Education

Back-to-school guide: Emerson College

August 30, 2015

3 minutes to read

We asked current students and recent graduates to give us the inside scoop on their colleges before the school year begins. Here, current students Anna Buckley and Claire Nobles, who are staff members of the school newspaper The Berkeley Beacon, tell us the best and worst things about Emerson College, and also give advice to incoming freshmen.

Click here for a full-sized version of the cheat sheet

Tell us about three things you think are “right’’ with your school:

1. The selection of professors with real-world experience, advice, and connections in the field you’re trying to break into. Since Emerson is more of a technical liberal arts college, this is invaluable.

2. Extracurricular opportunities that emulate professional opportunities at Emerson are abundant, so it can be initially overwhelming if you sign up for too many things at the Organization Fair. Once you find the organizations you’re really interested in, though, you’ll make connections outside of class, add to your reel or portfolio, and spend time doing things you actually want to do.

3. With fewer than 4,000 students, the school can feel a little small at times, but this also means smaller classes and the feeling that you’re not just a number. Professors know your name, usually by the end of the first week of class, and you’re always going to see someone you know walking down Boylston (for better or for worse). Classes are hands-on and more project-based than exam-based.

Tell us about three things that you think are “wrong’’ with your school:

1. Film and theatre students are given priority. Writing, literature and publishing students don’t even get more than $5 of print credits. The EDC is basically a film kid’s mecca.

2. Going to school in downtown Boston is fun — there’s always something to do, a new restaurant to try, or a concert a T ride away. Emerson doesn’t have a quad, but we always say the Common is our campus… until there are three feet of snow on the ground. Our location can’t be beat, but there’s not too many places students can just hang out, especially once you move off-campus and don’t have access to dorm common rooms.

3. Besides Orientation, there are very few campus-wide events that unite the student body. Emerson’s traditions are pretty much non-existent. Many students don’t go to a single athletic event during their four years, and there’s no all-school spring concert at the end of the year like there is at other Boston universities. Though you’ll see a lot of classmates wearing Emerson hoodies, that’s about as far as school spirit goes.

What advice, specific to your school and campus, would you lend an incoming freshman?

Don’t let yourself get too comfortable if you’re in a suite as a freshman. Branch out, hang out in other dormitories (especially their common rooms!), and try to make as many friends as possible. It can be easy to cling to the first few friends you make, but opening yourself up to as many different people as possible will make you happier (and create longer lasting friendships) in the long run.

Since Emerson is pretty major-specific, starting as early as your first semester, don’t be discouraged if the first few classes in your department aren’t exactly what you expected them to be. A lot of students end up switching their majors, but as you start taking higher-level courses, you can tailor what you’re studying to your interests. The required “perspective’’ classes may seem annoying because they’re not part of your major, but they can really expand your horizons and help you find something you might not have realized you liked.

Lastly, because of the nature of a communications and arts school, it’s easy to compare yourself to your peers. It always seems like that person next to you in class has 10 times as many internships as you (plus time for a social life!), but try to be inspired instead of competitive. Ask your classmates if they have any connections, and listen to their experiences. And don’t feel like you’re not doing enough—at a school like Emerson, all students push themselves to the limit. If you’re happy with that, by all means go for it, but don’t feel like you have to get no sleep in order to be successful.