Does anyone have experience with this major? Is it any good? What does one do with a degree in Digital Media? Is it stand alone?
My S applied for it at U of R and got accepted. It is a relatively new major so there is probably not much precedent in terms of what you do with it when you graduate. He is interested in music technology/music business, and there is a sound concentration to the major that involves recording so that’s why he was interested. However, I think he’s leaning towards schools that have a more established music program with solid industry ties, despite the fact that U of R is probably a better academic school than his other choices. My sense is that it could be a good background for going into various “new media” situations, but that the kids would be on their own to establish leads and pathways to industry.
Of course, given it’s newness and UofR’s proclivity towards research, it could provide very interesting opportunities for research and working closely with professors on interdisciplinary fields, but it’s tough to say. We met with the advisor for the program when we visited campus last summer, and it was sort of unclear where it was going to go, but they built a really cool new building to house the program, so that’s something!!
Sorry @sbjdorlo I forgot to tag you above…
Thanks for the info, @cameron121. My son is interested in game design, which it really doesn’t address, but he’s a designer/creator in general, which is why the major originally appealed. I don’t know if he’s interested in research. He’s more of a hands on type person, or a “big idea” type person. It sounds a little similar to the ICAM major at UCSD-a little nebulous as to what one does with the degree. But I do agree that the music opportunities at Rochester in conjuncion with Eastman are great, which is another reason he applied.
@sbjdorlo I also couldn’t make sense of the ICAM major at UCSD!! Plus, there is little chance my son would get in b/c he attends a super-competitive HS in Northern California where half the class applies to all of the higher end UC’s!!
Yeah, I’m not sure anyone can make sense of it! Even after getting a lot of feedback on it, it’s still unclear to me what exactly it is. I think he’ll still consider both schools, though ultimately, not sure they’ll pan out
UCs-yeah, I have heard of your area. I’m sorry it’s so tough! My son only applied to three as a homeschooler (admitted to UCSD and UCI; WL at UCLA). He was most fortunate, for sure, since some other homeschoolers we know were shut out.
Crazy that you can get into UR but not UCSD. I think the admit rate is about the same for both schools-around 30% or so.
I agree but in-state, it’s crazy. 250 out of 600 kids in my son’s class applied to UCSD and about 100 will get in. And the avg gpa and SATs of accepted kids from our school are 4.45 and 2200 respectively. I get the “cross country” benefit applying to U of R, and not many people here really know about it (I’m from NY so I know, I actually applied there when I was in high school!). Before you send your son to a UC make sure you do your homework about overcrowding and impaction. The state university system is a mess, and it may take 5 years to get all the classes he needs to graduate. If you’re OOS, that’s a lot of money, and you might as well go private. Good luck, sounds like your son has some great choices, I also saw you in the NEU thread.
Thanks, @Cameron121. My oldest had the luxury of not even applying to the UCs (too big) and having a number of selective privates that gave great financial aid.
This son did not have the luxury, as he had some glaring weaknesses (though he did have the 2200+ SAT/4.4+ gpa).
I would prefer that he didn’t attend a UC, but finances and health issues will probably be the major factor over anything else.
We won’t have all the pieces to the puzzle until mid-April (well, I hope the appeals to both UR and NEU are completed by then; the other finances we’re waiting on will be known at that time).
Well, good luck, I’m sure he’ll end up somewhere he can thrive. We are flying back east next week to do a whirlwind tour of the top 3 so he can make a decision.
Very exciting! I hope the trip gives you all the info you need. 
Thanks, me too!!
I’m thinking about majoring in digital media studies. I was looking through their program and it seems very good. I just wish they had some alumni profiles or something that would indicate what most alumni do after they graduate. If I saw that a couple graduates got jobs at any major animation studio it would greatly boost my confidence in the program.
@Travnat212 it’s pretty new - I’m not sure it’s even graduated any graduates yet.
Did you visit, @Cameron121? Or are you visiting this week? I would love to know what you think.
@sbjdorlo we visited over the summer. Due to programmatic issues (i.e., more relevant majors at other schools) I think U of R may have dropped off the list. Shame, b/c it’s the best academic school he’s in to, but it’s his choice at the end of the day (U of R would also work to be the most expensive).
However, when we visited, he really liked the campus and the overall vibe. The size is also kind of perfect. Rochester in winter would suck badly but he knows that (still considering Syracuse, so winter doesn’t scare him). I think U of R gets a scholarly type of student interested in learning, much like many top schools. Their cluster curriculum is also nice for kids who want to dabble in many things while in college (that’s the point, right?).
I saw on the Class of 2015 thread that your son got into Penn - that is fantastic, congrats! If they stepped up on financial aid, that will be a tough opportunity to turn down.
Also, I’ve always had a favorable impression of U of R - not only did I apply there 30 years ago, but I’ve known many people who have gone there since then, down to someone who graduated last year. Everyone has had favorable things to say other than the weather of course. One thing to consider - U of R is not as well known on the west coast as it is on the east coast, so if your S wants to come back to CA, he may not be given credit for having gone to such a top-notch school.
Thanks for the review, @Cameron121. I agree that the school sounds so great. I would love my son to have considered it, but financially, it was way out of reach. I did appeal for more aid, but based on what Northeastern came back with (apx. $1500 more in Pell Grant), I think UR is financially out of reach.
Thanks for your kind words. Penn is by far the most affordable of my son’s choices. They are very generous with need-based aid, and there are no loans in the package. I even filed an appeal, so I assume it will be even less. (Right now, it’d be about $4500 a year)
Hard to turn down for “normal” kids, but my kid has some things to work out.
Let me know where your son ends up!