northwestern is a professional school. located in suburban chicago, students think of the school as a more serious counterpart to the university of chicago. the typical student is a “mature and career-driven.” indeed, students have opportunities for real-life experience in the school's infamous co-op program and a full half of the students enroll in one of five professional schools. the other half study in the arts and sciences. regardless, northwestern university is in the top ten. unsurprisingly, the school is challenging. unlike most schools on a 10-week quarter system, students take four classes every semester. and those classes are reportedly difficult. many students report that living a balanced life requires a concerted effort. and the effort is worth it; northwestern has excellent programs with excellent professors. famous departments are: journalism, engineering, economics, chemistry, communications, history, political science, and even theatre.
many students find the social life excellent, and the student body is on the same page: they work hard so that they can play hard. the area is nice, and the quaint suburb sports excellent spots for wining and dining. yet, the social scene is dominated by greek life, with one in three students involved. and when it's all over, the career consulting is excellent. in many ways, it is similar to u penn, duke, and cornell.