Hello!
I’m traveling to tour URochester in about two weeks. I would love to meet with someone from the physics department (my anticipated major). I was wondering if anyone has had any experience doing this, or knows of any professors that would be the most willing to talk to a prospective student (if any).
I did this at another college in my home state, but that was also easier to schedule because this professor had talked to me during my tour, so I knew I would be able to ask to come in to talk and she’d say yes (which she did), so I came in again a couple weeks later. But Rochester is a ~7 hour drive so I want to make the most out of THIS trip because I’m not sure I will be able to make it back to NY before application time.
Thanks in advance 
P.S. While you’re at it if any of you have any suggestions of what to check out in Rochester/around campus (stores, best cafes, landmarks, etc) I’d appreciate them!
I see you haven’t received any responses as of yet. Personally, I’d suggest looking at their Physics dept online and emailing or calling a person or two you’d like to meet.
My URoc grad is currently home for one more day before returning to med school. I’ll see if I can snag him later today to give his response - esp for other things to check out.
I know when we’ve gone to visit we enjoy seeing the library and the cemetery next door. It sounds weird to suggest a cemetery, but it has quite a few famous graves including Susan B Anthony and Frederick Douglass. It’s a huge place going back into the 1800s and wandering around gives one a feeling of their place in this world. You can read about the history of it here:
http://www.cityofrochester.gov/visitmounthope/
http://www.fomh.org/
But I suspect visiting a cemetery is more of a “thing” for just a few of us humans. I feel certain my lad can give other suggestions. 
Hello! Creekland’s son, here. I reached out to some of my current physics undergraduate friends and they recommended reaching out to Dr. Frank Wolfs. Wolfs used to teach PHY 141 (a first semester introductory course) for several years and is also the physics major adviser. All around, they agree that Wolfs is a great person and really helpful.
I would recommend reaching out to them via email and following up to make sure the email doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. From my experience, most professors (especially the advisers) are very open to talking to prospective (as well as current) students.
If you want to talk to some current students (who may even be able to provide other recommendations for people to talk to) here is a link to the University’s Physics and Astronomy Peer Advisers:
https://www.rochester.edu/college/ccas/peer-advisors/index.html#pas
As for things to check out, there’s always a lot to see while you’re in Rochester! A few “big things” that most people try to see while they’re in Rochester include The Museum of Play, The George Eastman House, The Memorial Art Gallery, and High Falls. The cemetery is definitely a great place to explore, especially if you like history. Be sure to hit the University’s College Town (a short walk away) for various places to eat and shop (there is a new bubble tea place that many students frequent). Other places in town include Highland Park and its conservatory, Lake Ontario with its beach, Park Ave with its many restaurants and coffee shops, Java’s coffee shop by Eastman, and Nick Tahoe’s (for the original “Garbage Plate”). Basically, there’s so much to do and see, so you can’t go wrong!
Best of luck with your visit and enjoy the experience! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.
@Creekland Wow! Thank you so much, I really really appreciate all the help. I will definitely reach out to Dr. Wolfs and see where it goes! And thanks for the suggestions of what to see, I will put them on a list 