Thoughts on Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is in a unique category. It has top notch academics, but is also part of the Big 10 sports league. It’s a school for really smart kids who are also social and like to go to games, parties, etc. In that way, it’s probably most similar to Duke. But Northwestern also has a great college town a few blocks away and is half an hour from a major city. I can’t think of other schools that have these same characteristics.

Boston College fits that description as does The U/Miami.

Thanks for proving the OP’s point. NU is unique in this regard.

I love it when people get all snooty if you insinuate that schools a little down the pecking order are like a completely different species. Exactly what is it that the profs at Northwestern know that the profs at Miami can’t grasp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Hard-working students. Seems like a great alumni network.

+1 NU alum here. This is the most accurate summary of NU that I have heard.

[Anonymous]

^^aren’t, not are

[Anonymous]

$86K a year!

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with Northwestern but it seems to me that anytime someone posts something that is not great about the school the counterposts are so defensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is in a unique category. It has top notch academics, but is also part of the Big 10 sports league. It’s a school for really smart kids who are also social and like to go to games, parties, etc. In that way, it’s probably most similar to Duke. But Northwestern also has a great college town a few blocks away and is half an hour from a major city. I can’t think of other schools that have these same characteristics.

Boston College fits that description as does The U/Miami.

Thanks for proving the OP’s point. NU is unique in this regard.

I love it when people get all snooty if you insinuate that schools a little down the pecking order are like a completely different species. Exactly what is it that the profs at Northwestern know that the profs at Miami can’t grasp?

Probably nothing, but you’re fooling yourself thinking that BC and Miami are comparable academic experiences. They are good schools for sure, but not at the same level as Northwestern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with Northwestern but it seems to me that anytime someone posts something that is not great about the school the counterposts are so defensive

Eh, you see that with every school on DCUM. Northwestern is one of those schools, perhaps along with Duke, that weirdly enough engenders the opposite reaction a lot of times -- there are a couple of posters on here that are vehemently anti-Northwestern for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Excellent education in humanities and stem subjects at NU. Great mix of smaller seminars and larger classes with excellent professors. Hard working, intellectually curious students on a stunning campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with Northwestern but it seems to me that anytime someone posts something that is not great about the school the counterposts are so defensive

Eh, you see that with every school on DCUM. Northwestern is one of those schools, perhaps along with Duke, that weirdly enough engenders the opposite reaction a lot of times -- there are a couple of posters on here that are vehemently anti-Northwestern for whatever reason.

Some people here rag on Northwestern a little. But the level of hostility directed at it is nothing compared with the hate directed UChicago. The UChicago hate is at another level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Hard-working students. Seems like a great alumni network.

+1 NU alum here. This is the most accurate summary of NU that I have heard.

But it's not a beautiful campus. There's the admissions hall and the football abomination on the lake. That's the showcase area. Add a little beach. Some greenery. A view of Lake Michigan.

The rest of it is a tired school in the Midwest

Evanston is not interesting. It's boring and cold. Chicago is too far away for it to be a daily reality for students.

It's certainly a good school. Students are undoubtedly bright. But did not love the vibe. Grinder school.

It's like Stanford. They had this great thing in the 80s and 90s. And they've been living off that rep ever since.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure everyone will disagree, but I have never really understood why Northwestern is ranked so highly. I know they have some good professional schools. However, for undergrad, I really don’t know many people who went there that did any better than they would have from any other school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure everyone will disagree, but I have never really understood why Northwestern is ranked so highly. I know they have some good professional schools. However, for undergrad, I really don’t know many people who went there that did any better than they would have from any other school.

Their alumni roster is very, very impressive, and they seem to be well represented across a breadth of industries. We are looking into the school for ED for DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure everyone will disagree, but I have never really understood why Northwestern is ranked so highly. I know they have some good professional schools. However, for undergrad, I really don’t know many people who went there that did any better than they would have from any other school.

I feel that way about Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure everyone will disagree, but I have never really understood why Northwestern is ranked so highly. I know they have some good professional schools. However, for undergrad, I really don’t know many people who went there that did any better than they would have from any other school.

The number of Northwestern grads in show biz & journalism is amazing.

It’s super easy to double major. My kid went there for 2 of their less-notable majors, did well, & has had grad schools & employers swooning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful campus. Hard-working students. Seems like a great alumni network.

+1 NU alum here. This is the most accurate summary of NU that I have heard.

But it's not a beautiful campus. There's the admissions hall and the football abomination on the lake. That's the showcase area. Add a little beach. Some greenery. A view of Lake Michigan.

The rest of it is a tired school in the Midwest

Evanston is not interesting. It's boring and cold. Chicago is too far away for it to be a daily reality for students.

It's certainly a good school. Students are undoubtedly bright. But did not love the vibe. Grinder school.

It's like Stanford. They had this great thing in the 80s and 90s. And they've been living off that rep ever since.

To each their own, but it most certainly is a beautiful campus by most people's standards. Downtown Evanston is a vibrant place (much better than 30-35 years ago and still rebuilding after a rough few years at start of covid). Downtown Chicago is not a daily trip but is easy to get to on the weekend if you feel the need---but really the campus and Evanston offer enough activities that most students go down maybe once per month.

As to the weather, DUH, it's obviously it's cold---it is the Chicago area. Some days are dreary, some are freezing and sunny. If you are looking for warm and sunny in the winter then the midwest is obviously the wrong place for you.