Emerson College Top Questions

I'm only a freshman so my classes have been requirements but they're still pretty awesome. Don't let people tell you that speech sucks because it's the best class I've taken so far and I'm a writer, I don't want to give speeches but you learn a lot about how you present yourself and how you interact with others.

A bit one-sided, similiar to what I said above. Even the gen eds usually cater to particular interests related to a major (for example, a lot of gen eds have to do with film, and a lot of film majors take them, a lot of electives have to do with theater, so a lot of theater majors take them, etc.) If you want to really branch out, probably not an ideal school, but the coursework itself is challenging.

Most students have real relationships with their professors, and it's very rare to get in a class when they don't know your name, let alone your personal life. Most of my teachers know who I'm dating, who my friends our, and a decent amount about my working style and personality. I've talked with Emerson professors on their home phone, sent emails, met with them in their office, talked about personal things, stayed after class, when to breakfast, coffee, and lunch with them...and even seen them at cast parties and special events. The acting professors are pretty personal. I can't speak for others, other than they always knew my name. I only had one who didn't. In my four years here. Students are often artistically competitive and can be either passive aggressive or aggressive about it. It's not about grades. It's about ideas, and who has better ones. It's about talent and who has more of it in order to "make it." Things become a little bit political for that reason...bu that pressure forces you to work harder to do better. Be sure to meet with the advising center, if you're a BFA major. BFAs get faculty advisors who know nothing about working with credits to graduate. They guide your career, not plans to graduating. Emerson thinks that's the same thing apparently. The teaching here seems to be geared toward getting a job, and getting a good one, if you play your cards right. Students don't study so much here....they work on their projects... for EVER. Projects here are big and important, and students don't mess around. They put in hours, in addition to their extra-curriculars and personal life.

The professors at Emerson are fantastic. For the lower level courses, some of them are a bit iffy, but the professors that teach your major classes love the field and know what they're talking about. Most of them are still involved in the current buisiness and can get you on the right track for a career. I would say that most of the classes are easy as long as you give them the time they deserve, as is true with any school. Because we're a small school, we have a strict attendance policy, so make sure you can get up for your 8am every day before you register for one. I've taken several unique classes at Emerson - the best so far was one titled "Life and Death - the Science and Psychology of Survival." We discussed what it takes to survive when you're stranded out at sea or in the desert, and it was a great experience!

I've been in classes of ten students, less than twenty is the usual average. Teachers not only know your name, but your interests and personality. The absolute biggest class anyone at Emerson will ever have is forty-five students. For a school central in the city, this is amazing. Sadly the languages program is severely lacking, and often there aren't enough sessions of a class for the number of students who want/need to take it. Gen-eds for this school are extremely lax, I think the school wants you to spend as much time learning about the subjects you care about as possible.

Professors are okay.

Some profs dont care who you are, especially in freshman gen eds. But as early as your sophomore year you can make some GREAT relationships and even better business connections with some of your professors. None of the classes get too big which is awesome. biggest ive been in was abt 60. and that was only once. discussions are always fun, can get too liberal sometimes but thats emerson. students arent really competitive that ive ever noticed, everyone kinda jus makes sure they get done what they need to get done. if you want, spending time with teachers outside of class is very possible and usually easy. making relationships with your professors is key, and not just for your grade. i feel like emerson charges too much money for the majority of classes(some feel like high school) but alot of classes after gen eds dont require much work until finals or midterms. emerson is very much so geared towards getting a job but the professors LOVE to talk about things just to know them if you ask them.

My largest class ever was 45, but most of my classes are 12-20 people. I've only had a couple of teachers not know my name. Small classes are great. Classes do a great job of preparing us for our jobs because most professors have worked in the industry.

Professors are INCREDIBLE! Best professors in the world, however administration needs to prioritize where it spends it's money and buy more studios and equipment to accomodate the over whelming need for much more hands on work. Does not provide the best transition skills wise to a job. However, the Emerson connection in the media world is a big plus.

Gen. Ed. classes are kind of a joke, but we come here for the media production classes anyway.