Sciences at Rochester

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Rochester
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<p>I'm interested in current and past student's opinions re the sciences (esp biology) as an undergrad at Rochester.</p>

<p>Another website (often unreliable) has several negative postings re an extremely cutthroat atmosphere in the sciences, especially among students interested in attending medical school.</p>

<p>Most of the other comments re Rochester are very favorable.</p>

<p>I realize impressions re competition among students are subjective, but would appreciate any comments.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Can I get the same information but with more emphasis on Physics? Graciaso.</p>

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<p>Oc1979,
I’m a second year biology major and I love it.
I’ve never seen any of cutthroat competition. I’ve actually found that the students here generally try to help other students. There have been times when I’ve been studying for an exam and been confused about a certain topic. I just go up to another student and ask them a question. I’ve even gone up to complete strangers who I see holding the same textbook. And I’ve always been helped out and helped other students in the same way.<br>
There is stress among students to maintain good grades and worry about getting into medical school. But in my experience I’ve found that this generally brings the biology students together because we all have a mutual go we’re trying to reach. Often, I’ve had friends who are studying the same thing as me, tell me about different research opportunities that I might be interested in. So everyone, really tries to help each other out.<br>
I really think Rochester is somewhat unique in this fact that we are competitive but not necessarily with each other.<br>
Let me know if you have other questions.</p>

<p>Ankita.</p>

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<p>Cider,
I actually started out as a physics major here at Rochester. The competitive atmosphere in physics is the same as for biology. I really had a lot of fun in my physics classes. The homework assignments always ended up getting finished in group study sessions, and even though we were all struggling through the assignments, it was a lot of fun working on the problems with other students. Also, we have a physics specific library in our Physics/Optics/Astronomy building and often in the evenings, undergraduate teaching assistants for the different physics classes will be in the library and are willing to help students with any questions.
Also, for both biology and physics (and other departments) there are student groups that deal with the department. Oftentimes, they’ll have fun bonding activities such as a group dinner or going bowling. Also, they will also organize meet and greets with the professors. This can be nice to get to know the professors in your department(s).
Hope this helps. Let me know if you want to know anything else.</p>

<p>Ankita.</p>

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<p>thanks for your response.</p>

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<p>OC–
My daughter is freshman Bio (neuroscience) and math major at UR. She has not found the competition in either field “cut-throat”. Student don’t sabotage each other’s labs, nor rip pages out of library reserve books so other students can’t find answers to homework, nor share “wrong” answers just to screw the other student up. Just doesn’t happen at UR. Students are supportive and will help each other in informal study groups. D has received some great advice from upperclassmen about what classes she might like and a couple have even offered her study notes from classes they have already taken.</p>

<p>That said, there is a pretty steep attrition in the sciences over the first 2 years of undergrad. The expectations are high and the material moves pretty fast. You have to be willing to do the work and then some.</p>

<p>D has found the professors and instructors very approachable and helpful. And the same goes for the TAs. </p>

<p>She has no regrets about choosing UR and has great opportunities there.</p>

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<p>thank you.</p>

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<p>I cannot attest wrt to physics, but here goes Bio stuff:</p>

<p>I’m a junior neuroscience major. I went through all of this and have seen many others struggle for various reasons going through this. So, I will try to a) answer your question, but also b) to give some advice for people considering Bio at UR. </p>

<p>1) All core courses for all Bio sub-majors (e.g., neuroscience, biochemistry, molecular genetics, etc) are the same. All B.S. Bio majors need to take Intro Bio, Chem, Orgo, and Calc. </p>

<p>That said, you and the rest of what seems like everyone else who goes to UR, will be in the same classes for the first year+. So, first year Bio/Chem/etc classes are big, test grades are curved to the performance of the rest of the class (except in BIO112), and attrition is high. (PS - If you chose to come here, and have a 5 on AP Bio, DO NOT take Intro Bio 110, but instead take Intro Bio 112 your first semester - it’s smaller, professor Platt is the man, it is a lot more interesting that 110, and you get all of the test questions beforehand). </p>

<p>2) Some freshman come in with this predetermined I-am-triple-majoring-science-hardcore-premed-only-don’t-have-time-to-talk-to-you-because-I-must-go-study-24-seven attitude that does nothing but alienate them from others and, quite frankly, puts them in a bad situation academically. These are the people who often end up struggling, because they are a) overstressed, b) spend all waking hours in the library studying, and c) attempt to make ZERO social (and academically advantageous, might I add) connections with others. Now, it is not that these people are dumb, it is that they are miserable being a science major, and as a result, end up struggling and stressed out (some also don’t shower often - eww)</p>

<p>Please, keep an open mind with respect to classes/majors when you get to college - wherever it might be. A little fun time, social contact, and (I actually DO MEAN THIS), not taking all of your classes with such seriousness goes a long way! </p>

<p>3) With these preliminaries aside, now to answering your question:</p>

<p>No, most people are not cut throat and most are pretty chill and fun to talk/hang out with. It is the show-up-to-class-30-minutes-early-to-get-a-front-row people, as we sometimes call them, that are the most annoyingly and intolerably competitive. These are the people who ask questions for the sake of hearing themselves speak. These are the people who will cover up their lab notebooks in lab so that you “don’t per chance see what they wrote”. These are the people, in short, you want to avoid.</p>

<p>All others are very chill and open. Multiple times I have helped other students with classes I already took/was taking. When I was a freshman, on multiple occasions I received some help/advice from older people. If you try to not be like someone I described above, upperclassmen might feel kind enough to share past notes/other things I shall not mention on web forums from classes they already took. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>that made me laugh.</p>

<p>will avoid first and second row seats.</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

10

<p>One would hope that the med schools would try to screen out the overachieving and smelly nitwits described by Jersh. Like if you were really sick, would you want to be treated by selfish and boring bookworms with no humanity? Me neither. Perhaps they would be happier studying business or law. (Oh, my. I’m going to get flamed for that last comment!)</p>

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<p>How is the grading in these courses? Do you feel like you receive what you earned?</p>

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<p>D feels the grading has been fair (i.e. not arbitrary). You know ahead of time how everything (midterms, finals, papers, quizzes, problem sets, lab reports, etc) is weighted.</p>

<p>As for feeling your grade reflects “what you earned”–that’s pretty subjective. Your grade will reflect your exam scores, not your effort.</p>

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<p>I think the grading is pretty fair. I’ve taken a lot of science courses-all pre-med requirements and some upper level biology, and I think that the grade really reflects how much work you put in, because your exam scores will generally reflect that. There are some times when an exam is really hard and even though you studied for it, your grade might not reflect that. But in those cases professors will generally scale so that what you need for an A or B or whatever grade you’re looking for is lower. Overall, I think your exam scores reflect your effort. You know if you put in the time to study and learn the material your exams will show that.</p>

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<p>Shouldn’t they reflect your knowledge in the topic?</p>