Colleges near Albany, NY for a quick visit this weekend

Parents Forum
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<p>She ended up visiting RPI and Union with H. Attended an information session and a tour at RPI. Just wandered around at Union.</p>

<p>They thought the info session at RPI was pretty good. The admission rep had some good info to pass on. Tour was ok - she wasn’t that thrilled with the campus. However, they are apparently building a new theatre/engineering building - kind of an interesting combination!</p>

<p>Both H and D loved the campus at Union. They thought the Nott(?) building was great. They couldn’t get any information there - but she liked the campus. Specifically, she said it was a nice size, compared to RPI! [ This is a kid who thought she wanted a medium sized school!]</p>

<p>Tidbits from the info session:

  • Make your essay stand out - inject humor if you can.
  • Do NOT send more than the requested recommendations. If you send a thick packet with 10 recommendations, all 10 will just hit the trash bin.
  • A ‘C’ grade is not acceptable - will pretty much rule you out for admission. If you can explain why you got the ‘C’, you might have a chance.
  • Get to know the local rep - ask any questions you might have before applying.
  • Rigor of curriculum matters - they prefer a ‘B’ in an honors course to a ‘A’ in a vanilla course</p>
22

<p>“Both H and D loved the campus at Union. They thought the Nott(?) building was great. They couldn’t get any information there - but she liked the campus.”</p>

<p>It is a beautiful campus. And the Nott Memorial (named for Eliphalet Nott, who was the President of the college for 62 years - yes, 62 years - from when he was 31 til his death at age 93) is a beautiful building and the only 16 sided building in the northwestern hemisphere.</p>

<p>I remembered a lot from my days as a “Gatesman” (what admissions tour guides are called at Union).</p>

23

<p>It’s interesting the different impressions people get of schools. DS and I thought Union looked like a high school campus, it was so small. He looked at me and said, “This costs $50,000 a year?!?” He’s a runner, and the indoor track was in terrible shape. I don’t think I would be comfortable with his running off campus, and there is certainly not enough room ON campus to get a good run. I guess that’s why there are so many schools to choose from, because everyone feels differently!</p>