General Information
This is the website for the International Studies Residential College, a special residence hall on the campus of Northwestern University. Information about the dorm, its history, facilities, events and the surrounding township of Evanston, IL can be found here. Below is an FAQ for prospective students wishing to join ISRC.
FAQ
Q: Why do I want to live in ISRC?
A: ISRC is a great dorm for anyone. While our focus is international, you don't have to be an international student or majoring in international studies to live here. A very wide variety of students live in ISRC, coming from all parts of the US and the world. The students have a wide variety of majors, making ISRC a great place to meet new people. Suite-style living allows residents to socialize and relax, and they provide a great environment for studying. ISRC is close to many academic buildings and downtown Evanston. It is the closest dorm to The Rock, and one of few dorms on campus with co-ed suites.
Q: Where are my classes?
A: Students of Weinberg, Medill, and The School of Communications have many classes in the academic buildings located less than a minute away from ISRC. Students in other schools have most of their classes in buildings around 10 minutes away, but the walk is not as bad as it sounds.
Q: Where do I eat?
A: ISRC has its own section in the 1835 Hinman Dining Hall, which is right across the street. The Allison dining hall is also very close. These dining halls are often considered the best on campus. Downtown Evanston has a huge variety of restaurants, most of which can be reached in around 10 minutes of walking. The only 24-hour food near campus, Burger King, is less than 10 minutes away. For more information on places to eat in Evanston and on campus, please see the Where to Eat page.
Q: How do I do my laundry?
A: Doing laundry isn't difficult, and the ISRC washing machines make it as easy as possible. The washers and dryers have about three settings, so you don't have to worry about water temperatures. For more info, see the Facilities page.
Q: I hear ISRC is quiet. Are the residents antisocial?
A: While this depends greatly on the residents, there is always something going on in ISRC. You can find people hanging out in a suite, watching a movie, or playing Guitar Hero at almost any time of day. ISRC is not a loud dorm, in the sense that you can sleep and study in ISRC, but you shouldn't fear not finding any activity.
Q: Does ISRC have air conditioning?
A: Yes! It has been announced that ISRC will be getting air conditioning for the first time in the '09-'10 school year.
Q: Should I bring a TV?
A: Northwestern dorm rooms do not have cable TV, save for lounges. ISRC has a basement lounge with one TV hooked up to Comcast cable. Students can watch TV on their computers. A flatscreen computer monitor may be more useful than a TV.
Q: Where can I store my luggage?
A: ISRC has a trunk room in the basement where residents may store suitcases. The top shelf in the closets is also a good size for a piece of luggage.
Q: Will my stuff fit in my room?
A: Room sizes vary slightly, but for dimensions of closets and other storage spaces, check out the Rooms page.
Q: How do I get around?
A: Campus is accessible by walking, but a bike makes getting around much easier. ISRC has a large outdoor bike rack outside the entrance. Northwestern runs a plethora of shuttles that go around campus and to Chicago. The Northwestern Shuttle Page has lists of all the shuttle run times. To get to Chicago at any time, you can take the CTA El or the Metra trains. The El comes every few minutes, but takes around an hour to get to downtown, while the Metra stops roughly once per hour, but takes a half hour to get downtown. Both trains can be accessed from their stations on Davis Street, which is about a 10-15 minute walk away. The shuttle schedules and routes can be downloaded here.
Q: How do I get my mail?
ISRC has mailboxes for each room near the entrance. Packages will be sent to the mailroom at 1835 Hinman. When you get a package, you will be sent a slip notifying you that you should pick it up. The mailrooms at Northwestern are known to be dysfunctional, and mail can take weeks or even months to come through. You can send mail from the blue mailbox across the street. If you want to send a package through the US Postal Service, you can go to the Evanston Post Office. There is a UPS Store in downtown Evanston, and FedEx store in the basement of the Norris Student Center. If someone wants to send you something, your address will be:
Your Name
West Fairchild 000 (Your room number)
1861 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL 60201
Q: Where do I buy things?
A: The majority of supplies you need for everyday life can be purchased at CVS, the only store of its kind within walking distance of campus. It is about a 10-minute walk from ISRC. Northwestern has a shuttle that takes you to Jewel-Osco, Target, Office Max, and Best Buy on Sundays. It is also possible to take a CTA bus to Old Orchard Mall, a massive shopping complex several miles away. For more information on shopping in the Evanston area, visit the Where to Shop page.
Q: What should I bring?
A: Here's some things that you will find useful to bring, or at least have, while living in ISRC:
• Computer
• Fan - while these may not be essential now that ISRC has air conditioning, it is difficult to say how well the air conditioners will circulate air
• Lamps - using only the school-provided lamps will make your room very cave-like. Bring some lamps if you enjoy light
• Cell Phone - beware - reception may not be the greatest, especially for AT&T phones
• Clothes - Be sure to bring clothes for temperatures ranging from 100 to -20 degrees Farenheit, as well as snow, rain, and wind
• Clothes hangers
• Bed sheets - Buy extra long bed sheets (to fit an 80" mattress), which can be found at most stores. Don't buy the sheets offered through Northwestern, as they are the incorrect length
• Toiletries, shower shoes, and a shower caddy - hygiene is your friend
• A plate, bowl, cup, mug, and some silverware
• A stapler
• A 3-hole punch
• A doorstop
• Air freshener (Febreeze/Oust or the like)
• Power strip
• Hamper/Laundry basket
• Printer paper
• Towels
• Headphones
• Refrigerator (The school has a maximum volume limit of three cubic feet)
• Basic medicines (Tylenol, Cough drops, Tums, Nyquil)
• Sunscreen - you won't need much, but not having any is not fun
• Tupperware or other plastic containers for food
• Money - textbooks are extremely expensive
• Formal clothes
• Alarm clock
Other useful items:
• A printer - ISRC's printer has been unreliable in the past
• A vacuum - while ISRC does have a few vacuums, they are known to frequently be broken
• An iron/small ironing board
• Bicycle - Norris has a bike sale in Fall and Spring quarter where you can find cheap bikes. Get a U-lock to keep your bike from being stolen
• DVDs - especially foreign films, if you have them
• Athletic clothing
• Small whiteboard for your door
• Command Strips / Command Hooks
• Camera
• MP3 Player
Q: How do I apply to ISRC?
A: The application process is very simple. Application instructions can be found on the How to Apply page.
Q: Where can I ask more questions?
Join the ISRC '11-'12 Facebook Group to have your questions answered by the exec board and return residents.
Previous mailers
• 2008 Mailer
