how is "build your own" requirement unique?

Hey guys,
I am wondering this question for a long time. What is the real difference between general ed and build your own track?
In “build your own” requirement, you are required to take clusters from humanities, natural science and social science sections. But isn’t that the same for general education? I really want to know the difference.
This question may sound really stupid, but I really want some helps from you guys.
Thanks!

No GE courses are usually more rigidly specified.

For example, at our state college, all students are required to complete a "core’ curriculum (aka General ed requirements). GE requirements include writing, mathematics, a foreign language, fine arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences

At UR, you’ll need to take writing, but then you only need to choose only 2 clusters. There are no math, fine arts or foreign language requirements.

Also within the clusters, there is a broader set of options and you can take 2 or 3 courses in the same department. You can’t do that with a GEs. The GE options at the state U are all one semester intro level classes and there is no option to take 2 classes in the same department.

@DannySwardon: since every school is different, I would recommend picking a major, then comparing the required courses of UR and any other school. I did this for my son and compared UR to two state schools with GE requirements that accepted him. There was a big difference. The UR curriculum has enough room in it for him to pursue a second degree, which he is currently doing. Of course, your mileage may vary, so the best way to know for sure is to write it down and directly compare.

There actually is a lot of freedom of choice in the Rochester curriculum, even for students who are in areas that have fairly demanding major-specific requirements. This is allowing my daughter to double major and take a semester abroad and have all the courses recommended if she wants to apply to med school after four years.

It also allows you to pick classes that you’re interested in rather than more gen-ed type courses. So one of my D’s clusters includes religion, philosophy, and ethics courses that she wouldn’t have been able to fit in otherwise.

Plus, the lack of a language requirement was a HUGE plus for her.

And if you are an Engineering major, you are only required to do one cluster plus a required English class. If you are an Engineering major and you minor in another areas, you only need the English class.