For current students or RPI alumni - how mandatory/not are the NRB programs? Are they more just “for fun” or are they actually required depending on the student’s affiliation/interests?
For example, my son is interested in playing in the Orchestra or a Chamber Music group, but when I looked at the NRB page, it is a two-day activity that seems to block out everything else. Is there any way to negotiate that (like if I can drive him between activities)?
And my son might try to walk on for a fall sport - is that kind of info publicized, or does he need to email the coach?
Re: sport - 100% need to call the coach - like yesterday. Most sports recruit for their rosters, even at the d3 level, and many don’t have tryouts. Those that do have tryouts will have them during preseason which is usually a week or two before school starts. Arrangements need to be made in advance so that the student can get on campus early.
Re: NRB - contact the people in charge of the group for a definite answer. I would imagine many are like sports. They spend the two days doing tryouts and or “preseason” training. Not much time for other activities.
That’s what I’m worried about - I feel like he was screwed in HS because he had multiple interests, and everybody wanted 100% of his time. Sports are out if they would prevent him from doing other things - maybe club sports though the one he was most interested in didn’t show up to the club sports fair at Accepted Students Day.
The biggest difference between HS and college activities is that in HS there is usually only one “tier” of commitment for a given activity (eg you are either in the band or you aren’t). At RPI, you are much more likely to find a club and/or a group of like minded individuals who are looking for the same commitment level.
If it sounds like a varsity sport of a high commitment EC isn’t the right road there will likely be a music club that is less serious, or a club, or intramural sports team that would be a better fit. Activity fair in the fall is much better attended than NSO events - you son should be able to find activities there (or email the contacts that can usually be found early in the semester).
The NRB programs are highly encouraged to attend-- it’s a great way to meet other students with similar interests. However, it is college, so anything that is “highly encouraged to attend” doesn’t mean you have to attend, for example, if students have other arrangements for that day (but there shouldn’t be any since it is NRB week).
You probably couldn’t drive your son between activities. The way NRB is run is that each group (orchestra, sports, band, and others) go off for the day and do specific activities related to the chosen group/topic. It is an all day event for each group, meaning it would be hard to leave one group to go to another, if that is even possible.
Also, at this point in NRB week, you should have left your son (NRB is on Wednesday, Aug 26 this year and most parents leave Tuesday).
We don’t plan to be with our son at all - we plan to drop him off and say “see you later” - unless we would have to drive him around.
I really don’t get all these parent programs - my mom never visited my college, and I only saw my dad on move in or move out day. Then again, we didn’t have a freshman orientation at all.