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I visited Northwestern in mid-June when campus was quiet, but I got a good read on the place.
Northwestern delivers real curricular flexibility—our guide was triple-majoring. Strong programs across diverse areas: performing arts, journalism, engineering so the student body doesn’t feel monolithic. Despite its pre-professional reputation, I got more of a liberal arts vibe. That may have been down to our guide, a drama student. It's suburban but Chicago is very accessible, no car necessary.
The campus is comfortable, supportive, and less polished than CMU or Emory—in a good way. A little shaggy. Decisions like delayed rush, small classes taught by professors, and paying students who take unpaid internships all point to a school that seems genuinely student-centered.
Northwestern is 12 miles from Chicago in Evanston, a city-type suburb with apartments, nice houses, and green spaces. Feels very safe.
Getting to downtown Chicago is straightforward: Metra commuter trains take 25-30 minutes to the Loop. The CTA Purple Line takes about 45 minutes. Two free Northwestern shuttles also run to downtown frequently on weekdays.
Our guide said she knew students who were daily Chicago commuters, attending internships, and others who maybe visited twice a quarter.
The campus sits on a manmade lake with kayaks, SUPs, and boats you can rent through the Student Union (which also loans sports equipment). There's a beach volleyball area. Lovely for the months when a Chicago lake is actually pleasant, so perhaps not that many months!
Main campus is walkable and compact—about 15 minutes end to end, very flat. Engineering buildings are more of a trek but still manageable on foot.
Northwestern is known for Brutalist architecture, and yes, it's everywhere though it’s not exclusively Brutalist. The greenery softens it, but opinions will vary. In winter it might feel a bit heavy. This isn't a highly manicured campus, but it's well cared for—I actually preferred it to the "not a blade of grass out of place" vibe elsewhere.
70% of students double major. Here's why that's doable: Northwestern runs on quarters, so students typically take 4 classes per quarter rather than 5-6 over a semester. Because classes are compressed into fewer weeks, they're intentionally narrower in focus.
Example: Instead of one massive "Intro to Chem," you take several quarter-long classes, each with a specific sub-focus. This structure makes it easier to explore multiple interests deeply without overload.
The Arts & Sciences school uses broad distribution requirements rather than a rigid core, which reinforces the flexibility theme.
The Engineering School is the second-largest on campus. You can apply as "undecided engineering"—perfect for students who want engineering but aren't locked into a specialty.
What stood out: a project based “Design Thinking & Communication” class where freshmen collaborate to solve real-world problems. One group created a custom cane for a stroke survivor. Many engineering programs make students wait until junior or senior year for hands-on work like this—Northwestern puts it in year one.
Their makerspace is smaller than a lot we've seen but well-equipped, with a clear emphasis on design engineering and problem-solving. (See this official Engineering-focused tour on YouTube.)
One in three students study abroad. Through the Office of Undergraduate Research (UROP), lab space is specifically reserved for first- and second-year students without research experience—they're actively creating pathways for younger students to get involved.
Northwestern also pays students to take unpaid internships through SIGP, primarily for financial aid recipients but sometimes available to others. This removes the "unpaid internship = only wealthy kids can do it" barrier.
Chicago Field Studies (CFS) is another popular program, letting students intern locally during the school year on projects aligned with their major. Students can either apply to existing opportunities or secure their own internship and connect it to the program.
Northwestern claims to be a top 10 most-represented university on Broadway. Drama clubs and groups put on about 80 shows a year, with lots of "no experience necessary" opportunities. They've also produced more SNL alumni than any other college—unsurprising given Chicago's improv scene.
You don't need to be a theater major to take part in shows.
About 20% of students participate in Greek life. Atypically, they do delayed rush—freshmen can't rush until winter term. There are lots of pre-law and pre-med clubs, fitting the pre-professional reputation. Big 10, D1 athletics with free home game admission.
Two-year housing requirement. Halls and residential colleges have leadership boards; residential colleges have themes. Open access unlimited meal plan while living on campus.
We didn't get to see a dorm, unfortunately.
