<p>I've read a lot of bum reviews. Does anyone feel good about this school? We're considering it for my daughter (art & design). </p>
<p>Is anyone happy there? I don't think the nerdy part will bother her. We're kind of nerdy ourselves.</p>
<p>Hi there! :)</p>
<p>Yes, I love it here. And so do all of my friends. And everyone I know. We complain a-lot, I know. </p>
<p>The work load is huge. I’m in Software Engineering. And I can tell you, me and my friends in the major usually spend all niter’s once, or twice a week. But, what we learn amaze us every time. </p>
<p>The problem are the people who do nothing but sit in their chair playing Call of Duty or something like that (ie, my roommate. He smells SOOO bad, too!). Oh, and he’s failing out, too. So yea, he’s really vocal on how much he hates this school. </p>
<p>For the rest of us, who don’t like failing or getting straight C’s, we don’t have TIME to sit on our chairs. We are always up and doing things, which forces us to interact and network. Some weekends we do party. Lot’s of extracurricular. And wellness classes are a blast! And yes, we are dorks. :).</p>
<p>I can’t tell you anything about people and what they think in art & design. It’s completely the opposite of what I am doing. But, most people I know enjoy it here.</p>
<p>My daughter is about to graduate after 4 years at RIT. She seemed to really like RIT, and the only complaints I really heard were the kind you would find at any college: room mate probs the first semester, kind of crummy on campus apartments the second and third years, with lack of parking there which resulted in parking tickets. She lived off campus the fourth year. She loved her major (Physician Assistant), worked hard, but still had time to go work out (she also liked the Wellness/Fittness classes), and do whatever college kids do on weekends (which I tried not to ask about!!).
My daughter attended a summer program there the summer of her Junior year in HS where they spend the night and attend mini classes about whatever they choose. This is what made her decision for her…well worth the money and time!</p>
<p>My son is about to graduate from RIT as an illustration major. He’s been very happy with his experience - the program, the teachers, the friends he’s made.</p>
<p>I’d be interested in knowing more about his experience. My daughter would be studying art - either fine art or graphic design, who knows, maybe illustration. Was your son able to do any internships? What does he plan after graduation?</p>
<p>To the OP - if you got to go to ImagineRIT today (their innovation and creativity festival) you would have found lots of RIT lovers! I admit, today was the first time I visited the art & design areas of the campus, and I was amazed at the students and their work. Didn’t have a camera (darn), wish I did.</p>
<p>Any junior prospective student should take the trip for that weekend, next year it is on May 7th.</p>
<p>To MomOfDaughter - My son didn’t do any internships, but that was largely because he didn’t pursue them. (He did non-career related summer jobs instead.) Unlike students in computer science, engineering, etc., art students at RIT don’t have companies lined up to provide internships and co-ops. The co-op office provides information about how to find art and design-related summer internships, but it’s up to the students to pursue them on their own. My son does know art and design students who did summer internships. One of his housemates who is an animator, for instance, spent a summer at PIxar. </p>
<p>After working in our area to get some money together this summer, my son and a couple of school friends plan to move in the fall to a yet-to-be determined city to seek their fortunes. Illustration majors take courses in their senior year to teach them how to market themselves and put together a professional portfolio. I’m looking forward to seeing how well he applies what he’s been learning. </p>
<p>One aspect of the RIT experience he’s really enjoyed has been the chance to work as a staff illustrator on the weekly student magazine. </p>
<p>Let me know if I can tell you anything else.</p>
<p>I have the unique perspective of being an alumnus and a parent.
I attended the art school, my son is in his fifth year in the School of Engineering.
What a contrast.
As far as the weather, unless you are from the tropics or a state with no snow, Rochester is no worse than Chicago, Buffalo, Minneapolis, or any other snow belt city.</p>
<p>Both of my kids attended RIT. Their only complaint was the weather.</p>
<p>There are a lot of negative comments on some other websites with college forums/boards. Perhaps these forums draw out the complainers. But, compared with comments on similar schools, the overall tone concerns me. Comments center on lack of school spirit, facilities (construction, parking), attitude of administration, etc. The possible disruption caused by change from quarters to semesters also concerns me. </p>
<p>The people we met when we visited were nice and the marketing materials make a good impression. But looks can be deceiving. My gut feel is that the education might meet expectations, but not the “college experience”.</p>
<p>I have a big fear about sending my kids off to school 1,000 miles from home and spending a fortune, only to find out he hates it. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Hmm. School spirit - RIT has a Division 1 hockey team, which made it to the finals last year. Lots of school spirit there! Very difficult to get a seat at a game! Yes, there is a lot of construction, but that is a good thing. My daughter did have some trouble with parking tickets, mostly for her on-campus apartment, resulting in some tickets. Not a huge deal.
My daughter graduated last year as a Physician Assistant. Did she love it there? Not sure. Did she make life-long friends? Yes, and she also met her boyfriend there, who she now lives with in Virginia, where she has a great job. I guess it all depends on what your son is looking for. My daughter was the type to seek out parties, and she found them off-campus. She also had an off campus job at a sub shop up the street. Later, she found an on-campus job working with the athletic trainers, which she loved.</p>
<p>My son is graduating this year from the School of Film and Animation. He wishes he had another year. We went to the hockey game which took place on Family Weekend/Homecoming this year and were lucky to get tickets - it was sold out and had about 10,000 people attend. I think school spirit is there. And as far as facilities, there is a lot of construction but that’s a good thing. The facilities at RIT is what impressed us the most when we first went to visit. It is so completely state-of-the art. And as far as faculty and administration our experience has been more than positive. It is the friendliest and most helpful group we’ve seen at any of the other schools we’ve been involved with. Can’t speak for anyone else but our experience, and my son’s, has been very positive.</p>