RPI - A great school to consider and choose

In my posts I often suggest checking out my priors as they speak to consistency of thought. Some object to that concept, basically, because, IMHO, if you check theirs you would discover some interesting patterns.

I will do my best to refrain from two topics here. 1-ARCH; 2-Shirley. Both are covered in depth on other threads and on REDDIT. We knew about ARCH going in. This RPI approach to a co-op type experience while not ideal was not a deal breaker. It’s new, not perfect, few things are in the beginning. It was on our plus / minus analysis. A minus when compared to some more mature co-op plans. In the end, every school we considered, visited, and accepted too, had something(s), and on balance, ARCH was not a deal breaker. Neither were the issues of Shirley’s leadership. I’m not going to deny there are valid things to consider, but again, on balance, not a deal breaker. Those drawn to this forum are likely considering a great group of colleges. Congratulations ! Select with care.

At any rate, RPI: my student is in their sophomore year, dual major computer systems engineering / computer science. Doing well and loving the place. The curriculum and classes are tough. You are with students at about the same level +/-. Almost everyone had a high SAT / ACT; AP scores of 4 & 5s; honor society; high CUM; extras; etc. This is not high school with a wide range of talent. The good news is, so far, while challenging and competitive, students do help each other, professors are available, and the tutoring center is a great resource (don’t wait until the last minute as it can be crowded at times). The TAs are hit or miss.

The campus is beautiful. A mix of old and new, spread out on a large campus with great update NY views. Downtown Troy is not the Troy of 20 years ago. Safe if like any urban area you are alert. Great restaurants and shops. Everyone is nice. Farmers Market a plus. Greater Albany and Lathem 10 minutes away. Dorms, on par with other schools. It’s a dorm. Food service also on par or better. Best eats are the union where you can use flex. Social, well, my student has a great circle of friends. Not involved with frat life, so maybe better there. It would be better if there maybe was more interaction between majors especially with the business and architecture students. The problem is the workload makes it hard. This is a serious place. If you look at the curriculum you will see limited classes where there is crossover, and some of those the students have AP’s out.

Please ask your questions and I will try to reply. I have made a few ‘friends’ here who may hate on and ■■■■■ me. I’m going to do my best to stay constructive and behave.

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My advice - please ask questions to students who currently attend or recent graduates of RPI. @spark2018 has oddly chosen to spend inordinate time on CC trying very hard to spread positive feelings about the school…and never attended. A parent trying to justify an expensive investment? Who knows.

I agree that Troy is not the Troy of 20 years ago. The independent bars and restaurants are pretty cool as is the architecture.

As mentioned in my initial post above @randomdude532 is one of my ‘friends’. He / we actual agree at times. Go figure. Responding to his post:

rando : My advice - please ask questions to students who currently attend or recent graduates of RPI.

@Spark2018 : Absolutely ask current students or graduates, at RPI or any school you are applying to. Reddit for sure, the union when you visit, or see if your HS college advisor will share the names and contact info for HS grads from your HS school who are attending your target schools. That way you know the feedback is legit. For RPI you may be able to find out the names of prior medal winners from your HS’s website. We did that and it was good intel.

rando : @spark2018 has oddly chosen to spend inordinate time on CC

@Spark2018 : Thanks for your concern about how I spend my time. I actually binge netflix and do computer stuff at the same time. 76 posts in 2 years, about 80% on RPI, is hardly ‘inordinate’. There are many people here is the 1000s.

rando : trying very hard to spread positive feelings about the school…and never attended. A parent trying to justify an expensive investment? Who knows.

@Spark2019: #1 Guilty, spreading a positive feeling (real). Yes a parent, and I say that upfront. #2 yes never attended RPI as a student, so what? #3 every student & parent has made an expensive investment in time and money, at RPI or any college, more so at a private school. Less justify and more trying to voice some balance. Some of the other threads imho are a bit of a feeding frenzy of negativeness. #4 by rando’s logic any parent giving a favorable comment would be dismissed. That is sort short sighted. #5 I could say anyone giving a negative comment must have failed a class, didn’t fit in or decided after attending RPI was not a good match. As rando puts it “who knows” (how ominous).

Thank you @Spark2018 It is always good to get varied perspectives.