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2026 Experience

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You got in!

About the 2026 Experience

Congratulations again on your admission to the University of Rochester! Our 2026 Experience is a series of exclusive events for all admitted students, including transfers. Whether you can’t wait to enroll or you’re still deciding, we invite you and your family to join us virtually and/or on campus this spring. We’ve worked hard to build an expansive suite of live and on-demand content just for you as well as on campus visit opportunities.

Registration for all virtual and on campus events are in a calendar portal. We hope you’ll join us for as many opportunities as possible!

Register for virtual and on campus events

Live virtual programming & on campus visits

Register for a weekday campus visit and our larger April 2 & 9 on-campus programs.

Register

A full list of our various virtual offerings is below. Details about each virtual session are available when you register online. Most of the main virtual events will also be available after the event on the 2026 Experience YouTube playlist.

View an agenda for April 9 (PDF)

 

Main virtual events

These sessions are designed for you and your family to learn more about our students, academics, life on campus, and the broader campus and city of Rochester communities.

Register today

 

Join us for our kick-off event to start the 2026 Experience! You’ll be welcomed by admissions staff, campus community members, and current Rochester students. We’ll also share what you can expect over the next couple of weeks regarding 2026 Experience events.

Date and time: Sunday, March 27 at 7 p.m. ET

Rochester Faculty and undergraduate students discuss their research experiences and academic explorations.

Dates and times:

  • Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m. ET: Digital Media Studies
  • Monday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET: Psychology
  • Monday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET: Biomedical Engineering

Join our Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and College Enrollment for a series of weekly conversations with leaders at the University and other key community members.

Dates and times:

  • Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. ET: Academic Deans Roundtable
  • Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET: Current Parent Conversations

Join our financial aid counselors to learn about:

  • What the first bill means and how to interpret it
  • Outstanding verification documents
  • Loan funding options
  • Federal work-study
  • Changes in aid over the next four years
  • FAOnline and how to use our financial aid portal
  • How to pay for textbooks

Date and time: Tuesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. ET

The Greene Center helps students build habits to explore and test out their interests, and make decisions about what they want to do next and in the future. This session will review how the University of Rochester community works together to support students as they explore careers, gain experience and connect with alumni and employers.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 19 at 12 p.m. ET

Leaders from the CARE Network, Public Safety, Title IX Office, University Health Service, and University Counseling Center will share how they support students’ physical and emotional wellbeing on campus.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 12 at 4 p.m. ET

Curious about what it’s like to do research as a student on campus? Join a panel of current students with a variety of research experiences to talk about what research on and off campus has been like.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m. ET

Explore the city of Rochester and learn about its history during this virtual tour.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Academic sessions

The University’s academic departments are involved in the 2026 Experience like never before! Most departments are holding virtual sessions that any admitted student or family member can attend. You can also use department contact information to connect directly with faculty and staff from specific academic departments.

Register today

American Sign Language

  • Wednesday, March 30 at 10 a.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Anthropology

  • Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Audio and Music Engineering

  • Monday, March 28 at 8 p.m. ET

Biology

  • Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 a.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. ET

Biomedical Engineering

  • Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. ET
  • Monday, April 11 at 6 p.m. ET

Business

  • Tuesday, April 19 at 4 p.m. ET

Chemical Engineering

  • Monday, April 4 at 12 p.m. ET

Computer Science

  • Wednesday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m. ET

Dance (Program of Dance + Movement)

  • Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Data Science

  • Tuesday, April 12 at 8 p.m. ET
  • Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m. ET

Digital Media Studies

  • Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. ET

Economics

  • Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. ET

English

  • Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. ET

Film and Media Studies

  • Monday, April 18 at 2 p.m. ET

Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences

  • Thursday, April 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 20 at 6 p.m. ET

History

  • Thursday, April 7 at 12 p.m. ET

Humanities Center

  • Friday, April 15 at 2 p.m. ET

Linguistics

  • Thursday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m. ET

Mathematics

  • Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET

Mechanical Engineering

  • Thursday, April 1 at 6 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. ET

Modern Languages & Cultures

  • Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET

Music

  • Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. ET
  • Monday, April 4 at 9 a.m. ET

Optics

  • Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m. ET

Philosophy

  • Thursday, April 14 at 11 a.m. ET

Physics and Astronomy

  • Wednesday, March 30 at 9 a.m. ET

Political Science

  • Monday, March 28 at 10 a.m. ET
  • Saturday, April 2 at 4 p.m. ET

Psychology

  • Friday, April 22 at 12:00 p.m. ET

Religion & Classics

  • Thursday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Statistics

  • Friday, April 8 at 9 a.m. ET

Theatre (International Theatre Program)

  • Monday, March 28 at 5 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, March 29 at 10 a.m. ET

Culture and identity

These virtual events will explain the University’s commitment to supporting a diverse, inclusive, and accessible community for all of our students, staff, and faculty, who join us from all over the country, all over the world, and all walks of life.

Register today

Disability plays a role in the overall diversity of our University community. Learn about how to navigate the process of requesting and receiving accommodations both in and out of the classroom.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 13 at 3 p.m. ET

Stronger Together Session I: Student Perspectives

  • This session will allow you to engage with current Rochester students and learn about their diverse experiences.
    Date and time: Monday, March 28 at 8 p.m. ET

Stronger Together Session II: Academic Perspectives

  • This session will focus on Rochester’s academic environment and the support systems in place for students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
    Date and time: Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m. ET

Stronger Together Session III: Co-Curricular Perspectives

  • This session will focus on Rochester’s diverse resources and opportunities outside of the classroom.
    Date and time: Monday, April 11 at 8 p.m. ET

Join the Interfaith Chapel and the faith leaders at Rochester in a virtual open house dedicated to highlight the rich religious life on campus.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 26 at 3 p.m. ET

Community engagement is a central feature of the undergraduate experience at Rochester and encompasses both curricular and co-curricular activities. Join Glenn Cerosaletti, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Community Engagement, to learn about how Rochester students deepen their learning, achieve personal and professional growth, and strengthen communities beyond campus through community engagement.

Date and time: Thursday, April 21 at 6 p.m. ET

Learn more about LBGTQ+ life at Rochester and the support offered during this interactive Q&A with our LGBTQ+ Coordinator.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 26 at 4 p.m. ET

Virtual tours

Follow our student tour guides—the Meridians—around campus and get a live look into either academic or student life on campus. These will take place in Zoom webinar so you can watch and interact from wherever you are in the world.  Academic tours take place on March 30 and April 28.  Student life tours will be held on March 31, April 5, 19, and 28.

Register today

  •  Various times on March 30 and April 28
  • Various times on March 31, April 5, 19, and 28

 

Student life

Whether you want to interact with current or prospective students, or to learn more about where you’ll live and what you’ll eat, we have plenty of opportunities for you to get an inside look at campus life.

Register today

Representatives from Dining Services will give an overview of meal plans and how they can be used on campus. We will also walk you through our many food options and campus dining locations, and how we can work with you for special dietary needs or food allergies.

Date and time: Friday, April 8 at 9 a.m. ET

Join leaders from Residential Life and Housing Services to discuss on-campus living, the different first-year housing communities, and the first-year assignments process.

Dates and times:

  • Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. ET
  • Thursday, April 21 at 3 p.m. ET

This event is not only hosted by our students, but it’s also all about our students.  Join them for an interactive session with breakout rooms and meet a variety of club & organizations.

Date and time: Sunday, April 10 at 7 p.m. ET

Student support resources

We take pride in the resources and support we offer on campus for our students. Hear directly from the offices at Rochester that offer guidance and assistance.

Register today

In this session, CCAS advising staff and a peer advisor will discuss the College’s academic advising program, the Rochester Curriculum, and specialized academic opportunities available to students.

Dates and times:

  • Tuesday, March 29 at 4 p.m. ET
  • Friday, April 1 at 9 a.m. ET

Join the Office of Orientation and First-Year Programs for a warm welcome and to learn more about the next steps as you transition to Rochester. This session will include information on our Summer Online Orientation and registering for classes, as well as a preview of Fall Welcome Week.

Date and time: Saturday, April 16 at 9 a.m. ET

This session covers the pages that students have access to upon logging into FAOnline. We’ll also give you tips and tricks on navigating this financial aid online portal so you can make the most of the information that FAOnline provides.

Date and time: Thursday, April 14 at 3 p.m. ET

Learn about opportunities for international study, internships, and service learning. Information about programs, locations, and funding options and will be presented during this session.

Date and time: Wednesday, March 30 at 4 p.m. ET

Join staff from the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections during this live webinar and Q&A session. You’ll learn how students at Rochester can explore their interests in medicine and health care while preparing for a wide variety of professional and graduate programs as well as career pathways.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 6 at 12 p.m. ET

The Rochester experience on demand

We know you have busy schedules between school, work, and other commitments. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to view information about Rochester on your own time. Most of the live sessions above will be recorded and hosted on our 2026 Experience Playlist on YouTube. Plus, we’ll feature other great videos to give you a sense of what it’s like to be a Rochester student.

 

Check out the YouTube playlist

River Campus Libraries

With extensive resources and world-renowned collections, the River Campus Libraries provides a starting point for all scholarly endeavors at the University of Rochester—regardless of major or focus area. Check out this presentation by our librarians.

Financial aid

Financial aid packages are sent to students via email during March and April.  If you have questions about your aid package or you wish to discuss alternative financing options, feel free to schedule an appointment with your financial aid counselor via Calendly. We are available during normal business hours via phone, Zoom, or in person if you are visiting campus.  To confirm who your assigned aid counselor is and schedule an appointment, please visit our website.

Frequently asked questions about financial aid

No. If you’re not interested in applying for need-based aid and you will not be borrowing a Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or Parent PLUS loan, you do not need to submit the FAFSA or CSS Profile. All students are reviewed for merit-based scholarship eligibility as part of the process of being considered for acceptance to the University.

Federal Work-Study funding allows you to work on campus and earn up to that funding amount during the academic year. Jobs at Rochester aren’t assigned or guaranteed; you’ll need to apply and be hired by an on-campus employer once you’re on campus. You’ll have access to JobLink, our online employment portal, once you’ve registered for classes this fall. From there, you’ll be able to review available jobs and submit applications. You’ll also be able to attend our Job Fair during orientation to meet with employers and submit applications.

If you’re having issues logging in to FAOnline, and you’ve tried using the “forgot your password” link, call our office at (585) 275-3226 and we can help sort things out for you.

The abbreviated answer is that federal subsidized loans give more assistance to students with financial need. For a more detailed answer, see the Federal Student Aid website, which outlines the differences between federal subsidized and unsubsidized loan programs, as well as eligibility, how much can be borrowed, and how to apply.

Your aid package is reviewed each year based on the information you provide on the annual FAFSA and CSS Profile applications. If there are changes involving your income, assets, or other factors—including the number of people in your household or dependent children in your household attending college—your financial aid package may change.

Email the award notification to your financial aid counselor. They will add the scholarship to your aid package and send you a revised financial aid package.

Flower City living

Explore Rochester

There’s a lot to discover in Rochester, the third largest city in New York State. Our home combines big-city entertainment and culture with a small-town feel and an entrepreneurial spirit. Enjoy all that the region has to offer, including:

  • Scenic river walkway and majestic downtown waterfalls
  • World-renowned music and film festivals
  • Theaters, museums, and art galleries
  • Public parks with year-round activities for outdoor enthusiasts
  • Unique dining and shopping (plus all your brand-name favorites)
  • Professional sports, such as Red Wings baseball and Amerks hockey

More about Rochester

Better together

Enroll at Rochester

We can’t wait to welcome you to our community of students! And if you still have questions about Rochester, please get in touch with us.

Enroll today

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