Northwestern - where fun goes to die?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NW was frequently ranked above Chicago prior to Chicago consciously trying to raise their ranking and profile (setting their class sizes based on USNWR #s, sending out huge amounts of mail, and gaming acceptance and yield rates when they mattered). NW is also ranked above Chicago in the other two major, though not as important, rankings from Forbes and WSJ.

Chicago has “Tulaned” itself… and the result is a more socially active student body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU alum. Visited recently with my junior.

It’s not the same place that i attended. and there’s no central backbone/mission/purpose or unifying motto/idea/way of life you see at other schools.

As somone who is south Asian, I was shocked by the sheer number of Asian students (felt like UCLA in that regard and not a Midwest school). East Asians appeared to outnumber white and other kids in every class or setting. And a LOT of international kids. Good, but also a distinct vibe shift.

Kids go downtown a lot. The rich Asian ones (of which there are a LOT) have social clubs and restaurants and bars they frequent that Are pretty exclusive.

The social domestic kids go to certain DePaul bars downtown; and yes go to University of Chicago for parties.

UofC (which I had badmouthed to my kid based on perceptions from 3 decades ago) was soooo different on our tour. Very unified feel; even the student body seemed less gloomy and more “open”? If that makes sense?

I’m truly sad at what I saw at Northwestern - compared to what I personally experienced in the mid-1990s. I know things change but everything seemed soulless. Hard to describe unless you are there?

Curious if others know what I mean?

When were you on the NW campus?
Did you see a lot of MS students maybe? International MS students have become a big moneymaker for NW and several peer schools.

What is an MS student?

[Anonymous]

Northwestern is a Big 10 school so there is some fun inherent in that designation. Basketball has been their jam. Maybe you just aren’t hanging out in the right places to experience the fun!

[Anonymous]

Strange. All the kids I know who went to Northwestern in the last 4 years have all raved about their experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU alum. Visited recently with my junior.

It’s not the same place that i attended. and there’s no central backbone/mission/purpose or unifying motto/idea/way of life you see at other schools.

As somone who is south Asian, I was shocked by the sheer number of Asian students (felt like UCLA in that regard and not a Midwest school). East Asians appeared to outnumber white and other kids in every class or setting. And a LOT of international kids. Good, but also a distinct vibe shift.

Kids go downtown a lot. The rich Asian ones (of which there are a LOT) have social clubs and restaurants and bars they frequent that Are pretty exclusive.

The social domestic kids go to certain DePaul bars downtown; and yes go to University of Chicago for parties.

UofC (which I had badmouthed to my kid based on perceptions from 3 decades ago) was soooo different on our tour. Very unified feel; even the student body seemed less gloomy and more “open”? If that makes sense?

I’m truly sad at what I saw at Northwestern - compared to what I personally experienced in the mid-1990s. I know things change but everything seemed soulless. Hard to describe unless you are there?

Curious if others know what I mean?

When were you on the NW campus?
Did you see a lot of MS students maybe? International MS students have become a big moneymaker for NW and several peer schools.

What is an MS student?

Shhh. It ruins their fun if the un-cool people figure out their secret language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU alum. Visited recently with my junior.

It’s not the same place that i attended. and there’s no central backbone/mission/purpose or unifying motto/idea/way of life you see at other schools.

As somone who is south Asian, I was shocked by the sheer number of Asian students (felt like UCLA in that regard and not a Midwest school). East Asians appeared to outnumber white and other kids in every class or setting. And a LOT of international kids. Good, but also a distinct vibe shift.

Kids go downtown a lot. The rich Asian ones (of which there are a LOT) have social clubs and restaurants and bars they frequent that Are pretty exclusive.

The social domestic kids go to certain DePaul bars downtown; and yes go to University of Chicago for parties.

UofC (which I had badmouthed to my kid based on perceptions from 3 decades ago) was soooo different on our tour. Very unified feel; even the student body seemed less gloomy and more “open”? If that makes sense?

I’m truly sad at what I saw at Northwestern - compared to what I personally experienced in the mid-1990s. I know things change but everything seemed soulless. Hard to describe unless you are there?

Curious if others know what I mean?

When were you on the NW campus?
Did you see a lot of MS students maybe? International MS students have become a big moneymaker for NW and several peer schools.

What is an MS student?

NP. Weird use of MS, though it's as basic as it looks, Master of Science, i.e. grad students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU alum. Visited recently with my junior.

It’s not the same place that i attended. and there’s no central backbone/mission/purpose or unifying motto/idea/way of life you see at other schools.

As somone who is south Asian, I was shocked by the sheer number of Asian students (felt like UCLA in that regard and not a Midwest school). East Asians appeared to outnumber white and other kids in every class or setting. And a LOT of international kids. Good, but also a distinct vibe shift.

Kids go downtown a lot. The rich Asian ones (of which there are a LOT) have social clubs and restaurants and bars they frequent that Are pretty exclusive.

The social domestic kids go to certain DePaul bars downtown; and yes go to University of Chicago for parties.

UofC (which I had badmouthed to my kid based on perceptions from 3 decades ago) was soooo different on our tour. Very unified feel; even the student body seemed less gloomy and more “open”? If that makes sense?

I’m truly sad at what I saw at Northwestern - compared to what I personally experienced in the mid-1990s. I know things change but everything seemed soulless. Hard to describe unless you are there?

Curious if others know what I mean?

When were you on the NW campus?
Did you see a lot of MS students maybe? International MS students have become a big moneymaker for NW and several peer schools.

What is an MS student?

It is a disease. A terrible disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU alum. Visited recently with my junior.

It’s not the same place that i attended. and there’s no central backbone/mission/purpose or unifying motto/idea/way of life you see at other schools.

As somone who is south Asian, I was shocked by the sheer number of Asian students (felt like UCLA in that regard and not a Midwest school). East Asians appeared to outnumber white and other kids in every class or setting. And a LOT of international kids. Good, but also a distinct vibe shift.

Kids go downtown a lot. The rich Asian ones (of which there are a LOT) have social clubs and restaurants and bars they frequent that Are pretty exclusive.

The social domestic kids go to certain DePaul bars downtown; and yes go to University of Chicago for parties.

UofC (which I had badmouthed to my kid based on perceptions from 3 decades ago) was soooo different on our tour. Very unified feel; even the student body seemed less gloomy and more “open”? If that makes sense?

I’m truly sad at what I saw at Northwestern - compared to what I personally experienced in the mid-1990s. I know things change but everything seemed soulless. Hard to describe unless you are there?

Curious if others know what I mean?

When were you on the NW campus?
Did you see a lot of MS students maybe? International MS students have become a big moneymaker for NW and several peer schools.

What is an MS student?

Students from Mississippi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strange. All the kids I know who went to Northwestern in the last 4 years have all raved about their experience.

True statement.

I have not heard or read of any complaints from Northwestern University students recently. Yes, the academics are demanding, but the students are well qualified to handle the academic rigor.

Motivated and hard-working students & faculty do have fun. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan with a beach and sail boats for students and with one of the best theater schools in the world, Big Ten athletics and easy access to a major world class city, opportunities for culture, fun, and relaxation are abundant.

[Anonymous]

However, to be fair, Northwestern does not have a Lazy River. If a Lazy River is a must for your college student, then consider Texas Tech, LSU, or the University of Alabama.

[Anonymous]

It’s NU, not NW.

[Anonymous]

I think University of Chicago has become a more unified culture since Nondorf took over as Dean of Admissions. He is very explicit about wanting brilliant, interesting but also kind kids. I see it in how the club team members coach and support the beginners, and how the classes are insanely hard in mathematics and physics but the students aren't cutthroat competitive with each other. This is finals week and I see what my DCs are doing there and I feel I am getting great rigor for the dollars we spend. Our private sends a number of kids there every year, and they all seemed to have something really outstanding (national) extracurricular.

[Anonymous]

Bumping up in light of Princeton thread.

Amy other new insight on Northwestern and mental health of students?

[Anonymous]

NU kids are not partying at UChicago.

It is too far and not in a great neighborhood.

Maybe 40 minutes by car and difficult parking. Or 1.5 hours by the L, two transfers and a million stops.

While Lincoln Park and Lakeview isn't that far off the L, and where most young professionals and recent grads live in Chicago in apartments and rented houses.

Lincoln Park is also where Depaul University is located and enough local kids have friends that go to Depaul to go out or recent grads of NU they can hang out with.

I just can't imagine going all the way down to Hyde Park to go to a party when Lincoln Park is SOOOO much nicer and close by.