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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Nightlife

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Nightlife - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Nightlife

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Nightlife rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Nightlife Grades:

Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife Downtown
Student Favorites
  • Brown's Brewing Co.
  • O'Leary Tavern
  • The Ruck
Other Places to Check Out
  • Northern Lights
  • Valentine’s
Local Specialties Brown’s Brewing Co.:
Favorite Drinking Games
  • Beer pong
  • Card games
  • Flip cup
  • Movie drinking games
  • Power hour/Century Club
  • Quarters

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Troy is a smaller city, so people from larger, urban areas find the nightlife slow and lacking. Albany offers much more, and there are numerous venues that regularly host concerts there. RPI has three large contingents of students: the club-goers, the bar people, and the students who don’t go out. Club goers will head to Allsports in Troy, or head down to Albany to see the clubs there. People usually tend to go to the Ruck, which is more of a sit-down, relaxed bar. It all depends on your personal preference as to which spots you consider good. If you are looking for anything beyond these, you’re in the wrong place. There are a few nicer bars around, but if you’re underage, there’s no way you’ll ever get a drink in your hand.

As far as other options, there really isn’t much beyond what is offered on campus in the evenings. This includes some good movies, as well as all the facilities the Union offers, but of course, these can get old after awhile. For the most part, those under-21 and those who get sick of the bar scene will have to be creative. There is one thing to be sure of—RPI students know how hard they work at school and know how to relax when they have the time.

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RPI Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ap1844

'15

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

4.6
A

RPI Nightlife

RPI makes partying very safe. People walk in groups and really take care of each other. There are always designated drivers. There's no peer pressure to drink or smoke (about 26% of the student body doesn't drink and I'm one of them). The Fraternities and Sororities are really good about under aged drinking,and anytime there is under age drinking theirs always people to watch out for you and make sure you don't over do it. There are a lot of dances, game nights, movie nights too no drinking and still a lot of fun.

Dec 27, 2011

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Nightlife at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

thouartodd

'12

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

3.8
B+

Bars and Pubs

Very large amount of local bars and pubs. No local clubs I know of sadly, nightlife mostly revolves around bars and pubs.

Dec 05, 2011

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Nightlife at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

sea1355

'16

Architecture

4.2
A-

Frats

the parties here are great, but only if youre a girl

any girl can get into any parties, and of course everything is free

the only problem is that some of the frats/apartments are far away therefore you always need a sober driver, but thats not hard to organize

Dec 02, 2011

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Page 1 of 7

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

If you want to go to clubs, go to Albany.

Bar Prowler

The most popular bar among RPI students is by far the Ruck. The Ruck is a typical hole-in-the-wall dive bar where you get a good mix of people. There are a few other bars around Troy, but none that attract the college crowd. If you’re looking for a better variety, the trip to Albany is worth it.

Closing Time

4 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

The Ruck’s happy hour

Organization Parties

Fraternities hold the vast majority of parties at RPI, although sports teams and certain cliques on campus are known for their contributions to the social scene, as well.

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Knotty Pine Tavern

Close to campus and frequently packed on Friday nights.

2301 15th St.

(518) 272-4557

O'Leary's Irish Pub

Crowded on weekends, close to campus so it’s a good spot for students.

2253 15th St.

(518) 272-6422

Brown's Brewing Co.

Not your typical bar, Brown's is more of a restaurant. Students frequent here for a burger and ale on the weekends.

417 River St.

(518) 273-2337

www.brownsbrewing.com

Clubhouse Pub

Students typically gather here. It offers a variety of beers and a few drink,s like Mike’s or Parrot Bay. It’s small and only open until midnight on weekdays.

RPI Union (Third Floor)

pub.union.rpi.edu

The Ruck

The most popular bar among RPI students, The Ruck offers specials every weeknight. Mondays and Wednesdays are 30-cent wings, Tuesday is burger night, Thursday is dollar-off pint night, and Friday is free wings during happy hour. The Ruck, famous for its wings, also makes what is affectionately known as a wingburger—a burger with wing sauce—which is a must-try for burger lovers. $1.25 Coors Light and Bud/Bud Light bottles during happy hour everyday—the cheapest beer you can get in at a bar in Troy.

104 Third St.

(518) 273-1872

What to Do if You're Not 21What's This?

Go to parties around campus or, some bars have under-21 nights.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at RPI

Name: Cara Riverso

Hometown: Holmes, NY

Major: Chemical Engineering

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