cjm

Okay, now I am worried again. I know you said the security was good and they have installed cameras etc., but what about Eastman students going back and forth to River Campus for classes? S wants to do Dual Degree so hopefully won't have night classes. But ptmom's son's incident happened in broad daylight. Guess I am not too thrilled about an urban school.

stringfollies

My S relaxes by taking long walks, often at night. This sounds like a very bad idea at Eastman! We'll have to think about it if he is accepted....

cjm

Stringfollies--where else did S apply? Violin, right?

ptmom

My son has lived off campus for several years and continues to walks back and forth without problems. He is aware of his surroundings, as you need to be in any city. He has also taken many classes on the River campus, initially riding the bus, and more recently driving and parking without any concerns. Even the most remote campuses can have security concerns; a significant part of the new student orientation at each of the city schools including Eastman includes how to be smart about your safety. Many of the best schools, including Eastman, are located in cities; don't let this dissuade your child from attending if he/she gets in and finds the right teacher.

stringfollies

cjm -

yes, violin. he applied to oberlin, rice, u. wis, u. mich, iu and eastman. he also auditioned by recording at cim (too many places to travel to!).

cjm

Thanks ptmom. My husband did say a car would be helpful in rochester since the buses to not seem to run on a strict schedule that would ensure getting to class on time. I know urban schools come with inherent crime. We just didn't realize Eastman wasn't a "campus". That is why S chose not to apply to NYU because he wanted a college campus atmosphere. Oh well, we'll see.
Stingfollies, I hear you about travelling to all the schools. S's IB teachers joke with him they are sorry that high school is getting in the way of his career since he never seems to be at school. He has missed for All State & all county jazz, UMiami visit & Eastman. He was accepted to USC and asked to interview for trustee scholarship. The 2 dates were the same as his Eastman audition or the 2 days following. He ended up with fever and exhaustion, etc at Eastman so was very glad he decided beforehand he didn't want to spend the next 4 yrs in LA with or without scholarship. Tough choices to make. I think we are done with visits now, just waiting now.

stringfollies

Wow! What an honor though. I hope he has success with the others.

My S is doing the IB Diploma (6 IB classes + TOK and extended essay). Luckily, he had a good first quarter and goes to a small international school where they all know him and support his violin habit. The teachers, usually extremely rigorous and unforgiving, have been remarkably supportive of his audition absences (he has been out more than in school the last few weeks). This could have been a nightmare otherwise. I don't know how he'll do on his IB exams though after missing so much school. He has mock IB's next week between IU and Oberlin - these determine his final term grades. Hopefully he'll get into music school so those grades won't matter!

shennie

RE: Travel back and forth between Eastman and Rochester.

First, the River Campus is in a safer part of town than Eastman. It is probably as safe as most urban campuses. River Campus is a contained campus bordered by a river, a cemetary and the medical school complex. There is a bus that runs between RC and Eastman. My son took classes at RC almost every semester and was almost always able to get to his classes on time although sometimes is was a bit close. He did not have a car. He played intramurals freshman and sophmore years and would bum rides out to RC for those events. Rochester also has a very active club scene and he would frequent clubs on weekends with no problems. Again, common sense is the rule.

cjm

S didn't get to take a tour while auditioning at Eastman so didn't get to see the dorms. Has anyone seen them? Are they suite-style? Co-ed by floor? Etc. Etc. Any info would be appreciated. (I can't find any info on the Rochester or Eastman site re: Eastman dorms.)

shennie

The dorms are not suite style. For freshman, 2 students share a small room. There are mens and womens bathrooms on each floor. After freshman year, everyone gets singles. The dorm is 14 stories tall. Certain floors are dedicated to certain things. There is a quite section, a drug and alcohol free section, I think, and a couple of others as well. Each floor has a lounge with a TV.

The main floor is essentially the student union for Eastman students. There is a dining room and a snack bar as well as some common areas. There is a very nice lounge that is often used for recitals. Game room, TV lounge, kitchen and laundry in the basement. The YMCA is right next door and students can purchase monthy memberships if they want at a discount.

And practicing is STRICTLY forbidden in the dorms.

L. Fortissimo

Are the dorms strictly undergrad? Grad students have it pretty tough--they don't usually have housing provided, and it's really hard to find affordable decent housing on a grad student's budget plus then you need transportation. But such is life.

cjm

Is today the last day for Eastman auditions?? So the powers that be will be making their decisions?

MomOf3Stars

cjm I hope so!!! D and I were just talking about that today!!