<p>I always hear that a school is laid back and has engaging class discussions, but I still can’t get a grasp of what the school is like. I don’t know much about the school nor do I know anyone that can educate me on it. Because of this I ask: Which more well know is Rochester most like?</p>
<p>Im sorry Im a little confused as to what the second part of your question is asking. In terms of environment at Rochester, while I’ll try to best describe it with anecdotes, you’re best off visiting the campus when classes are in session to see what the social and classroom environment is like as it varies major to major. </p>
<p>My experience so far has been very positive, and I echo the sentiments you heard previously that the school is laid back. What I mean by this is that students aren’t cut throat or highly over-competitive. For example fellow classmates are willing to help out with homework and reviews without trying to sabatoge you. In my CS class, I would have never have done so well without the help of friends who knew what they were doing for certain projects. Most students are competitive to the extent that they want to challenge and better themselves. However there always exist a few hyper competitive students here and there, but they will always exist.</p>
<p>In terms of engaging class discussions, it truly depends on the class and the professor. While I have had a few professors who were terrible lecturers, the majority I have had have been amazing. Professors here tend to be very friendly and are willing to get to know students by name. In fact my first semester, my Dante professor, not only memorized the names of all 40 students in our class, but knew what we said and pulled across our comments through various discussions every week. Teacher tend to grade differently, but most grade fairly and you end up getting what you put in. </p>
<p>I hope that gives you somewhat a better picture of Rochester, feel free to pm if you have more questions.</p>
<p>Living in New England, I see UR as being a lot like Tufts.
–size
–credentials of accepted students
–large teaching hospital
–offsite branch (UR= Eastman, Tufts=vet school)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say it is laid back. In my floor, people are really friendly and do hang out alot, sometimes late at night. But when the work load actually comes, they know what to do. People are mostly responsible and care about their school work.</p>
<p>What is rochester like?</p>
<p>It’s a small campus, but everyone is extremely friendly.</p>
<p>I think your question is what school is Rochester like? And really what is Rochester like???</p>
<p>Rochester is unique. Some call Rochester the best kept secret in higher education. </p>
<p>What is Rochester like? Very modest in personality. Loves to talk down about itself in various self-deprecating ways (like the somewhat meaningless constant fixation on the food and weather). Community oriented (volunteerism, giving, leadership focus on arts & sciences as the greater good) and so low-profile. Undeniably a giant in higher education, for those who know the history and future plans of Rochester. </p>
<p>Walk into the classroom, and that’s where you’ll be. The “what’s it like there” is as small or as big, social or isolated, competitive or collaborative, rural, suburban, small town, metropolitan, or international, as what you are when you walk in. It’s all there.</p>
<p>I also think Johns Hopkins and Tufts come to mind in terms of the personalities of the students, a previous post triggers my mind that way too. </p>
<p>If you read a few editions of the Campus Times online, you can get a sense for what the college is like from editorials and letters to the editor and other features.</p>
<p>A previous president of the University of Rochester wrote a book called What to Expect from College. New York: St. Martin’s Press (Fall 1991). George Dennis O’Brien highlights anecdotes of undergraduate education with the focus on living an educated life. </p>
<p>Some percentage of Rochester students applied to Ivy League schools but chose Rochester for preference or scholarships. We have professors that turned down positions at Ivy League schools because of the many world class departments at Rochester. And Rochester PhD’s are the professors at the Ivy League and other schools. Just count the number of dandelion yellow gowns, among faculty, at graduation ceremonies, at the best schools in the world. </p>
<p>There is a subset of students who are similar to students at other upstate New York and New York City schools, like SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Albany, SUNY Geneseo, and Skidmore, Cornell, Ithaca, NYU, Columbia, Hobart, CUNY, Fordham. Among that diversity people will choose courses that are at different levels of ability suited to their academic plan. People who don’t want the PhD, pre-med, or pre-law plan can get the basic college courseload and have fun with it. </p>
<p>Some of the strong cultural influences in Rochester, educationally, personality, temperment, are further west also, from Cleveland to Chicago. </p>
<p>There are students who come from farms in PA, NY, and OH. The inner city of Rochester is represented. Rochester has folks from both modest backgrounds and masters of the universe from New York City, Boston, D.C., and Chicago. And others from across the nation, midwest to California and Washington.</p>
<p>And Rochester likes to admit very high test score students, so there is a strong population of brilliant foreign Chinese and Indian students in the U. Rochester schools, especially in the graduate schools (who are some of the teaching assistants). Just think about the population of China and India and you realize where some of the brightest people in the world can come from, and it’s exciting for Rochester.</p>
<p>Rochester is a mix of personalities coming in, and the Rochester tradition, spirit, and community creates a very distinct environment at school. My perception is that admissions understands the local roots of Rochester (small town feeling, small school), but also aspires to be an international school with students from around the world. Both the city of Rochester and the University of Rochester have been leaders in racial and gender diversity in American history. (Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony). </p>
<p>Contributions to science from Xerography, to optics, to graphical user interfaces on computers, speech recognition by computers, the list goes on from both the university and local companies in both the history of and current technological advances. And Rochester has one of the highest dollar revenues of any university from practical applications from scientific and medical patents. </p>
<p>Rochester has one of the best college debate programs in the nation, and Rochester undergrads love intellectual debate. </p>
<p>Both the Political Science department and the Physics department are known in higher education as some of the very best in the world, as is the Economics department, Optics and Music. There is an annual study done called the Gorman Report, available in bookstores or high school guidance offices, that lists rankings of college departments by subject.</p>
<p>The college has one of the very highest percentages of students that go on to get PhD’s, so certain undergraduate classes that involve math and science technical skills would be advanced PhD level at other schools.</p>
<p>Through the mid 1990’s Rochester had one of the very largest endowments of any college in the nation, and today continues to do well financially. The current plan for the medical center, just announced this week, is a $500 million investment over the next 5-10 years.</p>
<p>There is a feeling of community as family, if you know where to find or create the Rochester spirit. There is a diversity of clubs and organizations to belong to.</p>