University of Rochester Top Questions

Rochester provides an excellent balance for everyone. The equilibrium between academics, social life and extracurriculars is probably the most attractive feature of the school because it allows each individual to find his or her own niche of belonging. The size of the school is nice because while you frequently see familiar faces, there are always new people looming around the corner (in a non-stalker way). When I tell people that I go to Rochester the most common response is, "Wow, cold," especially seeing as how I'm from Phoenix, however underneath the surprise at my gall to brave the weather, people are typically fairly impressed. I run around campus a lot, sometimes to the great off-campus fraternity house Chi Phi or my sorority floor, sometimes in the dining areas, when the weather is nice enough on the grass outside, and when I'm not doing those things I tend to be in class or in my room. I feel like the college is generally pretty isolated from the town. It isn't a very big city so there isn't an over abundance of things to do, but the Campus Activities Board keeps lots of fun events going on and brings a lot of famous people to campus and there are plenty of other things to keep us occupied.

There are a lot of things I would change about Rochester. The disciplinary system fails to succeed in its basic need to weed out the students who truly do not deserve to be here, while others are punished unnecessarily. One long-standing fraternity, for example, loses its house for five years (making it nearly impossible for it to get enough pledges by the time the house belongs to them again) on the grounds of underage drinking, which is an obvious practice of every fraternity, while another wealthy (as it has alumni on the board of trustees) fraternity stays alive even after the brothers become surrounded by a scandal involving the drugging of a girl who ended up alone and naked in a warehouse the morning after a party about a mile away from campus. Yet another fraternity somehow managed to escape losing their house for more than a year after a pound of cocaine was discovered to be present inside. While students are written up and meet with the dean about minor infractions every day, larger issues aren't brought to the attention of the students on an often enough basis in order for them to avoid true struggle and trouble within their school. Heavy drug abuse is an issue that is not commonly dealt with in an open arena within the school; there is no commonly and publicly advertised hotline or counseling that a student could see every day that might help them-- instead, it could be easy for you to watch a friend become more addicted to hard drugs and not know what to do. Another big issue, sexual assault, is hardly dealt with on campus; while there is an advertised hotline in bathroom stalls (usually just the girls', though), and we recently had a "sexual assault awareness week," the general community of the school is not educated enough on this issue. Although sexual assault is common in colleges, especially as date or acquaintance rape, there is no specific sexual assault counseling available on campus. Also, while a victim can be examined after an assault at the university health services, there are hardly any forms of prevention available. The only people attending the meeting that took place during sexual assault awareness week were the several members of the Women's Caucus, which was hosting the event, the speakers, and the dean of students, with maybe a couple others. There is only one event during freshman week that educates on sexual assault, but I remember this event as being treated as a joke so it wouldn't bore or scare students. Even with the blue lights around on campus, I don't feel safe walking around on campus at night. Rochester in general isn't a college town; it's instead kind of a big, complicated city with mostly commercial buildings, malls, and some restaurant/hot spots. The size of the school is smaller than most universities, about the size of a larger liberal arts school.

I think size-wise the UR is perfect. Although I do not know everyone in my class by name I think I know them by face and I feel very comfortable on campus. While walking around, I always seem people I know and usually everyone is very friendly. There is not a lot of school pride at the U of R, or maybe there is, but I know that my friends and I know nothing about our sports. I think we are good at squash, and maybe soccer.

The best thing about Rochester is walking to class and seeing tons of people you know. Since it's a smaller campus, it's easier to get to know people and you always see them! I think the size is just right. I always am meeting new people, and I love it. When I say I go to Rochester, sometimes people think I mean RIT. NO! Others totally think I'm SO smart, which is also debatable some days! Most of my time on campus is spent in my room doing work or in class. They're not joking when they say UR students are always doing work! Area around UR is not that great...near the city. Rochester's administration is pretty good. I haven't interacted with anyone really other than the professors and coaches, but they all are wonderful. Biggest recent controversy was getting rid of "DDAY," a day devoted to getting drunk...it's just unsafe and not right for the school to okay it. There was not a lot of school pride when I started, but it's definitely growing, especially since our basketball teams are doing amazing! The sports are getting so much better! I'll always remember my freshman year. It was the best time of my life with the best people ever! So, the most frequent complaints are definitely about parking. It sucks here, plain and simple.

I love UR, but it's probably not for everyone. Coming from a very small high school, I did not want to go to an enormous university. To me, Rochester felt big when I first got there and didn't know anyone, but now by junior year I rarely go somewhere without seeing someone I know. And yet it's not so small that everyone gossips about everyone and you never meet new people. For me, it's just right! People in the Rochester area seem to have an inflated view of UR, and often react with "wow so you're really smart" when you say you go here. People from the rest of the world often haven't heard of it. There is currently no "college town" and most people hang out on campus, but they're trying to create a college town across the Genesee, so that will be really cool if it actually happens. School pride is not the kind where everyone shows up at football games (no one does really) but that's not to say people don't have any. (Guys) basketball games tend to get a better turn out (maybe because they're inside, maybe because the team has been really good recently). And people were school logo ALL the time.

the dining plan sucks... the size is perfect if you're looking for a place where u can go anywhere and at least recognize someone if not know someone .. you really need a car to get off campus, but you don't really need to get off campus...and i guess the cool "rochester" things to do are all accessible by bus... school spirit is building, but not completely there yet..

University of Rochester is a bubble in a community that is separated from the actual city. It seems closed off. I hate the parking at U of R. There is too retail estate available for such a growing school. I like the overall size and environment on campus. Rochester is too oriented on diversity on campus and it tends to take away from academics at times. I think that Rochester has a good social atmosphere where I have the option to stay on campus on weekends, or the ability to see the Rochester night life at any time.

i think that our school has very little pride, especially when it comes to athletics. i find that the major support for athletes comes from other athletes and not the average rochester student. Sporting events have minimal attendance and there is not really any advertising for those events. Just because kids have Rochester sweatshirts or tee shirts doesn't mean there is school pride and spirit.

The best part about UR is the campus and the academics (later.) Other than a few months in the winter, the campus is absolutely beautiful and because the good weather is so scarce, when it is here everyone is outside either studying or throwing a football around or just hanging out and its a great dynamic. Obviously if I could change something it would be a shorter winter season. The campus size is perfect; about 15 minute walk from end to end. The student body could be a little bigger, but it's still ok. There still hasn't been a day where I walked around campus and recognized most of the people that I saw, which I think is very important coming from a high school class of 100. There are two distinct reactions when I tell people I'm at Rochester and the difference stems only from whether or not the person has heard of Rochester before. Those who have know what the school is about and respect it. Those who don't either think it is a state school or some terrible academic school that's in the middle of nowhere. Although some might not call this a college town I think I would and here is why: there are hundreds of quality restaurants within a short driving distance of campus as well as an area where there are about 15-20 bars/clubs where you can go on the weekends. Also, there are many other schools around here (St. John Fisher, MCC, Keuka, SUNY Brockport...) so interaction is not just limited to UR students. I don't have a strong opinion on the administration as I haven't had much contact with them, but there aren't many large events on campus that they have to deal with so their job is pretty hard to screw up. There is not much school pride and that is because there are many people who do have a problem with our horrible weather, or our large proportion of "nerdy" students or the fact that with the exception of a select few, our sports teams aren't very good.

I'd want smaller class sizes. If you're a science major, it's hard to get to know the faculty. Lectures are sometimes hard to learn from. Other than that I love the size. You can always say hi to people as you walk to class but never feel like you don't have any personal space. Most of college life is spent on campus. I rarely go into the city of Rochester (besides bar parties) although I hear there are many good places to eat and check out. I wish there were more school pride, specifically with sporting events. Not many people go to the sports events.

Although most people from my hometown are still convinced that i go to RIT because they do not know that the U of R exists. Luckily for me, I found the U of R when I was applying to colleges. I am having the time of my life! The small size is just right to get to know people and to have reasonable class sizes. I think that The people at Rochester are nice and create a community that is not experianced on every college campus. I think that the facility is very encouraging and they really are interested in their students learning. One of my favorite experiances so far at Rochester was during orientation, not because of the numerous and boring speaches and manditory events, but because of all the people i met. Everyone introduces themselves and seems truly interested in getting to know you. This is also the week that i met my 5 best friends and i will never forget it.