Northwestern University Top Questions

Describe the students at Northwestern University.

Eddie

Northwestern is mostly rich, mostly left-leaning, and very politically apathetic. The affluence isn't really flaunted though, outside of jingling our keys on football game kickoffs because our state school opponents will be parking our cars after we graduate. While there has been recent controversy over the school's black population (it isn't very large), Northwestern is very diverse in terms of the different personalities and backgrounds of its students.

Blake

For the most part, Northwestern is very friendly to LGBT students. A large population of students identify themselves as Jewish. Nearly everyone at Northwestern is either upper-class or upper-middle class. They're the kinds of students who have done a lot of traveling and don't think twice about spending money eating out or on concert tickets. Most of the students are left or center in terms of politics, but you won't feel alone if you lean right. Majority of students don't say they are going to Northwestern to earn a lot of money. We have a lot of journalism, social policy and theater majors. We like to complain about how we're paying so much for our education, but will never make real money. The typical Northwestern girl has two class outfits. One is True Religion or Seven jeans, a black North Face fleece over a sorority t-shirt and Ugg boots. The other is a denim skirt, trendy blouse, black leggings and Ugg boots. The typical Northwestern guy wears nice jeans with a Northwestern, concert or witty t-shirt. If there were four tables of students in the dining hall, there would be a table of quiet math nerds, a table of obnoxiously outgoing theater majors, a group of social science majors and a table of party girls and their boyfriends. That said, different types of students definitely interact.

Lisa

I'm tired of CRU coming into my room and trying to argue with me. I don't think any kind of student would feel out of place, because there are so many different kind of people - anyone can mesh with someone. Sports fanatics might be sad, though. Most students wear jeans, boots, and a coat to class.. at least in the winter. Jeans and a t-shirt are the norm. But there are always the girls in their spandex and their Uggs and their designer Juicy jackets. And everyone else hates them. No, different types of students only interact in forced situations, like when you're assigned a group for class. I rarely see anyone make a friend who they're hanging out with outside of that class assignment. People are disappointing in how susceptible they are to peer pressure. I mean, check out Theta's slogan: That's not Theta. If you're hanging out with a guy that's not up to their standards (unattractive, geeky... or really just not in Lodge or Sig Ep), then they say TNT to you. Nice, huh? Sorry, I don't have time for the tables one. Most NU students are from the western suburbs of Chicago. Most people are upper-middle class. Lots of upper class, few lower class. Some students are really politically aware, but they're few and far between. They're predominantly liberal, but not grossly so - I've met plenty of conservatives, moderates, libertarians... Yeah, journalism majors joke that we'll be poor. In the NBN newsroom last night, one editor (journalism major) was asking an Econ major if she'd pay her bills for her one day.

Emily

Well I participate in the Catholic community at the Sheil Catholic Center on campus, which has been a great source of comfort, friendship, and things to do. I know there are lots of other popular religious-based groups on campus as well however, and have come into contact with people of all major religions. I have likewise come into contact with people of varying race and sexual orientation (I know several gay guys and once met a transgender "guy" (girl)), as well as varying socio-economic backgrounds, high and low, though I think that there are more students in general who tend towards the more affluent side than not.....Different types of students do interact, though some groups like Asians often stick together for the most part. Most girls wear nice clothes to class, though boys are less dressy. Northwestern is pretty liberal in its student body, though conservatives have a noticeable presence as well--though Northwestern isn't too politically active, or at least not as much as at other schools. A large, large percentage of NU students (more than I expected before I came) are from the Midwest, especially Illinois and the Chicago area--I was suprised at how many Chicagoans attended a school so nearby. There are also a lot of people from California, and the East Coast is represented too, though still the Midwest is the region the most students come from....

Dylan

There are cliques and groups that people gravitate towards. I don't think anyone is against any other you just hang out with people like you. The sorority girls have animosity towards each other though. They are too intense even if they say different, but the system fosters those attitudes. People get way to dressed up, and others just follow suit. Come on, this is the only time of left in our lives where sweatpants that haven't been washed in 2 weeks are ok to wear in public, well in my opinion anyway. People have asked me if I was an athlete because I wear sweats. It is literally that rare for non-athletes to wear sweats. I get the feeling the majority of students are very well off. At least on average, the incomes of their parents are way higher than any state school. If you look at what kids walk around in and the money the lifestyles they live is crazy to think they are college kids. Aren't we suppose to be eating PB and J and ramen noodles for 4 years? No one has ever said what they will make after college.

Tristan

Not much. A social, beer drinking, fraternity boy. Jeans and a t-shirt, except there are a few losers in khakis, polos, and sweaters. Not usually. The first are the engineering nerds, usually asian, the second is the cool asians, usually smoking, the third are the loser sorority girls, eating their feelings, and the fourth are people that would be considered a little more normal, but probably just in the scope of the other three tables. Oh yea there are probably Jews in there somewhere. Most NU students are east coast ivy failures, usually Manhattan, or out of place, weather-depressed Cali kids. Usually upper middle class but throw in a few big names like Buffet or Walton. Students are politically active, but usually not aware...they're usually Obama freaks but I think CRU is voting for Huckabee. Not usually, especially considering most will be living off dad's bank, or think they'll change the world or something.

Alex

There are a fair amount of people here that are rich. By rich I mean that when they applied for financial aid, they got nothing. Not a cent. Some people come off as conceited because of their financial background, but those people are few and far between. Tons of us are unable to pay tuition, and Northwestern does do a lot to help with that.

Nicole

People are pretty understanding about all groups in my opinion. I don't think anyone would feel out of place really, there are groups for almost anyone. What students wear varies, but most students stay within the jeans/tshirt and flat boots or sneakers. Nobody really gets extremely dressed up, but most people look together. Different types of students do interact, but not that often. Most people are from middle to middle-upper class backgrounds. Most students are politically aware at least, and many are politically active. There's a bigger mix than people realize, but I think that most people assume we lean more the left. Students usually don't talk about how much they'll make although I do think they care.

Veronica

I think the kind of person who would feel out of place at Northwestern is the one who tells herself she's out of place. There's a little corner for everyone, everywhere, and don't let anyone tell you differently. If you give the student body a cursory glance, you'll see a lot of guys in tee shirts and a lot of girls in ugg boots. You'll also see a lot of people who get dressed to the nines for class. And then you'll see that guy with the tousled hair and the flannel pants. Do people look at him funny? Sure, but that's probably because he doesn't smell that hot. I don't feel like students as a whole are politically active, but they are politically aware. They probably have political opinions. And you can always find a place to go where you can be politically active. I'd say they're predominantly left, because for heaven's sake, it's college. But I'm a Republican and I'm doing just fine. I never feel like politics are being jammed down my throat, which is a plus.

al

Very diverse - surprisingly conservative campus, I wouldn't have expected that before I came. Lots of involved students, it's a great campus for student groups and volunteer efforts.