Rensselaer believes in a core education for all majors, as well as a core inside of majors. This means that I took a freshman seminar, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and liberal arts first semester, as well as three engineering courses (I am an engineering major). I gained knowledge from each class, most of which will serve as a foundation for future courses, as well as some that will serve as basic principles in my future career. As Rensselaer contains many unique majors, major-specific information will be much different than the education students were exposed to in high-school.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Numerous elements lead to a great time at Rensselaer: the students, the clubs, the events, the environment, the surrounding city, and the academics.
If you go to Rensselaer, you will be surrounded with people who have interests similar to your own. It is very easy to find friendly, helpful people who are sociable - do not believe the stereotype that everyone is a video-game-playing nerd (although there is a fair share of non-sociable people here)!
You can also find plenty of clubs to keep you occupied on campus: our clubs range from sports-related to dance dance revolution to volunteerism to basket weaving! Truly, you can find something you enjoy. If not, start something!
Campus also has many fun events. Concerts, comedy acts, carnivals, dances, and sporting events happen any day of the week and are well-advertised. You need to have a really good excuse as to why you are bored on a Friday night!
The environment on campus is contagious. Students wear RPI insignia everywhere and have school pride. When you come in as a freshman, a week is devoted to welcoming you to campus!
Although Troy has a bad reputation, the area immediately close to campus is completely safe. Shops and restaurants love having Rensselaer students' business and often offer discounts. Past the immediate area, gems can be found, such as Little Italy and farmers' markets. Not to mention, Rensselaer is very close to the riverfront of the Hudson!
Even the academics at Rensselaer are enjoyable. The curriculum is flexible: you can take most any class you want because you are allowed a number of free electives. If you find you do not like a course, the drop deadline is reasonably late in the school year, so you will not have to worry about it bringing down your GPA.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Rensselaer does come with a hefty price tag. However, Rensselaer is a well-recognized name in the business world. Many prestigious businesses attend the biannual career fairs with intentions of bringing in well-developed employees. The cost of Rensselaer will be paid for after a few years in the workforce.
You also get bang for your buck while attending Rensselaer. There are many resources on campus that you can take advantage of, including the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, the Biotechnology building, and a supercomputer. You can fine-tune your business skills or just have fun with these tools, making your bill completely worthwhile.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
It is not all-important to have a definitive major. Even if you do not come into Rensselaer with a clear idea of a major, there is a program for undeclared majors that allows exploration, and you can graduate on-time.
Build a good work ethic now. Rensselaer's curriculum is rigorous, and it can be easy to fall behind. To prevent that from happening, develop good study habits that you can transfer to a college setting.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Focused, well-rounded, driven, professional, approachable students excel at Rensselaer.
Rensselaer believes in a core education for all majors, as well as a core inside of majors. This means that I took a freshman seminar, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and liberal arts first semester, as well as three engineering courses (I am an engineering major). I gained knowledge from each class, most of which will serve as a foundation for future courses, as well as some that will serve as basic principles in my future career. As Rensselaer contains many unique majors, major-specific information will be much different than the education students were exposed to in high-school.
Numerous elements lead to a great time at Rensselaer: the students, the clubs, the events, the environment, the surrounding city, and the academics. If you go to Rensselaer, you will be surrounded with people who have interests similar to your own. It is very easy to find friendly, helpful people who are sociable - do not believe the stereotype that everyone is a video-game-playing nerd (although there is a fair share of non-sociable people here)! You can also find plenty of clubs to keep you occupied on campus: our clubs range from sports-related to dance dance revolution to volunteerism to basket weaving! Truly, you can find something you enjoy. If not, start something! Campus also has many fun events. Concerts, comedy acts, carnivals, dances, and sporting events happen any day of the week and are well-advertised. You need to have a really good excuse as to why you are bored on a Friday night! The environment on campus is contagious. Students wear RPI insignia everywhere and have school pride. When you come in as a freshman, a week is devoted to welcoming you to campus! Although Troy has a bad reputation, the area immediately close to campus is completely safe. Shops and restaurants love having Rensselaer students' business and often offer discounts. Past the immediate area, gems can be found, such as Little Italy and farmers' markets. Not to mention, Rensselaer is very close to the riverfront of the Hudson! Even the academics at Rensselaer are enjoyable. The curriculum is flexible: you can take most any class you want because you are allowed a number of free electives. If you find you do not like a course, the drop deadline is reasonably late in the school year, so you will not have to worry about it bringing down your GPA.
Rensselaer does come with a hefty price tag. However, Rensselaer is a well-recognized name in the business world. Many prestigious businesses attend the biannual career fairs with intentions of bringing in well-developed employees. The cost of Rensselaer will be paid for after a few years in the workforce. You also get bang for your buck while attending Rensselaer. There are many resources on campus that you can take advantage of, including the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, the Biotechnology building, and a supercomputer. You can fine-tune your business skills or just have fun with these tools, making your bill completely worthwhile.
It is not all-important to have a definitive major. Even if you do not come into Rensselaer with a clear idea of a major, there is a program for undeclared majors that allows exploration, and you can graduate on-time. Build a good work ethic now. Rensselaer's curriculum is rigorous, and it can be easy to fall behind. To prevent that from happening, develop good study habits that you can transfer to a college setting.
Focused, well-rounded, driven, professional, approachable students excel at Rensselaer.