University of Rochester Top Questions

Most people at UR are very open to different types of people and interactions with those, not of the same "kind" are very common. However, there does seem to be a division between minority groups, and the different majorities of the campus as units, not as individuals. There are numerous individuals who branch out and make diversity at UR positive and unique of an experience, but a small percentage, are closed minded ans stick to people of their own, racial, within, socio-economic, religious etc, groups. I think college is taking a step outside of our comfort zone,a and exploring and appreciating the world around you wherever, you may attend.Most people @ UR follow the same idea or something like that, but there is a small percentage that still are living in the past so to speak.

If one were to walk into the Douglas Dining Hall on a Tuesday evening, this is what they would likely find: A group of very tall and attractive guys sit leisurely around a large rectangular table. An aura of confidence (read: supersized ego) radiates off of them. Occasionally, a few attractive girls sift in and out of the group. This would be the basketball team. Four tables are pushed together to make one large table. Forty girls are seated together, all sporting shirts with their sorority's letters. It's a Alpha Delta Sigma Kappa dinner night. Sisters only. Several tables are pushed together to form one long table. At this makeshift banquet table sit thirty gaunt guys and girls, still dressed in their running attire. These people run cross country and track. They keep to themselves, in the loudest way possible. The guys make fun of the girls for eating too much. To the left is a round table, with all but one of its seven seats occupied. Six suite mates enjoy their meals as they go over plans for a party they are throwing in their common room. Two are greek-affiliated, one plays soccer, and the other three dance. Notebly, a occupants of these four table groups hail from various backgrounds. Many are white, and some are black, hispanic, asian, indian, or maybe something else. Some come from money, others are there on a scholarship or financial aid.

The student body is probably my favorite part about being a Rochester student. It's a big enough school where you don't know everyone, but small enough for you to have friends in common with every single student. And ALL the students are so full of life and such a riot... I Love it!

I don't really think any students would feel out of place at Rochester. There are all different types of people at the school and many different groups and programs to get everyone involved. I really hate the question about racial experiences because I just accept all people for who they are, no matter their race, religion, etc. As long as I get along with the person, its all good. And I get along with many of the people at UR. At the dining hall I don't really notice anyone besides my friends who I'm sitting with. We're always the loudest, most obnoxious ones, laughing so loud with everyone staring at us: we just like to have a good time. No one ever gives us dirty looks, but just looks and laughs cause we're always having a good time.

Our students are incredibly diverse. They vary in race, religion, economic status, where they are from, but also in their personalities. You have the girls who wear leggings, uggs, and big T-shirts with Tiffany jewelery to the girls in sports jerseys, jeans, and sneakers, to those in tie-dye T-shirts, ripped jeans, and Birkenstocks. What we all tend to have in common is that we are laid back. We all are intelligent and studious, but relaxed and enjoy having fun. You must be intelligent to fit in at Rochester and be chill and relaxed.

For what most would label a "white" school, I feel that Rochester is reasonably diverse. Financially, many students are from wealthy backgrounds, but more students are supporting themselves than many people realize. What I love best is the fact that while many students may come from prosperous families, you would never know it to look at them. No popped collars, no prada bags--just plain, normal, jeans-wearing kids going to class in whatever feels comfortable.

most rochester students are from ny or nj but there are certainly students from all over the us and otherwise. there arent really different tables at the dining halls but there is definitely a greek scene. the large frat/sororities presence on campus isnt a problem but it does exist. its not really where or who i spend my time with but that is really just a situational circumstance. i found my niche of friends that i am very happy with and thats all i can really say about the student body. i dont think any particular type of person would be out of place at rochester just b/c i think you can party if you want to or not or anywhere in between.

not very diverse, somewhat wealthy, a lot of up state new yorkers, very different types of people

Very open-minded student body, usually from a high socio-economic background. Every person on campus can find someone to relate to as we have all shades and sorts of people. Most students are from high class areas such as the Mainline, PA or Newton, MA. Students are very politically aware and open-minded.

Rochester is very open minded and liberal with a disproportionately large group of LGBTs on campus and a group of left wing and communist radicals called students for social justice- a group that has been very controversial and frequently marches around protesting something that nobody cares about. Most smart, hard working students would feel at home at Rochester, and at the same time Rochester also has a moderately sized greek life so you can also find students who like to party. However, don't be deceived because most of the students who party also work really really hard studying in their down time. Students are from all over the US and a few internationals. Most students come from middle to middle-upper class backgrounds and there is some social pressure to act and dress accordingly. Dining sucks, you'll want the smallest meal plan possible. Residential life isn't that great and a lot of students have been moving off campus by junior and senior year because on campus is too expensive and the meal plans suck. Rochester's a great school as long as you're willing to work really hard and not have much time for anything else.

Diverse. Let's just say that. You'll get a speech about it if you come here to visit from one of the dean's. He'll tell you all about the diverseness. Basically he picks the students with the most ridiculous background story and tells them to you. Usually it boils down to... # of people from various continents / nations That special person who has a company already That person who had no money but got 50 scholarships and now has a free ride # of people who do a particular sport...etc etc. It goes on. It's interesting though. Everyone is usually pretty nice to each other. Despite what seems to be a "liberal" education, it's pretty well balanced here and everyone for the most part is respectful. I say "liberal" because usually the big outbursts of protests tend to come from the left and not the right. Which, personally, bothers me just as much but it's a nice change from what I usually see on TV (maybe because I don't watch Fox news =P)

The school is very divided, the black/hispanic population lives in GLC, the sorority girls in phase, the asians on the quad, and the athelets in towers. There are obviosly all different religions here like everywhere, and historically there is a large jewish population, esp from the NYC area. The same as the rich and the poor kids, there are both and people dont discriminate or anything, people are generally accepting and understanding. Most people would feel at home here unless the cold turns u off. Class wear depends on the weather, nice clothes when its nice, sweats in the winter. People typically eat with thier friends, so the notion of a "clique" is simply stupid, and a word used by someone who doesnt have friends, or anyone to eat with. People are as aware as they want to be, no more here than anywere else, well prob less than georgetown, princeton, but they arent stupid. I have no idea what kind of voters there are at U of R but its generally agreed that pres bush isnt doin much of anything productive.

there are plenty of student groups that represent different backgrounds and interests, but to be honest, i have not been involved in them so i can't really comment much, except for the fact that many of them are well-known/respected on campus. again, as i mentioned before, the student body is very "middle-of-the-road" : there is plenty of diversity on campus but many groups don't socialize with others (i am caucasian and have never been to an asian/black/hispanic group social event); there is a lot of financial diversity... the student body is not all snobby/rich like other schools, and you aren't able to tell who is or isn't because no one really acts like it.

On the whole, I find that students here are kind, friendly, genuine, and down-to-earth. Students are intelligent and talented, but they lack the "elitist" attitude that people sometimes associate with top schools. It's so refreshing and it makes for a wonderful environment. You'll find people having both intellectual and goofy conversations - again, there's a really nicely-balanced vibe to the student body. People are genuinely interested in learning, and that makes for a great environement. There is a noticable LGBT presence on campus - not huge, but definitely there. Everyone I've met so far has been nothing but tolerant and supportive. People here typically come from a middle class/upper middle class background. There's a mix of everybody, though. Different racial/ethnic groups definitely interact with one another, though at times it does seem a bit segregated.

As an underrepresented minority coming from a predominantly (some say "overwhelmingly") Hispanic community, it certainly was a culture shock arriving in Rochester. But, there are many of services available for students to integrate themselves with the rest of the community. Unfortunately, the lack of racial/socioeconomic diversity on the campus creates a sense amongst many "minorities" that they're not understood. (I was one of those.) But I always felt that it had more to do with the fact that many students lacked contact with students from different backgrounds. There was rarely a lack of interaction between different groups. Being that Rochester is a (very expensive) private university, there are plenty of stereotypical spoiled "rich kids," but many more liberal-minded individuals with which one can connect. This, in the end, helped tremedously.

predominantly Caucasian, though there are sizable percentages of minorities...approximately 60 White, 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} asian, 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} black, 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} hispanic, 5{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} other.

There are many very active religious groups on both campuses and an active Pride group at the River Campus. At Eastman, because of the amount of Asian students, there is a small divide between the Asians and those of us who are not, unfortunately. I try to bridge the gap, though -- my best friend at school is from Shanghai. The LGBT community is not only excepted at Eastman, but is the majority of the male population. Four tables of students in the dining hall at Eastman... one is Asian. one is full of brass players. one is full of obnoxiously loud singers. one is a strange mix of all three. The dining halls at the River Campus are too busy for me to notice what kinds of people the tables are comprised of. haha. Rochester students are from all over the world. I've met some people at school that are some of the richest people I've ever known, but there are also some lower middle-class people who take out massive amounts of loans. Students are VERY politically aware. The majority are left-winged, but there are many who swing toward the right as well. Students at Eastman do talk about how much they'll earn one day. There is a facebook group called "My tuition costs more than my future annual salary."

The kind of student that would feel out of place here is the student with a lower income and some minority students, but Rochester seems to have a very diverse student body to me. Most Rochester students are from somewhere in New York state or New England. I would say students are predominately moderate or liberal, but there is a conservative voice on campus. Many students talk about how much they'll be making one day and how much their starting salary will be upon graduation.

There is a broad mix of students at U of R. Since the school is pretty good about finacial aid, and both the liberal arts and sciences are strong here, there isn't really any more of one type of person than other types. Rochester is a pretty apolitical campus, which may be seen as a downside to some, but people tend to enjoy not being constantly harassed about political issues.

Basically, 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the kids who go to rochester are in frats or sororities. But you would never know it since most of the campuses parties are at Frat Quad, where in exchange for free beer you have to put up with the latest rap and pop music playing too loud to talk to anyone, darkness, and some generally horrible smells and sticky floors. Oh, and most people are assholes there. The sports teams are annoying as well. None of them are good at their sports, everyone is D1...or D3, i forget which is the bad one, save for squash who are apparently amazing. However, although they are bad at their sports and generally only got to the college because of their "skill" they aren't the brightest people. Yet they all think they are awesome. It's a lot like High School, cause frat guys and sports guys think that they are the popular kids. if you want a constant party kinda social life, you have to join a frat or a sports team not that there arent cool people, but i would say that most people fit into this stereotype.