<p>My daughter and I visited UR and really liked what we saw and heard. She is liberal, atheistic, upper middle-income, from mid-atlantic state, and attends a very diverse high school. I have heard from a couple of my adult friends that UR's reputation has been one of mostly white, wealthy, conservative, and 'cliquish' students. My daughter wants a fun, social life (including sorority and frat parties) but also wants to 'fit in' and to make good friends.<br>
Anyone who knows UR's student body and environment -- will she feel comfortable and happy at UR?
thanks.</p>
<p>fcr, I don’t like these kinds of posts because it’s impossible to give a good idea on how someone may “fit in” based upon things like “liberal, atheistic…” That said, I also want you to receive a response.</p>
<p>There are most definitely people who have similar beliefs on campus. There are others that don’t share those beliefs. </p>
<p>The best way to get a real idea is to have her spend some time on campus with the students. If she’s serious about UR as a possible school, come down for classes on Friday, and allow her to stay with a student through the weekend. It will allow for her to witness the learning environment, give her a chance to check out the social scene and ask questions of students she meets.</p>
<p>I’d recommend the above for any of her final schools. It’s where she’s going to be living for 4 (+) years, so you want to spend the time to do the extra work. The school I initially thought I would love was crossed off my list after a weekend trip. On the surface, it was the perfect place for me, but after digging deeper, I realized it would have been a poor fit.</p>
<p>I agree w/ Spiders05 - spending time with students is the best way to figure it out.</p>
<p>That said, I think the typical UR stereotype (white, wealthy, conservative) is about 10 years out of date. My friends came from all sorts of backgrounds - international, all corners of the U.S., wealthy, low-income, conservative, liberal, religious, antireligious - you name it. Sure, you have some students who fit the old stereotype, but there are even more who don’t. And increasingly so, as UR has grown its diversity by leaps and bounds in the past few years (from 12% to 25% student of color, 7% to 10% international, up to 16% first generation). I think the atmosphere on campus is a really friendly and inclusive one, even within the Greek system, which is incredibly inclusive, whether or not you’re actually Greek. Parties are open to all comers, and most students run in multiple social circles based on the clubs they’re in.</p>
<p>We just visited UofR and would agree with Spiders and highered. One of the aspects of the school we observed, and commented on, was the diversity among the students.</p>
<p>I am the father of a UR Junior (time sure does fly!). My daughter is very liberal and has several friends with similar political and social ideologies. She is Christian and has found friends that are Christian though her best friend is an atheist. She is from a middle middle class family but I have never heard her mention her friends economic class. I don’t think it is an issue. She is not a sorority member but I have heard tales of sorority friends “adventures”. </p>
<p>I think UR has a relatively small student body but I believe that if someone cannot find friends on campus they aren’t trying very hard. Spending a weekend on campus would certainly help but even if it is just a day attending classes and talking with students your daughter will get a very good feel of campus life.</p>