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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Inside Scoop

Quick Stats

School Slang
  • Alby: The albino squirrel that resides on campus.
  • The Approach: The 187 stairs that lead from the bottom of campus on Eighth Street to the downtown area; great view from the top.
  • Archies: Architecture majors; live in the Greene Building, rarely seen.
  • Armory: The gym behind the Mueller Center.
  • BARH: Burdett Avenue Residence Hall, a dorm located on Burdette Avenue.
  • Boot: Vomit; can be used as a verb or a noun.
  • The Castle: Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, located downtown on Second Street.
  • CDC: Career Development Center; office that helps students find jobs, located on the second floor of the DCC.
  • DCC: Darrin Communication Center; lecture halls and home of the CDC.
  • DOSO: Dean of Students Office; it’s like the principal’s office—where you go if you get in trouble.
  • EMAC: Electronic Media and Communications; a popular major in graphic design also known as “EasyMAC” and “Electronic Media, Arts, and Crafts.”
  • EPOW: Electrical Power Engineering; a very obscure major.
  • The Footbridge: Bridge over Fifteenth Street that connects main campus to Freshman Hill.
  • Freshman Hill: The part of campus where most of the dorms and the main dining hall are located.
  • Ghetto Chopper: The Midland Foods located at Troy Plaza, formerly a very sketchy Price Chopper.
  • Gym: The Mueller Center.
  • Homework Helpers: Beers that are consumed while doing homework.
  • IPAC: Information number students can call with any question they have. Call (518) 276-6636.
  • JEC: Jonsson Engineering Center.
  • J-ROWL: Jonsson-Rowling Science Center.
  • LA: Learning Assistant; every dorm has one to aid students in studying.
  • The Lighthouse: The Greene Building, home of the Architecture school. It is called the lighthouse because the lights are on at all hours as the Archies burn the midnight oil.
  • Low Building/CII: The Low Center for Industrial Innovation (ironically, the tallest building on campus).
  • The Lyrics and The Pipes: The Rensselyrics and The Rusty Pipes, two a cappella groups of students who put on shows for the RPI community.
  • Marriott Trot: The run to the bathroom many students are forced to make after eating at campus dining halls.
  • MRC: Materials Research Center.
  • Parking Nazi: The guy who gives out parking tickets on campus; if you park illegally, he will find your car.
  • The Poly: The Polytechnic, a weekly, student-run RPI newspaper; notorious for bad “Top 10” lists.
  • RA: Resident Assistant; every dorm has one per floor/wing. These are the people who will write you up if you get in trouble. Most are pretty cool, but get to know your RA before finding out the hard way how lenient he or she is.
  • RD: Resident Director; same as RA, but with authority over everyone in the dorm.
  • Ski Lodge: Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, located on Sunset Terrence.
  • Troylet: A term used to describe the natives (don’t say it too loud when you’re off campus); also can be used as a synonym for Troy itself.
  • Union: Rensselaer Union.
  • VCC: Voorhees Computing Center; 24-hour computer lab, also houses the Help Desk, the Campus Computer Store, and the Repair and Maintenance Service.
  • Zoo: Theta Xi Fraternity, located on campus across from the freshman dorms.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
  • Go to as many fraternities as you can during rush.
  • Learn the dorms a little ahead of time to get an idea which is best for you.
  • Take advantage of the good food during the beginning of the year.
  • There’s a lot of schoolwork involved in an RPI education.
  • Those time management skills they tried to teach you actually come in handy.
  • You spend much of your time chained to a computer.
Tips to Succeed
  • Check your e-mail regularly.
  • Don’t be afraid to dispute bad grades.
  • Get to know upperclassmen in your major.
  • Keep up with your work.
  • Know your professors before choosing your classes.
  • Manage your time well.
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RPI Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Inside Scoop at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Physics123

'15

Physics

4.6
A

Academics

RPI has many great academic programs. There are also many resources in place such as free counseling and free 24/7 tutoring. The Student Union is really liberal in the way it is run...pretty much anyone can make a club and there are numerous activities which you can join.

Sep 02, 2011

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Inside Scoop at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

BriGuy92

'14

Computer Science

5.0
A+

It's a Nerd School

RPI is a school full of nerds. There's no doubt about it. Sure, there are still the few people (mostly in frats or on the hockey team) who you can tell are there "because dad had the money", but for the most part RPI students are there to learn. Hardly anyone attends social events, parties are limited to frat houses, and girls are almost non-existent. For the people who go here though, it's far from a boring school. Classes are fun and informative, there's plenty of fun to be had with a few friends and a dorm internet connection, and the campus is small enough so that a walk to any place is reasonable.

Jul 05, 2011

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Inside Scoop at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

gotthe

'13

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering

4.6
A

Academics

Rensselaer has so many opportunities in its academic programs. There are study abroad programs, research opportunities, and internship programs.

Apr 20, 2011

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Page 1 of 2

Facts

Traditions
  • The Big Red Freakout : Each year in February, there is a tradition known as the Big Red Freakout, which is a campus-wide hockey frenzy. More students wear RPI clothing on this day than any other, and the hockey game that night is always sold out, regardless of the weather.
  • GM Week : Grand Marshal Week - Student government elections are held during GM week, and many activities are going on throughout campus.
  • Hockey Line : Each year before season tickets for the hockey team go on sale, the hockey line begins. Students set up couches and armchairs outside the Union and wait in line for the tickets to go on sale. This tradition has started to die in recent years, and now only a handful of students take part in what was once the biggest tradition on campus. At its height in the ‘80s, the line would start in April—six months before the tickets go on sale!
  • Senior Week : A week at the end of the spring semester in which seniors can take part in various events, such as Senior Banquet and the Booze Cruise.
  • Tray Sledding : Upon the first snowstorm of the year, students have a custom of stealing trays from the Commons and sledding down the hill.
Urban Legends
  • The Albino Squirrel (“Alby”) - Technically not an urban legend—there is a squirrel on campus that is white. It does in fact exist, and can most frequently be seen frolicking in courtyard of the main campus. Seeing it is rare and considered a sign of good fortune.
  • The Ghost in West Hall - West Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus. Originally a Civil War hospital, it is alleged that a nurse named Betsy went crazy here and that she can still be seen and heard in the building’s hallowed halls.
  • The Library - Built on top of a hill, the library is allegedly sliding slowly into downtown Troy.
  • The Tunnel - According to legend, there is a tunnel underneath campus that connects the DCC and the JEC to Ricketts under the football field.

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