<p>Apparently tufts is not that 'cut throat' from what I have heard... although I would speak to a tufts alum for a more accurate description of what the competition levels are like.</p>
<p>Shennie,
It is my understanding that the poli sci dept is one of the best in the nation; at least the grad school is. Assuming that the profs teach the courses and spend "quality time" with undergrads, the undergrad dept must be pretty darn good. Not sure if TAs teach or assist in the lower level courses</p>
<p>My son has taken lower level classes that have had TAs but they never are the primary teachers. They are there to assist, but the teachers have always done the primary teaching and have been available for office hours. Also, the classes aren't huge, either. I think his largest class was an intro class of about 50 students.</p>
<p>The more I research U of Rochester, the more appealing it appears. Although no school is perfect, Rochester seems wel rounded with many favorable qualities.</p>
<p>i was in an intro psc course during open campus, there were around 50 people in the classroom, and it was a full time professor teaching the course. I enjoyed the hour I was in there so much with that professor because he was so nice, friendly and funny that it swayed me to choose Polysci as one of my clusters. good times..</p>
<p>Shennie,
this is a little out of subject but anyway, I will do double degree in Eastman and Arts & Sciences. I wanted something easy academically because I know Eastman's program is very difficult. So I am willing to choose film studies. Will that be a waste of time?
I also chose to stay in Eastman's dorms. Which one is more convenient, UR dorms or Eastman dorms for a double degree?</p>
<p>Dalga:</p>
<p>My son is sitting right here. He says that everyone who he knows who is doing the double degree lives at Eastman. All the practice rooms are at Eastman and all the rehearsals are there as well. He says that it is easier to take the bus over to the river campus for your non-Eastman classes than to have to travel over to Eastman all the time for practice, rehearsals and Eastman classes.</p>
<p>As far as whether a double degree is a waste of time, that is really going to have to be your decision. He toyed on and off with getting a second degree in poli sci, but found that it would be too time consuming. He says the ability to get a second degree depends quite a bit on your instrument. He says that it is easier for voice majors and percussionists than others as those 2 groups don't practice as much as other instrumentalists. The double degree option is much more difficult for string players and pianists although he knows a couple of string players who are doing it.</p>
<p>Shennie,
Hmm.. I am very stressed out about this double degree because my instrument is piano.. Maybe I shouldn't do film studies.. Anyway, thanks for the info!</p>
<p>Dalga - I wouldn't stress out just yet. Get to school and see how things go. You won't have the orchestra rehearsals that most of the other majors have, but you will have to accompany 2 students each semester. However, that means that you have a bit more flexibility to your schedule. Also, if you don't mind taking 5 years instead of 4, you could probably manage it. I think you will have to wait and see how things go for you before you make a hard and fast decision. Keep your options open if you can.</p>
<p>I wish there was more interaction between Eastman and River campus students. I hear it isnt that great.</p>
<p>I think your impression is correct. There is not a lot of interaction, but students who want to interact more can get involved with any activity or organization at the river campus. But music performance is such a time intensive major that few students have the time or the energy to get involved in stuff on the main campus. I do know that my son played intramurals with some Eastman teams that played over at RC, but for the most part, the Eastman students pretty much stick to themselves.</p>