1)Classes at WPI. I heard WPI has 7 weeks semester. But is it possible to digest everything within 7 weeks?
I would think back to your classes in HS. Did you start out your semesters really strong and then go downhill? Or did you start out rough and then get your act together? If you're a "quick out of the gate" learner, then the 7 week terms work out really well.
My only gripe is that it makes it hard to know how well you are doing in a class. Consider that some classes give a mid-term and a final. If the midterm is the 4th week, you won't know until the 5th or 6th week if you are doing well in the class. You might get a big shock on the mid term and realize that you have no time left in the term to turn things around.
The NR system is designed to alleviate some of the problems with 7 week terms.
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2) What is the male/female ratio at WPI?
It's about 3:1. In Biology classes the ratio is more even, and in electrical engineering classes with say 20 people, there might be one girl.
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3) How is the workload? Is it as bad as other tech schools or other top schools like MIT,BU,NEU,HVM etc?
I don't see how anyone can make that assessment unless they started at WPI and transferred to one of these other schools.
I think the engineering courseload is pretty heavy. But I bet that a lot of engineering students feel that way.
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4)How is the social life? How friendly are the students? What do students usually do on the weekends or if there is nothing to do?
There is really no one answer to that. Some people study. Some people drink. Some people play video games. Some people go to movies.
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5) How is the food?
I don't have anything to compare it to.
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6) How is the residential life? Also, how competitive are the students? Is there a cut-throat competition among students or it's a bit relaxed?
It's pretty relaxed. But that's probably because most WPI students aren't going to law/medical school and don't need perfect GPAs.
al - how friendly are the students? Is it easy to make friends, did you find a group you can hang with that has the same ideals or at least the same interests as you, who you can have meaningful discussions with, or do projects and homework with? Or do you feel like you are mostly drifiting along on your own (the distinct impression I got from NMT), that the kids, while not unfriendly are mainly insular, keeping to themseves and/or too busy to do much but get their own work caught up?
Thanks al6200. I actually tend to start out pretty strong and go downhill (pretty much slack after 2nd quarter) But I am still not sure how I am going to able to digest everything in 7 weeks. But again in my HS courses are year long, 45 minutes quarter based.
And can you also answer #theorymom's question about the student body please? Also how diverse is the student body? Are there Chinese, Indians, Europeans and people from other countries?
SRB2006 - Realize that in 7 weeks you are only taking 3 classes - not 6 or 7 like you are in High School or would at a different school. It gives you time to focus and "get" the material quicker because you are concentrating more on it. If you are a quick out of the gate person as suggested, and then go downhill as you say, I think you will like the 7 week terms because they are over just as you are starting to slack!
It is an issue not knowing "where you stand" if there is just a mid-term and final, but if you are going to class, doing the homework and applying yourself there really shouldn't be reason to worry about it. My 2 cents...
@SRB2006
Student body is pretty diverse. There are more and more internationals that apply each year. This year 14% of freshmen students are international students. There are students from all continents, except Antarctica ) (about 80 nationalities). Most of them are from China, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar... Also a lot of them are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka...
As a former student who is transferring next year I can say, GOOD GOD DON'T GO TO WPI
Reason?
Also, I should note that if WPI is the first school you have attended, then you have very little context for judging WPI. How do you know that your problems with WPI are not common to all universities?
"As a former WPI student, I just finished up my sophomore year, but am now transferring out, I can tell you the ratio SUCKS. Get ready for parties where the very few girls who are there get swarmed by guys constantly hitting on them. We have a thing at WPI called RIBS, ratio induced ***** syndrome, all of the girls are so fed up with constantly being hit on by the overwhelming amount of guys. I realize I am coming off as a jerk, but just realize it is only because of how horrible a time I had at WPI.
Oh yeah, of the 30% of the population that is made up by women, about 2% of that are attractive. Seriously, if you are at all a sociable person, or want to experience a fun college life DON'T COME HERE!"
I realize some of my posts may have been made in haste, I'd like to post my response to the other thread about the male/female ratio, as I feel it also applies here:
First of all I'd like to apologize to anyone who I may have offended. It's evident some have been offended. I realize the comment about "2% of the girls are attractive" was uncalled for, and to be honest I wish I hadn't said it. I guess I got caught up thinking of my own experiences and had a temporary lapse of judgment. However, regardless of what people think of my personality, "or lack there of", to many students the ratio IS a big deal. Obviously I didn't go to college with the sole purpose of partying and chasing girls, If I had I would not have gone to WPI, I'm not that stupid. Also, the lack of girls was not my sole reason for leaving, I was just replying to the topic of the thread, which was impressions of the ratio. I have many other reasons why I would not recommend WPI to anyone,the main one is how downright dangerous Worcester is. In the 2 years I was at WPI there were at least 5 murders I can remember within 3 blocks of campus, one was a student who was stabbed to death at a party. Many of my friends have been assaulted just walking around the area as well.
Once again I would like to apologize for my inappropriate and uncalled for statement, whether you believe me or not, I really am not a jerk, perhaps just someone who needs to learn to think about my post more carefully before hitting submit.
AND (I know it is hard without lifelong perspective - speaking of the ration here) it is only 4 years of your life. It will seem like a long time, but if you are busy and interested in what you are studying, it will go by pretty fast. School romances are tough as it is, you both graduate, go separate ways quite often. I agree, a student should not dwell on the ratio. It is what it is and as al says, they are working on appealing to more female students.
P_J I agree with your assessment as far as I have seen. It is a great place to get an engineering or science education in a small school atmosphere and that is exactly why my S chose it. Hopefully it will be what he thinks it will be
) (about 80 nationalities). Most of them are from China, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar... Also a lot of them are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka...
