Emerson: The Big Picture
Emerson's a tiny place. It takes you about five minutes to get anywhere on campus, which is nice if you have an 8:30 class (which does happen) and want to sleep until 8:25. You meet lots of people because it's so condensed, which is nice. Classes are usually small, rarely larger than 50 or so, and lots around 20. Boston is very much a college city (something like half the population leaves over summer vaca) with lots of stuff to do, but you need to be willing to spend the money to do it. Emerson is very much its own community in this part of the city- we have our own TV station, radio station, theater, comedy shows, film screenings, readings, sports events, etc. There's a lot of talk about money in the administration and how it's being spent and teachers and students aren't too thrilled about it, especially with the recent increase in tuition. Emerson is unusual because almost every student here knows what they want to do for a career.
Emerson Academic Life
Most of the classes are small, which is nice if you like the teacher to know who you are and if you like making friends in class. The General Education requirements, or "perspectives," can be a hassle especially since most kids know what they want to do and don't care about taking history or science if they want to make films. However, the professors teaching these classes tend to know their audience. 8AM classes are also terrible, and if you get out of here without one, you're lucky. I've only been in one class where the teacher didn't know my name and/or face, which is really good for grading. I've been told we have the least number of classroom hours required for a private college, which means they have a pretty strict attendance policy, but we do start late and get out early in the school year.
Emerson's Student Body
Emerson kids are known for dressing very strangely. It's not uncommon to see kids with colored or spiked hair. The girls tend to dress very well, very in tune with the latest fashions. Others just wear whatever they can find that's clean. There isn't much racial diversity to be honest, but I've never seen any forms of prejudice against any race, religion, or sexual orientation. The student body tends to be very liberal, socially and politically, and they're very open about sexuality in general. Lots of kids are from New England but I know kids from all over the country, especially California for some reason. Lots of kids come from wealthy families, since Emerson isn't known for giving great financial aid, but that's certainly not always the case.
Emerson Student Activities + Social Life
Lots of kids go on film shoots on the weekends, and not just the film majors. There are lots of different theater clubs, comedy troupes, publications (newspaper, magazines), radio shows, religious groups, political groups, and pretty much anything else you want. Recently a bunch of us started a Quidditch group that we're trying to make into a club sport. I know some student athletes, and while Emerson isn't known for its sports, they actually did really well this year in Div III. There are plenty of parties, mostly off campus at peoples' apartments since most kids live off campus past freshman year, but if you don't party, they're easy to avoid. There are always events and speakers and shows to attend on campus as well, a lot of them for free, which is nice.
Emerson Naked Truth
The dining hall and Piano Row cafe are the only places to eat on meal plan, besides the Convenience Store (C-Store), and it can get old pretty fast, but it's pretty good most of the time. Also, freshman year, live in the Little Building (LB). Piano Row is all suites and it's harder to make friends outside of your suitemates. Also the LB is just better.
