Tolerance and Acceptance at WPI

Colleges & Universities Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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I’m looking for information and feedback about acceptance of transgender students at WPI, more specifically transgender women. I know the school itself has been working on being more inclusive but I’m wondering about the students themselves. Would finding a friend group and feeling a sense of belonging on campus be a challenge? (Accepted student for major in Interactive Media/Game Development and Computer Science)

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Tagging @huango, who might be able to comment on WPI culture.

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  1. WPI alum, with Junior niece there, and several friends’ kids there.

  2. I’ve pinged the kids, and I’ll share when they respond.

  3. While we wait for current views, let me share my “old” views.
    I’m biased: love WPI.

  • WPI has a somewhat big Greek social scene, so many of those parties are with frats.
  • BUT more than half of my friends, including my freshman roommate did not join Greek life, and had a very robust fun social life.
    So I really do think that you can find your circle of friends.

If my 18yrs old daughter is any reflection of today’s times, I think the students will be very inclusive and inviting.
My daughter’s circle has:

  • transgender males
  • binary
  • gays
  • closeted gay
  • etc
    and they’re all a big happy family.

I have another niece who is transgender and if she were to apply/be accepted to WPI, I would not have any concerns about her finding her people at WPI.

My tip: get out there and join some clubs, especially theater and choir, etc.

Good luck.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. This was helpful. I look forward to hearing current points of view. My kid is in the process of coming out publicly, so it’s all very new to us.

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I come from a town where many kids go to WPI and the kids I know that go there are very inclusive. There is also a pretty active trans community in Worcester and you won’t have any trouble getting affirming medical care which is a huge plus.

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From my WPI Jr niece:

“Hi!
From my observations, WPI would be a very accepting place for a transgender woman. Unlike other schools it seems, there is really no social hierarchy at WPI so she should be able to find her niche.
I don’t personally know any transgender students here but from what I have seen the school is accepting of everyone’s identities and the lgbtq community”

Not the same, but one of my niece’s roommates is gay, so friends circles overlap.

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