Northwestern University Reviews

Ever since I came here, I've been...

Ever since I came here, I've been waiting for the social life to imrpove beyond local bars and immature frats. I've joined a reputable sorority, but many people can be pretentious and become easily threatened. Aesthetically, the campus is the epitome of a college campus, but the students can take away from the pleasantry associated with a fun and stimulating college experience.

There is basically no dating...

There is basically no dating scene, which is sad. There are a lot of random hookups, if that's your scene.

There are probably more cute girls...

There are probably more cute girls than cute guys here, but there are definitely more really attractive guys than there are really attractive girls.

Sure, Playboy did a spread on...

Sure, Playboy did a spread on girls of the Big Ten that featured Northwestern. But, most of the time, we’re bundled up in winter clothes and cursing the lake effect. Chicks, in general, are way hotter than the guys. The nice thing is that once you get past the sometimes geeky exterior, people have a lot of interesting things to say, which makes them all the more attractive.

You have to know where to look,...

You have to know where to look, and it totally depends on your type. Personally, I think NU has some fairly attractive people.

If you dated a lot in high school,...

If you dated a lot in high school, don’t think it’s going to be the same at college, because it probably won’t. There are a lot of great, attractive, well-adapted guys out there, but they are definitely outnumbered by the dorky guys who have no dating experience and are socially inept. For some reason, there seems to be a negative correlation between intelligence and level of social development.

The football games are really fun...

The football games are really fun if you go with a big group and get into the cheering and action of the game. Quite a few students go for such a smart school. Intramural sports are pretty big—most dorms and Greek groups have teams, and they have the standards, I think—like football, soccer, softball, Frisbee to name a few.

Some dorms are known for being...

Some dorms are known for being very social, very loud, geeky, theater-major dominated, or just all-around fun. You’ll have no problem fitting in wherever you go, though.

The dorms really depend on where...

The dorms really depend on where you want to live. We have all sorts of dorms—suites, singles, doubles, triples, quads—with varying social scenes and room sizes. The northern dorms tend to be a little more party-oriented, being near the frats. The southern dorms are a little quieter, but not boring. Some dorms (the engineering residential college) are really tame and quiet.

There tends to be a lot more...

There tends to be a lot more good-looking girls than there are guys, but overall, it’s a good mix. There’s always Chicago, too, if you are looking for love.

In my opinion, most of the guys...

In my opinion, most of the guys are nerdy, not hot. As for the females, I have seen some really hot ones that I would like to get to know better.

Food is good; it’s like cafeteria...

Food is good; it’s like cafeteria food, but better. It changes daily in the main union, but there are lots of different places to eat.

We developed the phrase...

We developed the phrase ‘Northwestern cute’ for the guys. There are some good-looking guys, but the shortage makes your standards lower.

There are lots of hot girls who...

There are lots of hot girls who will never find a guy at Northwestern. Dating is pretty rare here; either you’re totally single or totally committed. That’s been very frustrating for lots of people I have talked to.

The people can be nice, but you...

The people can be nice, but you definitely have to seek out different people. The average Northwestern student in my opinion is a white, upper-middle-class kid from the Midwest, California, Texas, or the Northeast.

The Greek scene is pretty big...

The Greek scene is pretty big here, but it’s not out of control like it is at some state schools. Our Greek system is also a lot different; people who you wouldn’t expect to find in houses are.

Bring everything from a parka to a...

Bring everything from a parka to a bathing suit. You never know what the weather will be like. Dress in layers because the temperature can shift dramatically in a matter of hours.

Bring sweaters and boots. The...

Bring sweaters and boots. The weather in Chicago is entirely unpredictable and can change at a moment’s notice. I’m from New York, which is almost the same latitude as Chicago, but spring is definitely a few weeks delayed here and the winter is a lot harsher.

It is pretty good. I’d enjoy it...

It is pretty good. I’d enjoy it more if there were more things to do in the town.

I’m really glad I chose...

I’m really glad I chose Northwestern. I think the environment is such that students can work hard and learn a lot, while still having a social life and getting out into the city frequently. Administrators have been nothing but helpful to me, and the teachers are really commendable.

I have some amazing professors and...

I have some amazing professors and some that are awful. Northwestern has a really good system where you can read online what other students thought of classes and professors before making your decisions.

There are the professors who are...

There are the professors who are amazing, and then there are some that are geniuses but can’t teach. I have only encountered one of them in my career here, but he’s a nice guy and is always willing to explain things to you in office hours. Journalism is one of the best programs in the country, as are the music and theater programs. So it all depends.

Most of the professors I’ve...

Most of the professors I’ve encountered like the classes they are teaching or are very interested in the subject, in general. But there are so many professors, it’s pretty class/department specific. I do like most of my classes, but there always some that are going to be a real chore you have to force yourself out of bed for. I really trust the course and teacher evaluations; they haven’t steered me wrong yet.

Most teachers are very friendly...

Most teachers are very friendly and engaging. They enjoy getting to know students, so make the effort.

The food on campus is generally...

The food on campus is generally good. The dining halls are all pretty much the same and offer a wide variety of foods at each meal. Elder and Allison halls are probably the best in terms of environment.