The Community up Stretching a mile along the western shore of Lake Michigan 12 miles north of downtown Chicago , the Evanston campus provides a wealth of recreational opportunities. Northwestern offers a full calendar of cultural events most of which are free to students and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including athletic, musical, professional, religious, and service groups. A 30-minute train ride away, downtown Chicago provides almost limitless entertainment and cultural opportunities. Chicago s five major universities offer additional intellectual and social opportunities. The University operates Engelhart Hall , an apartment building for married and single graduate students.
Students also find housing in privately owned buildings in the surrounding community.
Many single students share large apartments near campus. The chemistry department serves as an informal apartment clearinghouse for arriving and departing students. The Graduate Housing Office at 1915 Maple Street also maintains lists of off-campus housing . Minority Students up Northwestern University is committed to increasing the number of underrepresented minority students pursuing PhD degrees. All successful chemistry graduate students are guaranteed full financial support for at least four years.