The University of Rochester

Date: Nov 24 2015
Major: Geography and Geosciences (This Major's Salary over time)
I majored in Environmental Studies so my comments in the 1st half will mostly critique the EES department and the curriculum. So only some of you might find the 1st half of this critique helpful.

Half 1:

Do not come here for the BA in environmental studies but if you really have to be part of the EES department, get a BS.

Truthfully, you will probably be most successful if you are an engineering major. My impression is that BME, Optics (they have new and beautiful buildings) and Chemical Engineering (though they have an older, crappier building) get the most resources.

The EES department is terribly small, invisible, and research-oriented so if you're ambitiously research-oriented/analytical/scientific/math/science wizard, the EES department might work for you and you'll get to nab at the few research opportunities available. Other than that, don't bother because the EES department won't bother with you.

I simply didn't have a clue about ANY of this when I decided on this. My degree definitely wasn't worth the $$$ paid for it. That's definitely my own fault in many ways. I wish I was goal-oriented and career-focused.

But the EES department won't help you develop in these respects AT ALL (unless, of course, you're selected for research). I wish my EES academic advisor (that's Karen Berger) had considered my situation and done more to counsel me. None of the professors will bother to notice or take any real action if you are on an unemployable track (aka Environmental Studies- don't do it, major in the sciences or geosciences) or struggling. They're not even managing a big pool of students, but they just won't care.

You need to have strong science skills, you need to do well in chemistry (<- especially chemistry) and geology (intro chemistry here is quite tough).

Half 2:

Rochester as a city: Cold, cold, cold, cold. You will be spending December-April in ice (note that summer break starts in May so most of your academic life is spent in the snow-despite what the brochure pictures show). It will be perpetually gray. Unless you have a car or know people with cars, you'll be locked on campus. The city is spread out and there isn't a hub of urban nightlife. There are pockets of nightlife dispersed throughout. Mostly, the city feels rather dull and tired (but UR isn't in the dull and tired city, it's in the dull and tired suburbs, good for you!). In the fall and spring, it's wonderful but both seasons together literally last a month while you're in school.

Clubs: Everyone says you have to join clubs in college. That's somewhat true- you need to be in clubs/sororities/frats to meet people. I met some great people, but the club's demands began to consume me (event planning). I began to pour tons of time into event planning. Don't ever feel you need to do that. Academics absolutely come first. Bail if you have to. Sidenote: The performance/dance clubs seemed the most fun and cohesive.