The University of Rochester is a private research university located in Rochester, NY. A medium-sized school, U of Rochester has notable achievements in science (its Institute of Optics was one of the first of its kind in the nation), but it also has a flair for the creative. In fact, like Brown, the school has an open curriculum, meaning there are no required subjects. The acceptance rate last year was 29%.
The purpose of the supplement
Imagine there is a Venn Diagram. In one circle there is you—your traits, your personality, the essence of who you really are. In another circle, there is the university, which also has unique traits, a personality, and an essence that distinguishes it from every other school. The supplement essay (or in the case of U of Rochester, project) should reflect the point at which these two circles converge.
The question:
The University of Rochester benefactor, entrepreneur, photography pioneer and philanthropist George Eastman said, “The progress of the world depends almost entirely upon education.” With that statement in mind, how will you use your University of Rochester experience to foster positive change in order to make the world, your community and those around you “ever better?”
The University of Rochester’s supplemental prompt is extremely unique. That should tell you something about the school itself and the kinds of students they are seeking to recruit. Whereas most schools simply offer one or multiple essays, Rochester provides an opportunity for students to answer the supplement with a 250-word essay, works of art, or research.
Regardless of how you choose to answer this question, your objective should remain the same: demonstrate to the school your past accomplishments and show them why those accomplishments make you a great fit at the university. One really important thing to note: the best plan of action is to portray yourself as a master in a very specific area. All of your classes, your resume, your extra-curriculars should say something about what kind of specialist you are. Perhaps you are an environmental activist, an opera singer (yes, Rochester has that), a mechanical engineer, or an international relations junkie. Whatever it is that you’ve done, demonstrate why you’re passionate and why Rochester (with its specific curriculum and club offerings) is the perfect fit for you to grow in that area. Even if you’re a mathematician who just wants to become a theater kid in college, for the purposes of this application, you are a mathematician who intends to become a Nobel prize-winning mathematician. (You can become a thespian once you actually get in).
The essay
If you choose the essay, start by doing a deep-dive into the university. Identify professors, research opportunities and extra-curriculars in your specialty. Don’t fall into the trap of talking abstractly. You need to include concrete examples of your own accomplishments, especially those that have made some kind of difference in your community, and tie them to specific examples at Rochester that will help you grow. Now, talk about how that education will contribute to the world around you. Note that we said in your community. Unless you’re Greta Thunberg, don’t assert that you’ve saved the world by attending a few marches. Think locally, both when discussing your past accomplishments and when you’re talking about the future you wish to create.
Also, don’t’ repeat accomplishments that are already on your resume or elsewhere in your application. Redundancy is a waste of space.
The project
Upload up to three works of your own art (e.g. pictures, video, performances, literary) and use the space below to provide a brief explanation as to how the art is tied to making the world, your community and those around you “ever better.”
You should feel free to choose this prompt even if you don’t intend to pursue an art major. However, whatever you create needs to be really good. If you’re not a great videographer, don’t decide to be one now. The same rules as the essay apply. Avoid redundancies. Make sure whatever you’re doing demonstrates accomplishment and competency in your expertise and tie it to the education at Rochester. The emphasis for this prompt is on your past accomplishments. Don’t get hung up on demonstrating your future desires here.
Research
Upload an abstract describing your own related research and use the space below to provide a brief explanation as to how the research is tied to making the world, your community and those around you “ever better.”
Again, make this project very centric to your area of expertise. It’s okay to incorporate future ideas here but weave in your past accomplishments, as well.
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