Interested in Northwestern

[Anonymous]

2006 graduate here. There’s nothing like a top 10 research university in STEM, and it’s one of them. It has the largest low rise building the US after the Pentagon, which is the Tech building. It’s hard sciences and engineering is amazing, and you will have amazing Nobel laureates as your professors. The prior poster who said you would be able to do research with the professors is correct. It’s life changingly awesome.

Liberal arts is really really good too, especially and notably if you’d like to go into media. If you’re pre law or want to do pure social sciences, there are many other better schools (SLACS etc.).

[Anonymous]

Also one more thing about Northwestern- they were way way ahead on the diversity bandwagon in a much more active way than almost every single Ivy League. Very few legacies and the ones who were quite good academically. So, I believe that’s why it’s reputation is getting so good- we were all forced to work in very diverse groups and the social scene while it could be somewhat segregated was more along the lines of “people who go out vs people who do not”, so you have a great network afterwards of people from all backgrounds.

I’m a way I was jealous of my Ivy League friends because their friends went straight to the top, but now further out in my career I see that this is much better if I wanted to make a career pivot or needed a friend to talk to my kid about X. I literally have friends who have done everything from sports marketing to vaccines to white shoe law firms to the standard consulting and banking.

Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

[Anonymous]

*Sorry for all the typos! Trying to get dinner done and type!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7th most expensive school in the nation

So you keep repeating. Must be worth it.

[Anonymous]

There are multiple posters writing about NU's COA. First person or persons wrongly wrote that NU was the most expensive--it is not.

Second group of posters point out the most current data.

And yes, obviously with a 98% retention rate, Northwestern is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also one more thing about Northwestern- they were way way ahead on the diversity bandwagon in a much more active way than almost every single Ivy League. Very few legacies and the ones who were quite good academically. So, I believe that’s why it’s reputation is getting so good- we were all forced to work in very diverse groups and the social scene while it could be somewhat segregated was more along the lines of “people who go out vs people who do not”, so you have a great network afterwards of people from all backgrounds.

I’m a way I was jealous of my Ivy League friends because their friends went straight to the top, but now further out in my career I see that this is much better if I wanted to make a career pivot or needed a friend to talk to my kid about X. I literally have friends who have done everything from sports marketing to vaccines to white shoe law firms to the standard consulting and banking.

Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

Yes, many of the Northwestern grads I have come across in my career are noticeably less pretentious than their peers from other top schools. This is what I have noticed.

[Anonymous]

Saw this alternate ranking on a website that gets mentioned here a lot. Northwestern is # 2 on the list, which focuses on classroom experience and student satisfaction. Given that it's also high on other lists, it seems like a good choice!

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/blog/6/

[Anonymous]

NU boosters out in full force this evening. Such insecurity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NU boosters out in full force this evening. Such insecurity.

Projecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is beautiful and everyone I have ever known who went there loves it.
And it seems to only be going up reputation wise

I hated some aspects of the program I was in there, because many of the faculty members were mean and insular. They made a fetish out of being tough, couldn’t seem to imagine that there was a world beyond Chicago, and were overly critical.

But, on the other hand, the campus is gorgeous, and the quality of the classes was excellent.

Evanston and downtown Chicago are lovely.

A student who uses Northwestern as a reach or ultraselective match could use DePaul, Loyola or the Columbia College in Chicago as a safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school.

To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them.

So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

[Anonymous]

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school. To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them. So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

When did you graduate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school.

To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them.

So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

Did you live at home and commute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern much more down to earth than many other schools.

I’m the person who hated Northwestern myself but think it’s a fine school.

To me, it seemed to be a very hardheaded, practical, down-to-earth place. Example: I can’t remember anyone talking about any books, movies, plays, musicians or TV shows outside of class. Some of the class readings were wonderful, and one of us talked about them.

So, if my experience was typical, it might be more of a place for down-to-earth students who see getting a degree as a means to an end than for students who want to talk about literature and philosophy over cups of espresso till 4 a.m.

Did you live at home and commute?

I agree, this seems like an odd characterization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NU boosters out in full force this evening. Such insecurity.

What about the one Northwestern hater on this thread? Lol. Or are you him?