<p>I’m from the western US (Hawaii) and never visited University of Rochester or Syracuse University before. I’ve been accepted to both as a transfer student but I’m still waiting for financial aid packages. While I wait for the packages, I’m hoping to hear some pros and cons about each college’s atmosphere. </p>
<p>Here are some preferences that I learned about myself while attending my local college.</p>
<ol>
<li>I am introverted so I’d like to attend a college where I will “fit in,” but still allow me to grow as a person. </li>
<li>Is the cold bothersome to folks who have never experienced snow for a whole winter? Again, I’m from Hawaii and all I’ve been hearing when folks ask about where I’ve been accepted to is the snow in Rochester and how cold it’s going to be if I go there. </li>
<li>Safety is a big concern. In my neighborhood, I can walk outside alone at night and not be afraid of any harm. Will it be very different in Rochester and Syracuse? Which would you say is safer?</li>
<li>I am not a “genius” by any means and I don’t want to be in a pressure cooker-like/cut-throat academic atmosphere. For Rochester, I’ve been told that the student make up is largely of “Ivy League rejects.” Are classes competitive? How difficult is it to get As? </li>
<li>How diverse is the student body? Rochester has caught on to me a “pre-med school,” where a lot of students are pre-med. I certainly don’t want to be where majority are pre-med. </li>
<li>I would enjoy night life and a place where stores might be open late at night (I prefer to go out when there’s less traffic and people around). Strong preference to being within walking distance to shopping centers/groceries and volunteer/internship opportunities. </li>
<li>Interested in political science, and may pursue medical school in the future. Good reputation in my intended major would be a plus. </li>
<li>Pre-med advising and size in general. Are there enough advisors for the pre-med population? Are there enough resources for each student to pursue various avenues on and off campus (research, volunteer opportunities, shadowing, etc.)? </li>
<li>What’s the interaction between students like? Coming from a state school, many commuted to and from home and there wasn’t really an on-campus student life to speak of. </li>
<li>Finally, is there anything that I should be made aware of in general before committing to either of these schools?</li>
</ol>
<p>Unfortunately, I won’t be able to visit in advance. Which school would you think fits me the most? Hoping for comments that will help me gauge what it’s like to live in these two parts of New York. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Hey there!
So, Rochester and Syracuse are pretty similar cities.
I’m sure you will fit in at either schools as both have a good mix of students.
Im not going to lie…its cold. and we get alot of snow. It really isn’t that bad once you get used to it. Bring LOTS of warm clothes. A good winter jacket, get a thick, durable, snow boot and make sure you bring a hat and gloves. Its cold from late October to early May. (Syracuse and Rochester) so bring some light jackets and sweaters
I live in Rochester, its pretty safe as long as you are in the right part of the city.
The U of R is located in a safe part.
The U of R is academically more challenging, be prepared to work hard!
U of R is mostly health related e.g. pre-med, pre-pharm, biology etc. Some diversity but mostly health related.
I don’t know about Syracuse’s nightlife but Rochester has a bunch of great bars. Not many in walking distance but a short bus ride or car ride away. YOU WILL LOVE WEGMANS. its a grocery store and a way of life. We have 3 big shopping malls and the beach!
Syracuse for polysci, Rochester for pre-med.
I’m not sure, but again, U of R is known for pre med.
U of R has mainly on campus students and I know a lot of people that really enjoy it. Syracuse is known for its school spirit!!
If you are looking for school spirit, diverse student body, dedicated professors, and also a fairly prestigious degree<strong>Syracuse! If you are looking for a prestigious degree, academic competition, driven and commited students</strong>__ Rochester! </p>
<p>I hoped this helped! let me know if i can answer any more questions.</p>
<p>Great answer @psyched4pysch ! Syracuse is #1 city in the U.S. for snowfall, Rochester is #11… so both will be VERY cold for much of the school year. Coming from Hawaii, unless you have visited similar climates, you will not be able to comprehend how cold it will get. Staying dry is essential, so waterproof jackets and boots are necessary. You will probably be better off buying them once you get here because they may be harder to find in Hawaii. I don’t know much about the area around Syracuse, but you will not really be walking to shops, restaurants, etc. from the U of R campus. It really is a great school with a nice traditional campus, much smaller than Syracuse. I would guess Rochester has better pre-med opportunities for volunteering, research, etc. from it’s attachment to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Oh…and I second Wegmans! Especially the flagship store in Pittsford.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses @psyched4psych and @Sdgal2! Very helpful! I googled Wegmans to find out what they sell, I’ll certainly shop there if I do decide to attend :)</p>
<p>Other than the temperature, does the snow ever prevent folks from going outside to do stuff? (i.e., frequent snow storms or being snowed in) If so, how long do these storms/“stay-ins” last? I apologize if these are “stupid questions” lol… we seldom have snow in HI (limited to the mountain tops, sometimes).</p>
<p>@psyched4psych, I see that SU and UR were options for you too. So the big question is (if you don’t mind me asking), why’d you pick SU over UR? </p>
<p>Edit: One more question that I just thought of. I don’t plan on having a car. I know bus systems exist, and I assume taxis too, but how reliable are they? Where I live, they’re unreliable so I had to ask. Do you think not having a car would put me at a disadvantage if I attended SU?</p>
<p>It depends on the severity of the winter…this last winter was particularly bad and yes, there were days school was closed and you were advised to stay inside (my D from SoCal was in Ohio) and yes, it definitely impedes your travel- certainly lengthens it on some days. It is impossible to predict how long a particular storm might last- Mother Nature is a tricky one! But, on the flip side, cities like Rochester and Syracuse are well prepared to handle their severe winters so most times streets will be plowed and life goes on! Also, if you haven’t driven in the winter there you probably won’t start now. I haven’t been on campus in a while but at the U of R it was actually a pain to have a car because parking was limited. I don’t recall ready access to taxis but maybe a current (or recent) student can speak to buses or shuttles.
I’m sure you are aware how vastly different these two schools are…but the cities are somewhat similar- both fairly depressed, Rochester perhaps a bit less so.</p>
<p>I chose SU over UofR for a few reasons!
As a psychology major, I found that Syracuse’s program was more suited to my needs/wants. Also more of my credits were applicable to my major whereas Rochester took a lot of them for electives only.
I also wanted to live on campus and have a “typical” college experience. I live 10 miles down the road from U of R so living on campus just seems silly to me.
I have a debilitating disease that prevents me from working while in school so living on campus is preferred.
I did not connect with the U of R campus, I felt that it was a bit stuffy.( I thought the students were a bit stuffy as well) The buildings are beautiful and all but I just did not have a good impression.
I also know a lot of students that attend U of R and I really wanted to meet new people and have new experiences.
I received full financial aid from both schools which gave me the opportunity to choose a college based on my wants vs the cost which was a blessing!
I hope this helps!</p>
<p>The snow itself sounds bearable to me. If I do end up attending, I look forward to new adventures in the snow.</p>
<p>@psyched4psych Still waiting for credit evaluations from SU but because of its high price tag for me, I likely won’t be attending. You were very lucky to have your need met at both! It would cost me $18,000 to attend SU…and from the advice I’ve been given, it would not be at my best interest to nearly double my current debt by attending SU in just one year. </p>
<p>UR sounds promising so far and hope it will work out with FA. </p>
<p>Thank you!
U of R is such a great school. They also have a higher FA package than most schools.
Yeah, that is a lot of money just for undergrad! I would definitely try and minimize any debt possible.</p>
<p>The snow isn’t that bad, really. You just have to get used to it, but we don’t have tornadoes or hurricanes or earthquakes! haha!
There is a lot to do in Rochester, find a friend with a car so you can go out to the suburbs.</p>
<p>I’ve been told about better FA at UR so I’m keeping my fingers crossed (estimates definitely portray better). Yes, that’s another plus too—no tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes! Will definitely find some friends with cars for some adventures if I am able to attend. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions! :)</p>
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