University of Rochester Reviews

The campus is not too strict about...

The campus is not too strict about drinking. Occasionally some of the parties will get split up by a visit from security, but they just check to make sure that nothing is too out of hand, and then leave. If you get caught with drugs, you can be put on probation and get in a lot of trouble. There are still plenty of kids who get away with everything.

Not very strict about drinking,...

Not very strict about drinking, especially at the frat quad. They are a little more strict about drugs, though you can usually get away all right if it's your first time getting caught.

The parties are definitely better...

The parties are definitely better if you're on a sports team or involved in Greek life. That way you're guaranteed fun mixers every week or so. Otherwise, the bar parties can be a good time. The frat quad is only worthwhile if you're heavily intoxicated. I would stick to suite parties or mixers.

If you're a girl, don't walk alone...

If you're a girl, don't walk alone or stray too far to the edge of campus at night. There have been muggings, so don't be an idiot about safety. Just take someone with you—preferably a tall, strong-looking male—and you'll be fine.

It depends on where you live and...

It depends on where you live and your RA. It's a joke to try and drink on some floors, but on others it's completely cool. Don't play loud music, and don't have copious amounts of people.

There are a wide variety of living...

There are a wide variety of living options, and choices improve once you become an upperclassman. Riverview apartments are for juniors and seniors and have huge bedrooms, your own bathroom, and a full kitchen.

The parties on campus are a lot of...

The parties on campus are a lot of fun. There is a fraternity quad with eight huge Greek mansions, which throw parties every weekend. On Thursday nights, the sororities throw bar parties at the local bars. If you're under 21 and can't buy drinks, just pregame with your close friends.

They really aren't strict at all....

They really aren't strict at all. Words of advice: Don't get caught smoking in your room.

If you want to party, the Frat...

If you want to party, the Frat Quad is definitely the place to be. You can generally walk into any frat and be handed a beer. There is a good mix of frats for different people and you can generally find one that fits you.

Greek life is prevalent on campus....

Greek life is prevalent on campus. Fraternities throw most of the parties, and even people who aren’t members of a Greek group can be found at their parties.

Greek life is great. Greeks are a...

Greek life is great. Greeks are a close-knit group, and there are lots of perks and fun events to being Greek. It’s not exclusive, though. Like, lots of Greeks and non-Greeks chill all of the time. That’s just where most of the social scene occurs on weekends since the fraternity quad is centrally located about a two-minute walk from the dorms, and there is a lack of a bar scene.

Greek life does not dominate the...

Greek life does not dominate the community. I am not in a fraternity. The frats are fun to go to sometimes, but people tend to lean towards private parties when they are upperclassmen. Most frats have houses, while a few frats and all the sororities have suites and floors designated for them. Just about everyone that I know who is involved in Greek life is happy with their decision, but it is not at all like some schools where it dominates the campus and social life.

Pretty much all the classes are...

Pretty much all the classes are interesting, and most of the teachers are great. Some teachers seem to avoid undergrads, but in general, professors are open to talking to students and try to answer any questions that they can. I have had more than one teacher put their home phone number on their syllabus.

For the most part, the professors...

For the most part, the professors are pretty good. They’re easily accessible through office hours and are usually good about scheduling individual meetings. When you get a professor that is genuinely passionate about his area of expertise, the classes are very good. There are those occasional professors that are either difficult to understand during lecture (usually due to a language barrier) or hard to reach because they do so many things. I can only think of one professor that I have come into contact with that I thought was being unreasonable. So for the most part, the professors are very good.

I feel very safe on the campus....

I feel very safe on the campus. Security seems to be very good, and problems are very rare. The only things you seem to hear about are occasional thefts from rooms (because the person left their door unlocked and left the area for a few hours) and from cars (because someone left something like their cell phone or CDs on their seat in clear view). Based on that, I would say that it is a very safe and secure campus.

I have been very lucky; as a...

I have been very lucky; as a history major and an art major, my classes are very interesting. The teachers are very energetic, making you further interested.

The teachers are brilliant...

The teachers are brilliant researchers, and many are leaders in their fields. Even more impressive is that many of them are actually good teachers, as well. Sometimes the lectures can be dull, but I usually find my classes interesting.

Drug use does not seem to be very...

Drug use does not seem to be very common on campus. Some people smoke pot, but other than that, there’s not much. Alcohol is fairly easy to obtain, but there isn’t really any pressure to drink if you don’t want to. The drug scene is not very big on campus, though I’m sure if someone was interested, they could find what they want.

I love my school. I really do....

I love my school. I really do. Honestly, it was almost by sheer chance that I decided to come here back when I was a senior in high school. But I could never for a second imagine myself anyplace else. It’s always been a perfect fit for me, and the only thing I regret is how fast my time here has gone by. I’m so glad I get to stay for a fifth year because I really wasn’t ready to let go just yet. So overall, it’s been a wonderful experience.

I love the school, I love my...

I love the school, I love my friends, and I know that I’m getting the best education. I have no regrets.

I’ve had a good experience overall...

I’ve had a good experience overall because I got involved with the school. There are so many fun ways to be involved and contribute to student life. I find that the administration is the largest thorn in students’ sides because they often say one thing and do another, more often than not, to the students’ detriment.

Overall, I would say my campus...

Overall, I would say my campus experience has been different. My freshman year was miserable. About half of my original hall transferred to different schools. I thought about it because I hadn’t really found my niche yet. After a few weeks of sophomore year, though, I’m beginning to really enjoy myself. I know of tons of people that absolutely love it, and I know of people that still hate it. It’s all a matter of perception and what you make of what you have. If you take advantage of all of the possibilities and opportunities on campus, you’ll be set for life. If you had asked me last year, my opinion would have totally been different, but now, I don’t think I would want to be anywhere else.

I’ve been really happy here. It’s...

I’ve been really happy here. It’s a great mix of big/small, research/liberal arts, and urban/suburban. I’m glad I’m here.

I love it! The people are great....

I love it! The people are great. The reason I chose here was because I loved the atmosphere so much. The campus is also beautiful, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I feel very academically challenged here, even though they give a ton of work. It makes me feel rewarded.

The weather is lousy, but I would...

The weather is lousy, but I would have a hard time finding a better school for academics both in terms of quality and freedom to study what I want. Learning here is really easy and really fun. The amount of student activities and groups are also incredible. I would be hard-pressed to think of a better school to be at.