<p>We will be visiting RPI on Monday, Feb 6. Son is a HS junior, looking at electrical engineering. Any tips or things we should look at in particular? How about freshman dorms or cafeterias? Thanks for advice.</p>
<p>Check out the department and if profs vs. GAs teach intro classes. Find out about freshmen level required courses and changing majors; find out what tutoring is available & how many kids wash out at what points. How many graduate in 4 vs. 5 years. What are the top majors and top profs.<br>
Then find out about dorms, social life, ROTC, food, etc. from other students. You need to combine the intel from the "official" sources vs. the informal student sources. All the better if your son can attend freshman class or two and spend a night in a dorm. Good luck - very good school.</p>
<p>Thanks weski!</p>
<p>Take advantage of your visit to inquire about some of the unique opportunities which Rensselaer offers its students. I am talking about things like the Swanson Multidisciplinary Design Lab(<a href="http://www.eng.rpi.edu:8080/mdl/%5B/url%5D">http://www.eng.rpi.edu:8080/mdl/</a>, the Fabrication and Prototype Area facility(<a href="http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_fabPrototype.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_fabPrototype.cfm</a>, the Inventor's Studio class(which has resulted in 4 student startup companies in the past 2 years)(<a href="http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_inventors_studio_features.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_inventors_studio_features.cfm</a>, the Electric Power Engineering curriculum(<a href="http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/academics_ug_epower.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/academics_ug_epower.cfm</a>, the Archer Center of Student Leadership Development(<a href="http://archer.union.rpi.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://archer.union.rpi.edu/</a>, the Advance Manufacturing lab(<a href="http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_fabPrototype.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.eng.rpi.edu/soe/feature_fabPrototype.cfm</a>) and of course the many labs in the EE department itself(<a href="http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/">http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/</a> <a href="click%20Research,%20click%20Specialized%20Research%20Laboratories%20and%20Centers">/url</a>.</p>
<p>Wander around the Jonsson Engineering Center and look at bulletin board postings. If you are lucky a professor may introduce himself and give you a cooks tour of the department. Pick up a Polytechnic and read it. Buy a meal in the Rathskeller in the Union basement or at Java++ on the corner of 15th and College Ave. Take a gander into the Greene Building and look at some ot the architecture student work on dislpay. See if you can find Alby, the albino squirrel. Visit the library and the Voorhees Computer Center. Spend some time in the Union observing the students there. In short, poke around on your own a little bit.</p>
<p>And before you go spend a good deal of time visiting Rensselaer's web page. There is a virtual tour(<a href="http://www.rpi.edu/virtual_tour/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.rpi.edu/virtual_tour/index.html</a>) and oodles of additional info which may prompt more questions once you get to Troy.</p>
<p>Good luck and hope the fair weather holds up!!</p>
<p>Thanks originaloog. I was just reading over my old post about "What to look for in an engineering school," and you were a great help on there as well. </p>
<p>We go to RPI Monday. I just bid on a room in Albany (through Priceline.com) for tomorrow night and got a Marriott for $44. I'm happy with that.</p>
<p>Of course they're predicting lake effect snow all along the thruway tomorrow and Monday. Perfect.</p>
<p>originaloog -- i have been at rpi for 2 years and havent yet seen the albino squirrel...is he still alive???</p>
<p>seg9585:
We saw a photograph of him on campus someplace (?) and I recall that it was dated 2006.</p>
<p>hmm, there is a pic of it in the Rathskaller, oh well, I'll have to look harder...
For anyone else coming up, I believe you are also allowed to audit a lecture...definitely another thing to try</p>
<p>My D is curious, does RPI have overnight visits? </p>
<p>She's been to the campus for a tour and a Medalist Saturday, but is considering an overnight to narrow her choices / decision. Anyone done an overnight??</p>