University of Rochester Reviews

"You will get a solid education in music with plenty of background in history, theory, and performance. The history requirements provide breadth and depth of knowledge of music from antiquity, through the baroque and classical periods, and also romantic and contemporary. The music theory requirements also prepare you well for your career. You start off learning counterpoint using Johann Fux's textbook, the same textbook that Mozart and Beethoven used! I know a lot of students who passed out of graduate school theory requirements after simply completing the undergraduate theory curriculum at Eastman. The performance venues are awesome. You get to perform in state-of-the-art concert and recital halls, and get a lot of specialized attention from faculty. The classroom sizes are very small, with some classes having only 10-15 students. You can also take secondary instrument lessons with faculty. If you are interested in doing summer music festivals, a lot of auditions for these are held at Eastman, so no worries about traveling far for some of these auditions. And if you want to do extra recitals that aren't required for your degree in order to get additional experience performing repertoire, you can sign up to use one of the recital halls and have a private recital for friends and family. The faculty are very supportive here. And the food on campus is excellent. There are fun things to do in town, such as go to the Little Theatre, grab coffee with friends at Java's, and visit the George Eastman House. And another benefit: Eastman is a school of the University of Rochester, so you can also take classes on the River Campus in other subjects besides music. This can be beneficial if you want to broaden your undergraduate education and also pursue a double major or minor in a different field. I know plenty of students who went on to graduate school in other fields and their additional coursework at the River Campus gave them the background they needed to do this."

"The University of Rochester is a well-renowned, selective school. I felt very proud when I was accepted into this university. While it is more known for it's fantastic programs in the field of medicine, I was still very impressed with my studies related to the humanities. I will never forget the amazing brains of some of my professors during this time. They definitely have some brilliant minds teaching at the U of R."

"University of Rochester is a great institution if you intend to pursue a pre-medical track. All the science courses are extremely rigorous, and will therefore train and prepare you for medical school. In terms of Chemistry, the department is very well-known in the science world, and many of my peers ended up attending top PhD programs (Harvard, UChicago, and more) post graduation. The Economics program is also very strong and well-known in the field."

"Specifically in regards to the Music program on campus (NOT the Eastman School of Music, which is a separate institution under UR) The curriculum is more academically centered (being a B.A. Degree as opposed to a B.M. ) However the quality of the classes in Theory, History and Musicianship/Aural Skills are excellent, in particular the History and Theory, which do much to prepare students for graduate level entrance exams. Class sizes are generally around 20 or less, and professors are very approachable and are willing and eager to help students. There is also a decent variety of music elective courses (world music, jazz history, popular music studies) for a particular track you may decide on, in addition to collaboration with the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for a new B.S. in Audio-Music Engineering. However in terms of performance groups, there are not any music major ensembles at the UR, which may be a problem for those who are seeking to go into music graduate programs in performance. In addition, there are no required recitals (though there are juries each year as a requirement for lessons, which are usually taken with graduate students at Eastman), though students have the option of performing a recital if they choose. Overall, the Music Program at the University of Rochester may not be the best place for a performance degree, but for academic fields in music (musicology, history, theory, etc) and for popular music studies, as well as music engineering, UR provides a competitive program for undergraduates."

"Simon is a strong analytical business school. It has big strengths in finance and accounting, but the marketing and operations fields were relatively week when I attended. Additionally there is a large percentage of international students, which can be a good thing and a challenge."

"During my five years at the University of Rochester, I have seen a quality graduate program become even more advanced. Initially, the students face a couple years heavy in coursework and then transition over more to the laboratory. While some classes are challenging, the majority of the instruction is of high quality and many professors are fantastic resources that are responsive to student needs. Students are able to take electives from any department, including a large number of undergraduate courses. Being attached to the Strong Memorial Hospital also allows students to move between basic and clinical research. The location is also fantastic for a mid-sized city. We are very close to other great schools, notably RIT, and a short driving distance from SUNY schools and the University of Buffalo. Many labs have collaborations set in place with these institutions, which gives students a great chance to learn how to build such relationships. A major highlight of the university is the increasing level of acknowledgement of "alternate" career paths for scientists; we are one of the handful of schools chosen by the NIH to pilot a Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training program. I have seen and taken new courses that give students a well-rounded education. Beyond scientific concepts, we have the opportunity to learn about science communication (in various forms), leadership, management, and are often directly introduced to scientists working in many different fields. Students can set up internships with internal and external companies in coordination with their thesis advisor. In only a few years, this small program has made a huge impact in preparing graduate students for the future. The University of Rochester truly a university of the highest order."

"During my five years at the University of Rochester, I have seen a quality graduate program become even more advanced. Initially, the students face a couple years heavy in coursework and then transition over more to the laboratory. While some classes are challenging, the majority of the instruction is of high quality and many professors are fantastic resources that are responsive to student needs. Students are able to take electives from any department, including a large number of undergraduate courses. Being attached to the Strong Memorial Hospital also allows students to move between basic and clinical research. The location is also fantastic for a mid-sized city. We are very close to other great schools, notably RIT, and a short driving distance from SUNY schools and the University of Buffalo. Many labs have collaborations set in place with these institutions, which gives students a great chance to learn how to build such relationships. A major highlight of the university is the increasing level of acknowledgement of "alternate" career paths for scientists; we are one of the handful of schools chosen by the NIH to pilot a Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training program. I have seen and taken new courses that give students a well-rounded education. Beyond scientific concepts, we have the opportunity to learn about science communication (in various forms), leadership, management, and are often directly introduced to scientists working in many different fields. Students can set up internships with internal and external companies in coordination with their thesis advisor. In only a few years, this small program has made a huge impact in preparing graduate students for the future. The University of Rochester truly a university of the highest order."

"I had a positive experience as a student. However, new administration has removed the Early Leader program I was a part of."

"At the home of the BioPsychoSocial Model, medical graduates of the University of Rochester will be more than just medical doctors. At UR, you will grow to become physicians who are advocates for your patients with a patient centered perspective on delivering healthcare. There is an early focus on learning clinical skills with patient contact during the first year. The curriculum is completely integrated so you are learning the anatomy and physiology of the cardiac system while learning patient interviewing skills related to cardiac symptoms and reviewing histology slides of the heart. This comprehensive curriculum was crucial in helping me retain and apply the knowledge in my now clinical practice. Students come from various and diverse backgrounds which enriches the learning environment. It is honor to have graduated from the University of Rochester with a medical degree."

"My experience at the Eastman School of Music has been absolutely amazing. I feel more than prepared to go on to my career as an orchestral performer, as Eastman held me to to the highest standard each and every day. My network is wide and varied, and wherever I end up I know I will be prepared to be successful."

"I would have to say that the University of Rochester's history program is definitely underestimated! I could feel my professors passion, and ultimately that is what made me so happy with my degree and my education! I think that overall the school is not diverse and that is the only thing that made me feel unhappy. Being biracial, I felt like I always stood out in my classes and amongst my peers, and often my point of view was lost or ignored."

"Simon Graduate Business School Review Im currently enrolled in Simon Graduate Business School to pursuit a Masters in Business Administration with concentrations on Finance and Strategy. Simon is among the Top 30 schools in Business Administration in the country. In finance it has the distinction of being ranked in the Top 3 schools in the nation. For example, the Financial Times of London recently (Jan. 2017) ranked Simon Graduate Business School as the No. 2 in the world. How has Simon achieved this reputation? By providing a holistic, real world approach to teaching. Simons main educational principle is participation in case studies. Classes are divided in group of 4-5 diverse students. Groups can be composed by all kind of individuals: engineers, nurses, librarians, you name it. Teams go through the case studies to analyze business decisions, made by real managers, and to determine ways to improve upon them. This team component in Simons educational approach, serves as a fairly accurately representation of real world team decision making."

"University of Rochester is a great school and Simon Business School has a decent Finance curriculum. One think that you have to know before you apply to a graduate program if what you really want to get from it. If you want to start a new career in finance from a totally different field, perhaps you're better off in a brand name school that will give you the networking ability that Simon won't give you. But if you want a strong finance core then you are going to the right school."

"The University of Rochester is a wonderful school that places heavy emphasis on the bio-psychosocial approach to healthcare. The course work is challenging but the professors want to see you succeed and reach your goals. It's a very supportive environment and I don't think I could have picked a better graduate school. The professors are accepting of everybody, where they come from and feel as if everyone there has something to bring to the table to contribute to the learning environment. They strive to create an atmosphere that promotes cultural humility/sensitivity and I believe they are making strides. They are aware and acknowledge that they need to increase diversity within the faculty and administrators throughout the university and seem to be working towards that. I would definitely recommend the University of Rochester's graduate school!"

"University of Rochester, Simon Business School, is an incredible program. It's strategic goals is to be in the Top 25 MBA programs by 2021 (we're currently at 36). The faculty are incredible and have amazing insights in different industries and have published amazing research articles. The school's administration is wonderful as well as they value the students and our successes. They believe in diversity (Simon is ranked #8 in diversity) which allows for greater learnings among students as we each have our own experiences that we bring to the classroom. It's an amazing program and you won't be disappointed."

"I did not enjoy this program. It did not focus on the practical nature of teaching. The undergraduate students often seemed as if they felt very entitled. I did not enjoy this campus or the culture of it. It is very beautiful though!"

"University of Rochester, Warner School of Education was a great program for teaching candidates. They allowed you to select courses that would fulfill interests. The staff and mentor program was supportive throughout the process."

"The college and degree program had a rigorous course load and I feel that I gained more knowledge in it than I would have in other programs. I do wish that there was more focus on performance in the music program and that there were more opportunities for performance. I also wish there were more preparations made for careers other than in academia and education. Not everyone wants to have to go to grad school. The career center also doesn't help very much with non-STEM majors."

"There is so much to love about the University of Rochester. For starters, the possibility to be involved in research is omnipresent, and the school will either fund you or help you find funding (i.e., deKiewiet fellowship, REACH funding, Take Five Scholars Program) . I participated in research in English and pedagogy, behavioral and mental health, and basic and translational science. Moreover, the school has a great class size. Whenever I speak to high school students, I emphasize the importance of a class size that 'fits' for you. I liked that I was able to make connections with mentors and advisers at the University of Rochester because each year, at Mel weekend, I come back to see the school again but I stay to reconnect with those professors that inspire me. Finally, the university, an academic powerhouse, is located between a cultural center and the great outdoors. The University of Rochester propelled me to be ready for my future career, and the diversity at the school - with regard to research, student population, and location, as well as the open curriculum - prepared me for the diversity of life experiences I will encounter in my future."

"The quality of my degree is equivalent to any of the ivy schools."