Northwestern vibe

[Anonymous]

^typos galore but you’ll get the point I’m sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, what is the latest at Northwestern? Are there any freshmen parents who can comment?

I think traditionally it was mainstream work-hard, play-hard but more recently has gotten very quirky and not-fun (no one goes to football games, grinds 24/7, super competitive with each other for any resources and the party scene has moved to U of Chicago, etc) but then I've heard that Northwestern corrected this a bit this past cycle and admitted more mainstream kids.



What is the word on the street from current parents, preferably those with freshmen?

Thank you!

What does this even mean (bolded?)

Do you really think admissions officers are sitting around that giant conference table and saying things like, "You know, Joe, we've gotten too many weirdos in the last few years. Not good for the reputation. Let's look for more mainstream kids."

lol

No…. but they might be doing what Vanderbilt has been doing for the last five or more years? Looking for “leadership” evidence, including being captain of sports team or student government president or the like as evidence for the extroverted kid they are looking for.

Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Junior in college has a close friend there who definitely thinks the vast majority of the class is pretty nerdy. That said, she is social and has found her people, just feels that most people aren’t the type to go to parties. May still work for lots of kids, but very different than the school was a decade or two ago.

I wonder if you have to be in Greek life to really get the social element to its fullest there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, what is the latest at Northwestern? Are there any freshmen parents who can comment?

I think traditionally it was mainstream work-hard, play-hard but more recently has gotten very quirky and not-fun (no one goes to football games, grinds 24/7, super competitive with each other for any resources and the party scene has moved to U of Chicago, etc) but then I've heard that Northwestern corrected this a bit this past cycle and admitted more mainstream kids.



What is the word on the street from current parents, preferably those with freshmen?

Thank you!

What does this even mean (bolded?)

Do you really think admissions officers are sitting around that giant conference table and saying things like, "You know, Joe, we've gotten too many weirdos in the last few years. Not good for the reputation. Let's look for more mainstream kids."

lol

No…. but they might be doing what Vanderbilt has been doing for the last five or more years? Looking for “leadership” evidence, including being captain of sports team or student government president or the like as evidence for the extroverted kid they are looking for.

Anyone?

Vandy has also been getting nerdier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Junior in college has a close friend there who definitely thinks the vast majority of the class is pretty nerdy. That said, she is social and has found her people, just feels that most people aren’t the type to go to parties. May still work for lots of kids, but very different than the school was a decade or two ago.

I wonder if you have to be in Greek life to really get the social element to its fullest there

Either way, the partying crowd is a small subset of the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, what is the latest at Northwestern? Are there any freshmen parents who can comment?

I think traditionally it was mainstream work-hard, play-hard but more recently has gotten very quirky and not-fun (no one goes to football games, grinds 24/7, super competitive with each other for any resources and the party scene has moved to U of Chicago, etc) but then I've heard that Northwestern corrected this a bit this past cycle and admitted more mainstream kids.

What is the word on the street from current parents, preferably those with freshmen?

Thank you!

What does this even mean (bolded?)

Do you really think admissions officers are sitting around that giant conference table and saying things like, "You know, Joe, we've gotten too many weirdos in the last few years. Not good for the reputation. Let's look for more mainstream kids."

DP.

My guess is that some AOs are getting guidance on admission standards and these standards are creating the result of admitting more mainstream kids.

Less credit given for political activism, personal crisis stories, and “quirky” personal statements.

More credit given to well-rounded kids, kids with leadership positions, etc.

This is a WAG based on how some leading institutions are behaving in non-admissions areas. Schools like Penn, Pomona, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia have been publicly embarrassed by student conduct over the last 10 years. I suspect they’ve realized that admitting at the fringes leads to fringe behavior on campus, which leads to brand problems.

It’s great to have places like Oberlin and Reed, but most colleges do not and should not aspire to be like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, what is the latest at Northwestern? Are there any freshmen parents who can comment?

I think traditionally it was mainstream work-hard, play-hard but more recently has gotten very quirky and not-fun (no one goes to football games, grinds 24/7, super competitive with each other for any resources and the party scene has moved to U of Chicago, etc) but then I've heard that Northwestern corrected this a bit this past cycle and admitted more mainstream kids.

What is the word on the street from current parents, preferably those with freshmen?

Thank you!

What does this even mean (bolded?)

Do you really think admissions officers are sitting around that giant conference table and saying things like, "You know, Joe, we've gotten too many weirdos in the last few years. Not good for the reputation. Let's look for more mainstream kids."

DP.

My guess is that some AOs are getting guidance on admission standards and these standards are creating the result of admitting more mainstream kids.

Less credit given for political activism, personal crisis stories, and “quirky” personal statements.

More credit given to well-rounded kids, kids with leadership positions, etc.

This is a WAG based on how some leading institutions are behaving in non-admissions areas. Schools like Penn, Pomona, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia have been publicly embarrassed by student conduct over the last 10 years. I suspect they’ve realized that admitting at the fringes leads to fringe behavior on campus, which leads to brand problems.

It’s great to have places like Oberlin and Reed, but most colleges do not and should not aspire to be like them.

I agree with this. Not directly relevant to Northwestern but my student who was an early in at H/Y/P this year is not the least bit pointy but very much is a good old fashion “well rounded” applicant. Three sport varsity athlete, lots of leadership, extremely active in two of the bigger but very mainstream school clubs and at top of class academically. Common app essay focused on a theme that showed ability to bring different groups of kids together, and sense of humor. I think the tide is starting to turn and this type of kid will be sought after again.

[Anonymous]

Schools have enrollment management employees whose job it is to help shape a class. These universities know how to get an admission class that is heavily eclectic or nerdy kids and they know how to form a group that is composed more of popular "mainstream" kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, what is the latest at Northwestern? Are there any freshmen parents who can comment?

I think traditionally it was mainstream work-hard, play-hard but more recently has gotten very quirky and not-fun (no one goes to football games, grinds 24/7, super competitive with each other for any resources and the party scene has moved to U of Chicago, etc) but then I've heard that Northwestern corrected this a bit this past cycle and admitted more mainstream kids.

What is the word on the street from current parents, preferably those with freshmen?

Thank you!

What does this even mean (bolded?)

Do you really think admissions officers are sitting around that giant conference table and saying things like, "You know, Joe, we've gotten too many weirdos in the last few years. Not good for the reputation. Let's look for more mainstream kids."

DP.

My guess is that some AOs are getting guidance on admission standards and these standards are creating the result of admitting more mainstream kids.

Less credit given for political activism, personal crisis stories, and “quirky” personal statements.

More credit given to well-rounded kids, kids with leadership positions, etc.

This is a WAG based on how some leading institutions are behaving in non-admissions areas. Schools like Penn, Pomona, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia have been publicly embarrassed by student conduct over the last 10 years. I suspect they’ve realized that admitting at the fringes leads to fringe behavior on campus, which leads to brand problems.

It’s great to have places like Oberlin and Reed, but most colleges do not and should not aspire to be like them.

I agree with this. Not directly relevant to Northwestern but my student who was an early in at H/Y/P this year is not the least bit pointy but very much is a good old fashion “well rounded” applicant. Three sport varsity athlete, lots of leadership, extremely active in two of the bigger but very mainstream school clubs and at top of class academically. Common app essay focused on a theme that showed ability to bring different groups of kids together, and sense of humor. I think the tide is starting to turn and this type of kid will be sought after again.

These types of kids have always been accepted to the top schools. Congrats to your kid, but your kid's acceptance doesn't mean the tide is turning. Top schools always accepted well rounded, active kids who've made an impact on their immediate community. They also like niche, talented kids too.

[Anonymous]

It's traditionally called the Northwestern 400.

400 kids in the freshman class are social (give or take), hang out together (downtown clubs or the Deuce), go on SB together to Mexico or DR, study abroad in the same places in Spain, Copenhagen or Florence (last year it was Spain), host off-campus parties in apts (and darties for football in the fall), etc.

I think this year, students estimated its closer to 500. So not really a huge change....maybe a bit around the edges? But yes, there weren't enough Greek bids, and 2 frats coming back this year and 2 sororities.

Agree there is much less activism on campus.

Pretty small cohort, but very unified when you combine with the other classes and upperclassmen. Maybe it feels more like a SLAC?

Can't imagine the Duke and Vandy #s are all that different? How big are the pledge classes there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's traditionally called the Northwestern 400.

400 kids in the freshman class are social (give or take), hang out together (downtown clubs or the Deuce), go on SB together to Mexico or DR, study abroad in the same places in Spain, Copenhagen or Florence (last year it was Spain), host off-campus parties in apts (and darties for football in the fall), etc.

I think this year, students estimated its closer to 500. So not really a huge change....maybe a bit around the edges? But yes, there weren't enough Greek bids, and 2 frats coming back this year and 2 sororities.

Agree there is much less activism on campus.

Pretty small cohort, but very unified when you combine with the other classes and upperclassmen. Maybe it feels more like a SLAC?

Can't imagine the Duke and Vandy #s are all that different? How big are the pledge classes there?

This sounds terribly claustrophobic and depressing. My kid goes to a southern school known to be social and the kids go all over for study abroad, not all to the same city, not even all to the same continent. Or perhaps you have it wrong.

[Anonymous]

My DS is a freshman and is loving Northwestern. He is very mainstream, econ major, joined a fraternity and is a pledge now. He goes out about three times a week, usually one night to bars/clubs in Chicago, one night to local bars or fraternity parties or off campus parties in apartments or dorm parties. He studies a lot so three nights is all he wants, which is one nice thing about NU. He did not want to feel pressure to go out five nights a week and stay out till 4 am. He has hard classes and takes them seriously, so the pace of Northwestern's social life is perfect for him. He went to all the home football games and the fraternity darties before them.

I agree there is a subset of kids like him at NU, and the above poster's 400 rule seems accurate to me. And I agree the business club scene is super competitive, but I hear that about all the top schools so it doesn't seem unique to NU. He did get in one, and that is also a nice social group in addition to his dorm friends and his fraternity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC (like many) is interested in an academically rigorous, mid-size school with some rah rah and a fun college town. Northwestern seems to fit the bill, and definitely had the reputation for having smart, balanced kids back in the stone ages when I went to school. I've heard that the vibe has changed, and it's now much more quirky, intense and less social than it used to be. We are visiting in a few weeks, but does anyone have a kid who is there and can speak to the current environment?

Thanks!

My DS accepted last cycle. Didn't like the "vibe: when he toured. My DS is very outgoing and was heavily involved in athletics in HS. Attending another school. The only way to know is for you and your DC to tour for a few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC (like many) is interested in an academically rigorous, mid-size school with some rah rah and a fun college town. Northwestern seems to fit the bill, and definitely had the reputation for having smart, balanced kids back in the stone ages when I went to school. I've heard that the vibe has changed, and it's now much more quirky, intense and less social than it used to be. We are visiting in a few weeks, but does anyone have a kid who is there and can speak to the current environment?

Thanks!

My DS accepted last cycle. Didn't like the "vibe: when he toured. My DS is very outgoing and was heavily involved in athletics in HS. Attending another school. The only way to know is for you and your DC to tour for a few days.

Curious where he's attending? Was it a good fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC (like many) is interested in an academically rigorous, mid-size school with some rah rah and a fun college town. Northwestern seems to fit the bill, and definitely had the reputation for having smart, balanced kids back in the stone ages when I went to school. I've heard that the vibe has changed, and it's now much more quirky, intense and less social than it used to be. We are visiting in a few weeks, but does anyone have a kid who is there and can speak to the current environment?

Thanks!

My DS accepted last cycle. Didn't like the "vibe: when he toured. My DS is very outgoing and was heavily involved in athletics in HS. Attending another school. The only way to know is for you and your DC to tour for a few days.

Curious where he's attending? Was it a good fit?

I would rather not say but it's in the Southeast. It's not that he didn't like anything about Northwestern, he loved being close to the lake (at least in warm weather . He just felt a stronger connection with the students and atmosphere at another school. Like I said, every kid is different and I'm sure there are a lot of students that love it there. I will add that we are also from the Midwest and he wanted a new adventure, so to speak. It's also not cheap obviously, so he told us he needed to really really love it But he also knew would have sucked it up and paid either way if he wanted to go there. Good luck with your decision. It's obviously a great school.