University of Rochester

Visit Report by LurkNessMonster (Member since September 11 2006 with 651 posts) Visit Date - September 2006

10 of 11 people found this visit report helpful
Visit to University of Rochester in September 2006 by LurkNessMonster (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2006)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview: Yes - Interviews are very important to U of R. We were told that the kids who interview tend to accept Rochester's offer of acceptance more often than kids who don't. That is why the school is emphasizing interviews. Tip: Make sure you have questions Information Session: Yes - Pretty standard fare, pleasant presentation, fairly brief, about 45 minutes. We had ample opportunity to ask questions. The presenter, a recent U of R graduate, emphasized the school's open curriculum, which gives students the opportunity to study wh Campus Tour: Yes - Competent tour guide, gave a good overview of campus. Fairly brief, about 45 minutes. I am sorry we didn't see the inside of any classrooms or labs. Classroom Visit: No - D should have done this, too. Oh, well. Next time.
University of Rochester Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good - I got a good feeling from the student body. Everyone seemed to be very down to earth, middle of the road. Not preppy (didn't see one popped collar) or hippie (no one barefoot). I would say diversity was medium. Students seemed generally happy, walkin Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent - The admissions people were friendly, but I guess that's to be expected! Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good - U of R's compact campus is a nice size. The buildings are mostly red brick, a few with columns. Eastman Quadrangle is the grassy area in front of the library and bisected by walkways, as on many campuses. The campus in general reminded us a lot of Jo Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good - Campus in general was clean and well maintained. Dormitories: 3 - Good - We were taken inside the Susan B. Anthony dorm, where many freshmen live, but we weren't able to go into an actual room. The building seemed fine. I know that housing is a bit overcrowded because at least 100 more freshman enrolled than expected. Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good - No problems were evident. Blue-light system here, as on every other campus we visited. Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good - We both came away with a good feeling about U of R.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 2 - Fair - We just drove in and out and didn't really explore. A plus is that the airport is close by, about a five dollar taxi fare (according to our tour guide, who is from Miami and flies in and out frequently). City/Town/Community: 2 - Fair - Rochester reminded us quite a bit of Baltimore. We saw many rundown areas as we were driving. Still, we took in an art museum and that was very nice and accessible. We didn't see the actual downtown area.
Campus Visit Notes for University of Rochester:
Visit Description: I think that U of R is a school on the upswing. It has a lot to offer and is getting more popular. The academics seem solid, and it's not impossible to get in. Merit money can be good. I think the climate discourages some people, but many schools are situated in areas that have cold winters. The school is a great size, at a bit more than 4,000 undergrads. I am told that the faculty is competent and do the actual teaching, rather than TAs. If you're interested in premed, which D is not, I think Rochester can be a great place. The hospital and medical school are directly across the street from the main campus. Because of the open curriculum, there are no required courses except for freshman writing seminar. Many students use this freedom to double major and double minor. We visited on a gorgeous October day, and I'm sure the wonderful weather influenced us. I told D to imagine the campus covered with three feet of snow! Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.): We booked flights on JetBlue for $69 each way, per person. Very nice, short flight from JFK in NYC. Airport is only a mile or two away from campus.
10 of 11 people found this visit report helpful