<p>Don't get me wrong I am really into my academics, but do people party as well?</p>
<p>My husband and I are amazed at how much fun our son and his friends have. And he’s a very strong student there. He’s not in the Greek system and not a “partier” per se, but that element definitely exists. We saw a fraternity and dates loading up two buses to go to a formal last weekend. </p>
<p>There’s no shortage of fun to be had, it is up to you to figure out what this is for you.</p>
<p>While I don’t have the experience to totally answer this question, I visited today, and from what I took, the only fun to be had is:</p>
<p>1) Joining the Greek system (which I will not be doing)
2) Playing intramural sports
3) Watching the D1 Hockey Team</p>
<p>It didn’t seem like there was much chance at all for recreation other than these 3 things. Very little room to play a pickup game of Ultimate Frisbee or anything like that. I think if you go, you are very focused on academics your whole time. Academics are extremely important to me, and the #1 reason why I’d go to a school, but I would like to have things to do when I’m not studying.</p>
<p>I just don’t think RPI is for me in that sense.</p>
<p>And I forgot to also mention that the Capital Area sucks. Albany and Troy are not just boring, but also dangerous (from what I hear). One cool thing I learned about today is that you can take this thing called the Megabus from Albany to NYC for a day trip and it costs $1.50 each way (I kid you not) and it even has WiFi and stuff, so you can go to NYC for a Mets game, for instance, and come back at night. But on the other hand, you aren’t going to have many full days to blow on 2 3 hour rides as a college student.</p>
<p>But again, take my words with a grain of salt, b/c this is all what I gathered in a 3/4 hour visit.</p>
<p>There are parties each weekend, all the dorms have RHA councils (that you can apply to be on) that make hall events, there’s a bowling alley 10 minutes walking distance, there are like a hundred clubs (including a competitive paintball team and a sponsored ultimate frisbee team), and there are movies each weekend at UPAC. You must have had a poor tour guide, manifesto.</p>
<p>Megabus costs from $3 to $24 each way depending on the particular day you are traveling and the time of day. I think the trip is about 2 hours and 45 minutes each way. (If you want to go to a Mets game, it will take a while to get from where the bus drops you off in Manhattan to the stadium in Queens and to get back from the stadium to where you pick up the bus in Manhattan - it would be a very long day).</p>
<p>You have to make reservations in advance to get these low prices and tickets are nonrefundable (you can change reservation dates for a small fee).</p>
<p>Here is the link:</p>
<p>[MegaBus</a> US - Home](<a href=“http://us.megabus.com/]MegaBus”>http://us.megabus.com/)</p>
<p>slightmanifesto - too bad you weren’t there on Saturday for the Activity Fair at Accepted Students Day. RPI has one of the most active club systems in the country through the student union. Basically if you want to do an activity and it doesn’t exist, you can get funding to start a club. A friend of my son’s started a curling team. There’s a very active outdoors club, ski club, sailing club, lots of music groups, martial arts, solar car, hybrid car, radio station, TV station, etc etc. There’s movies on campus, comedy, drama productions. </p>
<p>Not sure how you can say Albany and Troy are dangerous then mention NYC trips. </p>
<p>If your definition of fun is night clubs, then maybe it is limited. If it is having fun people around to do interesting things, then it is not. The student’s only limit is him/herself.</p>
<p>73% male. Sounds like a blast.</p>
<p>I’m always amazed by CC ■■■■■■ that go from board to board posting their “brilliance” about schools which they know little about. </p>
<p>As for the real conversation on this thread, the safety issue in Troy and Albany are greatly exaggerated. As in any urban area (or suburban/rural area for that matter), common sense should rule the day. Walking alone at 2 a.m. in a poorly lit area that you don’t know is not a good idea. On the other hand, walking down well-lit main streets can be done safely for all but the most remote hours. There is even an all-girls college in downtown Troy and they seem to survive OK (including travelling up the hill to attend RPI events and to date RPI students). As required by law RPI does publish crime statistics for those that are interested (<a href=“Public Safety | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute”>Public Safety | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). I attended RPI for 4 years without incident. It was only when I went to Cornell for graduate school that I had to deal with our apartment being burglarized.</p>
<p>RPI also takes campus security seriously. About a week ago it had its first ever campus-wide lockdown for a few hours because of an armed robbery that occurred at a check cashing store approximately 1/2 mile from campus. The suspect was initially reported fleeing west on foot down Hoosick Street but there was one possible sighting indicating that he may have turned south toward the campus so the administration decided in favor of a cautious response. My daughter goes to MIT and one of her best friends attends Columbia. They are both wonderful schools with good campuses, but if they went into lockdown for violent or gun crimes occurring nearby they’d be shut down several times per year. The same is true for virtually all urban schools, even those in “good neighborhoods.”</p>
<p>As for formal activities, RPI has as many or more than you’ll find at comparably sized schools. Since the union is student run it has great flexibility in sponsoring events, clubs, etc. Informal activities such as ultimate frisbee or volleyball games do occur. </p>
<p>Lastly, the train and inter-city bus terminals can also be reached via the local bus system (CDTA). RPI students get to ride certain routes for free using their campus ID, including, I believe, those that serve the city of Rensselaer (train) and downtown Albany (bus).</p>
<p>I have spent a great deal of time researching the safety of the area around RPI. There is no question that security/safety on RPI campus is excellent and impressive. What I have found is that, with few exceptions, surrounding areas of a significant number of colleges and universities have issues. Notably, Yale. It is located in New Haven. Connecticut residents tuning into the morning news are commonly greeted with information regarding the latest shooting, murder, assault, etc. in New Haven. I have yet to see a post where an accepted Yale student is concerned. </p>
<p>Whether the problem is overstated or not, taking precautions is appropriate. College is a learning experience that prepares the students. I do not take lightly any of the incidents. However, when at the accepted students day, I looked into the incidents that occurred in the area surrounding the campus. On 3/27 a student was assaulted at 11:30 p.m. He was alone. While I would never engage in a “blame the victim” philosophy, we should not be instilling fear in the students or dissuade prospective ones from attending; Instead, we should emphasize life’s lessons and turn all of this into a learning experience. The jobs we are preparing them for may also be in areas that one should not walk outside alone at 11:30 p.m. carrying a backpack, purse, or briefcase.</p>
<p>THe accepted students day was an eye opener. I was impressed with RPI before, but the amazing teachers, staff and other very impressive students I encountered (from the two bus escorts who playfully verbally sparred about which is the best dorm to the contest between those clad in shorts and flip flops teasing those who complained about being cold wearing UGGS) convinced me that this is a great school that truly cares about the students - academically, emotionally, socially; and committed to doing everything possible to ensure their safety.</p>
<p>Speaking of activities, my son wound up joining a fraternity and there are plenty of activities and time involved with that. Before that wound up taking time, he spent many Saturdays in the fall of his freshman year at the RPI Habitat For Humanity project that was then being built. For spring break that year he wound up going with a group from RPI to outside of Charelston, SC for a Habitat project there.</p>
<p>There is plenty to do.</p>
<p>Life is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Worriedmom - At orientation last summer, campus security emphasized that most incidents that occur do occur when someone is walking alone late at night. </p>
<p>Campus security provides the escort service around campus and they said that students should not hesitate to make use of it whenever good sense dictates it.</p>
<p>My S, who is a freshman, has told me that he has never felt unsafe on campus. He basically said that you have to use your “street smarts” and not do things like walking alone off campus where you shouldn’t late at night.</p>
<p>@SLManifesto</p>
<p>As a current student at RPI, i’d beg to differ. While the activities you have mentioned are apart of social activities, by no means must you be greek to have fun at RPI or even play sports. </p>
<p>Every weekend there is something going on at the Union, whether it be a video game tournament or pool. In the union we have amazing lounges, the playhouse puts on plays and work parties, greek houses throw parties for the RPI community, and there is bowling and movies and anything that you would have a normal college. By no means is RPI greek based or sports based.</p>
<p>The thing about RPI is that it is a very introverted community because of the students it attracts. Fun isn’t always going to instantly find you, you need to be proactive in finding it. Once you have though, you’ll have as much fun as you make of it.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me or post here :)</p>
<p>Padre13: I live in Albany, and near Troy. And let me tell you, it SUCKS SO HARD. I don’t think words can imagine how terrible inner Albany really is, I don’t think there is a day where one person ISN’T shot or robbed. Troy is actually even worse, especially since there was just a scare about a potential armed robber. </p>
<p>RPI is a safety school, don’t try to make it out like an amazing college that slips the radar. I have never met a kid who has dreamed of going to RPI. People dream about a lot of things, but it doesn’t include RPI. People really don’t go to RPI by choice, it’s either they gave more money, or because the applicant was a reject at other schools. I actually took calculus classes at both HVCC and RPI, and the professor at UAlbany was on a different academic level. The person who taught me at RPI didn’t even have a doctorate. I try to stay away from this forum, because I can bash RPI all day long because it is so damn easy. </p>
<p>The “Frat” system SUCKS. I have been to a couple of frats as a high school senior, and they have a VERY STRICT list because the ratio SUCKS. Girls are ■■■■■■ btw. And for all of this, the president gets paid in the millions lol! Schools like RPI lower the educational standard in America.</p>
<p>Union>UAlbany>Siena=RPI>HVCC</p>
<p>Hi Pakistan1,</p>
<p>I’m not going to bother responding to most of your post as it is completely ********, but I wanted to point out something pretty funny (mostly because I don’t have to waste excess time responding to each of your post parts)</p>
<p>[RPI</a> Mathematical Sciences: Faculty](<a href=“http://www.rpi.edu/dept/math/ms_faculty/index.html]RPI”>Math Faculty | Science at Rensselaer)</p>
<p>All 30 faculty in the mathematics department have PhD’s.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s pretty funny when a ■■■■■ can’t even keep his story straight long enough to create an internally consistent sentence.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Fixed for you.</p>
<p>RPI is fun :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The 1,300 applicants who applied Early Decision might disagree with you.</p>
<p>Congratulations, that’s quite an accompishment. </p>
<p>Wishing you both success next year at Williams and NYU.</p>
<p>mdbdad I apologize for NP’s post. It was not influenced in any way by me.</p>