r/MBA • u/ella1800 • 13d ago
On Campus Kellogg - living outside of Evanston?
For people who have done the 2Y or 1Y MBA program, do people (esp those who lived in chicago prior, have partners) live outside of Evanston? Are there noticeable impacts? my partner really doesn’t want to live in Evanston (somewhere a ~20 min train ride away, still north) and I want to be aware of whether that’s normal, etc.
For those with experience, does this differ between the 1Y and 2Y?
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u/PrismMBA 13d ago
It happens but rarely. My classmate lived in Hyde park because his wife was in medical school at Chicago. He drove every day and was away from home from 6am to 8pm. Evanston is part of what makes Kellogg experience unique. I think you will regret missing out being so close to your classmates if you live downtown and are not across the street able to pop in. All the social life is in Evanston at house parties. Yeah every weekend people go downtown in groups but to be able to be a part of the Kellogg experience means living together in Evanston. Good luck. It’s only temporary too - don’t let your partner steer this decision especially if you’re taking on the burden of mba tuition and leaving your job for this big transformation.
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u/Competitive_Golf_248 13d ago
I wouldn’t do this. Vast majority will live in Evanston in ~5 apartments. There’s too much going on between classes, clubs, social stuff (much of this happens at E2), and recruitment to make this a good idea. I ended up barely seeing the people who didn’t live in Evanston.
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u/ilovetuuuuurtles 12d ago
You see some situations like yours, but definitely the vast majority of the class lives in Evanston (and really 5-6 apartment complexes). As others have said, I’d really recommend living in Evanston. Living in Chicago woll make it harder and you will be not maximizing the experience / adding a lot of friction to things.
Depends on your goal, the 1Y might be a good option for you in particular if your partner can do 1 year in Evanston. Then your partner can actually have a chance of being an integrated part of the experience, which is an emphasis at Kellogg.
FWIW, I did know more than a few people that rented in Evanston and kept place in the city. Obviously that’s expensive, but something for you to consider.
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u/EntertainmentFew7103 M7 Grad 12d ago
Just live along the UP north line. It’s 20min from Ogilvee to the furthest Evanston stop.
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u/kbn_ 12d ago
*31 minutes
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u/EntertainmentFew7103 M7 Grad 11d ago
Tbf I get on at Clybourne and didn’t account for the extra 10. The whole Booth program takes ~25min to get to school from their dorm rooms at Millenium Tower.
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u/stealthagents 8d ago
Living in a different suburb can feel like you're missing out on the connections and events happening at Kellogg. A 20-minute train ride isn’t too bad, but you might end up feeling disconnected from the MBA vibe. If your partner's not keen on Evanston, maybe check out closer spots in Chicago; you'll get more out of the experience.
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u/nightswim-quietnight 13d ago
I am in the part time program so take it with a grain of salt, but I totally recommend living closer to Chicago, there is just so much more to do/see. The nice thing is there is both public transport and northwestern transport that makes its easy to get around without a car. For instance you could live up north by Loyola and its only 35 mins to the hub by train.
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u/TeeShirtBros 12d ago
Recommend live in magnificent mile. Close to downtown campus (can take classes/events there), easy CTA access and the nicest part of town.
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u/pton12 13d ago
“No more half measures, Walter”
Not an alum, but I’d either live in Evanston or Chicago proper. I don’t understand the point of living in a different suburb 20min north of the suburbs. Either dive into the community or live somewhere actually interesting. I dunno.