Anyone attend or graduate from Northwestern’s SCS program?
I’ve been out of school a year. I am 9 credits short of a degree in international studies from Loyola. The problem is I don’t have a clue what to do with that degree. I’m not very interested in international studies. I’ve been working until recently I was laid off. I did enjoy the business world while I was employed for nine months.
I’m now thinking about NU’s School of Continuing Studies and a degree in economics. I have never even taken an econ class but at least an econ degree is more marketable than an international studies degree.
How is NU’s School of Continuing Studies program? Does a NU SCS degree diploma just say Northwestern? Do you have the same rights as other students? Why do they restrict SCS students from taking only 3 daytime classes?
I feel NU’s SCS program might alienate you from the rest of the student body. I’m 25 so I want to be able to feel like a real NU student. I’m also considering NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Maybe their program allows admitted students to feel more part of the school…
Take a look at Columbia School of Genral Studies, and UPenn LPS (I know LPS is the same degree as a UPenn Degree)
Wow, UPenn’s LPS program sounds awesome! I like how you can take daytime classes as long as space is available.
The problem with NU SCS is that you have to get approval from some committee just to take a daytime class and even after that, it’s like a max of three daytime classes. It just feels like they alienate you from the student body. I mean I’m sure they’re awesome people in the SCS program but I want to feel like a real student.
That was one of my big things too. I want to feel like a member of the general population, I mean yes, I am not a traditional student but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have something to offer the general community.
I think the rejections I have gotten are because I made it clear that I want to be a part of the larger community, join organizations, etc… and I think a lot of schools shy away from that, and some of the ones that don’t still ostracize you even if it’s just by name, like Harvard making non-trad’s get a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts… that’s bogus…
That seems to be what NU wants to do. The maximum number of “day classes” you can take is 3 excluding the Summer quarter. It’s a shame because I got really excited when I went to their 240 acre campus and pictured myself being a part of something special.
I’ll most likely stay at Loyola through the summer and wait to hear back from NYU and UPenn for the Fall. I would be right on that Columbia app if they didn’t require your SAT/ACT scores or if it has been 8 years require a general exam. I’m a crappy standardized test taker which is why I probably didn’t go to these elite schools out of high school. I fear I will fly out to NYC, love the campus, bomb the general exam and get rejected.
what is max you can take altogether? Can you only take 3 in the day total ever? or 3 per quarter?
To be honest I haven’t heard great things about the NU program… I think Columbia is the best bet, however, LAC’s are very understanding towards non-trad’s… take a look at Amherst… (I can take classes there, but enjoyed the option of a non-trad dorm at my current school)
Hey vpappas83 I’m considering enrolling in the NU program. I would appreciate it if you could into more detail about what not so great things that you’ve heard about the program or great things if you have any of those. Thanks
Premed acquaintances say that a frequent grad school interview question is “Why didn’t you attend a traditional program? Why a part time/ night program? Why a program with such liberal acceptance policies?”
What would be better…
A BPhil from NW SCS? Even though it is from Weinberg Art and doesn’t say SCS on degree (or does it)… or a trad BA from a lower ranked state school such as a Cal State.
I am at NW SCS now, but having trouble getting classes I want.
is NW SCS that worth it in terms of career?
Will employers view it differently?
I’m not sure about employers, but I know grad schools look at it hard… I think because there are other good schools that accept non-trads…
I tried some classes there just because I was currently in Chicago, but decided against it. Not that the classes aren’t good, they are…I got excellent value out of the classes although tuition was a bit high, though no higher than any other private. The main problem is the actual “degree” and the fact that it IS a school of continuing studies. I want a real BA or BS… Not a Bachelors of General Studies or Bachelors of Philosophy which is what Northwestern SCS offers. Now, some day time students do take SCS classes, and SCS professors teach in the day school too, but you do not have the full spectrum of classes available to you <em>at all</em>
Also, the class scheduling is not the best, and you can only take 3 classes at a time without petitioning, and only 3 classes …Plus the tuition is sky high for a “vague” bachelors that isn’t a Bachelors of Arts or Bachelors of Science, esp if you are looking for grad school… I just feel better at a reputable state school and being in the real student body. I think something in the back of my mind would bother me that it was from an SCS and not a real BA/BS from the main part of a university.
SCS might also limit your ability to do honors work, research work, or get really involved with a certain professor or campus organizations you might have access to in a traditional program. And yes I have also heard grad schools know the difference. They will see the class codes (which are different) on your transcript, and they will also see the Bachelors of Philosophy or Bachelors of General Studies… not a Bachelors of Arts or Bachelors of Science which the rest of the undergraduate population are granted.
If you plan on staying in Chicago and your employer is paying for it and you can ONLY go in the evenings…then I’d say it is pretty good, otherwise I would probably advise looking elsewhere.
So I think depending on your situation, it can be a great option, it just isn’t for me, I need something else.
Most of the people I met there are either finishing their degree they always wanted and not looking at grad school…or have been out of school for awhile and taking some classes in preparation for grad school but as a NDS.
This is an older post but I think we need to set the record straight. First, I have no clue what is meant by a real BA or BS. Northwestern provides a BS and BPhil. The BSGA (Not Bachelors of GS) or Bachelors of Science in General Studies has different requirements in the prerequisites area, but ultimately has a core around a specific focus area. The Bachelors of Philosophy usually involves considerable research, and has a 2 year foreign language requirement. Oxford and many other well-known historic Universities provide BPhil degrees. Northwestern’s SPS program is for typically for adults who work full time, so the schedule is built as a weekend cohort program. 3 units is considered full-time on a quarterly program. 45 credits is required to graduate and the typical transfer student has roughly half of the units under their belt when entering the program. The class codes mentioned above is nonsense. The certificate you receive does not say “SPS” and is a traditional degree you’d receive from Northwestern.
If you’re looking to be part of the main campus and hang out with the traditional students—or kids–you won’t get that at SPS. SPS campus is the same as Kellogg’s and shares the facility in the Chicago campus.
I’m on my final year at SPS and can say that the experience has been fantastic. I’m a transfer student from DePaul’s program and while both schools are great --SPS is much better. I say that because Depaul is fully online while Northwestern’s program is a hybrid. More traditional than hybrid due to the majority of your classes require you to be in class with your fellow cohorts.
If you don’t mind me asking. What’s the difference between the campus in Evanston vs Chicago? From what I was told is that everyone gets a degree with Northwestern. It doesn’t say from Chicago, or School of Professional Studies. Tuition seems to accurate. If you can tell me what the difference between both campuses.
I am applying to Northwestern SPS as an undergrad student. I have lived around Chicago my entire life. The “main” campus for Northwestern is in Evanston. That is the lakeside campus with 200+ acres and where most undergrad students are. There is also a Chicago Gold Coast campus. This is where SPS is. SPS shares a building with the Kellogg School of Management and is on the same campus as the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, and the Pritzker School of Law. This makes SPS more accessible as it is in the heart of the city and anyone from the suburbs can get there. It also puts SPS with other older students, as SPS students are typically older. It is not like a Penn State where there are multiple satellite campuses that essentially act on their own. It just happens that being in the city is better for most graduate and professional programs and so Northwestern puts them there. Just like the DePaul business school and law school are in the Loop but the rest of campus is in Lincoln Park.