Finding Hidden Gem Colleges for Nerdy Introvert Daughter?

Bill_Marsh
Sun, 27 Nov 2022 03:29:30 +0000

One more vote for University of Rochester as the hidden gem for a nerdy, introverted young woman with an interest in STEM. This is a very underrated college IMO.

Your daughter’s interest in diversity makes UR a particularly interesting option. First, it’s gender diversity is 49:51 male:female. In a world where only 40% of all college students today are male, this is important.

Second, 40% of UR graduates get their degree in the sciences, BUT this is a university with a major conservatory on campus (Eastman School of Music) as well which is attended by 14% of the students. How many colleges have engineers and musicians studying together on the same campus?

Third, UR annually has one of the largest enrollments of foreign students of any college in the country (25%). At Rochester, she will literally be studying with students from all over the world.

Fourth, there is plenty of diversity among the domestic students as 44% of the domestic students are non-white.

Bottom line is that a nerdy girl should find her tribe here since being serious about her studies is not something which would single her out as being different on this campus. Although UR is a major research university, classes are small with 80% of classes under 20 and only 17% over 30. Student:faculty ratio is 9:1. Full time undergrad enrollment is about 6200.