for them to say? I mean, I doubt the average Bostonian genuflects in awe whenever the name Harvard is mentioned, either. The average man on the street in Boston knows that Harvard is a top school, the average man on the street in Chicago knows that NU (and U of C) are top schools, but they don't simply think about college rankings and excellence the way we all do on College Confidential.</p>
<p>^exact same thing i thought. I dont expect anyone to really care where I go to school. If they know its nice, if not who cares? People are too busy in their own lives and interests that its irrational to expect everyone to know how great NU is. Only on CC would I laugh at someone who didnt know NU.</p>
<p>Everyone in Chicago and Illinois has heard of NU. Most people don't apply there because: a) can't afford it, b) don't have grades or test scores, c) don't want to go to close to them, d) they think the sports suck, e) too small</p>
<p>I know the sports don't suck and NU is not too small, but that's what most people think of it. Most people end up wanting to go to U of I or Northern Illinois or Illinois State.</p>
<p>In the recruiting category, NU is highly respected and definately has an advantage when applying for jobs at leat in the Chicago area. </p>
<p>I hope to go there someday.</p>
<p>people actually want to go to Northern? really?</p>
<p>^^ Me too :)</p>
<p>Personal Anecdote time:</p>
<p>I went out to dinner with 2 friends just after graduation. I should mention I live in the Chicago suburbs. The waiter saw that we were all recent high school graduates and asked us where we are going. Here's how the conversation went:</p>
<p>Waiter: Where are you guys going next year?
Friend 1: Johns Hopkins
Waiter: Eh... never heard of it.
Friend 2: Dartmouth
Waiter: um... where is that? somethin' like North Carolina, right?
Me: Northwestern
Waiter: DAAAANGGG!!! You're gonna be makin' 6 figures by the time you get out.</p>
<p>In my experience, NU is very well regarded in the Chicago area.</p>
<p>"I guess I hoped that, in Chicago, NU would clearly get the respect for the level of school it is more so than it does back home."</p>
<p>I think you're overthinking the extent to which the average man on the street thinks about or cares about top-ranked schools. Going to the "best" school academically simply isn't important to most people, so they aren't going to spend their time thinking about whether NU is the very best, one of the best, how it compares to Harvard, whether it's worth crossing the country for (it is!!), etc. Rest assured you've made a fabulous choice in NU - you won't regret it.</p>
<p>Hahaha. The waiter didn't know where Dartmouth was... I guess it's too far away for her to notice. </p>
<p>I do like her enthusiasm about Northwestern though. Six figures.
Is that true for most NU graduates? O.o</p>
<p>I for one think only one thing of Dartmouth graduates, "they must drink a lot."
It's cold on campus for too many months. It's isolated. The kids drink, a lot, a whole lot. At least they did when I was in school, and I've heard it's the same way now.</p>
<p>Yale? I think the kids are very elite - to an uncomfortable degree.</p>
<p>Harvard? The kids who get in are fantastic. The classes are taught by TA's while the professors are busy publishing and making names for themselves rather than their students.</p>
<p>...and so on. Every school has it's reputation. In the end, they're all good schools. I rather like Northwestern's reputation - it's not "Ivy League" but it's full of smart, sociable people with midwestern values. In other words, the kind of people you'd like to hang out with. At least that's my perception...</p>
<p>"I rather like Northwestern's reputation - it's not "Ivy League" but it's full of smart, sociable people with midwestern values. In other words, the kind of people you'd like to hang out with. At least that's my perception..."</p>
<p>Exactly.</p>
<p>That's why it's perfect for me. :)</p>
<p>Sorry for my ignorance but what are midwestern values? I'm from the east coast :-)</p>
<p>yea seriously what are they? im from the midwest and i dont really know.</p>
<p>Someone told me that the people in the midwest are not elitist, less snobbish, and more willing to help each other out? I have no idea why anyone would stereotype that all people in the northeast are elitist, but that's what I've been told.</p>
<p>with some friends and extended family from the midwest and I don't mean to offend anyone.</p>
<p>I can just tell you from my own experiences that people are a WHOLE LOT friendlier and down to earth in the midwest than in the mid Atlantic states. It is like night and day. </p>
<p>I wouldn't say that people in the in the mid Atlantics are "elitists" necessarily, but they are NOT warm and friendly. I learned quickly to stop saying hi to strangers here because they either don't respond, look right through you, or look at you like you have two heads. It's really bizarre. </p>
<p>I am generalizing, but not by much. There are a lot of aggressive, rude, inconsiderate people in the state where I live, and I have lived a lot of places and haven't seen anything like it before.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what it's all about and I'm not sure I'd notice it if I hadn't lived in other parts of the country, but it is definitely different and the people are definitely much nicer in the midwest. </p>
<p>You couldn't pay me to go to school in NY, NJ, or CT. Didn't even apply and don't envy anyone who is staying here.</p>
<p>I'm living in the Northeast right now, and love it. I love the proximity to fantastic cities, great shops, restaurants, the ocean, etc... In fact, I was born in CT. However I grew up in the Midwest, then lived there for decades, and think that I am Midwestern at heart.</p>
<p>What is it? What are Midwestern values?</p>
<p>In my opinion, people from the Midwest aren't as extreme as those on the coasts. We aren't as polite as those from the South but not as "direct" as those from New York. We are a bit like our accents, a blend of all types of people. Things don't move as fast in Chicago as they do in New York, nor as slow/laid back as LA. But we can get along and understand all of these other "types" because we have all those elements ourselves.</p>
<p>I think when a Midwesterner acts as though they like someone, they genuinely mean it... and, I think s/he is more likely to have room in their life to add new people.</p>
<p>When I am in a BIG city, I tend to want to find some space, to cocoon and enjoy some peace and quiet. In Chicago, there aren't as many people right on top of one another (I am going to ignore the highways at rush hour) and so we're a little more outgoing and still wanting to be with others.</p>
<p>These are all stereotypes, each one of my posts, and I'm shocked I haven't been flamed. But, you asked the question...</p>