Emerson College Top Questions

Most of the classes are small enough that your professors will know you by name, even if you don't talk a lot. For most of the general education classes, the professors aren't going to be older than you by much (grad school students), so since they're young, they try to make the classes fun and interesting. Not to say that the older professors don't make things interesting... The classes at Emerson are very atypical, in that they are very geared towards the arts and your major (this could be trouble if you ever plan to transfer out, which one hopes you wouldn't). Emerson is very devoted to gearing its students toward getting jobs or internships, so while math and science classes are required general education courses, it's easy to get those waivered. They want you to focus on your major instead of worrying too much about silly math and science (I say "silly" because like most Emerson kids, I hate math and science). Don't quote me on this, but Emerson supposedly has the highest job placement in the entire country. People hire Emerson kids because they know what they're doing.

Emerson has an unofficial motto: "Emerson College: where classes get in the way of education." Some students bemoan their classes, since they'd rather be getting firsthand experience (and do) through student organizations. As at any school, Emerson kids have to work through a series of general education requirements, but they're more relaxed than at other liberal arts colleges. Most kids arrive at Emerson knowing precisely the major they want, so the curriculum is tailored to suit those majors from the start. A film major, for example, will have some "gen eds," but also be immersed in film history classes and introductory media production classes during their very first year. And anything you don't learn immediately in production classes, for example, you pick up quickly by assisting on club film shoots and upperclassmen's productions, which you can then translate to production classes. The fun really starts when you're focusing solely on your department's classes, and the opportunities for learning are immense. Classes are generally small (about 16-24 students), and the professors know their stuff. Some professors are a little disorganized, but only if they're juggling their own creative projects on the side; all of them have loads to share about their field, regardless.

Emerson students are extremely competitive with one another, but in a productive way. Because most of us are in Marketing or Theatre or Writing, we tend to have a huge range of ideas and everyone is extremely passionate about their beliefs. Most of my classes have group projects, and the competitiveness is a great way to get used to how businesses run in the actual working environment.

Academics at Emerson are different from most other American colleges in that you don't have to worry about taking a certain number of math credits, a certain number of science credits, a language, etc etc. Unless you did REALLY badly on your SATs, you don't have to take any of those at all. You get started on your major requirements freshman year! The downside of that is that if you decide you want to switch majors, it's hard to do so. There are some required classes but these are tailored to the fact that Emerson is a communications college - for example, one class is public speaking. Education at Emerson is geared towards preparing you for the field. Most people know exactly what they want to do and are using an Emerson education to help them get there. Class sizes tend to be pretty small. Lecture classes are slightly larger but the biggest lecture class I've been in had about 40 students. My major is journalism, and my professors mostly have experience in the field. For example, my Journalism Law & Ethics professor only teaches that one class at Emerson and the rest of the time she is a practicing lawyer. Some classes are set up as discussion classes - there are debate classes and public speaking classes, for example - while others are purely lecture classes. Students don't really talk about class outside of class but there are exceptions. The workload is significant but generally pretty steady and paced. I don't get too stressed and it's a lot better than the college I transferred from.

The academics are awesome. I loath the gen-eds, but that's because I'm just not interested in them. My favorite classes (this semester) are improvisation, and acting. The cause me to challenge my self to new heights as a performer, as well as others in the class. We talk about these classes all the time outside of class. Indeed, there is a certain level of competition, but that is to be expected in the arts. There is a definite push for students to get jobs outside of school, especially the actors. Which is great, because you don't usually see this.

After a semester or two at Emerson, you'll be more than glad to discuss silly mundane things. At Emerson, all discussions are intellectual. Its impossible to escape film critics, political analysis, and 'poets.' Class is intellectual, your friends are intellectual, and eventually, you'll be one too. At first its delightful-- you'll feel quite college-y. By the end, your brain will explode. Marketing majors are bloodthirsty. They're competitive to the millionth degree and will stop at nothing until they're the CEO of Disney. They'll work till 3 in the morning to finish a group project and suck up to the professor like it guarantees entrance to heaven. Shameless self-promotion seems to be a common theme among Emerson students. The basic required classes are quite simple and easy. Professors seem to make sure everyone gets an A. After that, there's not quite so much hand-holding. Classes required for your major, especially the higher level classes are a little more difficult and involved. Emerson makes great use of technology. In most classes they at least introduce technology that is used in the field. The technology is always available for our use. By the time I graduate from Emerson, I feel I'll be at least competent at my job.

Classes are small. Loud-mouths get all the attention. Like anywhere else. Workshops are great and suck. Every class gets repetitive after a while because all the assignments are routine. Most classes are discussion based. Emerson students THINK they are talking about really intellectual things but most of the time they are showing off and lying. They name-drop like crazy but you can tell they don't really know wtf they are talking about. There are a few hidden gems of intelligent people. WLP is the writing dept and it is pretty good. Don't expect amazing writers. The majority of people were probably told in high school they were awesome and still think so except that they aren't. There are, again, a few gems of great writers. Huge egos in every major, though. Scary. I feel like the gen ed's are incredibly easy and a joke. The major classes are pretty specialized. They should offer more options in the majors though. WLP majors end up repeating classes which is fine but repetitive.

I must say, as much stupid scenester drama that there is at Emerson- it is a great Academic school. Most professors have real-life experience, they have written, published, or designed books and magazines. I've had a current playwright, a former editor of Boston Magazine, a prize winning poet, a science fiction author-in-residence... just tons of real writing experience. Some professors really care about you, they offer themselves after-class, and have meetings with students to make sure they're really getting everything. And some teachers just don't care- it's their job, they go in, teach, leave, and don't talk to you ever again. For the most part, the teachers have real passion about their field, and you can tell. Class participation is extremely common- Emersonians love to hear themselves talk, and love to state the obvious. This is especially prevalent in Ethics, Philosophy, and Literature classes. They often take these conversations outside class, to the local Starbucks. Not because they are sincerely passionate about the subject, but because they are hoping that someone will hear them name-drop Proust and either ask them out because they're so deep, or offer them a job so they won't be homeless when they graduate. One thing I'd change- Emerson makes it super-easy to get out of having to take any math, science, or foreign language requirements. I didn't have to take any of those classes because I either scored well on my SAT, or took four years of them in high school. Because of this, many Emersonians lack basic quantitative reasoning skills, and can't do basic math. The education at Emerson is definitely NOT geared towards getting a job- it leans more towards the "enlightening" a young mind side of things. Everyone knows that writing, film, and theater aren't very practical studies, and it will be tough to break into these fields post-graduation. There's even a Facebook group called "I'm going to Emerson so I can be homeless when I graduate."

in the classes i've been, there isn't an extensive amount of participation. professors usually have to pry students to participate. I don't feel students have a lot of intellectual interaction outside of class unless its required. students aren't really competitive but they do care about grades.

Math is almost non-existent. It is a very artsy school, so the curriculum isn't the hardest out there. When it comes to theater, the students are VERY competitive. Emerson Stage is sooooo competitive. Other shows are easier to get into.