The University of Rochester is a top-tier private research University located in upstate New York on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The campus, just 2 miles south of downtown is spread across 707 acres and home to approximately 6300 students. The city of Rochester is well known for high tech innovation and a thriving community of restaurants, shops, and museums.

Visitor Information: Tour U of Rochester

Transportation: The University's River Campus is about two miles from the Greater Rochester International Airport (airport code ROC). Commercial taxi service and car rentals are available from the airport. The Rochester Amtrak station located at 320 Central Avenue, also has taxi service and car rentals available. The station is located on the municipal bus line that serves the River Campus. Greyhound buses travel to Rochester from multiple locations in the Northeast. 

Stay: Staybridge Suites Rochester University is the most convenient option to campus, just a half-mile from the school. Most families first choice when visiting is The Hilton Garden Inn, located in the new College Town Complex—it’s comfortable, clean and modern, and within walking distance or a short shuttle ride to the main campus. Offering more amenities, the Del Monte Lodge Renaissance located on the Erie Canal is approximately 15 minutes away in the suburb of Pittsford, a cute historic town.

Coffee:  On campus join the students on their way to class at Peet’s Coffee at Wegmans Hall or the Starbucks in Wilson Commons.  Head to local institution, Java’s near the Eastman School of Music—it’s great for sweets as well. Rochester is a town that takes its coffee seriously with a spate of hip coffeehouses opening in the last few years including local favorites Glen Edith Coffee Roasters, Boulder Coffee Co, and Fuego Coffee Roasters. 

Breakfast: A Rochester landmark, The Frog Pond on Park Avenue serves yummy banana pancakes, plus a large selection of omelets and egg benedicts. If the line is too long, try Greek diner Jines next door.

Lunch:  Owl House located in a quiet area in an unassuming house, surprises with a hipster vibe, inventive food plus an outdoor garden. Graze on small plates, salads and creative sandwiches, with many options for the vegan and vegetarians in your group. If you’re in town on the weekend, make a reservation in advance for their popular brunch and don’t skip their killer Bloody Mary’s. Alumni and those in the know go to Sal’s Birdland for wings and chicken cooked in their famous Sal’s Sassy Sauce. There’s no atmosphere at all, but one parent told us you won’t leave without a bottle of Sal’s sauce to use at home as a marinade or dipping sauce for your next BBQ. (If you’re not heading to Rochester anytime soon, purchase the sauce on Amazon.)  Wegmans, arguably one of the best supermarkets anywhere has their flagship store in Pittsford. With everything from excellent prepared foods to a café on site, it’s perfect for a quick meal. (Note: Wegmans has several locations in Rochester).

Dinner

Casual: Dinosaur Bar-B-QUE, one of the original branches of the popular chain, has amazing ribs, and other classic BBQ items. There are no reservations taken so be prepared to wait. Rochester’s other favorite BBQ joint is Sticky Lips BBQ.  Students rave about the burgers at the Gate House, located at The Village Gate Mall. (Don’t be thrown off, the mall may look like an abandoned warehouse, but it has become a foodie destination in the last few years.)  The vibe and cocktails rock at Ox and Stone, serving Latin-inspired food late into the night in a landmark mansion from the 1880s. Tony D’s specializes in Italian comfort food served overlooking the Genesee River. You must order one of the signature coal-fired pizza for the table! 

A Step Up: The innovative American menu at Good Luck is meant for sharing, making for a fun and delicious night out! Lento is a favorite farm to table restaurant in the Village Gate Mall. JoJo’s in Pittsford has everything from wood-fired pizzas to an excellent steak frites. Char is the place for a traditional steak dinner; a bonus is the fire pit outside, perfect for cocktails before or after your meal.

Late Night Snack:  Insomnia cookies located in College Town delivers to your door! For the best soft serve ice cream don’t miss Abbott’s Custard with several locations around town.

Workout: Breathe Yoga in College Town is a beautiful studio with a juice bar and a great clothing selection. There are hiking trails all around the Rochester area, but if you have time, about 1 hour away is Letchworth State Park (also referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East.)

Local Attractions: Take a guided tour exploring the history of photography at the George Eastman House, the former home of Kodak founder George Eastman. Check the schedule at the Eastman Theater before you arrive, the stunning concert hall is known for its great acoustics. The theater attracts big name acts as well as student ensembles from Rochester’s University’s Eastman School of Music. Join a sightseeing tour on wheels with Rochester Pedal Tours, where everyone pedals together on one vehicle with a guide. (The pub-crawl is a perfect gift for your student when they turn 21.) If visiting in September, check out the Rochester Fringe Festival, a 10-day festival of music, theater, dance, and comedy.

Views From a College Counselor: Stuart Nachbar of Educated Quest remarks on his recent visit to Rochester: The University of Rochester (UR) lands on the lists of many college-bound students who are looking for an “academically serious research university.”An independent (non-religious) university with around 5,400 undergraduates, UR is most similar to schools such as Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Johns Hopkins, Tufts and middle-sized Ivy League schools such as Brown, Harvard, Princeton and Yale. It is the only highly selective research university that offers a tuition-free fifth year for students to take undergraduate coursework outside of their major for enrichment or skill development, or to launch a start-up business. There are also several combined degree programs. In addition, with the exception of a writing-intensive first-year seminar, there are no required courses. Students declare a major in one area (Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering) and take clusters of three or more courses in the other two. Clusters often become second majors or minors. The university’s connections are global and quite extensive. Graduates are quite likely to find the same employment opportunities or gain admissions to the same advanced degree programs as their peers who attended Johns Hopkins or an Ivy. To see Stuart’s full profile of Rochester click here. Be sure to click on the extended profile link at the bottom of the page to see a comprehensive guide that includes facts on SAT and ACT mid ranges, comparable colleges, curriculum, the alumni network, safety on campus and costs—just to name a few.

Need to Know:  As of Spring 2016, there is no Uber or Lyft in upstate New York, and taxis can be pricey. There is a good bus system for students, but as a visiting parent, it’s good to have a car to get around.