Student Profile
Amy
- Class: Junior
- Major: Pre-Law
- Gender: F
- High School: Communications High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
I just love the whole dynamic of Rutgers. I like that it's set in an urban area where public transportation is so close. College ave is blocks from fine dining, shops, and nightlife spots. I enjoy getting to go to a different campus everyday and I think the bus system is terrific. Rutgers and the city of New Brunswick makes for an interesting college experience, one that prepares you and sets you in the real world. Although aspects of this city are very dangerous and neighborhoods may not be very affluent, I feel it's good for students to see that. It's humbling, it makes you keep in mind what you're working towards by earning a college degree, the amount of people you can help. Living close to College Ave I get nervous when I'm walking home from the computer lab at 2 or 3 in the morning. But when I walk by a Rutgers Patrol car it puts my mind a little more at ease. The College Ave area is very well monitored and controlled. The city Rutgers is situated within also creates a wealth of internship opportunities and business connections. I feel there's a really strong sense of Rutgers pride. I love that Rutgers alumni help out undergrads as much as they can. I love that our stadium is painted scarlet with the red shirts of all the screaming Rutgers students and fans during football games. I'll never forget the chaos of rushing the field during the Louisville game. I'm extremely proud to tell people that I go to Rutgers.
Academic Life
There isn't enough time, during a student's four years at Rutgers, to take classes they're simply interested in. There's no time to dabble. Every class you take must be specifically geared toward you're core or major requirements. If by chance Freshmen year you take a course that does not count for either, you'll likely have to take a summer class to graduate on time. Rutgers is an excellent education, especially for the cost of undergraduate tuition. Many in state students won't have nearly as much debt to deal with after they graduate then students from other universities that may not even be as prestigious as Rutgers. The University education is affordable. The textbooks are not. Many students pay for their textbooks out of their own pocket. If a student is taking 5 classes, it's likely their textbook total will amount to almost $400! This is incredible. Sometimes books can go up to $100 just for one class. I feel that professors need to be much more sensitive to cost when they select the required readings for their classes. Students should try to find out what textbooks they'll need before the semester starts, and try websites like Half.com, Facebook Marketplace, etc. These places may offer the books at a fraction of the Rutgers/NJ Bookstore costs.
Student Body
No one should ever feel out of place at Rutgers. I can't think of a single race that isn't represented in the student body. Although most Rutgers students are from New Jersey a lot are from overseas. I became best friends freshmen year, and we still remain best friends 3 years later, with a girl that lived on my floor in the dorms. She's from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, all the way in Asia! I never would've guessed that I'd have a best friend that wasn't from this country. It's one of the most interesting things, you learn so much from each other. I feel I may have learned more socially and culturally than I have academically. Living with all different kinds of people, having roommates, these experiences teach you so much. You'll realize how large the world we live in really is. Personally, my friends at Rutgers are very mixed: middle-eastern, Caucasian, Indian, Asian, Russian, the list goes on. I feel this is a standard at the university. The one thing we do all have in common is we all come from relatively the same socioeconomic status. Though Rutgers represents people from all different socioeconomic classes, I'm finding it harder and harder to tell just by looking at people, who'd be on the high and low ends of the strata. All the girls wear Uggboots, or boots that look similar, they all have wristlets, and Northfaces, and thin legged jeans.
The Best Things
the campus dynamic
The Worst Things
registering for classes
