A visit to University of Rochester today with 8 wonderful colleagues was a great way to start the week of college tours in upstate NY! I've long been a fan of U of R, but learned some new tidbits today. The #1 reasons students choose to attend the University of Rochester is for the flexible curriculum. The #2 reason is for the research opportunities: 77% of students engage in research before they graduate. The esteemed Eastman School of Music is on a separate campus downtown, and all UR students can take classes and lessons there. Back on the main River Campus, biology is the top major, with a choice of 9 concentrations. If a student is itching to pursue another field of study outside their major just because, UR allows a student to take an extra semester or a 5th year FOR FREE! 80% of students live on campus all 4 years, and underclassmen have 3 - three!! - student advisors on each hall: a social advisor, an academic advisor, and a traditional RA, or residential life advisor. Lots to love here! There are 7 libraries on campus, and the one I saw was gorgeous. I'll leave you with a really fun fact: Susan B. Anthony named the University of Rochester as beneficiary on her life insurance policy, which allowed the university to reach their fundraising goal to allow admission of women. Great stuff! The university's motto is Meliora, which means "ever better." Ever better, indeed!