Northwestern University Visit Report by skiskidder94

Visit Activities:

Admissions Interview: Yes - Took one in my hometown (Philadelphia)... very nice and helpful guy

Information Session: Yes - Typical

Campus Tour: Yes - HUUUUGE campus... so much so that the guide didn't have time to show us all of it... if you like convenience, not the best place

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Campus:

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Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly, as expected from Midwestern hospitality. If anything, campus feel was TOO laid back... especially for someone used to hustle/bustle of northeast US

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Came for Wildcat Days... if I had one word to describe the people on campus it would be --quirky--

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If you grew up in the suburbs of a major city and are bored of it DON'T COME HERE. I grew up near Villanova, and Evanston feels eerily similar to that area.

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The main gym was by far the nicest/newest facility I visited, but there are certainly some places that need upgrading (the main student center). Overall well-kept though

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Nothing spectacular, but i've seen worse. Allison hall seemed to be the nicest freshman dorm. All of them are small though and have communal bathrooms w/ pretty good dining halls

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As safe as you'll feel on any big, suburban/rural college campus

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It wasn't my type of area, but if you like the suburban feel, it's the perfect setting for you. In my opinion, there was a dearth of energy on/around campus... even on a nice, late-April day

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Off-Campus:

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BORING. I walked from my hotel in the middle of Evanston, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, and STILL saw very few ppl. Shops/Food were good but WHERE WERE THE PEOPLE???

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ANYONE? ANYONE AT ALL???

Campus Visit Notes for Northwestern University

Visit Description:

If you can get past the weather (which I could) and you like suburban living, there probably isn't a better college for you.

If you're expecting the excitement of downtown-Chicago, however, you've got another thing coming. I thought that a town this close to Chicago would be full of energy, but i was wrong. Students seem largely disinterested with downtown-Chicago, and most go in about once a week, like a "trip into town".

The academics at Northwestern seemed top-notch, as you can study in any field and get some of the best training in the world. People are extremely friendly and laid-back, but if you enjoy the boisterous feel of a northeastern city, or even of Chicago, the town of Evanston and Northwestern's campus will not oblige.

Another unexpected facet of Northwestern life was the Greek scene. It is HUGE there, and it seems like if you want to do anything but study and work, the only thing anyone does is participate in Greek life.

I visited once during the summer with no one on campus, then came back after being accepted, expecting to love the school. I ended up more confused than ever, as the campus just had a dull and dreary feel to it, far from what I would have expected from a place with such kind, funny people so close to an exciting metropolis.

By the way, after visiting Northwestern and having these initial feelings about the school, I called a friend of mine who was about to graduate and really liked Northwestern. He told me my impression was scarily accurate.

Just in case you weren't sure about the validity of my review.