Vrinda Visits Northwestern University

First Impressions of Northwestern 

 Alongside the shores of Lake Michigan, the Northwestern University campus is home to the perfect combination of Hogwarts-inspired libraries, modern neotraditional architecture, and homely collaboration spaces. Any location on campus is ideal to take a stroll, study, or enjoy the view. Being a private selective university, the classrooms are perfect for small class sizes. Most classes I saw included small groupings of 10-12 students and the professor, clearly allowing for a personalized education experience. The campus is in the middle of downtown Evanston, so students can easily walk into the city for food, shopping, or other recreational activities. The college town Northwestern and Evanston has everything that a student would need to obtain a world-class education while also enjoying the perks of being a train ride away from the bustling city of downtown Chicago.

While walking around campus, current students were extremely welcoming and enthusiastic to offer suggestions for their favorite campus locations, where to visit in Evanston, as well as insider information on Northwestern dorm and dining halls, classes, professors, and tips to thriving as a freshman.

Receiving a World-Class Education

Northwestern University is home to a diverse community of individuals leading innovative research in all educational fields. Ranked 9th in the nation, it is known for a community of people that are collaborative, imaginative, and thoughtful. The acceptance rate for the class of 2026 was 7%, so the university is often a reach school for most students. The SAT scores of admitted students ranged from 1440-1550 and ACT scores were 33-35, though Northwestern is test-optional for the 2022-23 application cycle. Most admitted students had unweighted “A” averages throughout high school in a rigorous course-load, as well as participated in purposeful extracurricular activities. 

How PathIvy Helped Me 

At the beginning of the application cycle, I was unsure which colleges I wanted to apply to. PathIvy helped me take my criteria and narrow it down to my dream school: Northwestern University. I applied Early Decision, as I was committed to continuing my education there, if admitted. Through multiple rounds of revisions, PathIvy helped me write essays that demonstrated my character in the personal statement, as well as encapsulated my high desire to attend Northwestern in the “Why Northwestern?” essay. The college admissions process can be a long and tiring road, but you can trust PathIvy to keep you on track and help you achieve your goals of attending your dream institution after high school. 

Written by Vrinda Satyavolu, PathIvy Team