I'm trying to get a feel for what life is like at Northwestern University. Does anyone know the size of its undergraduate population and whether it feels more like a larger university or a more intimate college?
Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, has an undergraduate population of about 8,900 students. This places it somewhere between smaller liberal arts colleges and larger public universities in terms of size.
However, it's important to consider more than just the raw numbers when judging the feel of the university. Northwestern's campus is organized into several schools covering various fields of study, which can create smaller, more intimate academic communities within the larger university.
Moreover, Northwestern has a residential college system for first-year and sophomore students, which groups students in housing communities. These communities can provide a smaller, more collegiate atmosphere as well as opportunities for close-knit interactions and intellectual engagement outside of the classroom.
Outside of academics, the university offers more than 500 clubs and organizations across a variety of interests like arts, music, politics, sports, and service, further fostering a sense of community.
That said, the feel of the university can also be subjective and influenced by personal experiences. Many students enjoy the resources and opportunities that come with being at a larger university, while still appreciating the smaller, tighter-knit communities that Northwestern cultivates within the larger school. So, Northwestern can offer a mix of both larger university and intimate college experiences.
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