<p>Hello, i was wondering which of these schools are overall better? educational wise and social wise?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rankings
U.S. News ranking: National Universities, 43
SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile (2004): 1220-1420
Best Business Programs and Departments
Business program rank: 57
Best Engineering Programs Where the Highest Degree is a Doctorate
Engineering program rank: 18
Biomedical rank: 19
Computer rank: 21
Electrical rank: 16
Materials rank: 15
Mechanical rank: 19</p>
<p>Rochester Institute of Technology
U.S. News ranking: UniversitiesMaster's (North), 6
SAT 25th-75th percentile (2004): 1110-1310
Best Business Programs and Departments
Business program rank: 66
Best Engineering Programs Where the Highest Degree is a Doctorate
Engineering program rank: 57</p>
<p>You should visit both campuses to get a feel for what they are like Socially.</p>
<p>RPI is better, IMO</p>
<p>RPI is much better academically. Neither has a great social scene. RPI, no contest.</p>
<p>thanks for the info</p>
<p>i went to RIT last week end, i really like the campus it is very modern. there is quite alot of students there, i never visited any dorms. RIT also has 8 indoor basketball courts which i find very amusing and a large swimming pool.</p>
<p>i never been to RPI but i hear thta the ratio from boys to girl is like 10:1 and it the city surronding the campus is quite unsafe.
well i can say the same for RIT because downtown rochester is not a safe place to be in, except for a few streets.</p>
<p>The graduation rate at RPI is 20% higher than at RIT. The male/female ratios are the same at RIT and RPI. If you get into RPI, go there, not RIT.</p>
<p>RPI has albino squirrels as well.</p>
<p>My d goes to RIT (graphic design major/advertising photography concentration) and loves it. She's coming home today for the 1st time since Aug. Just finished 1st qtr (RIT is on qtr system, not sure about RPI). She only knows one kid that goes home most weekends and she thinks that's crazy - has noticed that he's staying more now. RIT has a large art/design school which adds girls to the mix but the ratio is still something like 70% guys. Since many techie guys stay in their rooms playing video games, etc (probably true at both schools), the ratio doesn't seem that extreme. Social scene is what you make it. She had no trouble finding/making friends but she doesn't sit in the room or hang out with gamers (she has friends outside of art/design). Unlike trimester schools, she has to go back after Thanksgiving. She has 3 weeks off at Christmas (same break as her 2 semester friends) and then a 1-2 week break in March (between 2nd & 3rd qtrs), finishing up the end of May.</p>
<p>The workload is intense, esp with the qtr system so I think Sunday is study day. I seriously doubt she chooses work over play on Fri and Sat but hopefully she combines the two. She does say that everyone is in the same boat, workwise (you'll even find the athletes studying on Sundays) - definitely not a party school. Drinking is officially forbidden on campus but it does go on, just not openly. There are apartment parties regularly.</p>
<p>The gym facilities at RIT are great; there's also an indoor rock wall. Also tons of gym classes including skiing, scuba diving, dance, ice skating, hockey, etc. She wanted to take an Irish Dance class but can't fit it into her schedule (she's in class 28 hrs/week next qtr). The RIT hockey team just went division 1 and is doing pretty well. I know my d goes to the games on a reg basis (hockey was big at her HS also).</p>
<p>I know she's in very small classes (under 20). Even calc classes are around 20 kids. I don't think TAs teach any classes. Not much to walk to, but buses are available to take kids to the malls, movies, U Roch, etc. Mall and movies are very close. My d has always been able to find rides and hasn't needed the bus. RIT is not in the city. It's in a suburb and it's an enclosed campus (over 1000 acres). Dorms are ok, nothing special (amazing how much stuff she fit in hers) but after freshman yr, most kids move to on campus apartments (several styles) or off campus houses (but, almost 1/2 her floor are upperclassmen). Students are allowed to have cars, even freshman. Parking is free. Lots of parking lots around the outside of campus. Can pay extra for some lots closer to academic buildings (more applicable to commuters). My d is bringing a car back after Thanksgiving so she can drive home at Christmas... Rochester is easily accessible by bus, train or plane so getting in and out is probably easier than the Troy area. I know she's had friends come visit from other schools by bus. Bus/airport is a short cab ride away. RIT runs free shuttles to/from stations at break time.</p>
<p>RIT is easier to get into than RPI but the workload is demanding (most kids take 17/18 credits per qtr) so that might account for the low grad rate. It's a rude awakening for some kids to work at a fast pace (10 weeks/qtr). Winters are tough. Lots of snow and wind. Kids that have trouble socializing probably start feeling depressed by the time the winter sets in, especially if they don't make the effort to get out and have fun. There are tunnels beneath the dorms and cafeterias so you don't need to bundle up to get around. </p>
<p>In many ways the schools are similar. Probably a higher rate of shy nerdy kids that have trouble socializing than at your typical state school. But most kids are at RIT to work. My d's dormmates (is that a word) include design majors and engineering majors of all different backgrounds.</p>
<p>I would suggest doing an overnight visit. My d visited 4 times, different times of yr. Her 2nd choice was Syracuse U which is much more social (party scene) and everyone told her she was nuts to go to Rochester. She loved the people in her dept and in general from the 1st time she stepped on campus. Not sure if she was just lucky or what but she has had a good experience. In fact, she just got a job giving tours. We've driven through RPI, because she went to dance camp at the Emma Willard School (near RPI). Not much to do near RPI. RIT is an enclosed campus, doesn't have town roads going through it like RPI. Not sure if you're looking for FA, but my d got a good pkg from RIT. She also received a merit scholarship.</p>
<p>Go spend time at both schools. Try to sit in on classes. Tour your depts, dorms, cafeterias, etc. Talk to random students and ask them what they like/dislike about their schools. Then go with your gut.</p>
<p>swatman888-
What do you want to study? Photography is the only major at RIT that is better than RPI.</p>
<p>What were your SAT scores? What is your gpa? Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?</p>
<p>D is considering U Roch (not RIT) and RPI. I worry that any school in that geog area will be unbearably cold! </p>
<p>Jerzgrlmom described the RIT campus; has anyone seen and care to report on the RPI campus?</p>
<p>nyc, my son is considering URoch. I haven't been to the campus yet. Did you like it? All I know is it's closer to the city and it has a good biomedical pgm.</p>
<p>NYC, I haven't seen RPI campus,but I have seen Troy, NY where it is located. Troy is considered the armpit of NY. It has almost nothing of value to college students and isn't a great college town. As bad as Rochester may be, it is a MUCH better town for college kids in terms of culture and things to do.</p>
<p>Jerzgrlmom, I have seen Univiersity of Rochester, although I didn't take a formal tour because their art department is almost non-existent. However, U of Rochester had a gorgeous campus. Moreover, most of the kids like it there. I have friends who attended Rochester and everyone of them raves about the academics of the school.</p>
<p>but D and I did drive through Troy this summer, en route to Union (in Schenectady). Can't say I disagree w/ taxguy about Troy; the little I saw of it was unimpressive (on the other hand, Schenectady looked pretty bad too).</p>
<p>Don't want to hi-jack the thread, but taxguy, in what way was URoch art dept lacking? I thought the course offerings were pretty extensive (D is interested in architecture/art), but I know nothing about the caliber of instruction.</p>
<p>When I asked my friends about U of Rochester's art department, they told me that RIT was, at the time, considered much better in art and design than U of Rochester.</p>
<p>What exactly is wrong with Troy? All you mentioned was that it wasn't a college town. So what is there? I wouldn't mind if there was a forest or a lake nearby. That would be really cool.</p>
<p>i want to major in biotechnology engineering or biomedical engineering. i didnt take my SATs yet i am still a junior i have about a 3.4 unweighted gpa</p>
<p>People have said that Troy is a ghetto and quite unsafe to be alone at night</p>
<p>Munkeegirl, I guess each there own. Personally, I didn't like Troy,but I guess each area has its benefits.</p>
<p>NYC, I just looked at Rochester's art programs. Maybe I don't know where to look,but I didn't see the extensive art and design offerings as found in RIT. However, as I said, maybe I didn't review it thoroughly.</p>
<p>As I recall, from the studio art web page, there was a link to the registrar's page, which contained a "course descriptions" or "catalogue" link.</p>
<p>I will have D check out RIT's art/design offerings, though I'm reluctant to place too much emphasis on one particular department or program, rather than a school's overall strength. At 17, D thinks she knows what she wants to study, but that could certainly change after she starts taking courses. I entered college intending to major in history and education. Four years later, I graduated with a degree in math/econ, without ever taking a history course.</p>