DePaul University

Once you look past the arrogant trust fund babies who go to this school, it's a really nice place with wonderful people. I've never had a problem with the faculty and they really whipped me into shape here when it came to work ethic. This is a good school to find yourself because you have the city of Chicago as your playground. The opportunities here are innumerable. You will never be bored and will probably have crazy adventures every week.Also, you're probably going to start smoking cigarettes because everyone here smokes. It builds character and relieves anxiety. Don't worry, I'm 60% joking.

3rd Year Male -- Class 2019

Education Quality: A+, Extracurricular Activities: C+

DePaul was terrific in terms of gaining networking opportunities. I met so many people every single day of the week who did such a vast amount of things that it truly opened my eyes as to what I could study and do. In today's age, this counts. I think DePaul's location is the selling point, end of story. However, that is contingent on the fact that I'm a very outgoing, social, and put in the work that I needed to get what I needed out of it. It did COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG.. But in the long run, I wouldn't have my job now were it not for simply having A degree.

Positives:
Chicago---- (I was heavily involved in the music scenes and political movements of the times between 2008 and 2013.. In addition to the Stanley Cup coming around quite a bit). But sometimes, DePaul has a bit of a reputation for having TOO MANY distractions. I can't put into words the things I've seen, including people having sex in the winter on the roof of the CTA Fullerton train stop.

Reputation--- A DePaul degree helps alot, especially in other states too. It weighed heavily in my job now in the South.

Internships/Jobs-- Don't go here, unless you are highly independent and can figure out how to navigate the JOB/CAREER CENTER your junior year for a GOOD internship on your own. Start your freshman year too! Just walk in and always ask for help. Its the most important thing about living in Chicago and going to DePaul. Even if you are fresh out of high school, some of the largest companies in the world will find a way for you to help them out. Even if it's technically slave labor.

Degree--- Dont major in something ridiculous. I thought about business, but ended up studying language with a business minor. Now, I utilize Arabic amoing other things. Be creative.

Negatives:
Depaul is very expensive so if you don't graduate or do a bunch of dumb things (yes the drop out rate for partiers was high) then you should be okay.

The student advising/counseling is notorious for being bad. Luckily, my dept. had a person who was great, but it's really up to you to advise yourself!!!! It can be hard figuring out class credits and such. It can end up costing you a year or more of school if you were a transfer student like me.

Housing-----Chicago is expensive. IF you can, LIVE IN THE DORMS. You will struggle to meet other students if you come straight into DePaul in an apartment, unless you join clubs/organizations or do things in the city alot. AKA, you're not a hermit.

Price: Oh yeah, did I mention it's super expensive and you may end up in a lot of debt for the rest of your life ?

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

DePaul is definitely a cool, urban, challenging place to go to college. Chicago is awesome at all times of the day. Favorite times include being at the lakefront on a cool fall night, or at dawn to watch the skyline glisten in the sunrise. Another is being downtown at night when the streets are empty, and during the busy day when they are packed. And of course the bar/club-hopping in Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville/River North.

DePaul has top programs in Music, Theatre and Business, but all programs seem to be solid from what I see. DePaul and Chicago are places that allow you to create yourself into a person that you want to be. The experiences of being independent in the city and at a big city school truly push, pull and shape you into a more well-rounded and wise person, and forces personal development and invaluable life experience. Classes are challenging but are not full of busywork, which is something I love about this place; things are practical and geared toward real-world application.

There is not much school spirit on an athletic level at the moment, because of the fact that our basketball team was top-20 year after year in the seventies and eighties, however there is school spirit on an academic and institutional level. There are definitely positive vibes among the student body about simply being a DePaul student for the school itself, as well as being a Chicago college student.

Job and internship opportunities here in Chicago are stellar when compared with a typical college town. Myself, as well as many of my friends, have jobs/internships during the year that will surely lead some of us to a long-term career. These employment opportunities are certainly easier to find in this type of environment.The social scene here is great, but is for a certain type of person. This person is independent, resourceful, diverse and open-minded. In terms of parties, fraternities have parties and sororities and GDIs show up to them. There are also regular house/apartment parties, which when not hosted by Greeks are generally tamer, however, good times can always be found with the right people and in the right setting. The bars around campus and nightclubs in certain neighborhoods short trips away are always a fun time. There are countless non-alcoholic things to do around the city of course, including world-class museums, the CSO, Lyric Opera, tons of concerts and festivals, Chicago's sports teams, and simply taking trips on the CTA to many of Chicago's unique neighborhoods. If you're looking for the quintessential college experience, you won't typically find it here, because of the fact that DePaul is an open and urban campus and students generally prefer to live off campus in apartments in surrounding neighborhoods. However, if you love the excitement and opportunity of the city, the urban beauty that Chicago is, and the idea of being independent in this type of atmosphere, you might just find your heart stolen by this place.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2016

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Useful Schoolwork: A-