Northland College Reviews
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Abby from Bloomington, IL
12/29/2009Reviewer is A current student here.
10 out of 10 people found this review useful. 1 of 10
Categories Comments Great for these types of students For those who love the outdoors and wish to be a part of the outdoors while studying the environment, then yes, Northland is perfect for you. The environment is everywhere at Northland, in the classroom and beyond. You will get the opportunity to learn out in the field. There will be trips to Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters, even through the ravine on campus. For those who want an environmental education, Northland will do more than provide just that. The environment is at the forefront of everything at Northland, with saving it the ultimate goal. With Northland's close community, you will find others with your same beliefs. Being an environmentalist is not necessary at Northland, just enjoy being outside. Those who are not environmentalists will still find Northland to be a wonderful place because of the people you meet, the friends you make, and the quality of education you receive.
Tips for prospective students Talk to some current students, visit the college during one of their many visit days, visit the website. The best thing to do when considering a college is to get acquainted with that college. Don't make rash decisions; pick a college that has what you want and that has what you need. Northland is not your typical college. It is an environmental liberal arts college. Northland focuses on the environment, but it provides you with a creative college experience. Northland forces you to think about problems in ways you never thought before. Be willing to explore different avenues and thoroughly think about your college choice before you apply. Make sure you want to go there.
Bang for the buck Northland is definitely worth the price. The first thing new students do is their orientation trip. This is a week or so hiking, camping, kayaking in the Lake Superior area. This is the opportunity to make lasting friendships and to explore Northland's surrounding area. The dorms are comfortable and feel like home. The dorms and bathrooms are cleaned three times weekly. The dorm rooms have plenty of space and do not feel cramped. Internet access is available almost every where. The library is awesome, with two levels and a computer lab. The student center is a cool place to hang out and meet up with friends. There is even a music house. The academics are well worth the cost. The professors and administrators know you by name and are always eager to help you succeed.
Am enjoying being here The people at Northland are the school's best aspect. Friends are easy to find and everyone fits in somewhere. The atmosphere is always upbeat and pleasant. There are numerous extracurricular activities every day and many clubs and organizations, so there is never time to be bored. Aside from the people, Northland's campus is beautiful year round, with many open spaces and places to relax. Northland feels like home; it's a comfortable and inviting place. The close proximity of Lake Superior and other wilderness areas make Northland the ideal place for those who love the outdoors. Nature is literally at your fingertips.
Am learning a lot The level and sophistication of the academic program at Northland is outstanding. The professors are always willing to provide any assistance and they want to see their students succeed. They push you to do your best in order to become a more advanced student in whatever field you choose to study. The professors also get to know you on a personal level, which adds to the learning process. Experience both in the classroom and out in the field provide for a quality education that leaves students feeling prepared for their next step in life, whether that step is a career or grad school.
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Beth from Frankfort, IL
04/01/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 2 of 10
Categories Comments Campus Safety Safety is good.
Greek Life there is none
Great for these types of students environmentally friendly
Bang for the buck Northland is a great school!
What to do for fun I watch movies, go to coffee houses, and first friday dances.
Food and Dining The food is good, there are plenty of vegetarian options.
Dorm Life The dorms are pretty nice.
Academic Rigor The classes are hard, but the teachers love to help.
Tips for prospective students Apply early because scholarship deadlines come up fast!
In three sentences Northland has an amazing community environment. The people are friendly, and love to answer your questions. Overall, Northland is a great school.
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Northland Student from Ashland, WI
07/22/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 3 of 10
Categories Comments Campus Safety Our records are public and are very clean.
Clubs and Activities I've already listed a bunch above and you can check out the website for more.
Great for these types of students Everyone is included, very few social boundaries between traditional groups.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There is a big forested ravine that runs through campus with a creek and trails. Many parties are held there. There is Queeb and SnoFest.
Bang for the buck Northland has many scholarships available to students.
What to do for fun Many shops in the area, coffee houses, festivals, musician performances on campus for free, Queeb, SnoFest, hiking, waterfalls, swimming, kayaking, canoing, rock climbing, ice climbing, camping, ultimate Frisbee, Ravine Parties
Food and Dining The cafeteria is better than what you would expect. The school cooperates a lot with the contracted dining service to get the students fresh vegetables grown by the student agriculture groups, all fresh free range organic eggs from a local farm, and many vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
Dorm Life Students are very active in social activities. Northland has a strong sense of camaraderie in the community. The Northland College Student Association puts on music performances, runs the campus radio station with which any student can have a show, the student newspaper, and the legendary SnoFest.
Academic Rigor Northland's professors care a great deal about the education that students are receiving and will often go out of their own way to make sure you get what you need and are challenged enough. On that note, if you are the type who doesn't care it is possible, just at any other school, to squeeze by.
Tips for prospective students See as much of Northland as you possibly can. There is much to offer that is often overlooked because there is so much. Also, ask questions so people can show you what you are interested in.
In three sentences Northland is an environmental liberal arts college with many strong academic opportunities, including Geosciences, English/Writing, Outdoor Education, Natural Resources, Sociology, and others. Field studies and research are common. Northland also has vibrant dorm and campus life with various social activities.
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Mildrid
10/02/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 4 of 10
Categories Comments Greek Life NONE.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There are so many but you have to come to Northland to find out.
Bang for the buck It is expensive, scholarships are great though. Bang for the buck is a personal thing though. If this is the kind of school you are looking it is worth it, but otherwise you might be wasting money.
What to do for fun There is unlimited number of things to do here. Bands to listen to, camping, hiking, Apple fest, open mic nights and ultimate frisbee just to name a few. There isn't time to be bored here.
Food and Dining The caf food is not expected to be great anywhere I guess, but a positive thing going on at Northland is that they are working towards getting more local food in there.
Dorm Life The dorms are all pretty standard, though there are some very nices ones as well. Those are mostly for upper class men though. The best thing that happens your freshman year is all the time the school puts into picking your roomates, I haven't met anyone who doesn't get a long great with their roomate.
Academic Rigor Just because you get accepted at Northland does not mean you are up to their standards of education, it can be really hard at times and you have to work through it. On the other hand there are so many opportunities to receive help.
Tips for prospective students When you come to Northland be prepared to learn a lot in classes and about who you are. Keep an open mind.
In three sentences Northland gives almost all of it students a place of being and a sense of home. In my short time here thus far I have met great professors and made life long friends. It may seem cilche, but it is the truth, Northland is the true college experience.
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Freshman Northlander!
11/20/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 5 of 10
Categories Comments Campus Safety I feel extremely safe going across campus. You hear stories on the news about something happening to a student from a state university. I promise you, safe place to be. There is security 24 hours a day (literally) and if you feel threatened at any time just call them or press a button outside the dorms & they will come.
Greek Life I don't think there are any...
Clubs and Activities There are quite a few at Northland. The Clubs don't meet necessarily every week (some do), but on a monthly basis which is nice for scheduling. MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY places to volunteer in the community. No worries.
Great for these types of students Awesome people...duh! If you are into the Outdoors/Nature/Sustainability Active College then you have found your new home! It's so awesome the amount of Environmentalism that is ingrained in Northland.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus A ton of festivals go on around the area and talks in the Sigurd Olson Building to name a couple. You will experience a TON on campus-it's hard to explain & I don't want to ruin it so you can discover the magic at Northland. Student Vending Initiative-Student ran Soda machines that sell local soft drinks on campus Between $1.25-$1.50 for a glass bottle. VERY tasty!
Bang for the buck Yes! Northland does a stellar job with scholarships to students. APPLY TO ALL THAT YOU CAN for Northland. The only reason I am coming here is because of the scholarships I got here. Try to get as many local scholarships as possible & save your money now for college expenses.
What to do for fun Lots of time to go to local places in town, bike around, go to Scenic places. The lake is literally one mile from campus & walking to main street takes no time at all. ALSO the Bart Bus System is free for all Northland College Students (just show your I.D.)
Food and Dining You get a certain amount of meals per semester & you get food dollars to spend at The Chub (School Store & Snack bar) and there is a grocery store down the road if you need to pick up something quick. There are foods that are there every meal, which is nice, and a lot of local stuff! There are only a few chains in town (Little Caesars, Walgreens, Walmart, McDonalds,BK, Arby's, and Subway.)
Dorm Life Get a dorm you would feel most comfortable in (Athletes & Hunters would be McMillan, All girls dorm would be Mead, etc.) Not too bad. Just don't get a single-that's super anti-social. Learn to live with someone your first year & if you hate it then change your sophomore year.
Academic Rigor Usually Freshman classes aren't that difficult, but do take it as seriously as possible. The GPA is set up that even the minuses and pluses count on your GPA. Profs really know what they are talking about and have a solid knowledge of their field. Other than freshman classes I would say the 300 level & 400 level are about a 4/5 star...have to study A LOT more. Try to know what you want to major in around your first semester sophomore year...it will save you money & help with course selection.
Tips for prospective students TAKE AS MANY AP CLASS (and get the credit) AS YOU CAN! Especially AP Statistics or AP Calculus because Northland only requires one math class to be take & if you can knock it out before you get here that will save you time & lots of money! Also, get as much money as you possibly can before college & SAVE IT ALL! I'm serious...there are things at Northland that aren't free but you know you'll want to do. PLEASE have adult summers and work to get money or even during the school year. You will appreciate having the money in college versus right now on some mindless thing.
In three sentences Holy Cow, Northland is AH-MAZING! It has great science programs (that's what I'd like to go into) and many opportunities to flourish as a undergrad student. It is an environmentally friendly college that really has you hooked even more than before you come.
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Sarah from Missoula, MT
04/30/2012Reviewer is A past student here.
0 out of 1 people found this review useful. 6 of 10
Categories Comments Greek Life No Greek life.
What to do for fun Hang out at campus activities, at the farmer's market, or at the downtown coffeeshop.
Food and Dining Dining is fairly good.
Dorm Life The dorms are pretty nice and offer a good community.
Academic Rigor It's not very hard, academically.
Tips for prospective students Get involved! It's a small town, so join clubs, community activities, etc to stay busy, network, and make friends.
In three sentences Northland College is one of the oldest and extensive environmental liberal arts college in the US.
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Murply from Ashland, WI
08/09/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
0 out of 1 people found this review useful. 7 of 10
Categories Comments Campus Safety The students living on campus are very friendly and rarely is there ever a crime. Since I've attended, there has only been one account of something being done. That was when two boys stole a tv from a lounge. That's it.
Greek Life There's no sororities or fraternities.
Clubs and Activities There aren't many clubs, but you have he chance to always form one.
Great for these types of students Biology Majors, Natural Resources Majors, outdoor Education Majors
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Every now and then, a large group of students will camp, cook, dance, and sing on the Northland Mall. The Northland Mall is the grassy land in front of the Ponzio center.
Bang for the buck For the price of tuition and living, Northland doesn't suffice. I am very disappointed in the way most programs are budgeted. The Art budget is little to none and it's quite annoying when I have a course fee of $200 while a Biology major will only pay $50.
What to do for fun Since Ashland, WI is a small city of about 8,000, there isn't a whole lot to entertain yourself with. There is a Cinema and a couple nice restaurants. A lot of students will camp and hike in their free time. Kayaking and canoeing is also incorporated.
Food and Dining Food is improving, but the cafeteria is provided by Chartwells and needless to say, they don't offer great service. The staff members are wonderful people, nice and caring, but the recipes are lacking.
Dorm Life The dorms have recently been renovated and equipped with new furniture and appliances. Before, the dorms were very drab and falling apart. Most students leave their doors open to welcome other students to drop by and chat.
Academic Rigor The classes here are very lenient and laid back. The amount of students in each class are also very minuscule as there are about 15 maybe 20 in each class. If you turn in your work and try, you receive good grades. Don't try, and fail.
Tips for prospective students Northland is a school that is centered mainly around Biology and Natural Resources. If you plan on majoring in Art or Music, I would look elsewhere. The Art program is very unstable and could give out at any moment.
In three sentences Northland College is a very disorganized college. The professors are completely knowledgeable on their subjects and teach well. The way things are processed in the business office is very incompetent.
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Niki from Livonia, MI
01/01/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
8 of 10
Categories Comments Campus Safety Nothing horrible goes on at Northland. The campus is so small, I have a hard time imagining any catastrophes. There are campus security guards who patrol the campus regularly. Only thing is that they are very lenient when it comes to underage students drinking or people smoking pot.
Greek Life There is no greek life on campus.
Clubs and Activities Most of the clubs are poorly advertised and poorly attended. I've heard rumors of a lot of clubs, but only know about three of them: The Alliance, Art League, and Anime Club.
Great for these types of students Division 3 athletes, hippies, and people who love the environment. Northland is a good school for Biology majors, outdoor Ed majors, and Sustainable Community Development majors.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Northland celebrates queeb (I have no idea if I spelt that correctly) where one of the current faculty, when attending Northland, made up a roommate because he wanted a single. It took the school a while to figure out that this student, named Floyd E. Queeb, did not exist. Now, Northland students celebrate the day he was found out by partying.
Bang for the buck Northland gives pretty much everyone half tuition scholarships, and then adds on more for those they deem deserving. Most of the students attend the school because it was the only affordable option for them (which, unfortunately, brings in a lot of people who don't necessarily want to be at that particular school). Also, most of the scholarships need to be applied to around march before your freshman year. If you miss it, you're out of luck. Nobody else is allowed to apply for a scholarship except the incoming freshmen. The nice thing about that, however, is that the scholarships earned are retained throughout your entire college career there.
What to do for fun There are wellness courses all year long that take up a lot of time, fulfill a graduation requirement, and are a lot of fun. Besides that, there are res life programs all the time, though most people don't attend. It seems like the most active social event are random parties students throw, as well as the Coffee Haus's and First Friday Dances.
Food and Dining Northland is run by a company called Chartwells. The meal plans here are required and EXPENSIVE. The student bookstore has decent food, some of which you can use meals for, but it can be expensive. There are times in the cafeteria where the only edible to eat are french fries, and sometimes those aren't even good. A lot of people never to to the caf and waste their meals. The workers there are generally very nice, though.
Dorm Life Most of the Dorms are pretty run-down. The rooms are generally small. There are a lot of noisy people, especially in McMillan, the athletic dorm. People party and drink all the time. It's quite annoying if you are attending the school to expand your education, not to drink.
Academic Rigor None of my classes at Northland have been very hard or required a lot of effort. I do not feel I am getting the best level of education here. The professors make an effort to make sure everyone learns, and I know quite a few people who have had trouble in class. Academically, though, it is not challenging for me.
Tips for prospective students If you are a serious student who wants the most out of your education, don't go here. If you enjoy partying, this is a good school. The campus is beautiful and the people are really friendly, to which I would give five stars. It's a nice place to be, but not to study.
In three sentences Northland is a school with a lot of friendly people. The personalities here seem to be very diverse. Good or bad, most people come to this school because they can afford it.
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Lory
01/27/2013Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
9 of 10
Categories Comments In three sentences I heard of this school from a former student and all she ever told me was how amazing the programs and teachers were. I'm looking forward to checking it out!
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Codi from Gordon, WI
04/15/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
10 of 10
Categories Comments Great for these types of students This school is great for students that like the outdoors, want to live in a sustainable environment and want to learn more on how to help the earth. While meeting new people.
What to do for fun You will never be bored, there is so much fun things to do for all the seasons. You can go hiking and bike riding in the parks around the area or go for a walk in the ravine. In the fall you can head up to Bay Field and see all the beautiful fall colors. And during the winter time you can build snowmen, forts, go snowboarding and sledding.
Food and Dining The dining service is great they have a lot of local food and food for vegetarians. The staff is really nice as well.
Dorm Life Dorm life it great you get to meet a lot of amazing people and experience living on your own to a cretin extent.
Academic Rigor There are not many challenges in the classroom due to the class sizes being small. If you have any questions the professors are more then pleased to help you in anyway possible.
Tips for prospective students When you get to school be sure to say hi to people and join clubs you will be able to meet lots more students. Make sure you are studying a lot and keeping up with class assignments as well.
In three sentences Northland College is one of the most amazing schools I've attended. Everybody is nice to one another and the teachers are very close to their students. The class sizes are small so you get a lot of one on one attention in the classroom.
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