PLEASE consider the summer ARCH program that RPI just launched. It is completely unreasonable and you pay huge money for it! Please read all the reviews about it! This program is devaluing the school massive and making it very difficult to financially attend this school! No schools mandate that Juniors live on campus but RPI is and a very steep cost. NO they do not meet need!! They provide a package and tell you it will be easier when your child moves off campus, except they can’t!! Not many off campus housing will take a 3 month lease and the admin staff is aware of this. On top of this there is not enough housing to accommodate all these students! RPI is in massive debt and this is the way they are trying to generate income and it is hurting the students greatly!
To clarify the summer semester is mandatory that they live on campus. Housing is not chosen it is dictated and it is freshman double, triple type dorms. This leaves 1 semester (fall or spring) for the remainder of their Jr. year… which also equals on campus housing because landlords do not have openings for 1 semester and require a full year lease. So be prepared to live on campus for most of your 4 years at a steep cost. Also - with very little break from classes. The campus is blowing up right now with the students and yes staff dislike this new program too!
^^ add to the above. Many people associate the Summer Arch with the opportunities for internship. While the students are required to be “away” for one semester, internship is just one of the many options.
My CS accepted son did not get any calls or departent email either. It’s a shame. My husband is an alumni and you would think they would make more of an effort. All of the other colleges my son has been accepted to have been reaching out through email and mail. Not impressed with this arch program being forced on them either. To have to pay for summer housing and meal plan with limited class offerings. The more I hear about this arch program, the more greedy I think the school is.
Would you please specify the name of the off-campus dorm your son is housed?
Regarding contact from RPI after acceptance. Did a bit of research and found that RPi has a yield rate of about 20%, which is very low. Yield rate is the %age of accepted students who choose to enroll at a particular college. High yield rates for colleges are above 50% to about 80%. Students are eager to enroll at these colleges. The 25 major colleges that have the lowest yield rates are all below 16%. From the above posts, it’s easy to see why their yield rate is so low. Happy to hear that the Architecture school understands what it takes to get a student to enroll at the Tute.
Hi everyone, I have a correction to make on my previous comments on not getting anything from RPI. Apparently my son HAS gotten emails. He thinks he’s had 8 since being notified of acceptance. He simply didn’t bother to tell me. So, it appears that RPI is reaching out and giving him the “we want you” sales pitch that RIT is also giving him.
I’m glad they are keeping in contact with him, just wish he had told me earlier.
Congratulations to your son and your family. Thank you for your update setting the record straight. If your son decides to accept at RPI, or any school, I suggest the schools twitter feed so you know what’s up.
RPI students, alumni plan march on Friday
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/RPI-students-alumni-plan-march-seek-changes-in-13754132.php
“The Greek houses, though, maintain, that by keeping students out of fraternities and sororities during Summer Arch, they’re being deprived of revenue. They also say Greek housing is less costly for students.”
From the student newspaper
https://poly.rpi.edu/opinion/2019/04/what-we-think-prospective-students-should-know/
In preparing for ARCH, your student should choose sophomore year housing carefully. My DS and his freshman roommates chose to live in Stacwyck as sophomores because they would have four private bedrooms in an on-campus apartment with a full kitchen and the building was designated for ARCH housing. DS is not moving for ARCH… He and his roommates were able to leave everything in the apartment while they went on break.
@StudentsR1st Thanks for posting the recent ‘Polytechnic’ article. Overall a balanced and accurate editorial. A good read especially for those coming in or considering RPI class of 2024.
Thanks Spark2018. I agree with you regarding the article. I just started a thread for the Class of 2024 based on that article.