Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Jon

Class: Junior
Major: Other
Gender: M

High School: Salesian High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

Don't come here if you aren't prepared to get busy... everyone has a sizable work load here. There's help with time management and stress relief to help you get down the right path but be sure to bring your best work ethics with you. RPI is a niche school... in order to get in the door you need to be smart and capable, and as a result you will find that your classmates and dormitory denizens are intelligent people who probably share common ground with you. While Troy, NY does have some local vibe to it for the most part RPI is not a college down as it were and parties in the streets is not a frequent activity. This isn't to say there isn't anything to do; there's hundreds of student clubs, greek life, and special events going on frequently.

Academic Life

Class sizes vary on what you're taking. If you have Math 101 chances are that you're going to meet in a lecture hall. However, for said Math 101 you get smaller classes about once a week with TAs where you get to go over lecture material and ask questions one on one. Conversely, if you are taking a higher level course that is major-specific chances are you will be in a smaller classroom with your professor with more familiarity. As far as I can tell, most professors hold regular office hours and promote people going in to ask questions. Beware the workload; one needs to say diligent with his or her studies as most class paces are pretty fast and it's easy to fall behind if you are not careful.

Student Body

There's a good mix of races and backgrounds in RPI. While there's still a caucasian male majority (and also a significantly higher ratio of men to women), there's a good integration of ethnic groups. Many students are of the electronics culture, which means that many students will be into computers, video games, new gadgets, and the internet. Though, in all honesty, it seems that there's a group of people for every type of person out there. Show up with the best smile from your drawer and an open mind, and you should be fine.