Depauw University

Beautiful campus and top notch athletic facilities for a school of this size. I’ve seen DePauw listed on the Top Party Schools in the US and that makes me laugh a little bit. I went to Indiana University back in the day and *that* is a party school. I’m guessing we threw parties during the week that would put some of the weekend parties at DePauw to shame.
Most of the student body (80%+, I think) is in either a fraternity or a sorority. I can’t help but think of lame toga parties and other goofy frat theme parties when I think of this school.
But they do have a beautiful campus and a good reputation for academics, so hats off to them.

Academically, DePauw is a fine school with some excellent professors, and a name that is just well-​known enough to open doors and impress people.
Aesthetically, it’s a beautiful, compact campus with a nature park, some excellent buildings and well-​kept grounds.
Socially, it can be wonderful or problematic, depending on your background and personality.
Geographically, it’s in the middle of cornfields.
I am a 2003 graduate of DePauw, where I was a Communication major, a member of the Media Fellows program, a writer and editor for The DePauw, a dj on WGRE, and in terms of greek affiliation, a «GDI» (god$%@&#% Independent).
Since we’re approaching ten years (wow), it’s hard for me to know what the current campus climate is like. I can say with certainty that current president Brian Casey is a wonderful addition and has done more for student engagement with administration than his predecessor ever did.
I can say that if you’re a joiner, if you’re an extrovert, the greek system may be a wonderful thing for you. For people who are introverted, geeky, quiet, etc you may find it a little harder to fit in – but I believe the strength of independents is growing on campus and there’s likely a niche for you, especially if you are willing to carve it out.
DePauw’s strengths are its small, personal campus, its strong academics (music, econ, media, political science, hard sciences), its tight-​knit community and the current president, Brian Casey.
Its weaknesses are low diversity (this has been improving), lack of much to do in town (hence strong campus party/​drinking culture) and a certain campus homogenity.
Also: Marvin’s garlic cheeseburger is one of the best sandwiches known to man. Get it with ranch fries and a coke and that alone may have you returning for more.

Can’t believe this hasn’t been reviewed yet! Academically, DePauw provides a well-​rounded liberal arts education with professors who studied at some of the best institutions in the world. It’s also a great environment for students, because Greencastle is a small, safe town, and DePauw offers an education and a wide selection of off-​campus study opportunities comparable to better-​known universities in a large city. The student-​to-​professor ratio is low, and there is a closeness and community to this school you won’t find at other universities.
The only drawback to DePauw, at least when I was looking at college, back when Sarah Jessica Parker was still on Square Pegs, was the influence of the Greek system on the school.