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. read more