About Me: Who I Am and Why I’m Here

Hello everyone!

My name is Jamie Rudd and I’m thrilled to be a member of the University of Rochester Class of 2017. As a student blogger I have the exciting opportunity to share my college experience (and tips) with all of you. But before we embark on the adventure the next four years are bound to be, here’s a little about me:

I hail from a rural farming community in Central Oregon (Madras anyone?) located next to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and surrounded by all the greatness of northwestern nature. But with easterners as parents, I grew up no stranger to the charms of the east coast. So when it came time for the college search I immediately identified the northeast as a “preferable region.”

I first learned about the University of Rochester my sophomore year of high school. It seemed perfect, the location, the medium size, the flexible open curriculum, but it was hard for me to believe that I’d found such a perfect match so early on. As I started investigating other “options,” however, the true superiority of the U of R became more and more apparent. As my knowledge of the U of R grew, the better it seemed: the diverse student body, the wide range of programs, the encouragement to combine multiple interests…. By the time I visited the beautiful campus and interacted with the friendly and accommodating community here, I knew I had found the place where I belonged.  

One of the things I love most about my school is the flexibility I have to explore everything I love, whether it be through study or extracurricular activity. My greatest passions are traveling, writing, reading, and music, but my list of interests is long and diverse. My high school years were packed with activities and I was highly involved in everything from student council and yearbook to drama club and swim team. Since coming to the U of R, I’ve been able to get involved with completely new programs like the Undergraduate Anthropology Council and Campus Times newspaper while still continuing with several of my old activities through the International Theatre Program and Hall Council.

As a freshman, I’m still slightly undecided in my major(s) but am most interested in English communications, anthropology, and international relations. Lucky for me, the U of R’s open curriculum (only one required class!) gives me the freedom to look into all of these programs, take my time in deciding, and still easily double major.

I couldn’t be happier with my college decision and I hope this blog will give a little insight into why. As you’ve probably already gathered, I love talking about the U of R so feel free to email me at jrudd@u.rochester.edu with any questions.

So enjoy the posts, learn about the college, spread the word, and find out where life at the University of Rochester can take you.