So I keep getting emails from RPI because of the SAT student search, but I still do not know if they are that spectacular. I also keep reading of “Troy Horror Stories” and about how everyone thinks that troy is exceptionally dangerous or bad in general. I am kind of on the fence with my opinion of them because they seem good (yay engineering) but lack some of the programs I am also interested in. What are your personal thoughts on RPI or Troy?
Not trying to be harsh in anyway but the old “Troy is a scary place” thing is beaten to death if you do some research and read through these threads you’ll see that tge majority don’t think its bad at all. My experience with the exception of a handful of colleges many are set in less than desirable areas just don’t do anything stupid.
Troy is not a terrible place, but if you will like it there depends on what you are looking for. If you’re hoping for high temps and sun all the time, it’s not for you. If you are looking for a big urban locale, it’s not for you. My son has certainly enjoyed his time there, but it’s a personal choice.
They offer relatively a lot of undergraduate opportunity and a pretty good amount of freedom in course choices with your degree. It has a solid reputation and it is growing quite a bit as a campus with all the new athletic and entertainment investments to make the school’s front porch more attractive.
I just transferred in for the Fall and when I visited I wasn’t that much of a fan of troy. Did I feel in danger when I was walking down town in the afternoon or evening? No, not at all. Do I feel there are bad parts of troy that are dangerous if I am not street smart/careful? Yes but no more so than being in anywhere else necessarily. The hill and RPI are beautiful, I was hard pressed to find a bad/uncomfortable place outside of down town troy. Even with that said, downtown Troy has a lot of great pubs, restaurants, stores, families, high end apartments, and such that form very nice fun areas there. You just have to realize when you are in an underdeveloped area is all and know not to bother people who don’t want to bother you like any urban city. It is a lower disposable income area and that has its characteristics that can rub middle-upper class people the wrong way.
It really depends on what you want to do with your degree and what programs are missing and if you can even get the set up you are looking for somewhere else.