Rochester College

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

Academic programs to help save the world. From my nursing program to my social entrepreneurship major, my academics give students both the drive to serve others and the know-how to do it well.
My football team has gone undefeated since 1959. (Okay, so I don't have a football team. But I do have this long running joke.)
Value-driven vacations. My students love to travel, especially when a mission trip is involved. Whether you've got a week to spend in Detroit or a month to spend in Uganda, I'll find you a group to go with.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

A Netflix account. This is college, after all. Where else would you find fodder for your movie nights with friends?
A hungry tummy. I like to feed you. There are tons of snacks available during campus ministry's weekly happy hour and in the student development office for a pick-me-up...and in my tutoring center for some brain food. And in...well...you get the idea.
A fandom. I'm pretty nerdy. Is your heart Sherlocked? Are you a Whovian? Do you love to belt along to the Tangled soundtrack? We'll get along fine.
Running shoes. The scenic Clinton River Trail runs right through my backyard. Even if jogging isn't your thing, you're going to at least want to take a stroll down there on a sunny afternoon.
A deck of cards. You're going to school in Michigan...learning how to play Euchre is basically a pre-req.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

In 2008, I was the first college in Michigan to start offering all incoming freshman a free MacBook. That's right: small school, big swag.
The Big Red Barn. Back in the day, one of the original property owners built a barn out of a Sears kit, and now it's a historical landmark.
I'm located in one of the best small cities in the United States. No joke. Time's Money magazine says so.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

Weekends with me are pretty chill. Most of the time, local students go home to see their folks (and, let's be honest, that much needed sleep feels better in your own bed).

If you're hanging around, though, never fear. Students who stay over the weekend are always down for movie nights in the auditorium or ping pong and board games in DC lobby.

I also host dances, theater productions, or sporting events over the weekend, so you'll have plenty of chances to break out your formal wear or cheer on your Rochester Warriors. (You can do both at the same time, but you'll look kind of funky with both a ball gown and a foam finger.)

For those who love the nightlife and got to boogey, downtown Rochester features excellent coffee shops, restaurants, and bars that are perfect for your weekend ventures.

Favorite Hangouts:

If you love hipsters and open mic nights, Dessert Oasis in downtown Rochester is the coffee shop for you.
Legend holds that if you and a special someone walk three times around Lake Norcentra, then you're destined to be married. Don't miss out on your ring by spring.
The Utley-McCauley Student Center has the usual TV and billiards table amenities of a campus hangout, but with an added bonus: every weekday morning, Kibo Corner serves up coffee there. Best of all, 100% of Kibo's profits go to support sustainable development projects in Uganda.

Quirks:

I have almost as many geese as I do students. It's a common joke on campus that they might one day outnumber the humans.
Unlimited opportunity. Want to major in chemistry but still write for the school magazine? I have plenty of activities to go around. That means that even after you pick an area of study, you can still dabble in organizations run by other departments. With your jam-packed schedule, your biggest challenge is going to be finding time to sleep.
My gym is in the middle of a huge redesign project. Though the gym is still used for athletic practices and intramurals, most students take their daily workouts off campus. Fortunately, all residential students get a free membership to a local athletic club, so this inconvenience ain't no thang.

Famous Alumni:

Since I'm a mere fifty-seven years old (practically a baby, by college standards), I haven't graduated any famous alumni yet. But give me a try...you could be the first.