Updated Review of RIT Schools of Art and Design

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rochester Institute of Technology
1

<p>We just had a tour of RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) on April 6, 2005. We did an initial tour with my wife about 8 months ago,but we thought we would go back with my daughter. Things have indeed changed in this period , and I thought I would update my review for things that have changed or just recently discovered by me. Due to the length of this review, it will be in two parts.</p>

<p>After reading a number of negative comments in Studentreviews.com and finding out that they have some of the lowest 6 year retention rates in the nation ( under 60% graduate within 6 years), I wanted to check out the school more carefully.</p>

<li>Academics: As one professor noted, RIT is aiming to be the next Carnegie Mellon within 10-20 years, if not sooner. I can definitely see the similarities. RIT has seven schools and an institute for the deaf. They are:</li>
</ol>

<p>College Abbreviations
CAST - Applied Science & Technology
CCIS - Computing & Information Sciences
CIAS - Imaging Arts & Sciences ( design, photography, printing, and imaging science studies)
CLA - Liberal Arts
COB - Business
COE - Engineering
COS - Science
NTID - Nat’l Technical Institute for the Deaf</p>

<p>There are a lot of deaf students on campus taking courses.</p>

<p>Average SATs are 1210, math 620 and verbal 590. I suspected that if you major in science and engineering, you would need a higher math score. I met a few engineering and computer science kids whose average math SAT were around 650-670. These interviews may not be statistically valid. </p>

<p>Overall, RIT academics is very underrated and underappreciated. They have some top professors. US News and World Reports gave them a 4.1 out of 5.0 in peer reviews. CMU has a 4.3 by the way. Student teacher ratio is around 13:1. This should be contrasted to that of CMU with a 9:1 student teacher ratio.</p>

<p>The school works their kids like dogs. In this way, it is similar to CMU. Make no mistake, these kids are expected to work hard and at a high level. However, that is part of the problem. The students are not quite up to the level ( at least on paper) as their CMU counterparts at least SAT wise.</p>

<p>Most students that I met came to RIT because they didn’t get admitted to MIT, CMU, Cornell or because they were given great scholarship money or they lived in the area and didn’t want to attend school far away or wanted a major that was only found at RIT. This is not to say that the student body isn’t smart. However, they are, for the most part, a few notches under what is found in the top schools at least in engineering and science.</p>

<p>I should note that design students are very top notch. There is a large number of applications for a relatively small number of spots, making their school of imaging sciences very tough to get into. The same can be said for the school of computing sciences and for the school of printing, which has a very sophisticated, great program.</p>

<p>RIT also has some interesting majors that you won’t find elsewhere such as printing, photographic sciences,New Media Design, New Media Printing etc. They are very tied in to Bausch and Lomb; thus, anything to do with photography is especially strong. RIT also has some majors that you won’t find in other schools such as New Media that is a combination of web design and graphic design. They also have one of the finest programs on printing technology in the world. In fact, their printing programs have a number of different emphasis such as graphic design/printing, new media printing, and even have one of the only programs on marketing of media.
Interestingly, RIT will also allow,with the permission of an advisor, other majors that a student wishes if the resources and courses are available. We met one student that combined graphic design, some print media work with business and management.</p>

<p>RIT also has a very strong co-op program where you get real world experience and get well paid for this work. Supposedly, 70% of the students who particpate in co-op get full-time job offers. This is one factor that clearly distinguishes RIT from other institutions. These co-ops are available all over the US and even in other parts of the world.I met a student who wanted and obtained a co-op in Canada.</p>

<p>AP policy is also very liberal. Generally, if you get a “3” or more on an exam, you get credit. If you want credit in your major, you will need a “4.” I don’t know if they limit the total number of courses that they will accept AP credit. This should be compared to schools like CMU that requires 4’s and 5’s for many exams. Pratt, in contrast, requires a 5 for any credit.</p>

<p>There are few doctoral programs offered. Thus, most professors are NOT TAs. 80% of the faculty have terminal degrees (compared to that of CMU that has 96% with terminal degrees).</p>

<p>Although the work is very hard, I didn’t get the impression that it was quite the same high level of CMU. I could be wrong on this though. I also didn’t see the same amount of interdiciplinary type of work that goes on at CMU. However, RIT is flexible on designing majors. Moreover, students can and do take courses in neighboring schools such as University of Rochester for courses that are not available at RIT such as music, and certain languages et al. </p>

<p>Like CMU, RIT is very wired. There are a huge number of computer labs and wireless spots available on campus. In fact, ethernet connections were omnipresent even found in all lounges, and coffee shops.
I should note that one big distinction is that RIT does NOT have a drama department or school of music, which I wish were there.</p>

<p>I should also note that RIT has changed their liberal arts requirement. They used to require set courses from different areas such as picking from a menu. Now, student can meet their liberal arts by taking almost any liberal ars courses. This allows true minor in other areas from the major. RIT even allow liberal arts credit for participating in their concert band or dance shows, which I thought was a great touch.</p>

<p>I should note that some students found that some professors, notably in engineering didn’t speak English. However, most students loved their professors and typically rated at least 90% of their professors good to excellent. This negative comment about some professors were not noted in the schools of art and design.
Overall adademically I would give them a B+. For the schools of art, design, and printing technology, I would change my rating to an “A.”</p>

<li>Campus: The campus is huge. It is much bigger than that of CMU ( and they have double the students too),Pratt, RISD and other schools that I have reviewed. I thought the campus was pretty. However, almost every building consists of red brick, and I do mean almost every building. They don’t believe in diversity of architecture These building are very well made. If there were a war, I would run to the basement of these building. There are nice big green grassy area for the kids to play sports and sit and study ( when the weather allows, which is rare).
They also have tunnels that go from the dorms to various buildings, which was very interestingly planned and decorated by art students. Moreover, they have a new building that houses a great indoor running track, new workout facilities and swimming pool.
In fact, they just added a new floor to their workout facilities with dozens of stationary bicycles, treat mills and more. Moreover, many items of equipment are connected to TVs where the student can change the channel or access music.</li>
</ol>

<p>I should note that the maintenance on the facilites was immaculate. There was no garbage, graffiti, or dirt found anywhere. They must have little gremlins cleaning up at night. The bathrooms were also nice and clean; however, I missed the little scented devices that I found at CMU.</p>

<p>There has been a number of complaints that there just isn’t anything to do in RIT other than study. RIT is taking this complaint seriously and is working on building a town for students which will consist of shopping, restaurants, fun area etc. This should be very exciting when finished, if it is ever finished. They even have two indoor running tracks and racquetball courts and backetball courts, all in new facilities.</p>

<p>Overall, I would rate the over all facilities an “A.” As far as campus beauty, I would rate that as “B.”</p>

2

<p>Part II of Updated Review of RIT.
3.Parking: Although parking is limited as with other schools, it was a lot better than what I found at Drexel and CMU. Since most kids live on Campus, they don't need cars. I would give RIT a "B" in parking.</p>

<p>4.Dorms I did get the dorm tour this time. Although rooms were no larger than that of other compuses that I have seen, RIT does have some interesting thematic dorms. For example, there are art dorms with longes full of drafting boards. Computer dorms with computers and internet hookup throughout. They even provide no smoking floors, floors with people over 21, doors that are both co- ed and single sex dorms and a lot more choices. In short, if you have a preference, you will probably find a way to be accomodated.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Food: We ate on campus, and all of us liked the food. It was varied and reasonably well cooked. They had a nice salid bar too. I had wonderful grilled chicken and turkey meatballs. I even sampled the stable of student life: pizza. It was surprising very tasty. Overall, I would give them a "B+" in food.</p></li>
<li><p>Problems: With all these good things, why do they have such dissatisfaction among students and comments. As far as I can tell there are three main problems:</p></li>
</ol>

<p>First,is the weather. As one student noted, "Imagine how cold you think Rochester is and subtract 25 degrees." It is very cold and blustery most of the year. Although, the school is very good at snow removal, this doesn't detract from the blistery cold students experience going to class.</p>

<p>Second: This may be the clincher: RIT is a very hard school. Students are expected to work hard. Moreover, there is very little outlet for release. For example, the male-female ratio is 60%-40%,with most females in the school of design (This has improved since my last review). This means that in most science or engineering classes, it is more like 10:1 (male to female). Thus, social life is not that great. Moreover, RIT is VERY strict as to drinking. They have a complete no drinking policy on campus at any of its facilities, dorms or apartments. Personally, I like this policy,but many students don't.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Tuition: Here there is a big surprise. RIT tuition is just under $22,000 per year. Moreover, room and board are also relatively cheap at about $8,000. From a pricing perspective, this school is a deal for a private school.</p></li>
<li><p>I interviewed numerous students. I have to say that everyone , from the student, to the secretaries , to the tour guides must take smile pills. Everyone was amazingly nice and friendly. I don't know if it was great training or just nice weather,but we were in awe of how nice and happy everyone was. My daughter even had two professors come up and ask her about her interest in the school. This is a big contrast from Pratt where administrative staff were curt and surly or CMU where staff and kids were somewhat aloof and supercilious, although there were exceptions. I should also note that every student approaced loved the quality of the academics and would gladly have come here again. Maybe it was the weather on the day of our tour that influenced them.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Overall impressions: This is one of those schools that are hard to define. They have good science and good art and design. They have a great number of choices at to majors. Whether it is up to the level of a CMU is hard to evaluate. However, there is clearly a lack of things to do other than work and have LAN parties. RIT is attempting to add more facilities for students' enjoyment such as their new, fabuluous stuent union/work out facility. They also have hundreds of clubs that span a wide array of interests.</p>

<p>Thus, if you want very good academics, great co-op experience at a very good price, this may well be the school for your kids. I really do believe that they will get better and might well acheive the goal espoused by a professor: equal in quality that of CMU or any of the top schools! Frankly, I didn't feel that they were that far away. I should also note that my daughter LOVED the school. This may well be her first choice.</p>

<p>Obviously, my impressions may differ from yours. You should check out the school.</p>

3

<p>First, I noticed some typos in the above posts. I apologize for not proof reading them better.</p>

<p>Also, I wanted to point out that RIT puts particular emphasis on its undergraduate education. Although RIT majors tend to be more "vocationally" and practically oriented, undergrads can participate in research with professors at any of their schools and are encouraged to do so. Research is not omitted from their educational emphasis. You, thus, get the best of all worlds at RIT: a practical, real-world education, paractical applied majors, and the ability to conduct high level research with using great up-to-date facilities.</p>

<p>I should also note that RIT takes their computers and equipment very seriously by updating all software annually. According to students, very little (of anything) is obsolete, and maintenance on both buildings and equipment is meticulous.</p>

<p>This is a school that seems to participate in conjuction with businesses as a "partner." It seems to work very well to the benefit of both businesses and to the benefit of students.</p>

4

<p>I just realized that I left out one important item: RIT is on a quarterly system. This has good and bad points. The good points are many. One is that there is less material to study for each final. Moreover, if you get a bad teacher, you only have to put up with them for 10 weeks. Also, you can get a lot more interesting courses into the curriculum with a quarterly system.Quarterly system also lends itself well to co-ops.</p>

<p>One bad point is that the quarters fly by. Secondly, you will have a final every 11 weeks. Thirdly, if you participate in the five year co-op program, you will not have the same amount of breaks that other college students have since you will be going to school or participating in co-ops through most summers. Finally, with 10 week quarters, the courses move very quickly. Professors don't have time to get students acclimated. As one student noted, "You must hit the quarters running," If you are sick for even one week, you mist 10% of the class.</p>

<p>Also, with a male/female ratio of 60-40, females do have an advantage here. RIT is trying to equalize the ratio.</p>

5

<p>This was a post by an RIT student that I thought I would add to the thread:</p>

<p>Hi,
I'm a second year Applied Networking/Systems Administration (IT-GCCIS) student at RIT, and I figured I'd respond to some of the comments in this thread. </p>

<p>-Every year RIT's averages for SATs and high school ranks increase. In case you are wondering, I received a 650 verbal/670 math and had a high school GPA of 4.0, ranked in the top 10% of my school. I applied to RIT and no other schools. These scores earned me the second highest Presidential scholarship (there are 8 levels) but not a place in RIT's honor program. I was accepted to that after my first year with a 3.85 GPA, 4.0 PFOS GPA. Enough about scores. RIT seems pretty flexible with admissions. If you are passionate about your major and career goals, lower than average scores won't kill you. RIT is not interested in students who have no goals. The coop system pretty much requires you to begin work in your major right away so you will be ready. The only exception I've seen is the undeclared engineering program, but even that requires a decision fairly early in the program.</p>

<p>-The quarter system forces students to work consistently throughout the quarter. It is easy to fall behind in a class when it is condensed into ten weeks. I believe this is one of the main reasons for low retention (second only to the cold).</p>

<p>-4-5s are required on many of the APs. 3s in sciences, for example, usually won't count. Expect 5 requirements for in-major APs and even then you often have to take a different class, instead of a free slot. (For example, in IT, a passing AP Computer Science test allows you to take Java for Programmers instead of Java Programming.)</p>

<p>-RIT has some of the best facilities around. Our computer labs are current and numerous. Software is usually current or one version old. Hardware is updated every few years. Aside from some basic hardware computer courses where freshman tear down and rebuild machines on a daily basis, I have never sat down at an RIT provided PC and thought it unreasonably old. </p>

<p>-For a large school, RIT has very small classes with kind and friendly professors. The largest class I have ever been in was 60 people. Typically classes start with no more than 30 and by the second or third week they stabilize around 22. I have never had a professor who purposely tried to fail students; most are quite accommodating. The college of computing professors seem especially nice. </p>

<p>-Dorms, like all other facilities, are cleaned on weekdays. Sundays can prove a bit messy, especially when salt and snow is tracked in.</p>

<p>-There is a large international population at RIT. My roommate was from India and he recently met someone from the same block of his small hometown here as well.</p>

<p>-Parking is much better than it seems. While students might disagree on colder days, there are plenty of lots around campus. Freshman are allowed to bring cars. The campus is small enough that you could walk to any building from any other within 20 minutes (except the astronomy lab, that would take about 30 from the other side). On colder days the furthest apartments are unpleasantly far, but busses run regularly and are commissioned from the Rochester metro system. There are routes to the mall as well as between buildings. There are two routes on campus: clockwise and counter clockwise. This ensures you never have to travel more than 50% around campus. Parking passes are free, but the lazy can pay about $25 per year to get special passes to park in the closest lots. These special passes go quick and are held for off campus students, mostly.</p>

<p>-The drinking policy is not as you say. RIT is the most liquid "dry campus" I know of. Any on-campus apartment (RIT has many, many on-campus apartments) with all residents over the age of 21 can have alcohol in them as long as it isn't in bulk containers. Alcohol is banned in the dorms no matter the age of the residents. This applies to the frat houses on the dorm side, but not the new ones on the academic side (as far as I know; I try to avoid frats, so I don't know all of their rules). Also, there is a bar in the RIT Ritz, an eatery in the basement of the SAU. Budweiser trucks are not uncommon.</p>

<p>-The social life is the biggest drawback. The National Science Foundation recently sponsored a grant to determine why IT in particular has no female students. For IT students (the largest major on campus) 10:1 is common, if not optimistic. Also, Rochester is no NYC or DC. There aren't too many places I'd care to visit in the city. Our over 100 clubs help, but membership falls during the Winter quarter for most clubs, skiing and snowboarding groups excluded.</p>

<p>I guess that's all for now. Let me know if you have questions. I'll try to remember to check this board.</p>

<p>*Note: all opinions expressed above are from my own personal experiences and do not reflect the opinion of RIT. I am not employed by the RIT admission office and do not speak for the school.</p>

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<p>taxguy,
Thanks for your review of RIT. I'm hoping my son and I can visit RIT this summer. I know he will love the technology and the idea of LAN parties 24/7 but I'm worried about his time management. If only there was a degree in playing computer games. No, don't mean designing - we've found those schools. Just playing......</p>

7

<p>Here are some comments by MMM85:</p>

<p>I just completed my freshman year at RIT in the college of imaging arts and sciences, school of american crafts, metals/jewelry dept. (yes, the school is really that divided up) My advice on RIT: unless you know from the very beginning EXACTLY what you want to do career-wise and are willing to stick to one very rigid major - stay far far away. This is not a MICA or CCA that encourages cross-disclipinary action. In fact, if you're an art student in the crafts school, you can bet you're never going to interact with an art student in the design school beyond freshman year - forget any of the other schools like science or business. Yes they have all sorts of great equipment and facilities but if you're not in the major, you're not welcome for the most part (there are a few departments that are a little more laid back about this...but not really). I was there for a year and never set foot in any academic building but the fine art building (different from the design building). </p>

<p>They abuse their faculty and there is a good deal of bitterness about the backroom politics - although this happens at a lot of schools. I had a couple good professors leave because of the admistrative BS</p>

<p>Beware of TAs and grad students that barely speak English, teaching lower level classes. Even in the art depts. (I had one class where the TA spoke very little English so that she actually had a TA's TA just to interpret/translate. Of course ...his english wasn't top notch either.... this is an extreme example though) </p>

<p>A note about the quarter system: Once you come here...don't bother trying to leave. Trying to transfer quarter credits are impossible. You automatically lose 1/3 no matter what. </p>

<p>A note about the dorm lottery system: Freshmen are gauranteed housing even if that means living several miles away in a half-converted hotel (horrible). Spring quarter of freshman year you apply for next year's housing. If you want tiny cramped dorms again (housing shortage = occasional 3 people in a double room, and lounges turned into temp housing) you will probably be ok. If you want to live miles away in that crummy hotel you will be ok. If however you want to live in the apartments on campus..you basically get one shot in the lottery. Freshmen going into sophomore yr get housing priority so if you don't get that apartment for sophomore year.... you more than likely won't get it after that. </p>

<p>Bring your car! If you don't have one..get one! if you can't get one - it is imperative you make friends with someone who has one! Understand that RIT is NOT in Rochester. Rather it is in a suburb called Henrietta near a mall and some cows. </p>

<p>Campus is all brick..but it's not as ugly as everyone says - it's just a tradition to complain about it. Campus is absolutely immaculate...they powerwash their walkways a lot. Very safe..usually.. however we did have an armed robbery this fall in one of the dining areas. </p>

<p>Registering for classes happens online at 5am if you want to get into the classes you want. (only freshmen deal with this really- upperclassmen once into their majors have less competing for class space)</p>

<p>3 in 10 students are girls. 1 in 3 girls are single upon arrival. good luck.</p>

<p>Rochester is not known to be an art friendly city. Nor does it have any neat shopping/dining/student area like manhattan's village or portland's old port. They tried with Park ave but didn't really succeed too well. On the upside the city's largest adult superstore is across from campus.....</p>

<p>As a foundation arts student I had an 70-80 hr workweek - but this all depends which professors you get</p>

<p>I don't know much about the non-art programs but after freshman yr let me say this: I applied as a transfer student - knowing I'd lose credits - to 7 other schools...just to get the heck out.</p>

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<p>For some reason, the moderators won't make this a sticky post. Thus, I am bumping it so that prospective students can see this thread.</p>

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<p>I did my freshman year at RIT and I thought I would give some general pointers to people who are thinking about the school. I've since decided to transfer, but I'm a business student by the way.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Academically, the school has some top professors and they are constantly putting more money into their facilities. I really enjoyed the professors; they were very personable and approachable.</p></li>
<li><p>I liked the quarter system, but staying in school till May 26th was absolute torture. Nobody should have to do that!</p></li>
<li><p>Some classes are interesting, but the liberal arts program is terribly underdeveloped, which further advances the underlying idealogy of "if it's not in my major, then its not important". Students are very focused on their program of study instead of being well-rounded in several categories. For example, my highschool writing class was probably more challenging than the class I took at RIT.</p></li>
<li><p>RIT is very very very socially challenged. I found it hard to make friends because most students would rather sit in their room alone than socialize with others. The severe lack of girls was also a huge drawback.</p></li>
<li><p>There wasn't much to do at the school (on or off campus). I found myself terribly bored when I didn't have school work to do. I started to get very depressed being at the school also. With a constant influx of work and no stress-relieving outlets, it started to take its toll on me.</p></li>
<li><p>The reslife system in the dorms is terribly mismanaged. I had several problems that I voiced multiple times and I finally had to take matters into my own hands. I requested a roommate change over a period of three months and finally I just moved into my friends room without following any protocol.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I would urge people considering this school to really think out their decision before they commit to RIT. At its heart, RIT is a vocational school where you concentrate on one discipline intently, as opposed to exploring new avenues and finding what you want to do.</p>

<p>As a previous poster said, forget about transfering too. I had 64 credits at RIT and I was offered 23 from a local public school. :(</p>

10

<p>My husband and I attended all the parent sessions. We found the school to be very impressive. on the other hand, definitely encourage your son to leave his hometown even thought that keeps him from attending a very good school.</p>

<p>At least we have a little distance from Rochester (all the way to Buffalo), but we have told both of our children they need to go away to school. It worked with the first, who is going to Boston and loves the urban environment at BU. The second wants to stay within a 4 to 5 hour drive of home. I prefer she go a bit further than Rochester, but it may be difficult to keep her away from RIT.</p>

<p>People really need to get over the weather issues. It's highly overemphasized when people talk about Rochester and Buffalo. The snow is rarely too much; wind is the bigger issue. Sometimes you just have to carry weights in your pockets so you don't blow away! The students at RPI have the tunnels, too.</p>

11

<p>My DD just finished her 1st yr at RIT. I'd say she had a different experience than the poster above. As a Graphic Design major, she was surrounded by as many girls as guys. She was in a Learning Community where the same small group of kids (maybe 17 or so) take a couple classes together each qtr. They really get to know each other. Plus the kids in the Design School seem more social than some of the other majors. My DD's social (but not usually an initiator) and she found plenty to do. There were parties, but she doesn't live the party life found at some big schools (like RU or Penn St where her friends go). </p>

<p>Like the poster above, she would agree that most students are focused on their work. She liked that aspect and it kept her focused on her own work. It was easy to stay in and do her homework coz everyone else was too - but I doubt she gave up her Fridays and Saturdays to do schoolwork. She enjoys her weekends but admits she spent most of her Sunday evenings getting work done. She also found the writing classes easier than her HS classes but she's always been in honors classes. She worked hard (long long nights completing projects) but was able to maintain a 4.0 for the yr, but she expects next yr to be tougher. The qtr system moves quickly. No time to fall behind. She equated it to a HS marking period with a week or two off before the next marking period begins. She liked being done with 1st qtr before Thanksgiving. She really got to enjoy her time at home (about 2 week break) because her final exams/projects were done. She also was sick of school by the end of May.</p>

<p>One thing people complain about is transferring credits. When transferring from a qtr system, you have to remember they're qtr credits not semester credits. Most freshman take 4-5 classes per semester at a "semester" school so that's about 24-30 cr/yr. So the poster above was able to transfer almost a yr's worth of credits. </p>

<p>Socially, RIT certainly isn't a big party school but there are opportunities for fun. You may have to go out to find it. I know my kid talked about going rollerblading around campus, theme parties & dances in her dorm, free Thurs night movies, bowling nights, and finding free food at gallery openings & barbeques put on by different groups. </p>

<p>I hate to hear how kids leave coz they were lonely. For those new students about to enter RIT, enjoy your orientation week. At RIT, it's the week before classes begin. It's a great opportunity to make friends and continue those friendships. Join clubs or just get out and do stuff to expand your group of friends. Orientation makes it easy. There are lots of activities planned and you are forced to show up. Once classes begin, it's a little harder. You have to make the effort. If your roommate is a dud, go find someone else to hang out with. My DD didn't get along with her roommate and had a new girl move in 2nd qtr. That's another good thing about RIT. You can make roommate changes pretty easily throughout the yr. There were constantly changes in her dorm (and yes, they were done through Housing). Maybe the poster above had a lousy RA.</p>

<p>My DD commented that she plans to join some clubs this yr because she wants more to do in addition to the 2 on campus jobs she has (she gives tours and is also a notetaker). She also plans to use the fantastic gym facilities more. I think she was feeling the place out this yr, finding her way. I noticed she was out and about more as the yr progressed, attending movies and all the hockey games. I know she got off campus quite a few times because the cab calls showed up on her cell phone bill. The bus system was useful for getting to the mall and food store. She even spent a weekend in Toronto with her dorm floor.</p>

<p>Socially, she made a nice group of friends but she wants to find more kids with similar interests. Finding friends is a bit harder at RIT than at home but that's cause she's looking for kids that want to go out and do stuff, not just get drunk all weekend or sit in and play video games. She goes rollerblading and may bring a bike back with her. She's been to clubs and parties in downtown Rochester. There are great state parks within an hr. She enjoys the diversity of the student body. She's met kids from all over the world. Her boyfriend is Canadian and one of her roommates this yr is an exchange student from France. She's looking forward to living this yr in a 3 bedroom townhouse (on campus). RIT has lots of different types of housing available, not just dorms. </p>

<p>There is some movement with kids transferring in and out. 2 of her dorm friends left and 1 girl transferred into RIT (because she felt RIT's design school was better). One guy left to go to RISD (top art school) and one left to be closer to home (and her HS friends). Some kids are unhappy with their social lives, but the kids she knows who gripe about not having anything to do, never make any attempt to find activities. She's looking forward to apt life. Having a car also helps. At RIT, all students (even freshman in dorms) are allowed to have cars on campus - and it's free ($ for certain parking lots). The weather wasn't an issue for her. We had more snow here in northern NJ than she had and the temps were about the same. RIT probably was more windy.</p>

12

<p>Jrzgrlmom, thanks for that very encouraging post! It makes me feel good about sending my DS off to freshman orientation at RIT a week from Sunday.</p>

13

<p>my son is finishing his first week at rit. im curious how you made out with your daughter.</p>