Student Profile
Daniel
- Class: Alum
- Major: Biology
- Gender: M
- High School: Metuchen High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
Not that this is news to anyone, but Rutgers is an extremely large school. Coming from a small high school I thought it would be a nice change of pace to attend classes in large lecture halls. What I didn't take into consideration was the minimal amount of contact I'd have with my professors and the impact that would have on my studies. Most professors will tell you that they encourage their students to ask questions during lecture but it really doesn't flesh out. For classes that don't have recitation periods you may find yourself looking for outside tutoring if you need extra help. New Brunswick is a haven for filth and depravity...and that's not a bad thing. Being drunk on the streets of New Brunswick at 2 am on a friday night is an experience you can take with you for the rest of your life. You'll meet strange characters, be invited into dark exciting places, and probably eat a horrifyingly greasy sandwich. School pride was minimal at best until the RU football team beat Louisville two years ago. Now they are putting millions into building a new stadium and selling more RU sweatshirts then they ever have. As far as frequent complaints go, there is one that must stand above the rest. To even mention another minor annoyance would belittle the intensity with which every RU commuter despises the parking administration. There will never be anywhere to park. And just when you think you've found something in the corner of east-bumble*** and you've assessed the literature provided to come to the conclusion that this is indeed a viable bone-fide parking space, you will return to your car only to find a red envelope stashed tenderly between the wiper blade and your windshield.
Academic Life
Without attending office hours there is no chance a professor will remember your name, which makes acquiring letters of recommendation a tricky task. Most classes are based on a curve which designates a certain percentage of students to receive A's down to F's, which makes classes very competitive. Of course I can only speak for the science classes. This is no community college. The chemistry department is known for having a tremendous fail rate. From my experience, the professors are extremely knowledgeable on their respective areas of study and are willing to hold office hours for students who are feeling unsure. If you are having doubts about your ability to keep pace in such a competitive atmosphere it is vital that you attend office hours weekly. It has saved my grade more than a couple times. For biology you are required to complete an internship before graduation. This turned out to be one of the greatest things I did at Rutgers since it provided me with some extra resume material.
Student Body
The vast majority of students at RU are from New Jersey
The Best Things
Grease Trucks
The Worst Things
Parking
