<p>I just got into URochester as a transfer last week. When I first applied, I was so excited - I was SURE that I wanted to go to Rochester. I used to go to Julliard Pre-College but stopped music after I left for college. I loved everything about Rochester - the campus, the academics, Eastman, it seemed perfect.</p>
<p>But now I'm in serious doubt. I'm going to be leaving everything I know behind and starting all over again. I'm not 100% thrilled with my current school, but should I settle and stay within my comfort zone or take a risk? And then I keep worrying that I won't be able to handle the courseload. Everyone says that the classes are really hard, which is what attracted me to Rochester in the first place. But I am thinking about attending law school in the future and they don't really care where you graduated from or how hard your school was - it's just a numbers game, GPA and LSAT scores. A part of me really does want to attend Rochester but I'm so scared that I'll do badly and bomb my chances of getting into a good law school. </p>
<p>Funny enough, I'm not scared of going to Barnard (if i even get in, that is) even though we'll be taught by Ivy League professors, simply because one of my professors currently teaches at Columbia as well and I have an A in his class. I wish I could have sat in on a few Rochester classes but now the school year is over. </p>
<p>Don't be scared. Yes, the classes are hard, but the profs are accessible.
Are you majoring in any of the sciences or math? I think that's where the hardest classes are.
Even if you don't make it to the Eastman School, music at UR is excellent. You'll enjoy the musical groups whether you participate or just go to listen to them.
It's the weather you need to be scared of.</p>
<p>I'm a history major...would you happen to know how those classes are? </p>
<p>My grades mean a lot to me. I want to go to a top law school and so I'll do anything to get a high GPA even if it means staying somewhere where I'm not fully happy. </p>
<p>If I wasn't going to law school, I'd go to Rochester in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>I don't know much about the history classes, and my son did not do any.
However, I do believe that they grade on a curve.
I'm sorry I can't give you more information.
Perhaps someone in admissions could put you in touch with another history major, or one of the teachers in that department.</p>
<p>Even in admissions can't put you in touch with history majors, go on Facebook to the UR group and ask there about the courses. You'll get first-hand, real time information there.</p>
<p>Go for the risk. Remember, the turtle only gets anywhere when he sticks his neck out.</p>
<p>I do not believe that the undergrad school is irrelevant to law schools.
A 4.0 from an elite school will trump a similar gpa from a second or third tier school.</p>
<p>Hey softy, Im a student here at Rochester. Let me just get this straight, in terms of your post, you're a transfer student from Barnard and concerned about the difficulty of classes here and the possible impact of that on your gpa? If thats wrong please correct me. </p>
<p>So firstly what are you planning on majoring in. You should realize that different departments grade differently. The majority of hard science (bio, physics, etc) are hard and often maintain strict curves. At the same time many classes in the humanities and socials sciences are the opposite, Professors are slightly more lax with grading (relatively of course). That being said, grades should not be a worry. Classes are challenging, but you will learn a lot and professors will reward you for hard work. In terms of law school, yes law school is a numbers game, but you should realize thats only a part of the battle. Once you get into law school, you will be competing with some of the best students from around the country for spot on a strict curve. The more prepared you are in thinking critically and working hard the better it is. If you feel that Rochester offers those skills, then I say go for it.</p>
<p>If you have specific questions regarding Rochester let me know. I'm a Creative Writing and Critical Foundations of Political and Social Thought (a major I created, one of the perks of Rochester :) )double major. Also I've taken a bunch of CS courses and math courses, so I'm familiar with those departments as well.</p>