Northwestern University Top Questions

Stereotypes are sometimes based in fact, but in Northwestern's case, I feel like we get a worse rep than we deserve. Firstly, our student body tends to live by the "work hard, play hard" mantra. There may not be parties every night, but when we do throw down, you can be sure that the parties will be memorable. Secondly, Northwestern is home to a multitude of theater majors. If you're a girl or a gay guy, there's more than enough eye-candy to go around. As far as "Ivy-wannabe" goes, I know that personally I chose Northwestern over 3 Ivies. Northwestern is a mid-western school, and you can tell. While academics are rigorous, you don't find the same level of competition among students as you would among the Ivy schools. I find it refreshing, not something to complain out.

Definitely not! They dating scene is not very popular, though the hook up scene is!

Yes.

There are a fair amount of rich, spoiled, over-achieving, socially awkward, non-athletic students at Northwestern. But I would definitely not call that stereotype accurate. Many people are on financial aid and lots of people got in on natural smarts and don't need to over-achieve. The social scene is much better than advertised.

While there certainly are kids like I described above, the percentage of these kids at Northwestern is no greater than the percentage of this type of person at other universities.

Overall most people care about doing well and are pretty driven, but I'd say the percentage of "normal" kids at Northwestern is probably much higher than most schools of its caliber.

To a degree. I feel like the campus has a lot of cliques and they keep to themselves. Especially in the greek community.

I would say that some students are certainly on the compulsive side, focusing too much on getting the grade rather than learning the material. But the average NU student is also intelligent, interesting, and very conversive. NU students are knowledgeable in a full range of disciplines, making them individuals with which I enjoy being friends.

It is true.. we do study about 10 hours a day because of the quarter system and we end up learning alot more, in a small amount of time, than other non quarter system schools. Not to mention it is Northwestern and we are in the top 15 in the US.. so its hard and we all are nerds at heart right? We dont ALL come from high incomce families, and alot of us are on scholarship, even if Northwestern financial aid really needs alot of improvement and needs to get rid of Early Decision. and I guess we are geniuses. The greek life stereotype, though, is not true here.. and one could realize this after spending a quarter here.....hell, i would NOT have joined a sorority if it was at a state school or a non elite school.

for the most part.