Academics
鈥淟ocation, Location, Location!鈥 bears an important imprint on an undergraduate education at North Central College. Students cite many 鈥渙pportunities due to location鈥 boasting, 鈥測ou cannot beat being so close to Chicago.鈥 But the Windy City isn鈥檛 the only reason students choose NCC. The school offers 鈥渁 wonderful study abroad program,鈥 as well as 鈥渁 great science department.鈥 Students also enjoy that 鈥減rofessors are multi-faceted individuals, and have a lot to offer.鈥 Most 鈥渁re very dedicated and accessible. They encourage individual research and independent study.鈥 Professorial support of students who want to take the initiative in their studies leads undergraduates to 鈥渇eel that though North Central is not necessarily one of the most 鈥榟ighly selective鈥 schools, it gives you the opportunity to push yourself to whatever academic level you desire.鈥 Students appreciate that 鈥淭he administration makes an effort to get to know as many students as possible.鈥 Some complain, however, that the administration might be too 鈥渇ocused on the future of the school, and not on the present. They worry about attracting students鈥 more than they do about retaining them.
Student Body
鈥淭he typical student comes from upper middle class suburbia, is an average student, an athlete, a Christian, and heavily involved鈥 in some type of extracurricular group. He or she is Caucasian and 鈥渃omes from the surrounding suburbs and wants to be close to mom and dad, but still able to practice the freedom that college gives.鈥 Other students are 鈥渇rom smaller farming communities in Illinois.鈥 A typical NCC student 鈥済oes home about one weekend a month.鈥 Because 鈥渋t is very uncommon to see an atypical student,鈥 many NCC undergraduates wish that there were 鈥渕ore ethnic and religious diversity on our campus.鈥
Campus Life
Location plays a large part in the social life of NCC undergraduates as well. The 鈥渟chool is located right in downtown Naperville, where there are a lot of great restaurants, coffee shops, and little stores.鈥 In addition, 鈥渢here are several bars within walking distance, and those who are 21 and older frequent them.鈥 Film aficionados appreciate that 鈥渢here is a really cheap movie theater near school ($3), so we go there frequently.鈥 Since 鈥渇raternities and sororities are non-existent at our college,鈥 there are 鈥渟eldom鈥 parties on campus. When there are, they 鈥渢end to take place in houses owned by members of the sports teams or in the dorm rooms.鈥 Speaking of sports teams, 鈥渁 large percentage of students are athletes,鈥 and during the week the 鈥渄ay revolves around practice and class.鈥 Unfortunately, 鈥渋t seems like everyone goes home for the weekends.鈥 In an effort to curb the Friday night exodus, 鈥渢he CUAB (College Union Activities Board) puts together lots of weekend and late night activities around campus鈥 but 鈥渧ery few actually have a turn out.鈥 It only takes about 45 minutes to 鈥渢ravel to downtown Chicago via the Metra.鈥 The trip is made easier because the Naperville train station is very near the NCC campus.
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