The University of Rochester

Date: Sep 16 2004
Major: Electrical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Rochester is actually a cool place, despite what I thought as a freshman. The weather is pretty shitty after october or so, but you get used to it. The surrounding area is pretty shitty too, and students get mugged at least once/month who go over there, however if you don't leave the campus, youre fine. This is because there are security cameras everywhere. however, with these security cameras, the school also is monitering everything that they can. Drinking outside? here comes a security car. blazing by the river? better keep moving. Drank too much and feel the need to boot in the bushes? better hold it in unless you want to be forced into an ambulance(which costs $650 out of pocket). I guess safety comes at a heavy price here.

Nightlife is ok here, but you gotta be connected somehow to something in order to really live it up. I tried joining clubs, but they weren't actually very socially inviting to me as a freshman, so I pledged a fraternity my freshman year, which was the best decision ive made since i got here. (I actually chose this school because it wasn't so greek dominated, and i had no intention of joining a greek organizaion). The school administration is now trying to make the greek party scene diminish, and each year they are doing a better and better job of it. But as a freshman, you will learn that there is little else to do on the weekends than go to the frat quad or pound shots in your room.

The city seems like a real shit hole when you first go to it, with only 2 coffee shops and the eastman school in safe walking distance from the bus stop there. However, the school has rallied for more free transportation to other parts of the city where you can get shopping done or go to bars, which people are slowly catching on to. As I said before, you shouldn't really walk off campus, but taking a bus is now a viable option.

The student body…lets see, they don't give a shit about anything really. everyone here is either apathetic, or pissed off that everyone is apathetic but do nothing about it. I actually tried to start a school spirit movement to try to give people pride in their school somehow, but no one really cared enough to make it work. (still workin on that one). Lots of blindly liberal kids who like to be very vocal about their opinions, which gets old very soon (hell, i'm not voting for bush, but i don't badmouth him everytime i meet someone new…)

The campus is really nice, pretty small and easy to get around. awesome library, decent dorms, food is getting better

The academic programs here are awesome. No core classes, flexible majors and all that shit. i really like my major, and most other kids i know like theirs.

In conclusion, this place is fun if you keep an open mind. I hated this place for my first semester here, but after i got involved with the fraternity in the spring, i really got to liking it. security is strict on partying, so is the administration. weather is great for a month, then it sucks for 7.