Dilek Canakci
School: Nazareth College (grad student, human resources/management major)
Hometown: Rochester
Best Cup of Coffee: Java's (16 Gibbs St), "Their Mexican blend is the best."
Friday Night Hangout: Park Avenue, "Lots of restaurants and shops to see."
Advice for Freshmen: "Ask a lot of questions, unless you ask you'll never know. The people here are very friendly."
David Pacific
School: Nazareth College (senior, piano performance/pedagogy major)
Hometown: Verona, NY
Favorite Thing to do in Rochester: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concerts
Best On-Campus Study Spot: Colie's Café
Best Cup of Coffee: Equal Grounds (750 South Ave)
Favorite Restaurant: Aja Noodle Co. (2602 Elmwood Ave/42 Perinton Hills, Fairport) "They have a $2 student special. It's like ramen, only better."
Best Place for a Date: Highland Park
Jessica Romeo
School: Nazareth College (senior, communications major)
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Favorite Thing to do in Rochester: Walking alongside the canal
Best Place for a Date: Picnic in Webster Park (255 Holt Rd) or Mendon Ponds Park (95 Douglas Rd, Honeoye)
Best Cup of Coffee: Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters (many area locations)
John Mosher
School: Nazareth College (senior, nursing major)
Hometown: Canajoharie, NY
Favorite Thing to do in Rochester: Seeing movies at the IMAX (Tinseltown, 2291 Buffalo Rd)
Best Place for a Date: Cheesecake Factory (Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Ave). "It's a little expensive, but it's worth it."
Best Place to Eat: Fairport Hots. "Get the Garbage Plate - if you're in Rochester, you have to try it."
Coolest Thing About Rochester: "The festivals. It seems like there's one every other weekend here. It's fun to just wander around those. Plus it's free."
Josh Hien
School: Nazareth College (junior, philosophy major)
Hometown: Avon, NY
Favorite Thing to do in Rochester: Work at the campus radio station, WNAZ.
Best Place to Eat: Buffalo Wild Wings (382 Jefferson Rd)
Best On-Campus Study Spot: Study rooms in the Lorette Wilmot Library.
Advice for Freshmen: "Just find stuff to get involved in - clubs, work study, community service - everyone has interests, so it's great to find people who have similar interests as you."
Max Bigeveli
School: UR (recent graduate, health and society major)
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Best On-Campus Hangout: The Hive, a café with arcade games, in the Wilson Commons
Advice for Freshmen: "Study hard during your freshmen year, but have fun too while you're here."
Alex Papastrat
School: UR (grad student, chemical engineering)
Hometown: Sidney, NY
Best Hangout: Tap & Mallet (381 Gregory St)
Favorite Restaurant: Mise en Place (683 South Ave) or Good Luck (50 Anderson St.)
Best Cup of Coffee: Equal Grounds (750 South Ave)
Advice for Freshmen: "Explore off campus. Get out of the UR bubble! There's so much out there."
Michelle Wrue
School: UR (Ph.D. student, material science)
Best Place to Eat: "I usually cook at home, but I go to Flour City Diner (2500 East Ave) for Sunday brunch."
Advice for Freshmen: "You shouldn't go here for four years and not know anything about Rochester. Get out there and enjoy when you can."
Fatih Ekinci
School: UR (Ph.D student, economics)
Home country: Turkey
Favorite Thing to do in Rochester: Pick-up soccer on campus.
Best Place to Eat: Sinbad's (719 Park Ave) or King & I (1455 E. Henrietta Rd)
Best Cup of Coffee: Starbucks (many area locations)
Kevin Christiansen
School: RIT (physics major)
Hometown: Penfield, NY
Best Place to Eat Off-Campus: Five Guys Burgers (1100 Jefferson Rd)
Best Place to Eat On-Campus: Crossroads (inside Building 89)
Best Place to Study On-Campus: Third or fourth floor of Wallace Library.
Advice for Freshmen: "Don't stay in your room playing video games all year."
Greg Wyllie
School: RIT (biotechnology major)
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Favorite Thing to do On Campus: Rock climb at the Red Barn.
Best Place to Study: Idea Factory in Wallace Library.
Best Hangout: Buffalo Wild Wings (382 Jefferson Rd)
Advice for Freshmen: "Look around campus, don't stay in your room. There's lots to do, like the Red Barn. No one knows it's there."
Ryan Gaynor
School: RIT (digital cinema major)
Hometown: Falmouth, MA
Best Cup of Coffee: Starbucks (many area locations)
Best Place to Study: Third floor of Wallace Library. "You won't get any studying done in your room."
Coolest Thing About Rochester: "Lots of stores and places close by to go to."
Best Hangouts: Pearl (349 East Ave), Tilt (444 Central Ave), Soho East (342 East Ave).
Ilana Zatkowski
School: RIT (graphic design major)
Hometown: Brighton, NY
Best Cup of Coffee: Dunkin Donuts
Coolest Thing About Rochester: "Park Ave shops and food, and the town of Pittsford."
Remy Clock
School: RIT (graphic design major)
Hometown: Reno, NV
Best Place for a Date: Aladdin's on the Canal (Pittsford)
Favorite Thing to Do on Campus: Running
Erin Long
School: SUNY Brockport (nursing program)
Hometown: Lebanon, CT
Best Place to Study: Library balcony, lounge in Hartwell Hall
Coolest Thing About Rochester: "The diversity; so many different backgrounds, races, sexual orientations. Rochester is different from small towns."
Best Place for a Date: Sunset Drive-In in Middleport
Michael Weisenburg
School: SUNY Brockport (English major)
Hometown: Kendall, NY
Best Place to Eat: Tandoor of India (376 Jefferson Rd)
Coolest Thing About Rochester: "East End, the bars and Alexander St."
Best Place to Study: Learning center
Krishaon Ewing
School: SUNY Brockport (political science major)
Hometown: Lockport, NY
Favorite Thing to do On Campus: Go to the gym, swimming
Best Place for a Date: Picnic on the canal.
Advice for Freshmen: "Get a bike or scooter for campus."
Curtis Manson
School: SUNY Brockport (forensic science major)
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Favorite Thing to do On Campus: Play basketball
Advice for freshmen: "Clean your bathrooms!"
HOLD:
Salim Furth
School: UR (Ph.D student, economics)
Best Hangout in Rochester: South Wedge Bar
Best Place for Coffee: "My place! I brew my own every morning."
Advice for Freshmen: "Study math. I've never met anyone who regretted taking math and I know tons of people who wish they had taken more."
Carolyn Levine - 20 - Graphic Design Major - Pittsford
Best shopping: J Crew
Best place for a date: Ben and Jerry's in Pittsford village
Andy Ayala - 18 - Physical Education - Long Island
Best place for a date: Movie at the Strand
Sergio Gamez - 18 - Criminal Justice - Rochester
Best thing to do on a Friday night: Hang out in the Game Room, dance parties
Coolest thing about Rochester: Park Ave