The Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT is a school for a specific type of student. If you fit the RIT mold, you will love it; or at least tolerate it. If not, you probably won't have a very good time. Additionally, as it is a big school, some aspects rely on the luck of the draw - being in a big dorm, getting good classes first quarter (or, even other quarters, as the registration system ended up being fairly random for newer students).

I finished one year as a software engineering major before transferring out. I was extremely displeased with the school, on nearly every point. However, that isn't to say it is without merit.

My first comment is on social life. People who say that there is no social life aren't entirely correct, but people who say that the lack of social life is a lie also aren't correct. There is a specific style of social life found at RIT. Unfortunately, if you don't mesh well with it (which, does generally involve playing video games and such), then you will most likely see it as nonexistent. There are a number of clubs, but they tend to feel as though they are mostly centered around the same genre of activity (big clubs include the electronic gaming club, and the anime club), while the smaller, more diverse clubs, can often feel intimidating if you aren't good friends with the standing members. I understand frats and sports teams are good ways to meet people, but if they aren't your thing, then you're out of luck on that regard. Add into this climate a really cold winter, and cabin fever, and it's not hard to see why many people don't like it. If you do find a good group of friends, though, it would be easy to see that it would be bearable or even fun.

I came from a great high school, where although I didn't like all my classes, I at least could tell I was learning things in them. This was not the case here. I noticed my best classes were almost entirely taught by adjunct (not professors, but other professionals teaching classes in their own field). The most dismaying problem with my classes, though, was the ineptitude of teachers in the technical fields. To this day, I still don't know of a good math professor at RIT. My CS professors were also jokes - my first quarter professor didn't actually know the language he was teaching (JAVA), and my second quarter teacher couldn't answer questions asked of him in/after class.

While RIT does tend to treat you like a number if you let it, there is something to be said if you make the effort to try to speak to anyone. Most everyone I approached (with the exception of my technical professors) were extreemly helpful; a number of them helped me with the transfer process, even though I was leaving their school.All in all, make sure you are a student that would like RIT before you go there. My biggest issue was the number of students who seemed just to be going to RIT so they could use it's name to get a job. RIT, to me, isn't a place to learn, it's a place to get a diploma.

1st Year Male -- Class 2011

Campus Maintenance: A, Education Quality: F

RIT is a great place if you can keep up with the work and get into a good group of friends. I am a networking and system admin major and academics here are the best but if you fall behind in your work you are dead. I see tons of people drop out from falling behind in thier work. Many professors, classes, and labs have been great experiances to me. The majority of my professors teach very well and care a lot about if you are learning the subject. Getting good instructors is pot luck if you dont use some sort of site such as ratemyprofessor.com or know which teachers are good. However if you do get a good teacher you will love your classes (so long as your interested in your major). Social life can be dull but if you can get into an on campus apartment (of which there are tons) you will see and find partys all over. If your after alcohol the apartments are an easy place to find some. Having an apartment usually means your own room and roommates you like so it can be a lot of fun. It boils down to this, if your goal is a good job come here and work hard, it will pay off. If your goal is a mix between social life and academics you need to be outgoing but get your work down before social events, DO NOT go out to the apartments and drink if you have a test or project due in a few days. If your goal is just a good social life you are far better suited going else where.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2011

Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: D

This isn't a party school. I did too much partying in highschool. If I had attended a "party school", I would have failed out by now. This school slowed me down a bit. I also met the love of my life at this school. She's one of the few beautiful girls here. Good luck finding one yourself :)

2nd Year Male -- Class 2007

Education Quality: A, Campus Aesthetics: B