Northwestern University Top Questions

I take a lot of small classes for the writing program and Medill, so yeah, my professors often know my name. Even in some huge lectures, professors will surprise me by knowing it. But those are usually the coolest professors, who really care about their students. My favorite class was... I've taken so many good ones. Plant-People Interactions with Christina Russin was amazing. I learned how to make beer, ingest peyote, identify poisons... And the workload was more than manageable. American Gay and Lesbian History with Lane Fenrich was mindblowing as well. He knows his stuff, and I learned so much about something I knew so little about. Oh, and Psychopathology with Renee Maddox. Actually, anything with Renee is guaranteed to be a blast. My least favorite class is fucking 301: Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities. Someone once called it "Medicore Reporting in Vaguely Dangerous Communities," and I more than agree. It's a waste of time. I've learned absolutely nothing, and I've nearly frozen my ass off like 80 times waiting for the El to get to Rogers Park. I think I may have become a worse reporter because of this class. The teacher was great, but the curriculum is so... beneath what Medill should be. Kill me, for I am still in this class. Students study a lot, but they party too. If someone has a big week coming up, they'll stay in on a Saturday night, but I'm sure they went out Friday. In every class, 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of participation comes from 5{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students. It's the way it goes. Yeah, there are intellectual conversations outside of class. My roommate and I once talked politics until we fell asleep.. I think that was the first week we met. And stuff we've learned in our more interesting classes (like American G & L) often inspires more conversation. I think I answered unique class already. I'm a Journalism major. I hate my classes. I love journalism. Sort that out. See, Editing and Writing the News (I'm sure the name has since changed) wasn't bad as a lab. I got the basic experience I need to do any type of story. But lectures? So painfully pointless. And 301 has just destroyed my faith in whomever makes the Medill curriculum. So many hours of my life, wasted. But I adore writing and editing for North By Northwestern. I really love it, so I know I'm in the right career track. I just wish I was getting half the lessons I'm getting from NBN, from Medill. Um, my 301 professor drives us home sometimes. But that's because he's a badass. The academic requirements for Medill need to be more flexible. I'm a double minor: Psych and Creative Writing, and they won't let me double-count stuff from that for my Medill requirements. Like, I have to take Intro to Stats AND Stats for Psych, and they're the same class. Pisses me off. I'm in a really preprofessional program, so I'd say it's geared toward getting a job. Journalism definitely is. Everything emphasizes what your employer will be looking for. The writing department is more for learning. I'm enjoying becoming a better creative writer. And psych is really fun.

Yes, many of my professors do know my name, sometimes even in lecture classes--there was one English professor I had last year who would ask each student their name when he called on them, and would then remember it after hearing it only once! And even when they don't perhaps know my name, they know me (since I often go up to talk to them after class). But I'd say most of my classes have been more like 50 people and under, though I've chosen some bigger classes as well that are popular and that I really liked--I thought originally that I would never want big lecture classes, but they're really not bad here, and usually are so big because they're so popular because the subject is so interesting or the prof is such a good lecturer--for example Intro to Russian Lit or Human Sexuality, which I've taken this year, or History of the Holocaust which I'm taking next quarter. Overall I've been pretty pleased with my classes--there have only a few profs I haven't been so wild about, and usually I still like them in some way even if I didn't think they were the best teachers....in my major (History) especially there are so many good lecturers, and I've enjoyed nearly every class I've taken in the department, with my favorites being the ones in my area of interest, like Tudor England, Age of the Reformation, and Age of the Renaissance. Part of the reason I came to Northwestern was the availability of classes in this area of interest (Early Modern England/Europe), and for the strength of the history department in general (it's one of NU's best). I have stayed after class and talked with professors outside of class, not just about questions but sometimes about related topics as well. Since I live in a Residence College, which has certain faculty members associated with, I do also spend more social time with certain professors outside of class (not ones I've had yet though--though I will be taking a class with one advanced grad student I am very friendly with who's a feelow at my dorm next quarter), which is nice. I feel Northwestern's academic requirements are good for the most part--there are no required core classes you have to take (which is something I absolutely did not want), but rather distribution requirements that can be fulfilled in a number of ways easily—for example I did not want to take math, and luckily I could fulfill the “formal studies” (math) requirement by taking an interesting Linguistics course on syntax instead—which meant that I got an excuse to try a class in that field. Likewise I don’t know if I would have taken two introductory astronomy courses here if not for the “natural sciences” distribution requirement, but I’m glad I did—Modern Cosmology has been one of my favorite classes here, and usually I hate science! Plus you can use AP and IB credits for two distros, and for general credits—which means that I have two quarter’s worth of credits coming into Northwestern! And the major requirements for History aren’t bad either—if not for the requirement to take four classes outside of my area of concentration, I might not have taken Twentieth Century China, which has been a great class so far! So I am very satisfied with the academics at Northwestern, which I feel are challenging, and sometimes very stressful, but overall rewarding and interesting—to the extent that I’m disappointed and upset if I accidentally miss a lecture because of oversleeping! There have only been a couple I really didn’t like, largely in the Spanish department (which isn’t the greatest), and one English class that was okay, but which I might not have taken if I did it all again, since I ended up not needing it for the distro. I don’t know what counts as a “unique” class, but I think the most unique class I’ve taken is probably “Human Sexuality,” which has definitely been interesting and has challenged my mind and pre-conceptions and comfort zones! People are pretty competitive I think at Northwestern, just because we were all such high achievers in high school I think—though it’s not too ugly. Unlike in high school, most people don’t exchange grades much. And I don’t think anyone’s out to get anyone else—for example someone once asked if it was true that some students would check out all the books from the library on a certain subject for class so the other students couldn’t get them, and that’s just not true—people are always willing to share if a classmate needs them, and they don’t check out lots of books in an effort to harm others…. I think Northwestern classes are geared more towards learning for its own sake….

Professors in lectures definitely don't know my name, and even a few in smaller classes don't know it either. My favorite class so far is Art History 210. The lectures are very interesting, and all the TA's are very nice and helpful. My least favorite has probably been Econ 201, because the teacher was not very good, and the info he taught and the book readings didn't correspond to the midterms and final. Students in my dorm don't seem to study very much, and that really bothers me. I was hoping to be in a "studious" atmosphere and discuss interesting things with people, but no one seems to want to talk about anything beyond trivial, stupid things. I have however found some people in my classes that do study and also will talk about interesting things. No, there aren't really any chances to spend time with professors outside of class, except for the few who eat in the dining hall. I really wish professors were more interactive outside of class. Class participation is typically low in TA discussion sections, I think b/c people feel intimidated by the class. The set-up of chairs is always really weird and overcrowded, which doesn't help. Very few NU students I've met have intellectual conversations outside of class. Like I said before, most people in my dorm (with 1 or 2 exceptions) don't talk about anything interesting ever. In fact, I usually just leave or sit silent thinking about something else if I'm in a "conversation" with them. Lunch is always really boring because of this, unless I'm lucky enough to have one of the fellows or other professors sit at the same table. In that case I can have some very interesting discussions. My major is oboe performance, undecided, and a minor in business institutions.

professors don't know my name; my favorite class is social psychology and my least favorite is highlights in astronomy; the education is geared towards learning for its own sake

Econ classes are pretty large, even Junior and Senior year. Not all of them, so you do get to know some teachers. All the small classes I've taken have been great though. The professors love their subjects and engaging students. My english classes have probably been the best. Class is all discussion, no lecture at all. The worst classes are the ones where the test is an in-clss essay, so stressful. I have lots of conversations about serious subjects and current events. I really hoped that was how it would be here and one of the reason I choose the school. People don't think it's nerdy or lame to talk about intellectual topics. Econ is not a very intimate dept. Its really large and the subject doesnt call for group projects or much interaction, unless you do prob sets together. The requirements are fine and I think allow for taking a variety of classes. Some people may find it tedious because they just want to take courses pertaining to their major. I think a lot of classes are geared towards learning for learning sake. I have so much shit in my brain that wont be of any use in the workforce. I am very happy with my education. It has been really fun so far.

They'll know your name if you make an effort to meet them. Favorite class- The Press and the Political Process. Least Favorite- American Foreign Relations. Class participation is common if the professor asks for it, but if not then it's usually silent from the student's end. Sometimes. Students are very competitive, it gets annoying. Most unique class- astrophysics. Poli Sci and History major. I don't spend much time with professors outside of class unless it's in office hours. NU's academic requirements are fair. Geared toward going to grad school.

I love and hate the quarter system. I spend about two weeks of my summer wondering when school is going to start- my friends leave so much earlier than I do. And then I get out so much later than them as well. But because of the quarter system, we can double major within four years easily or just take a lot of classes for fun.

Depends on the class, but most of mine do. This is especially true in upper level classes. My favorite classes are usually small and interactive. I would say that all of the classes I have taken with Professor Clayson were my favorites. I also really liked all of the BIP classes I took which are more project oriented. How much students study varies, but I'd say most people are pretty studious. Class participation varies depending on class size, but I'd say class participation is common. Northwestern situations definitely have intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are competitive with themselves more than with other students. We push ourselves but aren't cut throat. My major-- Art History-- has a strong department, most of the teachers are well known within their fields and are understanding and open. They are more than willing to look over papers with you before they are do and help you through situations. My teachers have gotten to know me well outside of class and helped me with outside projects. I like Weinberg's academic requirements. Northwestern education is geared towards both, depending on your major and classes this can

My favorite classes are the ones that are small, or the ones that are huge. It's those in between sizes that are tricky, because there's enough people to have to fight to speak, but not enough people to sit back and just listen comfortably. Let's be honest-- we study a lot. We study while we run. We study while we eat. We study while people at other colleges are breathing sighs of relief. But did you come here for a leisure cruise? It's hard, but chances are, if you're the kind of person who made it in here, you're prepared to work. Sometimes I have intellectual conversations outside of class, and sometimes I talk about what Britney Spears did yesterday-- you can't be a smartypants all the time, your brain will explode. I came here to learn, and I'm learning.

I'm in the creative writing program, which is awesome, but not a lot of students have the same experience as i do. I have friends in econ who are juniors and still in 300 person classes. I think the education is geared toward learning rather than getting a job - we have hardly any classes that focus on a given vocation.