<p>I am interested on opinions as to how the UR compares academically to various liberal arts colleges, specifically Hamilton. Both have pretty wide open curricula and great academic reputations. Any info on how the economics programs at the schools are different? Less class discussion at one vs the other? All information appreciated.</p>
<p>mandoman… I’ll try to recruit some student input here; I can only tell you what I know from my experience as an admissions counselor at Rochester and as a former student of a small liberal arts school (Hobart and William Smith).</p>
<p>The economics department at Rochester is recognized as one of the strongest in the country, particularly with regard to research. I think one of the most common misconceptions about Rochester is that research is limited to the natural sciences, when in fact Rochester is one of three schools in the country that falls into the top ten with regard to research production in each of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The economics department specifically publishes an incredible amount of research; as a school of 5,000 or so undergrads, the opportunities that you have to participate in research and have your own work published are signficantly more abundant than they might be at a much larger research university or a smaller liberal arts school.</p>
<p>That being said, I am not terribly familiar with Hamilton or it’s economics program. At any smaller liberal arts institution you are not likely to have as much access to research, but you may also find yourself in slightly smaller classes with more opportunities to establish relationships with your professors. Rochester certainly provides a similar environment to that extent, but it is not necessarily a hallmark of the program the way it might be at a smaller liberal arts school.</p>
<p>I loved my experience at Hobart - I got to know my professors well, am still on a first name basis with a few, had a chance to participate on an athletic team, etc. BUT, I still get excited thinking about the things that I might have done at a place like Rochester - the flexibility and the level of engagement of the students here are very difficult to compete with. I am currently taking an English class that is filled predominantly with undergraduates, and I am truthfully humbled by how incredibly bright the students are here.</p>
<p>Regardless, both are excellent schools. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>MConklin,</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply. The opportunities available at UR are certainly very impressive. Most likely in the end my decision will be based strongly off of the financial aid situation, however, I hope that UR is a school that will be feasible for me to attend come this fall.</p>
<p>D is a math major and english minor, and has found her english courses to be engaging and first rate.</p>
<p>UR is primarily known as a science school, but the liberal arts are very good as well.</p>
<p>MConklin, I am a recently admitted student and I am considering U of R. However, I am NOT interested in the science areas and i have researched and most of the students are seeking science related majors. I wanted to know how the humanities and journalism majors are there and if the school is too focus on science></p>
<p>My d is a social sciences/humanities major (double major). These programs are very strong. She does not feel that the school is too heavily geared towards science majors. She’s very happy with the education she’s getting there. And she’s thrilled that she never had to take an intro science course; she did her cluster in math!</p>
<p>What about Rochester vs Smith college?</p>
<p>xxduplinsxx, check out the following URL about the humanities at Rochester: [The</a> Humanities Project | University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/College/humanities/]The”>Humanities Center : University of Rochester). The website lists initiatives sponsored by an inter-disciplinary group called “The Humanities Project.” It was started a few years ago by President Seligman to revitalize the humanities at Rochester. There is also a new Dean of the Humanities, Tom DiPiero, who oversees the development of this division of learning. </p>
<p>Journalism is a concentration within the English department. There’s no way it’s as good as Syracuse or Northwestern, but it’s a decent program. You could also become involved in the student newspaper The Campus Times. Of course, every school has a newspaper. I would say that the humanities at Rochester could be its own liberal arts college. The introductory courses are never over forty students, while the science courses can be quite large (I think 200 is the max in introductory chemistry, for example). I was a history major and loved my experience because I was able to study with a world-renowned German historian. I’m not finishing up my Master’s in European History with her. </p>
<p>WAIGNADO, the biggest difference between UR and Smith is RESEARCH. UR is one of the largest recipients of grants from the National Institute of Health, which means that cutting edge research is ongoing at UR. It really depends on what you’d like to study. If it’s sciences or social sciences there are probably more research opportunities at a place llike UR or Tufts as opposed to Smith. With Smith, you also have the five school consortium which is a huge benefit. Tough decision!</p>
<p>Au contraire, the biggest difference between UR and Smith is males. Smith is a commitment to women’s education and they are proud of it. That suits some people and not others.</p>
<p>Obviously. I should have qualified my answer. :)</p>
<p>xxduplinsxx- My daughter is an english major at UR with a journalism concentration and is an editor at the campus times. She has been extremely happy with her program and is especially fond of her journalism prof who was an editor at the democrat and chronicle and provides real world knowlege of the field. They spend a lot of time discussing where journalism is headed in the future. My daughter has also really enjoyed courses in media studies and film at UR and finds that program to be very stong as well. She will probably minor in that department. She spent this January in London taking a course with a UR english prof where they attended 20+ plays and a daily class discussion, she absolutely loved it. She is a very happy non science major at UR, but has tolerated her cluster in the sciences very well.</p>
<p>I am taking an English course myself (20th Century British Lit) and have been very humbled by the depth of discussion and analysis, and the overall quality of the course. There are approximately twenty students in the course, and I have met with the professory multiple times to discuss paper topics, challenging passages from the variety of texts we have read, etc… </p>
<p>Also, when Rochester is labeled as a Research University, it is often assumed that research is limited to the natural sciences (biological sciences, engineering, physics, etc.), when in fact a great deal of meaningful research is offered in the Social Sciences and Humanities as well. I know students who are doing some great things in Linguistics, English, Economics, Poli Sci, Anthropology, and many other departments. For what its worth (and it may not be worth much to some), Rochester is one of three schools in the country that falls into the top ten as far as research production is concerned in all three of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.</p>
<p>My daughter is a graduating senior with a double humanities major, English with a concentration in theater and music, with lessons at Eastman. The English department is quite strong and highly regarded. She also did the January Theater in London class her sophomore year and studied abroad in Europe. The only drawback is that as a double major within Humanities with many degree requirements and performance requirements, the cluster system having to do three related classes in social science and three in natural science limited her opportunities to take any electives outside her majors with the exception of her study abroad semester opportunities.</p>
<p>My d is a double major in humanities & social sciences. So she didn’t have the same cluster problem as bookmama22’s daughter did. She only had to do 1 cluster, and chose math since she had to take statistics anyway.</p>
<p>I’m also interested in communications, however, does U of R have a school of communication? If so, how good is it?</p>
<p>there is no school of communications. The only undergraduate schools that UR has are the College: made up of the arts & sciences and Hajim school of engineering; and the Eastman school of music.</p>
<p>There is a Language, Media & Communications track as part of the English major. There is also a Film & Media department which offers a film major and a media production major.</p>
<p>All these programs are quite strong.</p>