There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges, including this week’s School Spotlight, University of Rochester. While New Yorkers may know about the hidden gem that is the University of Rochester, students from around the country should most certainly take note. This private research university, with its unparalleled science and engineering programs and stellar music conservatory, offers approximately 6,500 undergraduates the chance to build their own curriculums without the confinements of strict distribution requirements. After selecting one major (from the 75+ available options), students round out their studies by choosing two “clusters” – which run the gamut from green engineering and graphics programming to legal studies and popular music. Just up the road from the University’s River Campus lies the Eastman School of Music, a world-class music facility that benefits even non-music majors. Rochester students can audition to take private studio lessons at Eastman on instruments such as harp, organ, jazz guitar, or voice. Fun fact: let’s say you’re on track to complete your major and minor, but just discovered a newfound interest in art history, geomechanics, or linguistics. Enter the Take Five Scholars Program. Students who are accepted into the program are given the unique opportunity to take one or two semesters-worth of courses tuition-free, all for the sake of satisfying their intellectual curiosity.
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