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Trang 3More than 175,000 student
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Trang 4Northern Illinois University 2012
Dekalb, IL
Alex Aguilar, Greg Feltes
Edited by the College Prowler Team PRS =
(© Copyright 2011 College Prowler All RightsReserved Printed in the USA wor calegepreviercom College Prowler 5001 Baum Blvd ‘Suite 750, Pitsburgh PA 15213 Phone’ 1-200-260-2682 Fax: 1-200-772-4972 Mai: info@colegepronler com Vieb Ste: vua coegeprowier com
college Prower® isnot sponsored by afilte with, or approves by Norte Ins Univers in any ay College Prower® strives faithful to record its sources Aste reader understands, apinions impressions, and fxperlences are nacessaly personal and unique Accordingly, there ae, and can be, no guarantees of le, 5alsiaclon atendad to the reader
Trang 5How this all started
‘When | was trying to find the perfect college, | used every resource that was, available to me | went online to visit school Web sites; | talked with my high school guidance counselor; | read book after book; | hired a private counselor Sure, this was all very helpful, but nothing really told me what life was like at the schools | cared about, These sources weren't giving me enough information to be totally confident in my decision,
In all my research, there were only two ways to get the information I wanted The first was to physically visit the campuses and see if things were really how the brochures described them, but this was quite expensive and not always feasible The second involved a missing ingredient: the students Actually talking to a few students at those schools gave me a taste of the information that | needed so badly The problem was that I wanted more but didn't have access to enough people,
In the end, I weighed my options and decided on a school that felt right and had a great academic reputation, but truth be told, the choice was still very much a crapshoot | had done as much research as any other student, but was | 100
percent positive that | had picked the school of my dreams?
Absolutely not
My dream in creating College Prowler was to build a resource that people can use with confidence My own college search experience taught me the importance of gaining true insider insight; that's why the majority of this guide is composed of quotes from actual students After all, shouldn't you hear about ‘a school from the people who know it best?
Trang 6Welcome to College Prowler®
When we created College Prowler, we felt it was critical that our content was unbiased and unaffiliated with any college or university We think it's important that our readers get honest information and a realistic impression of the student opinions on any campus—that's why if any aspect of a particular school is terrible, we (unlike a campus brochure) intend to publish it While we do keep an eye out for the occasional extremist—the cheerleader or the cynic—we take pride in letting the students tell it like itis We strive to create a book that's as representative as possible of each particular campus Our books cover both the good and the bad, and whether the survey responses point to recurring trends or a variation in opinion, these sentiments are directly and proportionally expressed through our guides,
College Prowler guidebooks are in the hands of students throughout the entire process of their creation Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who help write, randomly survey their peers, edit, layout, and perform accuracy checks on every book that we publish From the very beginning, student writers gather the most up-to-date stats, facts, and inside information on their colleges They fill each section with student quotes and summarize the findings in editorial reviews In addition, each school receives a collection of letter grades (A through F) that reflect student opinion and help to represent contentment or satisfaction for each of our 20 specific categories Just as in grade school, the higher the mark the more content or more satisfied the students are with the particular category
Each book is the result of endless student contributions, hundreds of pages of research and writing, and countless hours of hard work All of this has led to the creation of a student information network that stretches across the nation to every school that we cover It's no easy accomplishment, but i's the reason that our guides are such a great resource,
Trang 8Report Card Summary
Trang 14Financial Aid E-Mai finaid@niu edu
Trang 15
Academics
The College Prowler Grade on Academics:
[c+]
A high Academics grade generally indicates that professors are knowledgeable, accessible, and genuinely interested in their students’ welfare, Other determining factors include class size, how well professors communicate, and whether or nat classes are engaging
Student Author Overview
Trang 16Academics Facts Degrees Awarded Bachelor's degree Master's degree Post-master's certificate Most Popular Majors ‘Accounting Business Administration and Management Elementary Education Speech Communication and Rhetoric Majors Offered Arts Biological Sciences Business ‘Communications Computer and Sciences Education Engineering Health Care Languages and Literature Law
Mathematics & Statistics Philosophy and Religion Physical Sciences
Psychology & Counseling Recreation & Fitness
Social Sciences & Liberal Arts Social Services
Undergraduate Schools/Divisions
College of Business College of Education
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology College of Health and Human Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences College of Visual and Performing Arts
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 922
Part-Time Instructional Faculty
Trang 17Average Faculty Salary $68,796 Student-Faculty Ratio 17:11 Class Sizes Fewer than 20 Students: 37% 20 to 49 Students: 51% 50 or More Students: 12% Full-Time Retention Rate 75% Part- 50% ime Retention Rate Graduation Rate 51% Remedial Services? No AcademiciCareer Counseling? Yes Instructional Programs Occupational: No ‘Academic: Yes Continuing Professional: No Recreational/Avocational: No ‘Adult Basic Remedial: No Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities
Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: No Dual Credit: Yes
Life Experience Credits: No Special Study Options Distance learning opportunities
Study abroad
Trang 18Did You Know?
It is almost impossible for a student to graduate without having composed at least one bibliography or works-cited page during their time at NIU Some professors even require them for every assignment Do yourself and favor and become acquainted with www.easybib.com, which is a free service that will format all your citations in MLA or APA style after you enter in the necessary data,
Students Speak Out On Academics
Q My Financial Freedom
Waubonsee Community College was my decision because of my financial situation Tuition is relatively affordable, and the college is just a few minutes from my home Waubonsee also offers all the classes | need in order to transfer to a public Ilinois university as a junior While the quality of professors, is certainly acceptable, as a community college, they are not likely to be as knowledgeable or wise as a university professor Nevertheless, Waubonsee suffices for my general education requirements
Q Pre-Physical Therapy
With my major you are a health and human sciences major as well The major that | am interested in is very competitive and you have to have at least a 3.5 GPA You have your work cut out for you in this major, but everyone that has succeed has been happy and encourage it It is worth it in the end, is what I'm told Also there are many different resources that help you in your major, you just have to go out and find them,
Speech Pathology at Northern Illinois
Being a Speech Path major is amazing! The advisors are so helpful, and the professors know what they are talking about After my first year in major classes, | am so confident in the rest of my years because of the help and support | have gotten already at Northern Illinois, Health and Human Sciences!
Professors Are Cool
Trang 19feel we need help they do not hesitate to give us guidance on where and who to goto
Challenging Academic Environment
Professors are highly trained and colleagues are motivating @ How NIU Shows That They Are Her for You
I mean Norther makes college much more comfortable The school is not to small or big, and very easy to learn The school has a lot of resources such a convocation center, student center, Huskie den where you meet a lot of people, and tutoring centers The counselors and advisors are very helpful and very easy to contact
Q The teachers are tough and seem to think that they need to be mean, rude,
harsh, and basically just brutal, so they can show us what it is like in the ‘real world.”
Q There are some good teachers here Take advantage of office hours as much as possible The classes in my major are interesting, but it seems as though most gen-ed teachers don't put any effort into making their classes
Trang 20Local Atmosphere
The College Prowler Grade on Local Atmosphere:
(c+)
A high Local Atmosphere grade indicates that the area surrounding campus is safe and scenic Other factors include nearby attractions, proximity to other schools, and the town's attitude toward students
Student Author Overview
The DeKalb community is very proud of its association with the University, and locals are a constant presence in the lives of students, usually for the better ‘Area businesses rely on the student population for their survival, so they go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly Some local politicians have expressed frustration at the city’s boozy culture and have begun attempts to limit bar hours and accessibility Not being located in an urban area allows DeKalb to be a safe and quiet haven for its students, who are protected from the harsh realities of big city life The trade-off is that the comfields, especially ‘come wintertime, aren't exactly the most appealing surroundings A Super Wal-Mart constitutes the hippest mall in DeKalb, so shopaholics won't have many options to feed their cravings In terms of cultural destinations, it doesn't get much worse There are a few interesting museums and art displays, but nothing to sustain an artistically-inclined young mind for four years Thankfully, Chicago is only a relatively short drive away But that is lttle solace to students without cars or gas money who are stuck in a farm town in the middle of
Trang 21Local Atmosphere Facts City, State Dekalb, IL Setting ‘Suburban Distances to Nearest Major Cities Chicago - IL - 4 hour, 30 minutes
Milwaukee - WI - 2 hours
Points of Interest
Dekalb loe Rink
Ellwood House Museum Hopkins Park Sandwich Opera House Shopping Centers CherryVale Mall Geneva Commons
Woodfield Shopping Center Major Sports Teams Chicago Bears: football
Chicago Blackhawks: hockey Chicago Bulls: basketball Chicago Cubs: baseball Chicago White Sox: baseball Movie Theaters Campus Cinemas 1015 Blackhawk Rd, (815) 787-4922 Carmike Market Square Cinemas 2160 Sycamore Rd (815) 748-7887
Trang 22+ The city is named after General Baron Johan DeKalb, a German soldier of fortune who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War He died from 11 wounds suffered while defending Camden, SC
+ In 1873, DeKalb farmer Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire, giving the town its nickname—'Barb City.”
* DeKalb succeeded in landing NIU over Rockford and other Illinois cities in 1895 by tricking the selection committee The committee placed an importanceon their choice having a scenic river, but local Kishwaukee River had low water levels So the whole town didn’t use water for the entire weekend before the committee came to inspect the town in order to build the water levels ludicrously high Needless to say, the gambit worked,
+ The 2000 romantic comedy Love 101 was filmed entirely on location in DeKalb Jeff Anderson from Clerks was the straight-to-video's only real recognizable face
+ Corn Fest, DeKalb’s most famous tradition, has been an annual event for nearly 30 years It draws nearly 200,000 people to downtown DeKalb each year, with festivities such a well-attended auto show and ferociously competitive com-art contest
Famous People from DeKalb:
Cindy Crawford, Barbara Hale, Richard Jenkins, Charles Nash (former head of General Motors)
Local Stang:
Corn County ~ The local surroundings Kish - Kishwaukee Community College The City - Chicago
Wally World - The local Super Wal-Mart
Students Speak Out On Local Atmosphere
S Mid
Trang 23Q NIUlIs Rich in Diversity!
Northen Illinois University is a diverse university with many different students all coming from various cultural backgrounds What | enjoy most about NIU is the great friendliness between students and professors, The faculty at NIU cares about their students and will stop at nothing to help them succeed
NIU appeals to me with all the help the university provides for its students Volunteers work around the clock and providing tutors and programs that will ensure a student's success!NIU has a beautiful campus with classrooms that make you feel right at home, There is much to be experienced at NIU with events that can captivate all personalities! | personally enjoy attending the music orchestras and football games There is always something to do for the students at an affordable or free price! | would recommend NIU to any
prospective student that seeks to become more well-rounded! @ Atmosphere
‘The atmosphere of NIU is very nice It is a typical college town full of multiple restaurants and stores Sycamore road has all the stores a college student would need, However, there is not a mall
Dekalb Atmoshere
Dekalb is a small town, We have a shopping center that includes big name stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Jewel Osco, JC Penny, Carson's and ete Downtown Dekalb is also very beautiful It is just a basic college town
Quite Dekalb
There is nothing much to do in this city, it is just a peaceful, small, and ‘comforting town
Students
All the students at Norther are friendly and caring
DeKalb is in the middle of nowhere Being surrounded by all the com is sometimes very depressing The level of culture here is basically nil | get to Chicago as much as possible
Trang 24Health & Safety
The College Prowler Grade on Health & Safety:
A high grade in Health & Safety means that students generally feel safe, campus police are visible, blue-light phones and escort services are readily available, and safety precautions are not overly necessary Other factors include the convenience of the student health center and the quality of services offered there,
Student Author Overview
If you believe lightning can't strike the same place twice, then NIU is among the safest college campuses in America The February 2008 killing spree by a former student came without waming and was largely unpreventable Police response to the reports of a shooting was rapid and disciplined The University is constantly updating its security policies as a result of both this event and the previous incident at Virginia Tech University a year earlier Metal detectors and psychiatric screenings to enter classrooms aren't forthcoming,
so a repeat occurrence is a possibility, but no more so than at any other school The University is aggressive in protecting the safety of its students Violent offenders are shown the door before they know what hit them, I's,
Trang 25Health & Safety Facts Security Office NIU Public Safety Office 375 Wirtz Dr 911 (emergencies) (815) 753-1212 (non-emergencies) Safety Services
Trang 26Did You Know?
On Valentine's Day 2008, safety and security at NIU became national news when former student Steven Kazmierczak entered a large lecture hall, Killed five students and then committed suicide, The campus was locked down within 20 minutes of the attack and school was canceled for more than a week The ‘school's handling of the event was widely praised by outside observers as police were on the scene within less than a minute and alerts went out via many different channels including e-mail and PA systems throughout campus Book theft is a significant problem at the end of every semester when it comes time to sell back books to the bookstore Watch your stuff or lose easy cash, Police recommend putting unique marks on your books so that your
books can be identified if stolen
In addition to the health services provided at NIU, students also have access, to the Counseling and Student Development Center (www:niu.edu/esdc), where they can seek out assistance for a number of mental-health issues
Students Speak Out On Health & Safety
Completely Safe
I never feel unsafe on NIU's Campus I walk up and down the streets at all hours There are always campus police at hand
Q NIU Police
| feel safe when on campus The NIU police do a great job and their presence is obvious on the campus, They are willing to walk one to their car, class, ete ‘The late night ride service also means never having to walk home in the dark
Q Totally Safe
feel safe, Ever since the shootings they take extreme measure to make sure that nobody who doesnt belong in the dorms are getting in
Q Safety
Trang 27Q Not Too Bad
Lighting is lacking for walking and parking after dark Our campus has repeated violence from guns and weapons
Q Somwhat Safe
There has been a couple of shootings at Northern, which scares me | think that the security is pretty good, but I'm stil scared to walk around when its dark
because of all the shootings that have happened,
The only thing that really bugs me is that they don't enforce jaywalking, People drive like nuts around here, but they also walk across the streets as if they were blind A few people have been hit, and I'm shocked that's it only been afew
Trang 28Computers
The College Prowler Grade on Computers:
A high grade in Computers designates that computer labs are available, the computer network is easily accessible, and the campus's computing technology is up-to-date
Student Author Overview
IF you don't have basic computer skills, you are going to be in a lot of trouble at any college, and NIU is no exception Many teachers use a service called Blackboard to post grades, homework assignments, and class cancellations, and many communicate with students exclusively via e-mail It's easy to become overwhelmed early on, so just remember to breathe, ask for directions when necessary, and check your e-mail a couple times a day Finding an open ‘computer on campus isn't difficult—labs are distributed all over campus and generally aren't crowded until the last weeks of the semester The downside is that, while they are well-maintained and staffed sufficiently, some of the labs have a stench so awful that it defies description Also, there are labs that don't have computers that take diskettes or CDs, which has led to a surge in the popularity of flash drives While bringing your own computer to school isn't essential, i's highly recommended, Doing so allows you incredible freedom in terms of time management and convenience After all, it can be difficult to concentrate on an important assignment while surrounded by nimrods playing ‘computer games and talking on Instant Messenger Still, having your own ‘computer isn't foolproof Service outages are infrequent but maddening, and
Trang 29Computers Facts Wireless Access ‘Yes: Available in all residence halls and in most public areas on campus 24-Hour Labs? Yes: In the residence hall labs Charged to Print? No
Special Software & Hardware Discounts
NIU Information Technology Services (ITS) offers a wide array of free
software through their Web site Visit www its.niu.edu/its/software for a
complete list
Did You Know?
ln 2004, NIU partnered with the Ruckus network in an effort to provide students with a legal alternative to file-swapping in the residence halls
Students can gain access to millions of songs for free through Ruckus More information is available at waww.ruckus niu.edu/its/ruckus shtml,
Students Speak Out On Computers
S Reshtech
While being enrolled at Norther Illinois University | love ever moment of it Everything about Northern is convenient The computer labs are located every where around campus Each building has at least one lab and every lab has at least 20 computers They are very accessible for students and faculty The internet works wireless or connected The print is great You can print as many documents as you want and there is no cost In each dorm room and main building there is wireless intemet and there are rarely any problems if there is a problem with a computer, printer, or the internet there is always someone to help Each lab has a person that helps you if you have questions and fixes,
something if it is broken
Trang 30Their are plenty of available computer labs at Northern Ilinois University There are labs in the student center, library, some of the class halls, and residence halls Some labs are more crowded than others but if come at the appropriate time it is quiet and plenty of room, The residence hall computer labs are open 24 hours which is great and convenient
Q Wireless
The wireless on campus is a great feature for when the computer labs are crowded and you need to study or do a paper
Q The Computer Labs Take Forever to Print Something
The computer labs at Northern Illinois University need to find a better way to print, It is not efficient the way they have it with the ID's and it always takes forever
Wireless Internet
There still needs to be one hundred percent wireless access
Computer Labs
The labs are always crowded during midterms and finals week Most of the time the students aren't doing homework Instead, they are on social networks,
Most of the computers aren't working and half of them got moved to the other towers The network reliability is not reliable
@ Apparently, using the Internet in dorm rooms has gotten a lot more restrictive in order to prevent illegal downloading, to the point where people can't even use X-Box Live without having to go through extensive tech support
Computer labs are usually crowded, if not taken up completely by classes, in places such as Reavis Hall The library computers are usually available for use I'd definitely bring a computer for personal use, since storing data on school ‘computers is pretty impractical
Trang 31Facilities
The College Prowler Grade on Facilities:
l1
A high Facilties grade indicates that the campus is aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained, facilities are state-of-the-art, and libraries are exceptional Other determining factors include the quality of both athletic and student centers and an ‘abundance of things to do on campus
Student Author Overview
Trang 32Faci Campus Size 755 acres Student Centers Holmes Student Center (HSC) Main Libraries
Founders Memorial Library Various departmental libraries
Service & Maintenance Staff
534
Popular Places to Chill Holmes Student Center Recreation Center Bar on Campus None Bowling on Campus Yes Coffeehouse on Campus
Coffee Corner in the Holmes Student Center Three Sons Café in Barsema Hall
Movie Theater on Campus Northern Illinois University
Favorite Things To Do
In between classes, you can head to the Recreation Center, grab a bite to eat at the student center, lounge on the grass of the Martin Luther King Commons, or find a computer lab to screw around on the Internet
Trang 33Students Speak Out On Facilities
S Rec Center
| really like going to the Rec Center to workout There are many different activities that you can do and programs that you can participate in, It never gets boring Facilities Good but kind of old looking but in a cool way Lots of room inside! Aging Campus
The setting is beautiful with lots of nice landscaping, natural water ways, and walking paths There are plenty of computer labs, very nice library, athletic center, several swimming pools, and student activity center The problem is that the building are old and there are multiple problems like heating/cooling
issues, leaking roofs, and faulty plumbing General Campus Aesthetics
Some parts of the campus are very beautiful while others are not so much Everything is reasonably located and transportation through the huskie bus is very convenient
@ All Facilities
The facilities are average in appearance but many are being renovated The student center and computer labs are comfortable and accomodating facilities ‘The residence halls are being renovated to have a more modernized look along with the dining halls The recreation center is well equipped for a large variety of sports and indoor workouts Outdoor sporting areas are being improved as, well
Stadium Trumps Classrooms
The facilities at NIU are in serious need of renovation Many of my classes are in halls that are old, an | think a makeover is in order, not only to make things look better and cleaner, but they would also attract more students However, the Huskie Stadium is pretty great!
Trang 34Q It can get very crowded | like the rec and student centers, but mostly in the summer | try to avoid the congested areas on campus during the day; otherwise, | want to scream at places such as downstairs in DuSable and
Trang 35Campus Dining
The College Prowler Grade on Campus Dining:
‘The grade on Campus Dining addresses the quality of both school-owned dining halls and independent on-campus restaurants, as well as the price, availabilty, and variety of food,
Student Author Overview
Trang 36Campus Dining Facts
Average Meal Plan Cost $3520 per year Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes 24-Hour Dining Vending machines in Student Center and Residence Halls Student Favorites Blackhawk Food Court Douglas Dining and Dog Pound Deli
Stevenson Dining
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money
None
Dining Halls & Campus Restaurants Blackhawk Food Court
Location: Holmes Student Center Food: A la carte, breakfast, lunch
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.~10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m
Coffee Corner
Location: Holmes Student Center Food: Starbucks coffee, pastries
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.~6:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a m.~3 p.m Douglas Dining
Location: Douglas Hall Food: Buffet
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-7 p.m Douglas Dog Pound Deli
Location: Douglas Hall
Food: Sandwiches, salads, desserts
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am.-3:15 p.m., Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-6:30 pm
Douglas Grab N' Go Location: Douglas Hall
Food: Grab 'n go, breakfast, lunch
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.~10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.~1:30 p.m
Grant Dining
Trang 37Food: Buffet
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7 m.~10.am., 10:30 am 1:30 p.m 4p.m.~7 pm; Friday 7 am.~10 am., 10:30 a.m.~1:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m Grant's Chicago Blues Coffee Bar
Location: Grant Towers Food: Coffee, snacks
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.~10 a.m Grant's Northern Lights Grill
Location: Grant Towers Food: A la carte grill
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday 11 am.—3 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m-9 p.m
Lincoln Dining
Location: Lincoln Hall Food: A la carte meals
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.=10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 4 p.m.-7 p.m, Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.~3:30 p.m., 4 p.m.~6:30 p.m
Lincoln Neon Grill Location: Lincoln Hall Food: Short-order grill
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 7 p.m.-11 p.m Neptune Dining
Location: Neptune Central Food: Buffet, grill
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.~10:30 a.m., 11 am ~ 1:30 p.m 4 p.m.~7 p.m Saturday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.~ 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m.~6:30 p.m
Stevenson Dining
Location: Stevenson Towers
Food: Grill, Italian, desserts, deli, coffee, pizza
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m Saturday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 4:30 p.m.~6:30 p.m Stevenson's The Corner
Location: Stevenson Towers Food: Grab 'n go, snacks
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.~ 11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.~11 p.m
Subway
Location: Holmes Student Center Food: Subs
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.~10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.~5 p.m Three Sons Café
Location: Barsema Hall
Trang 38Trident's Grab 'N Go Location: Neptune Central Food: Grab 'n go snacks
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday 7:30 am.-6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m
Did You Know?
Unless you are a 300-pound offensive lineman, do not sign up for the Titanium meal plan, because there is no way that you will spend that much on food in a given week, and unused dining dollars don't rollover and are non- refundable Make friends with someone who goes home every weekend and get them to load you up with whatever dining dollars they have left before they
leave
Hf you do choose a meal plan that doesn't fit your stomach, you may change your meal plan once a year without penalty by filling out forms at Student
Housing & Dining Services
Don't confuse your meal plan with your Huskie Bucks account Huskie Bucks are a prepaid debit account that most freshmen sign up for during orientation,
Huskie Bucks can be used for copying, laundry in the dorms, and for food on and off campus A list of nearby restaurants that take Huskie Bucks can be found at: www.niu.edu/OneCardihuskie_bucks/vendor_locations shtml
Students Speak Out On Campus Dining
Boring
Yes, the food is good; there just doesn't seem to be much to choose from There are plenty of places around, including the dining halls, but eating the
same food so often gets, well, boring Q Cheeseburgers
buns on top and bottom with the burger inside with ketchup Q Just Above Average
Trang 39@ Same Things
‘The food is good but you get tired of it after a while Lincoin Hall
There are a variety of foods offered for three meals a day, but most options are not healthy The dining hours are terrible on weekends During the week, the dining area is convient and stays open late Prices are average, but some items
may be overpriced OVerall, the food is not bad, but gets old after a while,
Dorm food is convenient but way unhealthy | like using Huskie Bucks, but
that means fast food Trying to go on a diet on this campus is impossible
Despite the complaints, it's great You just need to take a week or so to find out what you like Always a good bet: Dog Pound Deli, soups, mac and cheese, hot dogs Additionally, the close restaurants that take Huskie Bucks ‘are convenient when halls are closed or you just need something different,
Trang 40Off-Campus Dining
The College Prowler Grade on Off-Campus Dining:
‘A high Off-Campus Dining grade implies that off-campus restaurants are affordable, accessible, and worth visiting Other factors include the variety of cuisine and the availablity of alternative options (vegetarian, vegan, Kosher)
Student Author Overview
‘A few years ago, the popular Midwestern fast food franchise Portillo's moved into nearby Sycamore, and both locals and homesick students from Chicago flocked to it like it was the Second Coming That's how desperate the off- campus dining situation is at NIU—students will drive 20 minutes for a hot dog Forget good sushi or fresh seafood; youll discover neither in DeKalb, ‘What you will find is a lengthy stretch of chain restaurants like the popular
Ruby Tuesday and Applebee's Their atmospheres are relaxed, their entrees affordable, and their food edible, but distinctiveness and class are not served regularly Johnny's Charhouse is deservedly regarded as the best restaurant in DeKalb, and while the prices are steep, the food is fantastic If you're looking to impress a date, you can't do better in the area, Eduardo's also does a credible job presenting authentic Mexican cuisine at decent prices, and the Junction is the ultimate late-night eatery for hipsters, intellectuals, insomniacs, and people sobering up Off-campus dining is certainly more appealing than dorm food, but its also a more expensive option, especially if you are already committing more than $50 a week to a meal plan The quantity of eateries in DeKalb doesn't ‘compensate for the lack of quality and diversity in most menus, but nearly all