Rochester Institute of Technology - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Rochester is New York State’s third largest urban area. Within the city lie a number of interesting and stimulating experiences—that is if you don’t mind all the brick (brick roads, brick buildings, and brick street signs). Home to leviathans Kodak and Xerox, Rochester has become a city full of opportunity, especially for people pursuing business and technical careers. There are eight colleges and universities in the area, including the University of Rochester, St. John Fisher College, and SUNY Geneseo, so younger college-age individuals are abundant.

Rochester is also home to a number of historical and cultural attractions. There’s a thriving theater scene, and many museums and art galleries can be found in the surrounding areas. There are also a number of beautiful parks with nature trails and picnic areas for students to enjoy. The main problem with Rochester is the lack of student-oriented activities. Most college-age students aren’t concerned with parks, schools, or the Susan B. Anthony House after they’ve experienced them two or three times. Bars and clubs tend to go out of business shortly after their grand openings, and the constant change of ownership and the lack of attempts by local businesses to lure students into the city discourages many students who, therefore, choose to remain on campus. The city of Rochester is slowly becoming a major metropolis with a myriad of activities available, but until the city springs for more student-oriented nightlife opportunities (18-and-over dance clubs, sports bars), the student population will remain unsatisfied.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Once the weather gets nice, there... Once the weather gets nice, there are a lot of things to do here. There are baseball games, parks to explore, and if you stay for the summer, there are festivals nearly every week. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I’m a lacrosse fan, so I love this... I’m a lacrosse fan, so I love this city. We have teams for indoor and outdoor lacrosse. This is great because I get to go to games all year round. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There are a lot of little... There are a lot of little locally-owned shops, especially over toward Pittsford. There are also a lot of small art galleries where you can see some amazing work done by artists you may never have heard of before. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

With Fisher, Nazareth, U of R,... With Fisher, Nazareth, U of R, Genesseo, and Brockport all nearby, students here have opportunities to meet other college students that don’t go to RIT. Plus, there is a good chance that you’ll meet some Rochester natives that might have a better idea of what to do for fun. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There are some really great parks... There are some really great parks around and some great hiking trails, as well. If you’re into that sort of recreation, then you’ll be quite happy with Rochester. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Rochester:

• The movie The Alphabet Killer (2008) stars Eliza Dushku and is based on the Alphabet murders that took place in Rochester between 1971 and 1973. The movie was also shot in Rochester.
• Every spring, Rochester hosts a huge festival in Highland Park called the Lilac Festival. The Lilac Festival represents the kickoff to the festival season in Rochester that involves a different festival nearly every weekend throughout the summer.
• If you are a beer fan, Rochester is home to the Genesee Brewery located in downtown Rochester. The local favorite, “JW Dundee’s Honey Brown” is made here.
• High Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the heart of downtown Rochester. The Genesee River flows through the city, which is surrounded by restaurants and bars and quaint little shops. High Falls is a great place to spend an afternoon or experience some lively nightlife.
• Rochester is often labeled as one of the most proficient cities for technical jobs. With companies such as Kodak, Bausch and Lomb, and Xerox in the city limits, it is no wonder that many RIT graduates stay in the area to work after graduation.

Famous People from Rochester:
Joe Altobelli, Susan B. Anthony, Philip Barry, Carmen Basilio, Tyson Beckford, Rudy Boesch, Peter Breck, Louise Brooks, Cab Calloway, Wendell Castle, Alfred “Al” Cervi, Julie Cialini, Buffalo Bill Cody, William J. Cox, Taye Diggs, Fredrick Douglass, George Eastman, Garth Fagan, Frank and Caroline Gannett, Brian Gionta, Lou Gramm, Sammy Hagar, John Lithgow, Nathaniel Rochester, and John Wallace

Local Slang:
Garbage Plate – A Rochester specialty served up in many forms, consisting of macaroni salad, homefries, a meat of choice (hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers), onions, and hot sauce.
Pop – Western New York’s word for soda.
White Hots/Red Hots – Different types of hotdogs (pork or beef respectively).

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