Insights from a week with an Emerson College Sophemore

blahblahblalice
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:27:47 +0000

After spending some time looking at the more intimate details of Emerson and the Boston area I figured I’d share some things with the people here.

Pros:

-Firstly one of the more attractive aspects of Emerson is thier oppertunities for study abroad. My friend there will be spending next semester in “the castle.” Which is Emerson’s program in Amsterdam. (And yes, they really do live in a castle) His senior year he’s also hoping to spend a semester in L.A.

-The professors set you up with professional oppertunities early on. My friend is looking at spending his summer at professional theatre festivals and training programs which were personaly recommended to him by one of his acting professors. Again, this is the summer between his sophemore and junior years.


The food court is exceptional. Or at least in comparison to my own cooking ;).
Boston itself is an amazing little city and Emerson lies in the heart of the theatre district. Students often get jobs ushering at one of the many theatres within the area. Also, most places you need to go are within a couple minutes walking distance, if not there’s a subway conveniently located right in front of the dorm building. (I’m beginning to feel a bit like a tour guide.)


-If they happen to run out of dorm space STUDENTS LIVE IN HOTELS! Either the Double Tree or the Marriot, and you stay there for the whole academic year if you choose. They also clean your laundry, change sheets and have cookies in the lobby. (Sounds like a sweet deal to me)


Emerson has a large diversity of students and its common to make friends with film majors, marketing majors, or even publishing majors. (It’s nice to know you can venture outside of the performance cliche when everyone starts to feel a little divalicious)


-You have the oppertunity to study at the some of the local schools in the area such as voice classes at Berklee or dance at the Boston Ballet (well at the least in the Boston Ballet building, I dont think they’d let you in with thier company, haha)

Cons:

-Freshman year can be a bit of a drag from what I hear. The acting classes are mostly about “accessing your instrument.” A whole lot of flailing your arms about and wondering how it’ll ever benefit your interpretation of Lady Macbeth. It picks up though… a whole lot.

-Good look finding a date if your straight. It’s slim pickin’s in this school.

-If they happen to run out of dorm space STUDENTS LIVE IN HOTELS! As amazing as it sounded to me, I’ve been told that its very socially isolating.

-Its full of pretty people… or at least I thought so? This also adds onto the ‘good luck finding a date’ part. Unless of course your the Dorian of your high school class. In which case there’s probably a perfectly gorgeous person to match you.

Overall its entirely my personal opinion, but these were mostly things that came as a surprise to me. I’ll gladly answer any questions if youd like.

Happy College Hunting !! :)