Two years ago (time flies!), when I was making my college decisions, my options boiled down to the final two: University of Rochester and a public research university. One of the major differences between the two schools is their sizes; public schools tend to have a much larger student population, while Rochester prides itself on its small class sizes. For me, opting for the smaller school was definitely the right choice for me.
Here’s why:
1. The low student-faculty ratio. You might have heard about it a lot, but this is really important. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, students here are able to develop a close relationship with their advisors and professors. Each student gets more attention from the professors and are always welcome to talk to them outside classes. One time I dropped by my advisor’s office simply to get his signature for my course registration, but ended up staying there for more than an hour talking about my career aspirations, research opportunities, and even plans for winter break. This is beneficial to us students not only because we get to learn course materials better with more help, but also because when students need reference letters for job applications, the professors actually know students personally and write phenomenal recommendations!
2. You don’t have to walk 255934076802 miles between classes (which is a good thing, especially given Rochester’s amazing cold weather). I’d say that the University of Rochester campus is big enough that there are plenty of open spaces where you can just relax and hang out with friends (as well as private study spaces that serve as the best hideouts), but it’s also small enough that you will always run into a friend or two as you walk from one place to another. To me, this campus is the perfect size!
3. The close-knit community. The small class sizes make it so much easier to know the people around me better. I have more opportunity to interact with, work with, and befriend different people (not just from my year, but from all class years!). Some people might think that since Rochester is considered small and not that into sports that our school spirit is not as strong. I certainly do not agree with this. To me, school spirit does not only mean cheering for the athletics teams at meets. It is the close relationships between members of the school community, the sense of belonging, and the consistent effort to help each other grow and become ever better. It is the very same pride we share as Yellowjackets. The close community here has definitely made Rochester a home away from home for me, and I’m so grateful for this.
I hope this is helpful to those who have yet to make their college decisions! 🙂