traveling northwesternward...

"I like eating savory crap...s"

Yes, my dad's suggestive and juvenile sense of humor never lags. With the consistent reminders of this very fact during our long day of adventuring around Northwestern's campus, I found myself in constant fit of giggles (whether out of amusement, embarrassment, or annoyance). With or without the never ceasing comidy acts, I still would have been giddy. Northwestern's prestigious reputation, proximity to Chitown, and aptitude for journalism had been making me increasingly excited for weeks; it seemed perfect, which was why I reacted like the stereotypical cheerleader (bouncing/squealing/clapping) when my father offered to drive me up for a visitation.

Our day started out typically enough...I ended up waking up earlier than I normally would have for school, but my excitement made sleeping nearly impossible anyhow. As I struggled to choose the right attire (light layers with a "collegiate" feel), I quickly gathered random supplies that I decided might come in handy and threw everything hilterskilter into a sack. Frazzled, I arrived at my dad's house a smidge past eight to find my father still lounging at the kitchen table in his pajamas. After hurrying his daily routine, I pushed him out the door at nearly nine o'clock. Let the roadtrippin' begin...

After exploring, touring, tasting, we finally satisfied our curiosity. Northwestern ended up being very picturesque in some areas of the campus, while a little drab in others. The bike/walking path around the lakefront opened up the scenery nicely, but the rest of the campus seemed a bit squashed and almost dirty. As we walked through the paths, I noticed numerous flyers for a capella tryouts taped to the ground, which made me laugh. Apparently, the NWU style has always been to post notices for different events on the walking paths.

The buildings throughout our tour differed in architecture, though not by a grand amount; most exhibited a more modern feel, but still not necessarily new. I really loved the Medill School of Journalism's McCormick building, however, along with the explanation of their learning techniques. At Northwestern, I would have unlimited opportunities for internships, hands-on experience, and media equipment; it sounded wonderful. I do have to admit that I found the student union disappointing. With dark wood paneling and outdated furniture, I felt very much like I was eating in a cave. The food itself tasted fine, not necessarily impressing me but not making me gag either. I did, however, enjoy a large bowl of soft serve frozen yogurt (a personal favorite) and a "savory", create-it-yourself crepe, which I referenced in my father's attempt at comedy. Still, the town itself follows the typical college town layout with an endless supply of food and shopping in very close proximity to the campus, so I cannot complain about the lack of options. Also located in the union is one of the university's bookstores, which I definitely scoured for at least an hour. Northwestern's school colors are purple and white, and I fell in love with their unique sweatshirts, tshirts, and lanyards. My dad and I left the campus with more bundles of pamphlets and paraphernalia than we could handle.

Looking back on the day, I absolutely enjoyed myself to the fullest; now begins the worry over applying...