Noah earned his bachelor’s degree in professional writing from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul. He specializes in ACT tutoring, writing tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at the University of Northwestern - St. Paul:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Noah: The University of Northwestern - St. Paul has a gorgeous campus. The best parts of nature are on full display all year. The campus also has great architecture; from the recently remodeled fine arts center to the beautiful, old-fashioned chapels.
I felt very safe, partly because the campus feels separated from the rest of the world. I could always count on the community’s moral behavior, and the general positive atmosphere stopped me from feeling afraid of any outside dangers.
UNW provides buses to and from the various buildings on campus, the dorms, and the shopping centers not far from campus. Walking and biking are always viable options as well. I didn’t have a car on campus, so I wasn’t very familiar with the driving and parking rules.
How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Noah: I chose to attend the University of Northwestern - St. Paul in part because of its small class sizes. The professor to student ratio meant the faculty was very accessible. I often sent questions over the campus email system and got timely, helpful responses. When necessary, I could also find the professors and advisers in their offices before or after class time.
How would you describe the dorm life—rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Noah: For all five semesters I spent at UNW, I shared a dorm with four other guys. We got along swimmingly. Our dorm was across the street from campus proper and directly next to a building that held a few of our classes.
The dining options were fine. Anyone with dietary restrictions, including me, could find accommodations easily.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?
Noah: As far as I know, all of the majors and programs have the same amount of support; I didn’t notice any program represented more than others.
My major was professional writing. At UNW, professional writing is a hybrid of the English and the communications departments. It wasn’t a flawless program, but I received a little bit of training in each subsection of the professional writing world.
How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Noah: There is no Greek life at UNW. I got along well with my roommates and am still in contact with one of them. Many of the social gatherings I did attend were small enough that I didn’t feel uncomfortable, and they were populated with people I wanted to socialize with.
How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services?
Noah: In my experience, the Career Center, counseling services, and tutoring services were all very accessible and helpful. It was one of my English professors that put me in contact with the Society for Technical Communications - Twin Cities, and they recruited me as an intern. As I understand it, other students also got connected with careers while at UNW.
How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges?
Noah: I hardly ever studied anywhere besides my room, but my roommates frequently used the available study areas. As far as I saw, they were spacious and not crowded.
Describe the surrounding town.
Noah: Taking the bus to Target or driving to the other shopping centers in Roseville were the most interesting things my roommates and I did off campus, but that was okay with us. I don’t know of any other establishments or things to do in the surrounding area. As I said, UNW is fairly secluded.
How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Noah: I was very happy with the small class sizes and the small student body, because it meant the teachers were accessible and I didn’t need to socialize more than I was comfortable with. I was in a few honors classes, which were usually even smaller in size and were perfect for fun class discussions.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Noah: My favorite class was Honors Topics in Literature: Modern Shakespearean Fiction. I only took it because I was required to take a specific number of honors classes in a certain number of different disciplines. Regardless, I was looking forward to it, and am so glad I took it.
We read modern adaptations and derivatives based on the works and life of Shakespeare. We were encouraged to find our own examples of Shakespearean things and bring them in for show and tell.
On that note, Dr. Jones was the main reason this was my favorite class. He was hilarious, and his humor was high-intellect—perfect for an honors class. It also helped that he was clearly passionate about this realm, so he knew a lot about it and really enjoyed fostering creative discussions.
Check out Noah’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
