<p>I was looking at dorm choices
and i noticed that theres a program called the Gateway Residential Initiative (GRI) on campus.
Are there any benefits for joining the program?
Is it just a hassle?</p>
<p>No clue myself and a tad curious (I’m also 2012) but I’ve already signed up for (hopefully) Carman.</p>
<p>I have many friends who live in the GRI, most like it because they live around engineers, take similar classes, work on p-sets together. All the activities are optional, there is no extra work or attendance required. Parties are non-existent, but the floor is social, very few stereotypically nerdy kids.</p>
<p>how do we apply to the GRI?</p>
<p>You can probably request in on your housing application done in may or june or something. but if you don’t get it and want to live in the GRI as a sophmore you can apply to LLC for your sophomore year and you should get in.</p>
<p>I know both the RAs for the GRI next year, they’re both pretty chilled out, at least one for sure is.</p>
<p>read the housing threads in the helpful threads post.</p>
<p>The one thing I’ll say about the GRI is that a programs popularity can almost always be determined by the amount and type of advertising it gets. Pretty much the only thing you ever see for this is Jack McGourty sending all the engineers a massive amount of emails saying “please apply for the GRI. there are still slots left open. please?”</p>
<p>…ok, maybe not in those exact words but the message is the same. You don’t want to live with engineers, trust me. It’s nice when you want to work together on things but you’ll lose out on the opportunity to meet the same amount and diversity of people than if you were living in JJ/Carm. I really discourage the GRI just for this reason, I really feel like they are keeping you from the full columbia experience with it.</p>
<p>" but you’ll lose out on the opportunity to meet the same amount and diversity of people than if you were living in JJ/Carm"</p>
<p>this is true, but the only diversity you lose out on is living with columbia college kids, they’re still in most of your classes and everywhere on campus. If you think you’ll be happier living with students studying in other fields, the criticism stands, I personally like a balance.</p>
<p>the whole point of going to a highly competitive school is to expose yourself to the greatest number of ideas and professionals who are experts in their fields… and meet the greatest number of (hopefully inspiring) people as possible. The community - both as an undergrad and after you graduate - is a big part of the value of the place, which makes it worth the price tag. If you just go and live with a bunch of fellow engineers, you’re tossing a lot of that away.</p>
<p>But far be it from me to contradict the word of Jack McGourty. The guy scares me.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The first time I had ever heard of GRI was on the housing app. Have they ever heard of marketing?</p></li>
<li><p>I did not apply for GRI mostly because I anticipate it being an exercise in isolation; I do not want to be known as “one of those engineers”.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I agree with Denzera</p>
<p>…and Jack McGourty is a joke and all his ideas are shockingly stupid…the GRI is no different</p>
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<p>Completely agree.</p>
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<p>every year right before housing selection mcgourty sends out at least 10 emails to all engies practically begging people to apply. you also should have heard about it at days on campus</p>