Each year, Options Solutions team members visit many, many post-secondary institutions. These visits allow us to learn beyond what is readily available on the internet and in print materials. While on campus, we often meet with admission staff and Options alumni who attend the institution. We love learning about the nuance and vibe of each place and about all the hidden opportunities that exist there.
Our Options on Tour series highlights some of our recent adventures and shares them with you. We’ll feature what we saw, who we met, and what neat things/hidden nuggets we learned.
Northwestern University – Evanston, Illinois
Melinda visited Northwestern University. Read her highlights below.
The Basics
- Northwestern is composed of 3 campuses in Chicago, Evanston, and Doha and 12 schools and colleges, including the Kellogg School of Management, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
- Over 21,000 students attend Northwestern, with 9000 of those students being undergraduates.
- Northwestern prides itself on having a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- There are 500+ clubs and student organizations at Northwestern and 19 intercollegiate athletic teams.
Featured Academic Programs
- Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
- Financial Economics Certificate or Managerial Analytics Certificate for Undergraduates at the Kellogg School of Management
- Bachelor of Science In Education and Social Policy
- Combined Music and Communication Program
Interesting Facts
- Despite challenges like limited funds, no land, and little higher education experience, the founders of Northwestern were determined, and Northwestern was officially established in 1851 when its Act of Incorporation was passed by the Illinois legislature.
- Northwestern students manned a lifesaving station on Lake Michigan from 1871 to 1916, when the U.S. Coast Guard relieved them.
- Northwestern was part of the original faculty organization meant to supervise sports across different universities. Today, this group is known as the Big Ten Conference.
- “The Rock,” a six-foot-high quartzite boulder, was a class gift from the class of 1902. To this day, camping out and painting it has become a cherished school tradition.
Check out our Admissions category for all our Options on Tour posts!
