Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Visit Report by Father of the Boarder

Visit Activities:

Admissions Interview: No - Not part of the routine.

Information Session: Yes - Huge congregation of students -- we had to take up big lecture hall where they informed us classes were small.

Campus Tour: Yes - Big and very attractive. Guide was helpful.

Classroom Visit: No - We were there just before classes started.

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Campus:

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Students attending were not nearly as "geeky" looking as the crowd of prospective applicants. Maybe that's reflective of the difference in age and growth.

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Let us be honest, is there a staf which ever is not friendly? That is the purpose of their job.

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I was surprised -- Troy and the campus are pepping up.

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Very clean.

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Antiquated. Next building project.

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Some were concerned about Troy. I was not.

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Campus was great.

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Off-Campus:

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We walked around area at base of the school's hill. Great food spots. Looks like 1910's -- Dick Tracy could film here.

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With Hudson sweeping past the hill's base and urban revitalization of this area of Troy -- RPI could be hip.

Campus Visit Notes for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Visit Description:

Hard to tell.

On blogs, it is said RPI students are unhappy -- but they did not seem as such when we visited. Dorms were a bit depressing, but not the worst. Classes are not small. Not warm and fuzzy atmosphere often associated with LAC's. But tech schools generally involve cold hard rote memory of math-orientated concepts, and are not places of class discussion -- I do not expect a tech school to embrace students or ask them to "participate." Tech is hard core curriculum for a unique type of student.

But, this tech school is embracing the arts. New music facility was spiritual awakening for many of the RPI students we spoke to. They are looking forward to its opening. Maybe more musicians will apply. Maybe that means more women -- about 30% now.

Place has state of the art computer and lab facilities. Has great computer center.

RPI is big, but not too big. It is in a city, but not much of a city. RPI is accessible, but not too accessible. In short, it meets needs, but not all your needs. It does have one obvious maximum trait: Cold. Being from the south, I shivered at the meeting in August. The winds on that hill in winter, gusting off the icy Hudson waters, must slap the thin-blooded student. Troy looks great in August. Don't want to visit between November -April.

This school has a good rep -- which probably will continue. It's not in the top tier -- MIT, CalTech etc. -- but it can easily be mentioned in the same breath as those schools.

If they put some money into the new dorms, overall experience would greatly be enhanced.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

Best Western Rensselaer Inn
1800 6th Avenue
Troy , New York
12180-3407,United States
Phone: 518-274-3210
Fax : 518-274-3294
Free breakfast -- saw many faces later at the lecture hall.

Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:

Got great list from hotel.

Also try:
http://www.mytravelguide.com/restaurants/near-17392901-United_States_New_York_Troy_Best_Western_Rensselaer_Inn_restaurants.html

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

Parking was easy. We left when all was completed.

Troy seems okay -- but not a vacation destination site.