Visit Report by sidjenks (Member since September 09 2006 with 366 posts) Visit Date - June 2007
Visit to Northwestern University in June 2007 by sidjenks (Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
No - Don't offer. Information Session:
Yes - Pretty good, nothing amazing. If you have the chance, however, try to register for the 'small-groups' information session. We found out about it the night before and were fortunately able to Campus Tour:
Yes - Tour guides were pretty cool; enthusiastic, loved the campus. Don't hesitate to ask them any questions i.e. dining recommendations - they're all very accommodating. Ours was a particularly s Classroom Visit:
No - N/A. We did visit the Int'l Studies department, since I was interested. They were really helpful - more detailed explanations, etc. I'd recommend visiting depts. of interest, if you have the
Northwestern University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
Students were more than happy to provide directions. In general, my interaction with students, though few, was a positive experience.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
The staff are amazingly helpful. For us, they went out of their way to chat and provide some more answers and even reminisce about their personal experiences.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
It looked amazing. Enough said.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good -
In general, all the flowerbeds, etc were very well-maintained. Some buildings could be painted, but it's nothing glaring.
Dormitories: -
Didn't get to visit. Hopefully they're good.
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good -
Blue light system everywhere, saw a heavy presence of police - constantly driving around/walking around, etc. Though there is always the element of danger because of NU's proximity to Chicago.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
I wasn't even that interested in NU before visiting, but now I think it's one of my top choices.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
SO MUCH FOOD. Evanston is the ultimate college town.
City/Town/Community: 5 - Excellent -
It's pretty sweet - plenty to do/eat/shop.
Campus Visit Notes for Northwestern University:
Visit Description:
Due to a mistake in transportation arrangements, we ended up staying/visiting campus for an extra day, which earned me the 'most frequent visitor' award from the admissions office. Woo!
We visited for two days. We spent a great deal of time walking around campus, people watching, etc. Ultimately, we found there wasn't a 'hidden' side of NU that the tour guides intentionally maneuver around. It's a great campus, frankly.
If possible, attend the small group info session. It's with an admissions official in "small groups" of 5-6 students. It's for people who already know a bit about NU, so that they can ask more detailed questions. Search around on the NU website for more details.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
We stayed in the Doubletree in Skokie - though you have to rent a car/taxi, hotel itself is cheaper; the Hotel Orrington is good, but expensive.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
Addis Abeba - really good Ethiopian food.
Flat Top Grill - good stir fry for lunch or something.
Barcelona - awesome tapas place.
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
We didn't ride the El, since we rented a car. Parking wasn't difficult at all for us. Depends where you go though. The lake(fill) lives up to its image as being pretty awesome.
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Students were more than happy to provide directions. In general, my interaction with students, though few, was a positive experience.
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In general, all the flowerbeds, etc were very well-maintained. Some buildings could be painted, but it's nothing glaring.
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Didn't get to visit. Hopefully they're good.