The University of Rochester

Date: Oct 14 2009
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
The University of Rochester is the home of the Institute of Optics, a marvelous academic department that is collegial, of high academic quality, with faculty and staff who were (when I attended) very personable, ethical, intelligent, and motivated. I could not have asked for a more compelling group of friends, colleagues, and teachers. The rest of the University was of varied quality—the humanities were taught by stellar professors, especially in the English and Philosophy departments. The Math, Physics, and various other Engineering faculty were often unmotivated to teach undergrad classes and were most focused on their own research (with some noteworthy exceptions). The University administration was distanced from undergrads and did not respect the undergrads as "customers". I would suggest that high school students thinking of attending the UofR assess the degree to which the University is able to satisfy, delight, and amaze their undergrad customers. At over $50K per year at present, the undergrads deserve to be honored as high value customers.

Overall, my education at the UofR was enabling—the Institute of Optics is a marvelous department residing in a somewhat distanced and potentially less than student-friendly University.