Life in Chicago

A distinct community bordering a world-class city

The Kellogg School of Management combines the best of two worlds — the quiet residential charm of a small city and the vibrant culture of one of the world’s largest economic centers. Located in Evanston, Illinois, a city of 74,000 people that is the state’s sixth largest, the Kellogg School is just 12 miles from downtown Chicago and is easily accessible by public transportation.

Evanston, the first in a string of North Shore Chicago suburbs, stretches along four miles of Lake Michigan. A truly “urban suburb,” Evanston includes residential neighborhoods, business districts and recreational facilities. The city maintains 263 acres of parks, which include five Lake Michigan beaches, running and bike trails, an indoor ice rink and 24 tennis courts.

Most Kellogg School students prefer to make their homes in Evanston, which boasts its own thriving shops, restaurants, movie theaters and art galleries, while some commute to classes from nearby Chicago.

Metropolitan Chicago — something for everyone
A recent article in the Economist said, “Chicago is the quintessential American city, an extraordinary artifact in the middle of the heartland…. In terms of capturing the imagination, its only American rivals are New York and Los Angeles.”

The nation’s third largest city, Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper and home to dozens of cultural landmarks including the Sears Tower, John Hancock Observatory, Field Museum and Navy Pier. The metropolitan Chicago area is home to nearly 8 million people, who come from all over the world. That diversity is reflected in many of Chicago’s multicultural neighborhoods.

Chicago is a thriving economic powerhouse, the country’s second largest financial center and headquarters for some of the nation’s largest banks, brokerage houses and consulting and commodity firms. It is the transportation hub of the United States, a business and industrial giant and a world-renowned center for medicine.

Prominent organizations headquartered here include Abbott Laboratories, Allstate, Aon, Boeing, Brunswick Corporation, Crate & Barrel, CNA Financial, Exelon, Hewitt Associates, Hyatt, Kraft Foods, McDonalds Corporation, Motorola, NavTech, Orbitz, Sara Lee, Sears, Service Master, Tribune Company, UAL, Walgreen Company and Wrigley.

From arts and culture to sports to dining, Chicago offers something for every taste. The Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry are renowned for their world-class collections. Chicago is also world-famous for its blues clubs and extraordinary architecture. Sports fans flock to see Chicago Bulls and Sky basketball, Bears football, Cubs and the 2005 World Series champion White Sox baseball, Blackhawks ice hockey and Fire soccer.

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy swimming, running, biking, in-line skating and other sports in the many parks and beaches along Lake Michigan.

Northwestern University
Northwestern University, chartered in 1851, is one of the nation’s major private research universities. The university has 7,700 undergraduate students and 5,800 graduate students on its Evanston and Chicago campuses. The Evanston campus covers 230 acres, stretching along a half-mile of Lake Michigan shoreline with views of downtown Chicago. Full-time students of the Kellogg School enjoy access to a private beach, extensive sports and aquatic facilities, bike paths, playing fields and a sailing and windsurfing center.

Transportation
The area’s elevated train, or “El,” has seven stops in Evanston, providing service to locations throughout the greater Chicago area. In Evanston, bus lines stop within four blocks of nearly every residence. Metra, another commuter rail line, is an additional option for commuting within the metropolitan area. Chicago is home to two airports, including O’Hare International Airport, one of the world’s busiest. Many restaurants and stores are also within walking distance of campus.