Emerson: The Big Picture
The campus is ideally placed, to be honest. The size of the college allows every student to get to know their professors, not just become a number or a mysterious face in a lecture hall. There are plenty of bars around campus for after-exam or after-rehearsal drinks, restaurants abound. If what you're looking for isn't downtown, all T lines are easily accessible.
The administration occasionally leaves something to be desired. Tuition is high (and getting higher), and more times than not, it's hard to see the benefits for the students. The facilities are nice, but they've been under construction for quite some time.
The new Piano Row dormitories are quite the topic of conversation. The suites are nice, but sterile feeling. Having a gym in the basement is great, but most students never use it. A better use of the money would have been practice spaces for the theatre department, or more facilities for film majors, even just more classrooms or conference rooms to be used by any and all students.
In terms of theatre, the Paramount purchase is controversial. The scene shop has been off-campus in South Boston, and so scenery has been built to be trucked in. Now the shop will be downtown, but the space and resources will be diminished.
On the whole, I find that more and more students, especially in the class graduating in 2008, have come to wonder if their time and money has been spent to their best advantage.
Emerson Academic Life
Because of the small class size, most professors get to know the students fairly well. I have a lot of professors from over the years who recognize me around town, and make a point to stop and say hello or check up on me. My favorite classes have been those that are based in discussion. Professors encourage students to state their opinions, and almost demand debate. It's a great opportunity to hear all possible sides of an argument, and work on public speaking.
The most unique class I've taken would be American Women in Theater: Burlesque. It was a fantastic little Interdisciplinary Studies class I took the second half of my freshman year. Sure I learned about women in theatre, but the best part was the final project: putting on a burlesque show, and/or creating a pin-up calendar.
Within my department (Performing Arts) and my major (BFA: Stage Management) there have been many opportunities, as well as a fair share of issues. For example, the larger class sizes in the past few years have made it difficult for students to meet the required three shows for production credits. However, having an adviser that also works as a member of Emerson Stage makes it difficult to track her down to talk about my schedule or any personal issues. As a theatre major, it's very difficult to justify going to the Castle or to LA, as one misses an entire semester of either preproduction or production while away. Because the season spans both semesters, any time spent away from the Boston campus can be detrimental.
On the whole, my education at Emerson in my department has been geared towards hands-on learning. The other courses have been for the sake of filling out my requirements, not towards job placement. For Stage Managers, until this year there was only one class specifically geared towards the major: an introductory class freshman year that was open to all majors. This year they added SMII: Practicum, but the course content hasn't been fleshed out yet. The '08 SM class has been the guinea pig test group. Hopefully, there will be more classes added in coming years.
Emerson's Student Body
There are clubs for just about everything at Emerson. The GLBT community is very large, and very active. Student groups abound. If there's something you like, there's most likely a club, possibly three, that are geared towards that interest. If not, it's pretty easy to start one up yourself and get (minimal) funding from the college.
Politically, the student body is mostly liberal, but there are conservative students, as well.
Just as one would imagine an art school would be full of 'individuals,' Emerson fits the bill. Every student is different. Some wear pajamas to class, others are dressed for a job interview. Noone seems to notice what anyone else is wearing, but I've noticed that out on the street some people get a second look. Hair of all colors from black to green, braids to curls. Everyone's a unique snowflake, just like everyone else.
Financially, I find that many students are from the middle to upper-middle class. Most of us will be paying back hefty student loans.
Emerson Student Activities + Social Life
The theatrical scene is what I know the most about. The Emerson Stage season is very inclusive; everything from the big spring musical to the Newfest play festival, featuring the student winner of a playwriting contest.
Most Emersonians don't sleep. There's always something going on, but more often than not it's off-campus at an apartment. Many students move off-campus sophomore year, and the majority move junior year to the surrounding neighborhoods.
The fraternity/sorority scene exists, but I personally don't know much about it. It's fairly small compared to other colleges, but it is part of the student activities.
Without going drinking, there are hundreds of other things to do on the weekends. Emerson is right in the middle of the Boston Theatre District, and there is a movie theatre right up the street. The Boston Public Library is within walking distance for those who like free movies every now and then, and the Boston Common is usually covered with students as soon as the weather improves, or in the dead of winter snow.
Off campus, there is no limit to the possibilities. The T will take you anywhere you want/need to go.
