Northwestern University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Chelsea

Class: Junior
Major: Journalism
Gender: F

High School: Mt. Lebanon
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

Personally my favorite thing about Northwestern is its ability to provide the best of both worlds. It is not so big that one feels lost, insignificant or lacking community, nor is it so small that one feels suffocated and bored. Moreover, it has a beautiful, private and "homey" campus situated right on Lake Michigan, but only minutes away endless adventures and opportunities await you in Chicago. If I could change one thing about NU, I would desegregate the student body. There is a bit of divide between the theater world and the Greek world. Of course, there are some kids who do both - but in general they tend to keep to themselves. Those who don't do either are referred to as "indies" and who knows what happens to them! School pride is not necessarily abundant in the usual sense (aka sports), but in my experience, most students are still extremely satisfied with their experience at Northwestern and love being here. When I tell people I go Northwestern (especially the journalism school) they are generally impressed. That is, if they know what the school is. Back home and on the East coast in general, Northwestern is just not as well-known as the Ivy Leagues and Duke. In the Midwest, however, people are very impressed. At school I spend most of my time in one of three places: my sorority, my boyfriend's off-campus apartment and the library (widely known as campus' number one social scene). I also go to the gym (another place to see people) and the Norris University Center almost every day. Other than that, you can find me at the Keg or the Deuce (two popular local bars)! Two controversies have arisen as of late. First, the dean of Medill was caught by a student in his own school for potentially fabricating quotes. Second, the administration has come down hard on Greek life recently. Several houses have been placed on probation, and the oft-considered "top" frat was kicked off campus. Students complain about many things - school is too expensive (obviously); there is no 24-hour study space; wireless isn't available everywhere.

Academic Life

Northwestern students are generally very intellectual, holding political and philosophical discussions quite often outside of class (along with many superficial ones as well - but hey, it's college). They are competitive, but often not as competitive as high school. Some schools are definitely more competitive than others - especially the smaller schools where everyone knows each other and accomplishments are very transparent (ex. journalism, theater). In a large lecture, like at most schools, professors don't usually know your name. If you make an effort to go to their office hours, however, many are happy to get to know you on a more intimate basis. In smaller classes professors almost always know your name. Some more than others, but in general, professors are invested in their students' success. Class participation is usually encouraged and common. My favorite classes thus far have been my psychology classes. The psych department has some amazing (though often controversial) professors. Human sexuality is one of the most popular classes at the whole university. In the first lecture, the entire class takes a very detailed sex survey. The professor then refers back to the results of this survey as the class goes on, referencing the number of students who are homosexual, who have had anal sex or been abused (to name a few). It is really interesting to learn about yourself and your community in such a way that you are able to relate to often sensational information. The journalism school is currently experiencing many changes. The new dean wants to modernize the program, but many think it is at the expense of good reporting. Many students are extremely dissatisfied with the school - some hate the professors (brilliant but often arrogant and unsympathetic to the time constraints of a college student's life) and others - especially those who have decided against journalism as a career - hate the demanding classes. It is an extremely job-oriented curriculum and this can be frustrating for thus who are unsure of their futures. Still, its reputation alone is enough to keep most pushing onward toward their degrees. Even in the most career-focused curriculum (like journalism), there is still great importance placed on a well-rounded education. Students are required to take classes in all areas.

Student Body

In general, Northwestern students are pretty accepting of other cultures and lifestyles. That's not to say that there is extensive interaction between these groups, however. There is definitely some racial segregation, and some students can be insensitive when it comes to socio-economic status. Blacks, Asians and Indians often stick together. On the other hand, homosexual students intermingle frequently with their heterosexual peers. Students from all income backgrounds hang out with one another, but it can cause tension when a wealthier student fails to understand his friend's need to work or inability to afford a crazy Aruban spring break. (And most students at Northwestern are rather wealthy.) Mostly this not intentional, but rather simply a product of ignorance. Students are from all over the country, but most seem to be from three areas: California, New York and Chicago. Students wear a variety of things to class. Some get dressed up while others go in their pajamas. I don't think either would feel judged by the way they look for class - it's pretty much go as you like. The campus (like most colleges) is liberal, but there is definitely a strong conservative force. College Republicans have their act together much more so than College Democrats - even if the majority of students identify with the latter. Still, almost any type of student can find a niche at Northwestern. One of the best things about the school is it's diversity. It's not very big, but there are a lot of different types of people here.