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The best thing about Rider is graduation in 2010. No really thats the best thing. I love the people there though, they are all awesome. The school is a good size I think. I went to something smaller and it was just like going to high school again. When I tell people I go to Rider they're just like Oh. Not like oh really thats a good school or wow how do you like it? It's always just Oh. I'm ashamed to tell people that I go there because they look down on us because of all of the bad things that we're always in the news for. Most of my time spent on campus is with friends, although this year we're not even allowed to have an entire pod (4 people in 2 rooms, a common room, 2 bathrooms, and 4 people in another room) that are all our friends because they don't want us to "have parties". Also they keep letting more and more students in so there isn't guaranteed housing for anyone. They are making doubles triples. Even for upper classmen they are doubling triples which is rediculous. The administration doesn't know what the hell they are talking about and are not eager to help students at ALL. Half of the teachers there don't speak english and are just hired because they have a masters from some ivy league school. I mean thats great that they have their masters but if I can't understand them then how am I supposed to learn anything? I have found very very very few professors who are actually here because they want the students to excel. A lot of the teachers have a "I get paid either way" kind of attitude and it sucks. There is no college town. Its a school in the middle of a neighborhood. You HAVE to have a car if you want to go ANYWHERE. You can't walk to anything. You could walk to 7-11 but it would take a looong time. You also have to go on the highway to get anywhere. The biggest recent controversy on campus was probably housing. They screwed so many people over. Rider administration is a lot like high school..if you want to get anything done or if you want to get anything period you have to have your parents call and scream and talk to the right people. One experience I'll always remember is the two days before ZBT got kicked off campus. We had a hall party how college is supposed to be. We weren't confined to rooms or acutally, not even allowed to have a party at all. If there is more than I think 6 people in a room at one time it can be considered a party so BEWARE. Also parking sucks. The only way you can park near your dorm is if you're a part of greek life. Other then that you have to trek across campus.
Nik Junior
Rider is a smaller private school situated right outside of Trenton, NJ. It is a perfect size where you meet people every day while becoming familar with the Rider student family. There is a great recreation center where students can relax, meet people, shoot pool, and use the gym. Our tuition money is put to good use as there are many free daytrips to cities, ski resorts, rafting rivers, and other great attractions. Public transportation is extensive and gets students to the nearby small artsy town of Princeton or the get metropolis we call NYC.
Mark Junior
Rider is overall a great university that is located on a picture perfect beautiful campus. It's conveniently located to Philadelphia and New York which makes weekend trips and cultural experiences very easy to come by. Rider also has an above average housing system. Personally I lived in suite my senior year which was really nice, and Rider also offers "pods" and apartments through a lottery systems. The biggest complaint among Rider students would have to be parking, it's farther away and hard to come by, but they are definitely aware of this and working on it. In Rider's defense, parking is FREE and open to all students, including freshmen!! Which is a definite plus! Rider's size is what really made me happiest, it wasn't too big nor too small. Big enough that they were able to offer a lot of great services and experiences, and small enough that you knew people in your classes.
Kimberly Alum
Rider is AMAZING! i LOVE it. Daly's is the cafeteria, the food is alright but, Cranberries and the Bronc Diner.... BANGIN! They have the best food. Here's a hint... get the food plan with 14 meals and 375 bronc bucks. you'll def go through those between all the diners on campus, not to mention Starbucks and Java city. Those are prob the best things on campus. Don't ever worry about finding something to do on campus. There is always something on. SEC works hard to provide activities every weekend for students that stay on campus, but if you're looking for something else.... just walk up and down the halls of the residence halls... you'll know where to go. The Frats are probably the biggest controversy. Rozanski, the pres., hates them. We've had 2 kicked off since last May. The ones that are left though, are really nice. Never had any problem with those boys.
Gina Sophomore
The best thing about Rider is the size of the college and the dedication of the staff, I have had some really great experiences with great faculty especially in the science department. As a fairly successful high school student, many of my friends and acquaintances were surprised by my college choice, it is not widely known school. I spend a big part of my time on my academics I take them really seriously, but there is always time for a good time. The school usually has events happening on the weekends and throughout the week, so there is usually something to keep me busy. Rider isn't surrounded by a town at all, to get to almost anywhere you need a car, which most students do have. The administration is usually pretty helpful and dedicated to what they do and making Rider the best place possible. Recently, there has been controversy over the alcohol policy at the school, after the death of a student in Spring 2007. It was a huge shock to the Rider community, and after legal action the university is trying to better format the alcohol policy to best protect the students, and still allow students of age to drink. Many students complain about how they don't feel they are getting the most "bang for the buck", it is an expensive school to go to, and if you aren't very involved on campus, it seems overpriced.
Natalie Sophomore
I love the size of Rider. It is big enough that I am always meeting new people, yet small enough that I never feel like I'm roaming the campus alone. I always bump into people I know wherever I go. Furthermore, since the classes are small, every teacher knows my name, and I get individualized attention because of it. I also love how the campus is mostly student-run. All the programs and events that go on, are put on the by the students. This is truly a campus for the students, by the students. There are over 100 different clubs and organizations on campus, and if we're missing one that a student would like to have on campus, they are more than welcome to start the club on their own. The people are so friendly and the whole campus has a comfortable atmosphere. If someone is looking for a campus where you can walk outside and see people tossing a football, or tanning when the weather is nice, then this is the school to go to. If I had to change one thing about Rider, though, it would be to have the admissions office a accept fewer people from NJ and more people from out of state. 70% of the students at Rider are from NJ and therefore the students tend to go home, even for just a day. If there were more students from out of state, then there would be fewer people going home on the weekends. When it comes to Basketball at Rider, it is one of the biggest sports we have. The Bball games are AMAZING and so much fun, especially when they are televised!
Danielle Junior
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