Question: What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?
Northwestern has always possessed a certain aura in me that comes from being the alma mater of the self-proclaimed "matriarchal queen" of my family, my grandmother. Although I have made never an official visit to campus and taken a conventional tour, I have seen it many times with my cousins who live in the area and my grandmother who insists on giving her grandchildren occasional tours. The campus is beautiful. What I love most about Northwestern however, goes far beyond an aesthetically pleasing campus. My favorite part of Northwestern happens to be the most important part of college: the education. The unique academic system and style that is implemented at Northwestern delivers a quality of education that is simply unmatched elsewhere.
The most obvious and perhaps most famous of these unique features is the quarter system. By including a third term, a system that most schools ditched long ago, students are granted the opportunity to explore a wider variety of academic pursuits than they would at other schools. To be honest, I am not sure what I want to do after I finish college. The ability to take extra classes therefore intrigues me as it would allow me to further explore my academic interests and ultimately find the most rewarding career for me.
The best quality of a Northwestern education is that it is career driven. Being so close to the bustling metropolis of Chicago, the university takes advantage of its location by offering students easy access to internships. The ability to find an internship while still in school will give me the ability to extend my learning beyond the classroom. Chicago is a diverse city offering opportunities in everything from financial institutions to hospitals, all just an L ride away from campus. Northwestern's proximity to the city of Chicago will afford me the opportunity to get hands-on experience in actual workplaces, inducing learning that cannot occur in any classroom.
For similar reasons, the parts of the Northwestern Liberal Arts curriculum that fascinate me the most are the Professional Linkage Seminars. The idea of having someone with real world experience as opposed to a professor teaching, gives students a look into what goes on in "real world." Not only are the educational possibilities of such courses intriguing but also the ability to network with established people in their respective fields. The concept of Professional Linkage Seminars is what excites me most about Northwestern.
When push comes to shove college is about getting an education. I believe that the "quarter system" and the career driven nature of Northwestern's academic programs will prepare me for my future by exposing me to a diverse variety of educational experiences. No matter what I know that attending Northwestern will instill in me not only a first class education but a certain pride that comes from being a Wildcat. I hope to one day, like my grandmother, return to Northwestern with my children or even grandchildren and rave about everything from the campus to the classes. Attending Northwestern will be something I will be proud of for the rest of my life.
Northwestern has always possessed a certain aura in me that comes from being the alma mater of the self-proclaimed "matriarchal queen" of my family, my grandmother. Although I have made never an official visit to campus and taken a conventional tour, I have seen it many times with my cousins who live in the area and my grandmother who insists on giving her grandchildren occasional tours. The campus is beautiful. What I love most about Northwestern however, goes far beyond an aesthetically pleasing campus. My favorite part of Northwestern happens to be the most important part of college: the education. The unique academic system and style that is implemented at Northwestern delivers a quality of education that is simply unmatched elsewhere.
The most obvious and perhaps most famous of these unique features is the quarter system. By including a third term, a system that most schools ditched long ago, students are granted the opportunity to explore a wider variety of academic pursuits than they would at other schools. To be honest, I am not sure what I want to do after I finish college. The ability to take extra classes therefore intrigues me as it would allow me to further explore my academic interests and ultimately find the most rewarding career for me.
The best quality of a Northwestern education is that it is career driven. Being so close to the bustling metropolis of Chicago, the university takes advantage of its location by offering students easy access to internships. The ability to find an internship while still in school will give me the ability to extend my learning beyond the classroom. Chicago is a diverse city offering opportunities in everything from financial institutions to hospitals, all just an L ride away from campus. Northwestern's proximity to the city of Chicago will afford me the opportunity to get hands-on experience in actual workplaces, inducing learning that cannot occur in any classroom.
For similar reasons, the parts of the Northwestern Liberal Arts curriculum that fascinate me the most are the Professional Linkage Seminars. The idea of having someone with real world experience as opposed to a professor teaching, gives students a look into what goes on in "real world." Not only are the educational possibilities of such courses intriguing but also the ability to network with established people in their respective fields. The concept of Professional Linkage Seminars is what excites me most about Northwestern.
When push comes to shove college is about getting an education. I believe that the "quarter system" and the career driven nature of Northwestern's academic programs will prepare me for my future by exposing me to a diverse variety of educational experiences. No matter what I know that attending Northwestern will instill in me not only a first class education but a certain pride that comes from being a Wildcat. I hope to one day, like my grandmother, return to Northwestern with my children or even grandchildren and rave about everything from the campus to the classes. Attending Northwestern will be something I will be proud of for the rest of my life.
