<p>Current students,</p>
<p>How's the housing and food? Heard there are forced triples for freshman. Are there things to do on campus? Fitness Center looked great. Is it crowded?</p>
<p>I'm the mother of an RIT student about to begin his second year. He was in a triple last year, but the room was larger than a double and he seemed to have as much personal space as he would have in a double. He didn't have any complaints about the dorms and he made good friends there. But kids who are able to seem to want to get into apartments, either on-campus or off, as soon as they can. </p>
<p>My son will be back in the dorms this year, but in Art House, one of the special interest floors. Along with the attractions Art House held on its own, going there saved him from getting assigned to a room in the RIT Inn, which is a few miles from campus and probably not the ideal place to be if you don't have a car and have to depend on the shuttle bus. </p>
<p>From what I hear, the food is okay. Everyone complains about Gracie's, the all-you-can-eat dining hall that's the mainstay if you're on a standard meal plan, but don't students always complain about campus food? There's some flexibility to have meals elsewhere, though, and after first year you can go on an all-debit plan and use your meal card anywhere on campus. </p>
<p>I don't know about crowds at the fitness center.</p>
<p>I am a student going into my third year.</p>
<p>There is an important difference between a "built triple" and a "forced triple." A built triple is actually a floor lounge that has been converted into a room. Because of reasons unknown, nearly all lounges have been converted to this status. A forced triple is actually a double with three people in it. These are fairly rare, but usually happen in the first few weeks, for people who get into housing late, or who are really unlucky.</p>
<p>If you are placed in a built triple, that will likely be your room for the year. This is not really that bad, as like jdsmom said, they are very large.</p>
<p>If you are in a forced triple, housing will move you out as quickly as possible. usually, you will be out within weeks of the start of class, as people either do not show up to school, or choose to leave.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, being placed in a built triple is fairly common, but a forced triple is rare.</p>
<p>As for things to do, students either need to make a lot of friends, join a special interest house, or go off campus. I chose to join Computer Science House, and will be living on floor this year (as I did for two quarters last year).</p>
<p>Food at Gracies really is kinda bad. Perhaps the only decent staple of good food is their good stock of cereal, and their salad bar. Otherwise, their food varies from neutral to unhealthy. As for flavor/taste, it tends to vary daily.</p>
<p>Other places to eat are much better, and once you chose to not eat at Gracies (which you cannot completely do your first year) you have about 4 places to choose from. All of them have pretty good food.</p>
<p>The fitness center can be very busy if you go at a "normal" time, like at the end of the day. Other times of the day, it is pretty manageable.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions just post here and I will reply pretty quickly.</p>
<p>They are also building this:</p>
<p>I think everyone is looking forward to a retail within walking distance, but that will unfortunately not be completed until next school year.</p>
<p>^ Not to mention, I wonder what retail will move in there? There's so much retail out in that area already, and who will want to deal with a seasonal business?</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying the built vs forced triple. We missed the residential tour because S had an appt with a dept then. </p>
<p>We saw the construction and read they are building apartments there. This sounds encouraging for post freshman years. </p>
<p>What are the chances of getting special interest housing applying RD? RIT info session said to get your app in early for housing, but ED is out because we need to hear about $.</p>
<p>Special Interest Houses (SIH) have two levels of membership; On and Off Floor.</p>
<p>Getting into a SIH, before you are a student, is based on the questions that you answer when you fill out your Housing form. Based upon those questions, the prospective member is either turned down, given off-floor status, or allowed to move in at the beginning of the year. Even if they are turned down, they may re-apply once students.</p>
<p>I do not know what RD or ED stand for, so you will need to clarify on that.</p>
<p>Regular and Early Decision. The info session presenter said the earlier you apply and get accepted, the better choices of housing.</p>
<p>That may be true, although I was under the impression that all incoming freshmen are given an even chance for housing, so long as they meet the standard deadline for applying.</p>
<p>As for applying to SIH's we receive all of the applications from incoming students in one batch. As such, your chances of getting into a SIH is based upon the merit of what you write on the application.</p>
<p>What major is your S interested in?</p>
<p>Microelectronic engineering - doesn't want to be in an Engineering House though.</p>
<p>Hi. My son will be in the RIT INN for the first time this year. There’s not a lot of info about it so we’re not exactly sure what to bring and what not to bring. My son was wondering if there will be 2 desks in the room since a regular hotel only has 1. Does anyone know? If there’s anything else special he should expect, we’d be happy to hear it from you!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Oh, and is there a lounge with perhaps a microwave or something?? He’s on the third floor.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have not lived in the RIT Inn yet, and do not know what the situation is like there. However, you could probably call the RIT housing department to find out.</p>
<p>Luckily I was able to answer one of my own questions. The RIT Housing Dept. had told me there was no layout online, but I found this:
<a href=“Finance and Administration | RIT”>Finance and Administration | RIT;
and on page 3 it shows a layout of a room at the Inn.</p>
<p>My daughter lived in arthouse her 1st yr. Many students chose to stay there but she and a floormate opted for a townhouse on campus. Unlike others, she didn’t mind Gracie’s but I don’t think she ever ate the greasy type (burger, fries, etc) entrees. She eats lots of fresh fruit and veggies and there were lots of choices for her. So, I think it depends on what the student eats. I know she also used her meal plan to eat at other places (subs, pizza, etc) on campus but those places aren’t all you can eat. My son doesn’t particularly like the food at his school but he prefers to eat a steak every night & avoid all things healthy - but that just isn’t going to happen so I think he lives on freshly made waffles & ice cream.</p>
<p>I never saw a triple there so I can’t comment. I know Arthouse had a lounge. Another lounge was converted into an art studio, which was convenient for those late night projects.</p>
<p>My d has taken numerous classes at the sports center and hasn’t had any trouble using the gym whenever she wanted. Just like the Y at home, I think there are times when the gym’s busier - probably at the beginning of the yr when everyone’s trying it out, right after New Year’s and then again in late spring, when everyone is getting in shape for summer. It’s fairly close to the dorms so therefore convenient for those who want to use it.</p>
<p>dahbou - just wondering how your son liked RIT Inn this year. My son was placed there next year and I would like any information you can give me. Thanks</p>
<p>this may be a blunt question - is RIT boring and depressing? I was recently accepted there but am scared that the campus might be a little dull</p>
<p>well i just visited there and it wasn’t dull to me, but exactly do you mean by dull?</p>
<p>My D is in her second year there. She seems to have found her own fun. Dorms her first year, on-campus apartments her second, and next year off-campus. She uses the fitness center a lot, goes to a lot of sporting events (especially hockey). There have been some concerts she has gone too. She also has a lot of friends who live off-campus. I don’t think she was ever bored.</p>