<p>I will be attending the accepted student's day which should give me a good idea of what the average day is like, but i was wondering if any current students (or incoming freshmen who have stayed a night) could comment on the average day (workload, social life, athletics - if any, etc). </p>
<p>also does anything change all that much during weekend (aka do a lot of people go home or do they generally stay on campus)</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I'm old enough to be the father of an applicant so I'll be interested to see the answers as well. We used to have something called "F Tests". The "F" nominally stood for freshman, but some thought it was a normal grade. For these tests virtually the entire class, with a few exceptions, would march off twice a week to an 8 a.m. exam in Calc, Chem or Physics. After the test they would pass out mimeographed (I'll bet many in the class of '13 don't even know what that is) answer sheets. It could make for a depressing walk back to the freshman dorms.</p>
<p>Luckily, RPI has become a kinder, gentler but still academically rigorous place. I don't think the tests are any easier (may even be harder), but as far as I know they don't do them in the same sheep-to-slaughter manner. I think there are also more support resources. The big challenge for freshman that are used to being at the top of the class without any help is learning that it's not only OK, it's encouraged and expected that you will use them. Having been admitted you have the smarts, but getting a little help when you need it can make life a lot easier. </p>
<p>As for weekends, even most of the local students stayed on campus. I grew up only 30 miles away but rarely went home during the term. I doubt that has changed. With a completely student funded and run Union there were always plenty of social, artistic and sporting activities available. There was also a club for virtually any interest and if it didn't exist you could petition the Union board (all students) to create one.</p>
<p>This mom is "old" as I do know what a mimeograph is! Yikes. My daughter and I have a close relationship and she shares a decent amount with me although I'm sure not everything. </p>
<p>RPI is a tough school, the grading is insane. There seems to be some days where she is really swamped and up very late but that is not the majority. My D was in the top 10 at her school and she has gone for extra help for some classes. It is common there. Some courses and professors have more of a "you figure it out" style and others "teach". You can't fall behind and like Padre mentioned you can't be afraid to ask for the help. There are not enough graded assignments/tests each semester to wait around for the next one to get better before you get the help. </p>
<p>There is a lot to do, a lot of club, school sponsored activities, fraternities, and she talks about the occasional party or two on the weekends but RPI is not really known as a party school. I know it goes on- just not mega excessive like in some colleges. There are a lot of sports, she's been to all kinds of games, lacrosse, football, D1 hockey. She goes away for a few military events (she ROTC) on weekends here and there and still managed so it's certainly possible to have a life and have some fun and do well. The town of Troy is sketchy (or worse) but the kids do go there to a few places but ALWAYS in GROUPS, ALWAYS in GROUPS! when the weather is good. There have been some problems and student need to stay aware of them all the time.</p>
<p>She loves it there so it has been a great decision for her. Yes- I would say it has more than it's share of geeky, nerdy types. Then it has a portion of gamers, which she has the misfortune of rooming with one this year (I say that because the girl is anti-social). The other downside is that the girl/guy ratio is not so great. Guys will tell you that is a downside for them but it is a downside for both. My daughter got used to it very fast- that when you sit down at a table or in a class that 75% of the group will be male. Maybe all of them - it just is what it is. </p>
<p>The testing Padre mentioned sounds absolutely horrible- haven't heard of anything like it. They having testing blocks for some classes. Mostly for the classes that have short class times where a test might need a longer time period. So if calc normally is 50 min. there may be a "testing block" for calc at a different time and day of the week for 120 min but it is only used if there is a calc test for that calc class.</p>
<p>I don't hear about many kids leaving on the weekends. There is usually plenty going on, studying to do, freshman can't have cars and a lot the upperclassman don't. Not that you can't leave on the weekend, my daughter has come home a few times by train- and ends up missing her friends at school- lol.</p>
<p>a friend is a freshman this year... very unhappy with the lack of girls. Doesnt do much because he tells me you have to have at least 1 girl with you to enjoy any social life... (just to many guys at social events.) He may not stay, says need more than just guys in his life! LOL...</p>
<p>hey, hawkswim, you're an idiot if you pick RPI over MIT.</p>
<p>Before you call Hawkswim an idiot read my post on the MIT vs RPI board about APPROVED architecture programs. There may be more to this architecture thing than you realize. I have researched it extensively so please read the post before criticizing.</p>
<p>Hey Nirali, go **** yourself :)</p>
<p>i have to agree that a big part of the decision is that i got a 15,000 scholarship to rpi so i would pay around 35,000 for 5 yrs (175,000 total) vs. 4 yrs at MIT and 2 at some where close to MIT's cost so that is around 6 yrs at 50,000 (300,000). That 125,000 is a huge number plus I would be working for an extra year so that figure could jump at least to 150,000. I am fighting over this fact vs the name of MIT (because i can see myself attending both so it is not like i hate MIT but might go b/c of the name). I like the atmosphere of RPI a little more than MIT, but MIT has the name, but RPI has the more realistic cost.....decisions, decisions</p>
<p>It might mean being a professional licensed architect in 5 years vs being one in 7 years. Then maybe you can work and your employer can pick up a lot of the cost if you still want to get your Masters. There is a one year masters at northeastern for those who already have a professional architecture degree (check into this as it has been a while) but you cannot go to this program if you haven't already got your professional license. Anyway go to NAAB:</a> Home and check it all out before you make your decision.</p>
<p>A parent speaking here. My son also was accepted with $15K merit but he doesn't have an MIT acceptance. Hawkswim09 I'm sure RPI would LOVE to steal someone from MIT so you have what even us non-engineers call "leverage". Call RPI and tell them about the MIT acceptance and tough decision and that you really should get additional "leadership award" money. Always worth asking.</p>
<p>so getting back to hawkswim's original question...</p>
<p>I'm currently a freshmen with junior status at rpi..I have a 4.0 GPA..blah blah...</p>
<p>Workload - it can be as hard as you want it to be. There's some people who are content with a B in each class, then there's others who really want an A:) From these posts, it seems like you're going in to the architecture program (am I right?). The architecture program is a LOT of work (from what I've heard). Apparently it's the toughest major at RPI :eek: The grading at RPI is ridiculous (but then I guess you would expect that from a math/science school), but if you work hard and understand what you're doing you should get a 4.0 :)</p>
<p>Social Life - you'll hear this a lot: "if you know the right people, then you have a social life" but really there's a lot of things to do around campus that you get emails and see fliers about, just that most people at RPI are too lazy or just don't check their emails (:?), but trust me there's a lot to do...of course if you do find the right people, then you can party a whole lot ;) but it's not worth it</p>
<p>Athletics - i know there's a lot of intermural clubs and some sports teams, but hockey is the biggest thing here...I have no idea why :confused: Football is pretty popular too. I have a friend who's a football player and he says that the practice is really intense :confused: and so is basketball.</p>
<p>As for choosing MIT over RPI, go with what you want :) I was going to go to Cornell, but they didn't give me a scholarship, and I got a $20,000/year scholarship from RPI which I could not refuse. In the end, it's you who's going to end up paying the loans (if you have any), not the other people from this site :) yeah I know it's corny...>_< and I think you can get more money if you tell the adcom about your MIT acceptance :D RPI is greedy for people like you :D</p>
<p>thanks for the information and great advice</p>
<p>Let me tell everyone about RPI. My girlfriend goes to RPI, so let me tell you the facts, not convoluted libel. First of all, RPI DOES NOT harshly grade its students under any circumstances. I find students to be very lazy, and undetermined in an atmosphere where about 60% of the locals are under or at the poverty line, and crimes are rampant. Secondly, because people are so unmotivated, and the average course load is difficult ( for any science program naturally) you get kids with very low grades. The tests that my girlfriend takes are equivalent to an honors chemistry/AP chemistry examination, and closer to the latter. It is true that they take off more points than the original problem is worth, however, there are many "fluff" grades going into your final average. For example, my girlfriend gets a 100 on every lab because she asks the teacher if everything is correct. I mean, if you are motivated, and can supress external pressures, then I guess RPI would not be so terrible for you. The only way RPI can win students over other schools in New York is with scholarship money. I got a half scholarship not including work study, and wrote horrendous short answers, and still got in. RPI has close to a 40% acceptance rate too, maybe a little higher. When I went to visit RPI, I sat down in a class where they were testing calculus, and so i decided to take the calc test, and see how I do. I actually scored a 96 on the test when the professor emailed me back; the class average was 65. I mean, I was a senior in high school going against freshmen in college, and i still scored higher. My girfriends Calc intro tests are even easier. So this is my opinion ( yes, just an opinion) on RPI. 50,000 dollars to dorm in Troy, and get a degree from this institute is definitely not worth it. If you don't get at least a half tuition scholarship, then don't go. If you do, consider other choices.</p>
<p>Hawkswim, if you didn't get scholarship money from MIT, that stinks especially if your parents can't afford it. ( I can't imagine any parents affording 50,000 dollars a year) I heard the architecture program at RPI is pretty good, but try your best to find external, third party scholarships. I won the 15,000 dollars price chopper scholarship, and also two more big ones, so try and find scholarships if there is time. Trust me on this one, under no circumstances will an employer consider an RPI student over an MIT student. I have a friend who works internationally for Callison, so this is coming from him too.</p>
<p>please read the "grades in rpi" thread, op. If you really want to know the grading :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
First of all, RPI DOES NOT harshly grade its students under any circumstances.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It depends on which classes you're taking. Many courses I've taken give As to about 10-15% of the students. Other courses give As to about 50% of the students (gen psych). </p>
<p>
[quote]
I find students to be very lazy, and undetermined
[/quote]
My lack of sleep and 90 (double sided) pages of mathematical proofs for one class beg to differ.</p>
<p>
[quote]
in an atmosphere where about 60% of the locals are under or at the poverty line, and crimes are rampant.
[/quote]
RPI is pretty isolated from the rest of Troy in many ways. It's almost like its not part of it. Furthermore, even if you did notice it, what effect should it have? Harvard and MIT aren't exactly in the garden of eden.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Secondly, because people are so unmotivated, and the average course load is difficult ( for any science program naturally) you get kids with very low grades. The tests that my girlfriend takes are equivalent to an honors chemistry/AP chemistry examination, and closer to the latter.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Is she taking Chem 1? I'd hope she's doing well in that if she's going to be taking Organic Chemistry soon (that class is known to be a killer).</p>
<p>
[quote]
It is true that they take off more points than the original problem is worth,
[/quote]
The heck?</p>
<p>
[quote]
however, there are many "fluff" grades going into your final average. For example, my girlfriend gets a 100 on every lab because she asks the teacher if everything is correct.
[/quote]
Depends on the class, again. Sounds like Chem 1. Results will change with higher level / grad level courses.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When I went to visit RPI, I sat down in a class where they were testing calculus, and so i decided to take the calc test, and see how I do. I actually scored a 96 on the test when the professor emailed me back; the class average was 65. I mean, I was a senior in high school going against freshmen in college, and i still scored higher.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Were you by any chance in the non-standard calc class (that is, calc for management, architecture, etc)? Further, have you taken calculus before? If yes, then your anecdote is irrelevant. If not, then how did you manage to take the test?</p>
<p>
[quote]
50,000 dollars to dorm in Troy, and get a degree from this institute is definitely not worth it. If you don't get at least a half tuition scholarship, then don't go. If you do, consider other choices.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's a pretty harsh conclusion. Perhaps it would be different if you weren't seeing just introductory courses?</p>
<p>Furthermore, if I may ask, where did you end up studying (and what major)?</p>
<p>haha that's what I wanted to know ;)</p>
<p>haha I am going to NYU Stern as of next fall, but hoping to transfer to Brown University as it has been a long term dream of mine. I understand many people will defend the college they want to go to, however, they have to look at their college in terms of WHAT OTHER PEOPLE think. If you just say "i love my college it is great" it is subjective and opinionated, so it means nothing. You have to compare your college to what other people think, and honestly ( at least in my high school which is less than 20 minutes from RPI) RPI is just for students who don't get into ivy leagues or their top choices. I know, I know, you are saying "what the heck NiraliMag, you didn't get into an ivy" but I did, I got into Cornell and decided majoring in Economics at NYU is just an amazing option, and a dream for many. But for me, it is reality. This is just one man's opinion, and honestly, getting 50's and 60's on tests is just plain shady; especially when you are paying a sticker price of 50,000 to have professor's fail you for working hard. </p>
<p>And yeah, I was on a guided tour, and it was close to the deadline of admissions, so I was the only kid who showed up on the tour. When we sat down for class, the professor said "pop quiz!" and so I looked at it and saw it was a 10 question one hour test on information regarding calculus I was currently studying in class ( I took BC). So I decided to take it and put my email below my name and a note to email me my grade. And the professor personally did and I got a 96. He also told me the class average was a mid sixty percent. ( I still talk to that guy!)</p>
<p>I do believe RPI has its fare share of problems (I've ranted more than a few times about it) and don't believe it's an ideal place. However, it's really not as bad as you attempt to make it look. Also, I can be used as a living counterproof of your claim that "RPI is just for students who don't get into ivy leagues or their top choices". </p>
<p>
[quote]
to have professor's fail you for working hard.
[/quote]
I prefer a very high ceiling. I think any given student should have the option of differentiating (him|her)self from his or her peers. If almost everyone's getting grades in the 90s, differences in the few remaining percentage points are often just a result of small errors that don't imply a poor grasp of the material.</p>
<p>Anyways, a student unprofessionally cursing on public domain should exemplify what type of students matriculate into RPI. ( Joshuaguit)</p>