Emerson College Top Questions

Emerson is good for two reasons: the connections and the opportunities. Emerson is basically a trade school for the industry, so there's a lot of hands-on learning. You don't talk about making a film, you make a film. The administration is a beuracratic nightmare that lives to screw the students over--say goodbye to your money, for the moment it enters the Emerson coffers it is sucked up by the president or the board members to pay for their condos, cars, etc. This parlays into the most frequent student complaint, that we pay a lot of money yet barely see any return.

I absolutely adore Emerson College. I'm so glad that I didn't end up at another school - this place has really become a home to me and I don't think I would have nearly as many opportunities for success in the future at any other school. Compared to a lot of other schools, Emerson is kind of small, but I've found that to be a good thing. It's not ridiculously small, it's just small enough that you can recognize most of the faces you see while walking around campus, but big enough that you can meet new people anytime you want. Most people seem fairly impressed when I tell them I go to Emerson - I think this school has established a solid reputation as a communications/arts college, and most people in that field would recognize that students who come out of Emerson know their stuff. What I really like about Emerson is that it allows you to take your education into your own hands. When I applied, I applied for the film program, and was placed in TV/Video instead. When I got here, I was a little disappointed about not being able to learn about film, but instead of being upset about it, I took matters into my own hands. While I was learning about TV in the classroom, I was learning about film through a handful of different extracurriculars. In fact, I'd say that right now I probably know more about film than TV because I was able to experience being on shoots right away and learn from hands on experience and other students advice. It's a real community here, and everyone is willing to share their knowledge. It's a really great thing. As far as controversy and complaints go...I don't know. I personally think it's ridiculous that Emerson doesn't provide on campus housing for all four years. I know they are working on that (the Paramount opens in 2009...just in time for me to graduate haha, GRRREAT.) but with the high prices of apartments in the city, it's just unrealistic to ask half the student body (who, by the way, is competing with students from about 100 other colleges in the area for apartments) to find their own off-campus housing. I also think this school is way too expensive, but I don't really know if there's a legitimate way to fix that. If we didn't pay so much god damn money we probably wouldn't have access to all this cool equipment. You get what you give I suppose.

The administration can be difficult to say the least. Sometimes it seems harder to deal with all the loopholes than it is to take and pass a class. But everytime I am in the classroom, I am happy with the professors that teach there, and the students opinions and enthusiasm. I think overall it is a friendly campus enviornment. Small enough that you get to at least know everyone's face, but big enough that you can find your own niche.

Emerson is very, very different from other colleges. The biggest thing is that there really isn't a campus. It is a totally urban school, based along the Boston Common. While there are definite downsides to not having a campus, Emerson could not be in a better location. Emerson is a great school if you know exactly what you want to do with your life, and do not plan on ever changing your mind. If you do change your mind, the options available to switch into are very specific and limited. For a school that emphasizes communications and the arts, many students have found it odd that Emerson offers very limited language and technical art classes. Photo classes are offered, but there are no other art classes available, which is clearly an area of interest within the student body. Emerson also only offers Spanish 1-2, French 1-2, and American Sign Language 1-4. I find this to reflect very negatively on the college, as languages seem to be of great importance to almost all majors the school offers.

I love coming into the city to have class everyday. There are so many things that someone could get involved with. I love how the classes are for the most part small and intimate so you get a lot of one on one time with the instructors. My favorite thing about Emerson though would have to be the access to the top of the line equipment. There are not many schools that can say they have Avid editing suites or a professional television studio! Also, the external programs are unbeatable. If you want to live in Los Angeles, they'll place you there for a semester with an internship, or if you want to study in the Netherlands, go ahead!

There is a lot of drama at Emerson but you don't have to be involved in drama to be involved.

Emerson is awesome because we are right downtown Boston which is THE college town. Not only are we in the middle of the city, but we get to be hands on within our majors right away. Because Emerson is basically a liberal arts school, you need to know what you want to do when you come here. It's not a school for someone who may want to try science or math on top of something more arts based. Emerson has let me get my hands dirty which is the best way to learn. Emerson doesn't really have a campus so we typically flow out into the Boston Common during nice weather or spend time in the various editing suites/doing extracurricular activities. Emerson is very small and artsy so if you're looking for that big college experience, this is not the place. Overall it's been a wonderful experience and a wouldn't go anywhere else.

Emerson is a very concentrated school. The class sizes are great because they are pretty intimate and you get a lot of attention. For the most part the teachers are brilliant and care about their students. But sometimes the small size of the school can get a little annoying. The good thing is you see a lot of same people everyday, which is good because you see your friends and people you like very often so they become familiar and you get close with them. The bad thing is you see the same people everyday even the ones you don't ever want to see. The students don't necessarily gossip that much, but since it is small, people find out about things. Sometimes it can be like a high school in that respect, but the people are really great. They are interesting and cool and, for the most part, very open and welcoming. Don't come to Emerson if you don't know what you want to do. If you already know what you want to do in life and know what you want your major to be, Emerson is perfect because the programs for all the majors are really great, but not if you don't know what major you want to be. The school isn't good for trying things out. It is specialized and trains you from the beginning. The campus is smack dab in the middle of Boston, which is amazing. We are right by the Boston Common and Public Gardens, so on nice days, there are people from all over walking around and playing frisbee which is so much fun. Almost everything is within walking distance, but if not, the T(subway) is right there. I LOVE the T. The only thing I hate is that it stops running at 12:30, which really blows. A lot. But there are always cabs and sharing a cab will usually cost like $4 a person if you get 4 people. Overall, the people are fantastic, the programs are fun and interesting, and the campus is beautiful. But there is virtually no diversity and people dress really individually, but they are all variations of the same style. But being different is encouraged. That's why the people are so interesting. But I love it.

The size of Emerson is just right, although some facilities need to be updated due to our growing population. The one big thing I would change is the library- cramped, under-resourced, and LOUD. Emersonians are for the most part academic, but unfortunately the small percentage that isn't is also the percentage that uses the library as a social gathering place. Complaints: Library, not enough language courses offered, the Administration I think people are proud to go to Emerson, but we're not super into school pride. Let's put it this way-- I really enjoyed my first year and a half but because of things like limited on-campus study space for off campus students, an elitism that seems to surround the greek life and SGA, and not enough non-major classes (language, history, etc.) I spent my senior year away from the Emerson Campus student teaching and doing an internship. ALSO- I'm not emo and don't mean to put down any organizations, but I was just over the drama by senior year.

Emerson is amazing - if you know exactly what you want to do for your career. If you think you might want to change, or get a broader educational experience, you should probably go to BU or something. The classes are extremely hands-on and interactive, and we don't like to waste time on math, science and all those other nonsense subjects. We're artists, dammit! Career services is great, they really know about the industries and try to get you emplyed as soon as you graduate. Some common complaints: students don't tend to be very friendly or outgoing; the school can be hesitant to upgrade equipment; the classes are competitive, both to get into and in their projects and curriculum; don't tell the athletes, but the Emerson "Lions" are kind of a joke; campus life tries to be social, but unless you're very outgoing and willing to go looking for people, there's not much going on socially at the school. But you're in the middle of the city, so who cares?