<p>So I am going to attend Northwestern as a freshman next year but I still am having some doubts about how much I’m going to like it there. My first choice of school was actually NYU and I absolutely loved it there when I visited…but unfortunately, financial aid just wasn’t enough. When I visited Northwestern, though, I tried my best to like it since I knew it was probably my second best choice, but I just didn’t get the same good feeling I got from NYU. I really liked the artsy, open-minded, free-spirited vibe I got from NYU but at Northwestern, it felt a little too studious and like that was the main focus…it also seemed like there was some racial seperation. I’ve also read a lot of comments about how the social life at Northwestern sucks and the greek scene is a majority of it…and I’m not really into that kind of thing. And the one other thing that I absolutely loved about NYU was just the city itself and having access to that…I thought that maybe Chicago could make up for it, but it really doesn’t compare…
So basically, I just would like any insight about people’s opinions of Northwestern and if someone with my interests who loves the feel of NY would be able to adjust to the feel of Northwestern and the kind of people there… (and also, my one other plan was to apply to columbia university as a transfer next year, but i dont really know if it will be worth it with such small chances…which is why i’m hoping i will just learn to love northwestern instead)</p>
<p>Columbia studnets are just as studious, if not more.</p>
<p>That’s probably true…and I’m sure at every good school everyone’s going to be super studious, but i just want a place where that isn’t like the main thing that characterizes them…but ya, I guess I shouldn’t assume I’d like Columbia as much as NYU just because it’s in New York (it’s just that columbia’s financial aid looks like it’d be much better)</p>
<p>Let me preface this by saying that I am not an NYU fan at all. We’re from NYC so that might taint me a little but there is no campus at NYU (please don’t tell me again that Washington Square Park is the campus) and there is often a feeling of disjointedness especially by Freshman because of the lack of one physical space. You’re also sharing your college area with so many non-college people so that makes it quite different than most college experiences. Finally, NY is not going to be as “cool” as it has been for the last 10-15 years because the city, like most places, is broke, so the underbelly may start to show and if you’re not used to it, it can be a bit disarming. Okay, enough trashing NYU.</p>
<p>Northwestern is much more of a typical college environment. I don’t know your major or interests but there is something there for everyone. The Greeks are a minority not a majority of the kids; true, it’s a large minority but you can have as much or as little to do with them as you wish. If you have a theatrical/comedic/singing desire there are loads of clubs for that, if you’re into athletics/sports there’s obviously much that Northwestern has to offer there, academic clubs are abundant, etc. Look into their different types of dorms/residences and see which one fits what you’re looking for. Go on their Facebook pages for “unofficial” information.</p>
<p>Any college in the league you’re speaking of is going to have numerous studious kids as well as partying kids. Commit emotionally to Northwestern and you’ll have a great college experience, keep thinking how you’d rather be somewhere else, you’ll never be happy.</p>
<p>New York isn’t going away, it will still be there in four years, probably back on the upswing. You can conquer it then! Good luck!</p>
<p>about the social life, I read the same things: sucks if not greek. out of 8,000 kids, though, there are going to be many students, like me, who want to have a good time (go out, party, whatever) but don’t want to commit to greek life. I doubt the people who complain are being very proactive about it either. I feel like sometimes you have to find people to hang out with and make it happen. look into the more social dorms too</p>
<p>Take it from me. I transferred this past year from NYU to Northwestern.
I could not be any happier with my choice. Yes, there is a free-spirited mood at NYU, but there’s also a lot of isolation as well, at least from my personal experience. At Northwestern, there is so much more of a community feel. You feel like you actually belong to a group of students, and you can recognize people you know on the street. </p>
<p>As for the studious vibe that you got, I assure you there are studious people at NYU too. At Northwestern though, you’ll definitely be able to find a variety of people including some who, though their main focus is their school work, do make time for a social life, etc. And coming from someone who has lived in both cities, Chicago does have a lot of great qualities that a majority of Northwestern students never take advantage of.</p>
<p>If you have any more specific questions, pleeeeease let me know. Transferring to NU was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I would definitely like to alleviate any of your worries!</p>
<p>Make sure to live on south campus. I’d recommend you check out Chapin, CRC, Jones, and Willard, just to name a couple suggested dorms.</p>
<p>The people who say the social life at NU sucks would probably say the same if they went to any school other than UFlorida or similar school.</p>
<p>Having spent a good amount of time at NYU and a “party school” like Penn State - I’d say that the social life at NU isn’t that far off.</p>
<p>At NYU the social life revolves around the Village and other bars/clubs in the downtown area. Great for upperclassmen or those w/ fake IDs (or who have an “in”), but the “on campus” party scene isn’t so hot (particularly due to the disjointed nature of NYU’s campus and the fact that there are still a good no. of commuter students). Having $$ is also a necessity.</p>
<p>The social life at PSU is heavily greek driven but there are a plenty of bars and a few clubs in State College.</p>
<p>Not a great choice of bars in Evanston, but one doesn’t have to go that far into Chicago to hit the bar scene (a popular spot 5-7 mins away by car were a couple of bars that sold beer by the pitcher cheap).</p>
<p>20-25 mins on the L are the bars by Loyola and the bars/clubs on/off of Halsted in Lincoln Park.</p>
<p>As for social life stinking if one isn’t greek - that’s hardly true (I didn’t go greek 'til my soph year and spent more time partying as a frosh).</p>
<p>And while many of my friends did end up going greek, some did not and they partied hard all 4 yrs (moving off campus after freshman year helps).</p>
<p>Here’s a tip - it really helps your social life if you make friends w/ some students who are locals (either from Chicago or from the North Shore).</p>
<p>They already know all the good places to go; one gets the opportunity to socialize (such as a barbeque or sailing) on the North Shore (often w/ non-NU students) and many have cars.</p>
<p>thanks for your input everyone.
ohhhradio, about what you said about the isolation at nyu…i actually did not really feel that at all when i visited (although it might be cuz i was visiting for the martin luther king scholars program i got in and i was around a group of people who all were passionate about service and stuff), but also in the dorm building i stayed in, it seemed like everyone was super friendly and like they all sort of knew each other…but idk…
also, what amtc said about the typical college experience at nu and how you didnt like the lack of campus at nyu…i actually kind of liked that feel…i don’t know if im just weird, but i thought it just felt more exciting and like you werent trapped in like one little world the whole time. compared to other colleges i’ve visited, nu actually felt kind of small…so i don’t know if i’de get bored of it after a while…and it didn’t seem like that many ppl even went to chicago that often so that element wasn’t really part of it…but i guess you’re right about ny still being there in four years, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to just have a “typical” college experience before that…as long as i’m not too broke to actual afford being in ny by then lol…</p>
<p>I am going to NU next year and I am also from the Chicago area. I can’t exactly speak for the students at either campus, but personally (and I really think I am unbiased) I think New York and Chicago are about the same level of lively/cool/fun/interesting. We don’t have Central Park - we have Millenium, Grant, Lincoln…we have public beaches, the El, Chicago pizza, the list goes on…for $2.25, you can hop on the El to visit the 3rd biggest city in the country - one that definitely rivals New York. </p>
<p>If you’re worried about how often people plan on going to the city - I make at least one! I love Chicago and am really excited for that aspect of NU, even though we aren’t in the middle of the city like NYU. Close enough for all the perks, plus a community and a campus that NYU lacks because of being so big and spread out!</p>
<p>ya, there deffinetly still is a lot in chicago…i think maybe i’ve just been biased cuz i used to live near chicago so new york just felt more new and exciting…but im sure theres still a lot more of the city i havent really experienced yet…well, hopefully i’ll meet u at nu this fall and we can go hang out in the city! lol
btw, my name is also sophia! 
…unless that’s not actually your name…</p>
<p>i live in nyc and hang out in the nyu neighborhood a lot and from what i see, the campus is too spread out to be a real community. students that i know that go there mostly speak of clubbing and things like that and it just seems like a very cliquey school. northwestern just seems more like a real college experience which i love and i cannot wait to explore what chicago has to offer, so im one more person who hopes to go into the city a lot especially on weekends!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, I can definitely attest to the fact that people do not go into Chicago enough, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t! I’m down there pretty much every weekend (I have a lot of DePaul friends), and there is seriously SO much stuff to do that most Northwestern students don’t even realize!</p>
<p>May I ask what things people neglect to take advantage of in Chicago? I’m attending in the fall and I’m curious…</p>
<p>This is from my experience: It seems that no one really goes to Chicago at all. They don’t know how to ride the el, the great bars that one can find in Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, etc, the great concerts, restaurants, hookah bars, the shopping or even touristy things such as the mag mile, millennium park, or any of the museums! There is so much to do it’s crazy. Most students can go all four years knowing nothing about the city. For instance, I’m definitely a big music fanatic, and I can never believe how little people know about venues in Chicago; they usually can’t even name one!</p>
<p>This should not deter you, however. If anything, it should make you more motivated to check things out. Definitely get a group of people to go downtown during welcome week - it will be well worth it! There’s great thrifting right off the Belmont el stop at Belmont and Clark and wonderful restaurants/bars off the Addison stop of the red line in Wrigleyville. If you ever need recommendations on things to do, just ask me! : )</p>
<p>^ One’s experience really depends on what group of friends one has.</p>
<p>I ended up going into Chicago all the time w/ my friends and probably spent way too much $$ at bars on Halsted.</p>
<p>2-3 Cubs games were an annual affair, as well a 4-5 concerts.</p>
<p>However, didn’t do too much of the cultural (museums and such) thing until I graduated.</p>
<p>As for the NYC and Chicago comparison - I’d say that Chicago has most, if not everything that NY has, but just on a more manageable scale (and a bit cleaner as well).</p>
<p>Yes, Chicago is definitely cleaner than NYC. It’s not as intimidating size-wise too.</p>
<p>something33, I am in somewhat of the same boat.
I had my heart set on art school (I was actually contemplating NYU for a while as well, since the art program is better at Steinhardt than at NU), but the academics at NU are just too good to pass up. I’m a Radio/TV/Film major, by the way.</p>
<p>Trust me, I have friends who go to NYU… it really lacks a community feel. & a lot of people at NYU seem to have more of a “YAYYY NEW YORK CITY” attitude, rather than a “YAYYY LEARNING” attitude (read: not all that serious about academics?). I’m not saying everyone is like this, but many of the people I know have made similar comments about the school. I think the hard-working atmosphere at NU is definitely helpful, not hurtful.</p>
<p>I’m definitely living South, hopefully in a res college (maybe CRC or Willard). These dorms seem to accomplish a lot of what NYU cannot- a sense of community. These types of dorms seem rather quirky/artsy in comparison to the larger halls, so if that’s what you want, I’d suggest you look into the dorms arbiter213 suggested. </p>
<p>Also, I have to agree with the statements about Chicago. It blew me away. I plan to take full advantage of it. If you ever need someone to go into the city with, I’m sure there are others just like me who would be more than happy to explore with you.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if you have any updates? How are you <em>hopefully</em> enjoying it?</p>