@Lindagaf - my non STEM kid graduated a yr ago. Your original concern is valid. It took a while for my social son to acclimate to UofR. On paper he was better suited to a LAC. During his first break home he complained that many students spent half of their time studying and the other half “building robots and peanut butter dinosaurs”. His words not mine. (I think that is a movie quote). He said he felt like he lived on the set of The Big Bang Theory.
2nd semester he joined a couple intramural teams and befriended kids from NYC to LA to Africa. And yes, even became friends with a kid who loved to watch Dr Who. Over is 4 yrs he traveled out of state several times to visit classmates during holidays, visited a classmate overseas and continues to visit others now that they are out in the “real world” or in grad school. I’m sure several of them will remain close for life.
He attended a very highly ranked HS and was used to siting in classes with high achievers, but it was great that UofR exposed him to kids from all parts of the US/world. But his HS looked and acted more like the rest of America and UR took some adjusting.
His HS friends saw the UofR a cappella group video “remember our name” and ribbed him mercilessly. One of his childhood friends (of color) in particular found it hilarious. But one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
My non STEM son landed a great job working for a global investment firm and has already progressed a step up the ladder. UR opened lots of interview doors but wasn’t much help with firms here out west of the Mississippi - “Rochester, is that a state school?”.
His gig requires lots of face to face interaction with clients. I think his success has come from a combo of what he learned in the UR classroom and from classmates. Probably also human interaction skills he learned hanging with friends, locals and RIT kids in Sheridan’s Pub on Mt Hope. Halfway through freshman year he questioned his school choice but UR was a great experience and I don’t think he’d change anything.