First college visit with second son - RPI

Parents Forum
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<p>Rensselaer Polytech:</p>

<p>Well, we made it back from our first college visit with son #2. As expected, looking at a "tech" school was different than looking at the LACs with eldest son. Lots of kids with their noses in lap tops - which you really don't see as much of on the LAC campuses. </p>

<p>RPI was very interesting. My son liked it a lot. We were the only family there for the info session and the tour. So, we got a lot of nice one-on-one. Thanks to everyone on here (especially eagle79, originaloog, deb922, mikemac, wyogal, and jmmom) who helped us think about what questions to ask and things to look at for engineering programs. </p>

<p>This visit reconfirmed my belief that it is SO MUCH BETTER to see these schools when they are in session. We looked in on many classes, both lecture and studio. We talked to kids in the union and the dorms and on the sidewalks. The kids seemed very friendly, helpful, and happy.</p>

<p>We actually had a little trouble finding the college and the entrance. A few banners on the surrounding streets would help liven up the streetscape and celebrate the campus a bit. The campus is quite attractive. A lot of big buildings, not much open space. I like the way the dorms are arranged in two clusters, one which is predominantly freshmen. </p>

<p>The best part -- I really liked what appeared to be a highly collaborative learning environment. Lots of emphasis on kids working together. There seems to be a good academic support system, and an impressively high freshman retention rate (over 90%). Also, I like the size of the school ~5000 undergrads, ~2000 grad students. RPI's engineering program is currently ranked 19th by US News.</p>

<p>Since my son is a musician, we wondered down to look at the music building. Let's just say it wasn't great. (OK, it was bad.) But in this case I don't know how much time he'll have for that if he is doing engineering. </p>

<p>Lots of BOYS, as expected, but that doesn't phase my son in the least. The frat houses spooked me a bit (they always do) and I'm not clear on what there is to do on weekends besides party (or play computer games?). But, he definitely thought he could "picture himself there."</p>

<p>Since this was his first look at a college (other than tagging along on tours with eldest son) it will be interesting to contrast RPI with our next tour - Penn State. I suspect that will feel very different.</p>

<p>I think his biggest challenge will be deciding what sort of environment he wants. I think his choices will be either a big university or a tech college (am I calling it the right thing???) like RPI, WPI, or RIT. The thought of "all being in the same boat," with loads of hard work to do, is somewhat appealing at the tech schools. </p>

<p>Second son seems somewhat more engaged in the college thing than first son. (Notice I said "somewhat" - it's all relative.) Perhaps he sees what the stakes are, or how fast the time goes by, I don't know. Personally, I feel much more uninvolved this time around (poor second kids...), so maybe he senses that and knows he better take care of business. Ha!</p>

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<p>So you are not sure how much time he will have for music if he is doing engineering, but you are not sure if there is anything to do on the weekends except party and play video games. Sounds like he needs to look at an engineering school with better opportunities for music.</p>

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<p>edad;
Well, I was thinking that cello lessons and orchestra can be a lot of work too, not really time to let your hair down so to speak. I don't know. I suspect you would find practice rooms fairly empty even at music conservatories on weekend nights! :)</p>

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<p>I guess it depends on the individual. My D considers her music to be partly school and partly fun. She often has several hours of involvement on the weekends. We are going to visit her this weekend for a Saturday evening concert. She also let us know that she will be busy on Saturday morning with a reed making workshop. Hopefully we will have most of Sunday for a visit, but we are leaving early in the afternoon because Sunday is her "study" day.</p>

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<p>my brother is a senior at RPI. He has enjoyed the experience for the most part. He is in a frat, and he would agree that there really isn't much to do on weekends except party and play games. The Greek life seems to be a good thing for him, though... helped him meet girls, improve social and life skills, etc. He had a rough first semester... had to have his stomach pumped and got a D in diff eq, but he bounced back quickly and has a 3.3 cum GPA. He's an IT major, with a concentration in HCI (I think).</p>

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<p>We will look at RPI too . Thanks for the informative introduction . I do know that other than Penn State , Case Western has a lot of good music classes as well as engineering . We will also look at Ohio State for the two degree programs</p>

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<p>MIT has Pulitzer Prize winner John Harbison teaching freshman music courses, and lots of Harvard students go over to MIT for music classes (which are said to be superior.)</p>

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<p>Hi mini:
I don't think he'll be applying to MIT. There's no way he'd get in.</p>

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<p>Oh, well...but at least one can't assume that engineering and music don't go hand in hand. Isn't Carnegie-Mellon also renowned for both? (and, maybe a safety...Alfred U?)</p>

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<p>My son loved his visit to RPI back in 2000. It remained his first choice school up until he revisited both RPI and University of Rochester after acceptance and decided on U of R. Your son might want to visit there too. U of R has strong engineering, math, and science but has a more well-rounded academic offering in my opinion (and more girls), although I think my son would have been very happy at RPI as well.</p>

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<p>Hi mini:
I don't think he'll be applying to MIT. There's no way he'd get in.</p>

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<p>My S's best friend goes to RIT, has a very friendly group he hangs with (not in a frat) and does music intramurally--not any kind of pressure. Really likes the music program. He's very happy there; might be worth looking into.</p>

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<p>A good friend's son goes to Case Western on a full merit scholarship. He is in engineering and is an avid musician. Played in the marching band and also plays in a small jazz band. Check it out.</p>

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<p>The Engineering/music thing is a very common combination, and there are many ways these kids keep up with the music, despite heavy engineering courseload. DS, for example, takes private instrument lessons (for 2 credits!) and jams with other kids. I've heard of some schools with specific music classes geared toward engineers, including designing new instruments, etc.</p>

<p>I don't know how it would be to seriously pursue classical music and seriously pursue engineering, but there seem to be plenty of ways to fashion an EC/take an elective to keep both candles burning.</p>

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<p>Weenie, dont worry about old West Hall, EMPAC is due to open Fall '08. <a href="http://empac.rpi.edu/building/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://empac.rpi.edu/building/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I am happy the weather held up for your visit.</p>

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<p>weenie - perhaps you should take a look at a school like Cornell as well. I think it'd be a good choice because it's not just a tech school, there's students with all types of backgrounds, interests, and majors. If your son ever was to think twice about engineering type majors, he could easily switch. </p>

<p>At Cornell, the music building (Lincoln Hall) is very very nice. Not sure what types of programs are offered, but students can also take classes at nearby Ithaca College (which has a very good music program). </p>

<p>As a freshmen, your son could also live in the "just about music" dorm. On every floor, there's study rooms, silent practice rooms, regularly tuned pianos and the first floor has a full stage and a recording studio. It's the perfect dorm for somebody interested in music whether it's a serious thing or it's a "get together and jam" type thing. They also have weekly listening sessions (or something like that) where people share the music they've been listening to with others and others show them some new music in return. A fantastic option!</p>

<p>It's just a suggestion (and it's located not far between penn state and RPI)</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

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<p>originaloog:
Do you know if empac is going to be available much for student use? There was an editorial in the student newspaper complaining that very few student groups (including the symphonic orchestra) were actually going to be able to use that venue. I wondered what was going on with that.</p>

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<p>Weenie,
I think that your S and mine are looking at the same type of schools except that mine is not into music. Another school to look at is Cincinnati, has engineering and music. Although I don't know what kind of opportunities a non-music major has, CCM is one of the great music schools and located right on campus. </p>

<p>I second looking at Ohio State. Big but has everything that he is looking at, including a good but not in the same league as CCM, music school. Ohio State and Cincinnati are trying to recruit OOS so it might be worth a try. Don't you have a S at Denison, if so Ohio schools might be nice?</p>

<p>I think that I saw that your S was interested in Illinois Institute of Technology. If so, my S was accepted there and we are going to visit at the end of March. If you are interested I will try to report on this school.</p>

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<p>My husband went to RPI and we know lots of people who went there. A couple of former students of mine are either there now or just graduated. It's an unattractive school in an armpit of a location--but wow, their graduates are wonderful people with great educations!</p>

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<p>deb:
We will definitely look at Ohio State, as well as Ohio University. We're trying to figure out a time those can be combined with a trip to Denison (yes - eldest is there). This son will be traveling with his orchestra at April break, so that makes it a little harder to see schools in session. I hate to push all these trips into fall of senior year!</p>

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<p>Thanks everybody for your thoughts and suggestions on this search!</p>