Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Reviews

Troy - Differen Shades of Gray

RPI , the nations oldest technical institution is located in Troy, a worn down industrial city of upstate New York. It is like the lone star of the city, though Troy is really not a college town. Historically an industrial town and once the seat of the American textile industry, it is now nothing more than a worn down industrial town.

Like most cities of its kind, Troy has its share of safety issues stemming from the low average income of the residents and also because of the design of the city, which allows for many sketchy areas. The local residents are fondly termed as 'Troylets' by the Rensselaer community and are not the nicest bunch of people to have as neighbors. The city is in general so unsafe that students are discouraged to walk around alone off campus, after nightfall. There are some cases of burglary and mugging even in the areas surrounding the campus. The general size of the city is pretty small and there is not much to do except ice skating and playing collegiate sports. The locals are also not very fond of RPI or its students mainly because they hardly contribute towards the economy of the city. There is a regular farmers market in the downtown area, every week and a monthly event called 'Troy night out', where stores are open till late.

However, Troy has its up sides as well . The closeness to Albany (the State Capital of New York) , means that there is at least one decently big city that one can go to if he or she gets really bored of the small town atmosphere. It also has a few really nice restaurants including a Barbecue place called Dinosaur Bar-b-q (whose portions are as large as the name suggests). The city also lacks nice places for shopping or groceries but there are Walmart's and Price Chopper's in the adjacent cities which are a 5 minute drive away from campus. There are some small stores inside the RPI campus as well.

Although the downtown area of Troy is called the 'historic downtown', there really isn't much to see either in downtown or the city in general. Most of the tourist attractions of the city are located inside RPI. One of them is a truly spectacular arc shaped building called the EMPAC (Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center), which houses the most acoustically perfect auditorium in the state. The city also is the birthplace of the iconic uncle Sam and has the nations oldest private women's high school. Surrounding Albany however offers a lot more things to see including some museums. Being a city in upstate New York also means that the suburban areas around the city are exquisitely beautiful. Not only are there some wonderful lakes for (for activities like fishing) in nearby Saratoga but the Adirondak Mountains are quite close by and have plenty of peaks which can be hiked. As an added bonus to students, the Institute is located on top of a hill and so the view of the city from the Library is spectacular at nights.

In the end, Troy is a city which some people like while most don't. A lot of people find the serene and peaceful nature of the city, very helpful for their education but its definitely not a city where a tourist should go to. The people who live here , live out of necessity or because they wanted to get a good engineering education from a very reputed institute. However, if one can make this city their home, they would probably get used to it and may even find it nice at some point.

Computers Are Everywhere

Everyone has their own laptop because of the excellent program the school has and then they still have plenty of other computers to use. The computer center has long hours and every minute of those hours usually sees at least 50 people in there using a computer despite having their own. It's very convenient because it's not completely necessary to carry around a laptop and despite there always being so many people, you can usually find an open seat or two. Not to mention the help desk that is there for any issues with your computer.

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.

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.

What Girls?

Obviously, the ratio at RPI is a common topic of discssion. It usually bothers guys more than it does girls, though. If you are female, you tend to be blessed with the ability to get into any party you want.

Housing

The off campus housing is pretty good and is cheaper than living in the dorms.

Bad on-campus dining

The food is extremely overpriced and low-quality. There are few healthy food options. On-campus dining has limited hours. Having to eat in the dining halls 10-15 times per week is a depressing experience.

Dr. Jackson's Iron Fist

RPI doesn't see a lot of misbehavior that would call for unnecessary strictness so this is a difficult question to answer. On April 20th, (the well known day of marijuana smoking) campus security stood by while over a hundred students lit up their joints and let it happen. On any other day they are extremely strict about on campus smoking of any kind. Most of the strictness comes from our president who is constantly taking away freedoms older students used to enjoy, like using your housing scholarship off campus and not being forced to live in a dorm first and second years.

Sage

Everyone eats at Sage dining hall because it is the most convenient. However, the McNeil Room in the Union has the best food.

Weed and Beer

While you don't see many people doing the hard core drugs, weed is definitely prevalent on campus. Drinking is also a huge part of life here.

Pretty Good Party Scene

Straight up, if youre reading this, you want a party school. Rpi, for a mid size school, and a reputable one at that, has a good party scene. there are several parties every friday and saturday, but with a catch, theyre at frat houses so you have to be greek or know a brother to get in, but ladies always get in. However, if you do get in its always a good time. theres occasionally things during the week if youre really itching for a party but not enough to ruin your school work. outside greeks though theres several bars off campus one of which really serves college students. no clubs really though, but the frat life provides enough beverages and dancing to make up. Overall, really good

Quad

I have lived in quad a year and will be living there again next year. The rooms are not the largest on campus and are kind of tight but it is college. However, quad is one of the oldest buildings on campus and it has tons of character and the dorm setup makes it feel much more like an apartment than a dorm with long white hallways. I've always found it a very social setup and it has provided me with good friends and good memories. Quad is also right next to one of the best dining halls and the closest to classes. With heating and ac too, I think it's the best place to live on campus.

Greeks Are Welcome!

Being exposed to Greek life at RPI has shown me the many positives it has on the community and the students. I'm not affiliated with any fraternity, but I don't mind visiting them every now and then. Greek life doesn't dominate the campus at all; it just provides us, the students, with extra services if you want them. From food, charity events, and parties, Greeks are a great addition to the RPI community.

Campus regulations prohibit the...

Campus regulations prohibit the use of alcohol on campus unless you are in your own dorm and are at least 21. This is fairly strictly enforced; however, there is a pub on campus that is always packed for happy hour on Fridays for those over 21. There are about 30 RPI fraternities, and at least one or two of them host big parties on weekends. There is always some sort of drinking occurring on or near campus on the weekends. Drugs are another story. RPI is very strict about the use of illegal substances on school property, so there aren't too many incidences of drug use.

Troy winters are long, cold, and...

Troy winters are long, cold, and snowy. RPI does not cancel classes, so be prepared to walk to class in any weather. Snow can come as early as October and as late as May. Summers are hot and muggy, and spring and fall are rainy. It often feels like the seasons go right from summer to winter, with only a few pleasant days in between. The first and last few weeks of the year can be very warm, you will need summer clothes. You'll will also need your heaviest coat for the winters.

Troy apartments are usually kinda...

Troy apartments are usually kinda sketchy, but the prices are far better than on-campus housing. I've remained with my fraternity, though.

RPI Shuttles are relatively decent...

RPI Shuttles are relatively decent when it comes to getting around campus, and the local CDTA bus system isn't anything to complain about. It's nothing spectacular, but it's not particularly a problem.

Public Safety does its best to...

Public Safety does its best to break up a frat party if it isn't registered. If an RA calls in a report on drugs or drinking, you can expect to be sent to the Dean of Students Office. It doesn't happen often, though. If you are 21, you can drink in your dorm but not if you are going to disturb other residents. Basically, do what you want but be smart enough to be discrete about it, or you going to have trouble.

There aren't really parties on...

There aren't really parties on campus, but you can usually find a good party at one of the frat houses near campus. Girls can almost always get free drinks for flashing a smile. If you are underage and don't have a fake ID, your best bet is a frat.

When the weather is bad—and it...

When the weather is bad—and it usually is—you are going to want a heavy coat. When you are up on the side of a hill, some buildings act like wind tunnels. There is maybe a month and a half at the beginning of the fall and end of the spring semester when the weather is really nice, otherwise you don't really see the sun often.

Sage Dining Hall is far better...

Sage Dining Hall is far better than Commons. Overall, most people think that meal plans are overpriced and not worth it.

Troy is a kind of quiet town....

Troy is a kind of quiet town. There are some good restaurants and some places to party. The general consensus is that "there's nothing to do in Troy," which is not necessarily true. My favorite things are the farmers' market every Saturday and neat antique stores.

From my experience, if you are...

From my experience, if you are underage and drink in the residence halls, you're screwed. Off-campus parties are usually busted if they are loud, but most people get off the hook because they are just told to leave the party. However, if you are walking home plastered and a Public Safety car stops you, you're screwed.

The Red Hawk Shuttle runs fairly...

The Red Hawk Shuttle runs fairly frequently around campus and is very convenient. Off campus, the CDTA system is a little less reliable and can make trips that would otherwise take five minutes turn into an hour.

There aren't a whole lot of good...

There aren't a whole lot of good restaurants nearby, but you can find a few gems. Big Apple Pizza is practically on campus and is open late. Within walking distance is Brown's, a brewpub that has great burgers and even better craft-brewed beer. There are some coffeehouses in downtown Troy, but you need to be brave enough to explore the area.