Emerson College

What Attracts Me to Emerson College When I think about the kind of college experience I want, Emerson feels like the kind of place where I’d not just fit in—but belong. It’s more than just the city setting or the programs (though both are awesome). It’s the culture, the creativity, and the way Emerson seems to be built for people who aren’t afraid to take up space, share their voice, and make real impact. As a Black Agender student who grew up in an African Muslim household and spent my teen years navigating mostly white schools, I’ve had to learn how to speak up for myself and others. That taught me the power of visibility—and the importance of creating spaces where others like me feel seen too. At Emerson, I see a student body that values self-expression, community, and pushing boundaries. I’ve read about how active students are in creating change, both in and out of the classroom. That kind of energy is exactly what I’m looking for. Academically, I’m drawn to Emerson because of its strength in Communication Studies and its focus on storytelling, media, and social impact. I plan to study pre-law and eventually go into civil rights or social justice law, and having a background in communications will only make me stronger in that field. I believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in advocacy—whether it’s through media, public speaking, or legal argument. Emerson’s hands-on approach to learning really stands out to me. I want to be somewhere that encourages me to jump in, create, and collaborate from day one. Student life is another huge reason I’m interested. I’ve been part of a lot of different communities—fashion club president, JV goalie, show choir performer, and a member of both the Black Unity Club and the GSA at Lowell High. I’m used to wearing many hats and love being involved. Emerson seems like a place where I could do that and more. Plus, being in Boston—where I’ve grown up—means staying close to my family, including my younger brother Joshua, who’s gone through three surgeries for his knee and hip. Staying nearby while still growing independently matters to me. I’ve spent a long time figuring out who I am and what I care about. The pandemic especially pushed me to let go of fear and fully embrace myself—my name, my identity, and my purpose. I want a college that supports that journey and challenges me to keep growing. Emerson feels like that kind of place: bold, creative, inclusive, and unapologetically itself.

Emerson College, of course, provides a great education. However, what makes it stand out among the sea of other colleges is not Emerson's classes, but its clubs. Emerson has countless student-run clubs in all areas. My sister, a current Emerson student, has been involved in multiple organizations including a radio station, a magazine, and many, many film sets. It is these programs that I believe are best preparing her for her future, students get to take a hands on leadership position and learn by, simply, doing. As a life-long performer, I also adore Emerson's numerous theatre and a cappella groups as well as their two different dance companies, EUDT and EDC. Emerson allows students to continue pursuing the arts without having to be BFA majors. These are quality, and open, opportunities to anyone and everyone. Emerson makes it easy to get involved and build skills and connections at the same time. Emerson student graduate with unparalleled levels of experience and networks of equally qualified individuals.

Emerson offers a strong program in Theatrical Design & Production (BFA)

I have many friends who are not returning for their sophomore year at Emerson because they chose to transfer schools, and one friend who dropped out during the first semester. Some of them claim the classes aren't challenging enough, and even though that is sometimes true, I like my school and chose it for its prioritizing of the arts. Some of the professors I had ran classes that seemed like a waste of money because they didn't actually teach. But the good professors really made my first year, and the extra curricular's gave me hope for a successful future. The creative nature of the school is the reason I chose to stay and why I think that Emerson is a good college.

The "campus" is a bit scattered but it's not too difficult to get used to and get around. A lot of the professors have open discussions which allows students to hear each others opinions and have conversations with each other instead of just listening to the professor. There's multiple places around the campus to get some (The Max is where you go when you need to get something to eat at 12 a.m. while working on that essay) but maybe avoid the Dining Hall. There's some good stuff there every now and then but nothing special most times. For the most part, food is good, professors are flexible and nice, but boy is Emerson College overall a pain-in-the-butt institution that clearly doesn't care about their students or professors. Most of the professors do care about what they're teaching and are willing to help you out but overall I would not recommend Emerson unless they really specialize in something you love or can't find elsewhere.

I think it's a good school to attend, especially for Journalism majors because it is number one in the country for the Journalism department. However, there are definitely some things we should improve, such as campus housing, campus food, and stuff pertaining to diversity and equity.

Emerson is great but it is not as diverse as it claims to be. It really isn't diverse at all. The majority of students are white and wealthy. They do try very hard to be inclusive and they do a pretty good job (gender neutral bathrooms, accessibility services, accommodations) but the student body is not at all diverse.

For the most part, I'm really enjoying my time at Emerson College. All of my professors are very knowledgable in their subjects, and they tend to be extremely accessible outside of the classroom -- one uses a workplace communication app for our class so we have 24/7 access to him, and another had us follow him on Twitter to contact him. The classes are challenging and I feel like I'm learning a lot. However, it's very difficult to get any sort of additional financial aid from the college after your initial award, so good luck getting help if you're a low-income student and can't afford upwards of $50k out of pocket. Some students also do have a superiority complex and look down on other majors/lower-income students, but it's a private art school, so that might be par for the course.

It's a great school, and it's in the middle of an amazing city. The campus is right next to Chinatown, so there's always something to eat when the Dining Hall is disappointing. Being an arts school, there's always a show to watch or to try out for. The TV stations are top notch and you can always try to act in, work for, or even produce your own show. The faculty is helpful, the people are friendly, and it all makes the giant amounts of debt I'm going into to go here worth it.

Emerson College is a school for people who know what they're passionate about and are ready to work hard at it. While classes are helpful and connecting with professors can lead to important networking opportunities, the culture of learning at Emerson is mostly outside the classroom in extracurriculars. You can get your degree by attending class, but students who put themselves out there and work hard are the students who really take advantage of everything Emerson has to offer and end up succeeding after graduation.

I love attending Emerson College! Most of the teachers are great, and the students are very passionate! Everyone is super nice and positive, and the environment is very inclusive. I feel safe on campus most of the time except for at night because we are right across the street from the Boston Common.

As someone who was terrified of college, I have found Emerson to be an environment in which I thrive. The class sizes are perfect to foster discussion-based learning and allow the professor to know my name and my work. I have been able to foster great relationships with professors who truly care about not only my success, but about me. There is an abundance of extracurriculars, so there is something for everyone. I was able to get a job on campus with extremely flexible hours, so that I can work and work can work around me. If you’re looking for parties containing a wide variety of substances, they’ll mostly be off campus but there is always something to be found hidden on campus. As for safety, it is hard to be in the middle of Boston and feel safe at night. The campus police, however, are one phone call away to escort you back to your dorm or wherever you need to be. The housing selection process is disorganized and relatively unfair, but the dorms themselves are pretty large. There is always construction going on. There is a lack of activity in pursuing sexual harassment and assault claims that the college has faced backlash from students for, but it appears that they might finally be listening. No college is without its faults, but Emerson has been able to provide a constructive learning environment where I feel like I am heard and a priority.

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. It lies in the heart of boston and it is great!!

It's a really great school if you know career path you want to follow. If you're undecided, Emerson isn't the place to figure it out, since you're on the fast track to your trade from your first semester. There's a lot of good things: nice dorms, friendly and outgoing student body, passionate professors, small classes (unless you're a film student), the Common right across the street. There's definitely issues with diversity as well as the school not always addressing student needs adequately.

Emerson College is a great school for select majors including journalism and theater. Almost all the professors highly value class and usually involve real-time situations. The classes are very interactive and many of the professors take extra time to look over assignments personally and make sure everyone is following along. The campus dining can use some improvement but because of the surrounding area and the great location in Boston, there are a lot of other amazing places to eat. If you are really into sports and want to play for the school Emerson is not the place to be there are very few sports teams here and most are not very good. There is not a large party scene at Emerson, but a large percentage do take advantage of the clubs in the area but only on weekends. The location of the college is excellent especially since you can take public transportation all across the city and to other cities including New York. Because of the city structure, you have to walk a large distance in order to get to your dorm, classes, and the dining hall which is a bit difficult due to ongoing construction, traffic, and protests in the area. The school is extremely close to many historical sites in the area like the Boston public gardens and the Boston massacre so for history enthusiasts, it is a great place to be. Most of the dorms are updated however the elevators in the building have a tendency to not work and the rooms in the Paramount are extremely small and cold. Overall the school is pretty great but like all, it has a few issues.