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The University of Rochester is a private research university in western New York. The school's programs are rigorous, but students appreciate the freedom to create their own paths. Rochester "does not require general education classes, but instead encourages students to pursue their passions through the cluster system," which groups classes together in divisions of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Engineering. While the programs offer flexibility, the academic requirements are demanding, but regardless of field of study, "tutoring services, [the] University Counseling Center, and staff [who] focus on creating a supportive environment" are always available. "Most people...spend all of their time studying," says one student. But the intellectual efforts come with benefits: the combination of motivated peers and academics "makes...a better student and learner." Faculty also play an important role here with professors who are "really knowledgeable and passionate" about what they're teaching. One student comments that professors "keep material interesting, [are] approachable, and [are] very fair." And class structures are varied so as to "incorporate design thinking" or to feature "more interactive problems." Added benefits to that structure include "small class sizes and individual attention," and "so many opportunities...[are] offered to students both inside and outside of class."

Diversity is key at UR, "both [in] background and academic interests." As one student states, "In my class alone, 46 percent of us are international students." Those different backgrounds branch into an even wider range of activities. "Some [students] are filmmakers, some are dancers, some love sailing, some love art. Everyone has their own passions," another student describes. The variety is a benefit, with students claiming "the best thing about the UR community is that nobody can be put into a box." Undergrads describe their peers as "charmingly nerdy" or "chill nerds" who are "very down to have interesting and academic conversations." While most students are "academically focused" and "really care about what they do here," they are for the most part "more collaborative than competitive." "People range from passionate to apathetic, party animals to total nerds." However, amidst all the diversity is a strong sense of camaraderie, and "everyone holds each other accountable in terms of pursuing their absolute best."

University of Rochester is "very much an academically driven institution," and course work is the top priority. But as one student says, "The weekend [is] when most people fill their days with different activities." One such activity that many students rave about is movie night: "School movie nights are [the] best school-provided weekend activity." Athletics are, of course, present, but as one student notes, "Rochester varsity sports are not very competitive, [however]...a lot of people...do club sports." Other students mention weekend hikes, dance groups, plays and recitals. One thing to contend with at Rochester is the long winter; as some students put it, it's "winter 90 percent of the time." Both the school and students have adapted, and one student offers assurances that Rochester has "established a tunnel system which provides convenience." Dining halls on campus also provide comfort, and anyone looking for a tasty bite to eat can rest easy: "There are a bunch of places to eat on campus." Another way to socialize on campus is through Greek life, but even that is "not as fratty" as you'd expect. As for parties? "There is not a huge party scene on campus, but it's there if you want it," claims one Yellowjacket. Off-campus activities are plentiful, "if you have a car." Otherwise, students rely on the shuttle system. Overall, "there is always something to do on the weekend for entertainment" if students need a study break.

The university鈥檚 Greene Center offers a variety of services to help students along their career paths, including drop-in hours (during which students can receive assistance with r茅sum茅s and general advice), advising appointments, internship and job search strategies, job fairs, and networking events. The school places 鈥渁 large emphasis on community engaged learning,鈥� and many classes incorporate experiential aspects and trips. Funding is available for all aspects of these opportunities, including skill-building boot camps, cost of living for unpaid summer internships, and creative festivals and residencies. The school also posts college and departmental internships on Handshake; students can also take advantage of The Meliora Collective, the university鈥檚 networking platform for connecting with alumni mentors, practicing interviews, and browsing job and internship postings. This all boosts student confidence in the education they鈥檙e receiving. One student shares, 鈥淚 know when I get out, I鈥檒l be able to get a good job I will academically be prepared for.鈥� The numbers reinforce this sentiment: University of Rochester graduates report a median starting salary of $74,000, and 54 percent receive a high level of meaning from their job, according to Payscale.com.