Ivy League for the Lazy

Introduction
The University of Rochester is not you average school. The pamphlet says you can take whatever you want; you can even make up your own major! There are hundreds of clubs to become a part of and you can start your own club relatively easily if none of the existing ones appeal to you. Sounds good, right? Don't be fooled. This school is serious, especially in the sciences. This isn't to say you can't have fun. You can have the time of your life in Rochester, just don't expect to do anything off campus. If your idea of a good time is drinking a hundred beers and throwing yourself in the snow, then U of R is a great place. If you want to meet dangerously attractive women, hang out in the sun and party all day, U of R is not the school for you. Expect a serious academic environment with an average social life for the casual explorer. Making your own fun is paramount at this school, and if you like that U of R is the place for you.

Campus Life and Social Life
Your free time at U of R will consist of avoiding the cold with your good friends. The fraternity parties offer quite a bit of social interaction, but don't expect to network there. The weekends are a time for cutting loose and forgetting that you are at school to study. There are many clubs to join; at least one for every interst (we have karate clubs for all the various sub-disciplines, for petes sake). Sporting events are sparsely populated, as most of the teams are the worst in the league. To thoroughly enjoy a sporting event, you have to be quite trashed and enjoy watching your team get humiliated. Advertisement
Academics
The academics at the U of Rochester are under-rated. The science departments are fantastic and all the graduate people go on to ivy league graduate schools and fantastic jobs. The social sciences are nothing to scoff at either, with U of R boasting one of the best Economics programs in the country. The professors are very willing to help you out on an individual basis and are there for you; the brochures don't lie when they say you won't be just a number. One qualm is the TA's. Most of them are foreign and have a terrible grasp of the English language. Luckily for you, the professors act as a better version of your average TA and will field most questions personally. Rochester is not an easy school, but it is quite manageable and will prepare you very adequately for the future.

Student Body
There is not typical student at the U of R. Students run the gamut for loser nerd to incompetent frat monster. You will find people from all walks of life here and there's no reason to not make friends. You will learn a lot from just hanging out with the people on your hall.

In Closing...
Since Rochester is freezing cold for 3/4 of the year, it is advisable to bring adequate clothing. If the snow or rain bothers you, stay away. You wont see the sun for literally months. If you don't mind the ridiculous weather, Rochester is a fantastic school full of great people and excellent academics.