<p>I have a close group of friends right now (I like in NYC) and I was wondering how bad it is to go to college without knowing anyone there. I do plan to make lots of friends, but it will be sad seeing the ones I am so close to right now go away. Some are going to Manhattan College and Boston University among others, and I asked at the engineering board and people said I should not choose a different college because my friends/girlfriend is going there. Did anyone come without knowing anybody else and have a good time? I'm really looking for some feedback. Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, as for dorms, Barton would be best right?</p>
<p>Also, is there any easy way to take a bus/train to NYC or Boston?</p>
<p>Meeting people on facebook that are going to RPI (finding random names via the rpi official message boards/2014 facebook group and adding them) is a good way to get to know people before setting foot on campus.</p>
<p>Going to college let’s you start in a new place with whatever type of character you want people to see you as, it’s a clean slate. I wouldn’t be able to stand going to my state schools that 70% of my graduating class matriculated into</p>
<p>Transportation between Albany & NYC is available from Megabus, Greyhound/Trailways & Amtrak. Between Albany & Boston, service is provided by Amtrak or Greyhound/Peter Pan</p>
<p>It takes about 3 hours from Albany to Yonkers (factoring in the rest stops xD). I’m not sure about Albany to Boston.</p>
<p>^^ Which bus would you take to yonkers and how much would it be? I actually live in Yonkers</p>
<p>Also, are their bus/train discounts for RPI students?</p>
<p>Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Megabus has very cheap seats starting at $1 if you book far in advance. Greyhound and Amtrak will give you a 15% discount if you have a Student Advantage card membership. You should get some details about signing up for it sometime later this spring or summer.</p>
<p>one more question, how would I get to the buses? Is there free transportation for RPI students from the school?</p>
<p>At Thanksgiving, and at times of academic breaks, RPI runs free shuttles to the Albany train station (actually in Rensselaer NY), the Greyhound station in Albany and also to the Albany International Airport. You would have to sign up to ride one of these shuttles in advance through the Parking and Transportation Office. The shuttles leave from a central spot (in front of the Armory or Student Union) and run students to these drop off points on a set schedule. They also run from these points back to campus at the end of the break. It’s also probably not hard to find other students to split the cost of a cab to any of these places or back to campus, or find a friend to drive you to the stations.</p>
<p>The CDTA (the local bus system) is free for RPI students. There’s a bus (well, combination of 2 routes) that gets you to within a 5 minute walk of the local Greyhound station.</p>
<p>As for going alone… I only kind of knew one person going in here, and didn’t have any trouble adjusting to life here. Remember that many people will be in the same situation as you, so what ends up happening a lot is that you end up sitting with random people at the dining halls for the first few weeks. With time, you’ll find out who you want to be friends with.</p>