The Rochester Institute of Technology

There are a lot of bitter people at RIT, and the reviews on this site reflect that. Here's my take:

Academically, RIT is very good. There are better schools in all of the majors, but for the money it is an incredible value to CS, engineering, photography, or deaf students. Classes can be tough, but for the most part I have found that you can do well if you just do the work assigned to you. Many people don't do homework (some teachers opt not to collect it), then complain when they fail a test.

Socially, things here are not NEARLY as bad as they have been made out to be. I have been to several parties, and have not had any difficulty finding them, despite this being a "dry campus" (not enforced in the least...). Even if you aren't into that, there are things to do, provided that you leave your room and find them. I've had lots of fun at on- and off-campus concerts, and Rochester has those "tourist-y" things like museums and historical sites to take your parents to when they come. Even as a floor, we have all sorts of special events in my building. Granted, I am in Honors housing right now, but a good RA will make life much more enjoyable.

Otherwise, there are some good things and some bad. Bricks are everywhere, but honestly I don't mind. I even think they look good! The wind tunnel effect can be quite amazing, but that is more a product of geography than architecture. It is cold and windy here - that's the truth of the matter. We do have lots of tunnels for movement during the winter, but going to class can be *fun*.

Overall, this is a good school to study one of the aforementioned majors. For other majors, I have no idea how the program compares. Those who hate it here do so for one of two reasons:

1. They play Counter-Strike in their room all day with the door shut, then complain that the social life here sucks, or...

2. They expect college to be nothing but a 24/7 party. Go to U. of Colorado then...Sorry, but it isn't either. College is what you make it to be, and I'm having a good time here.

1st Year Male -- Class 2008

Education Quality: A+, Campus Aesthetics: C+

Unfortunately, StudentsReview doesn't want responses to other students' reviews... so I guess I'll have to formulate my own.

I think that RIT is a *great* school. Yes, that isn't true of everyone that goes here, but after all, I came here for an education and I belive that I am receiving (and am almost done with) a great one.

My major is Computer Engineering -- "advertised" as the second-hardest major at RIT. Nonetheless, this is strictly because of course work, and not because of Professor inexperience or whatnot. In the four years that I have spent here, just about every Computer Engineering professor that I have had has been great. Of course there are some that are better or worse than others but that happens everywhere.

For those people that are thinking of attending RIT to party every night -- don't come here. Yes, there *is* a social life to be had, but it involves going out and getting one. I am from New York City -- arguably the city with the best social life in the world -- so if I'm doing alright in Rochester, it can't be all that bad. The city and its' suburbs are over a million people, and Buffalo and Syracuse (more fairly big cities) are driving distance away.

The two "complaints" that I have about RIT are parking and housing -- two of the biggest complaints I hear. To address them:

Housing - Yeah, RIT doesn't have enough housing for everyone. Quite honestly, I think they do a pretty good job getting housing for all the freshmen. The fact is, though, that in most places in the US, people need a car anyway... so get a car and move off-campus -- you'll find it better anyway. And no, its not difficult to get an apartment as a college student -- there are four major colleges in this city... apartment complexes are used to renting to students.Parking - OK, so if you don't get to class at 8:00AM, you can't park within 5 minutes of the building -- so what? There *is* ample parking to leave your car on campus, which is *a lot* better than a lot of other colleges I've seen. A lot of other colleges, you have to pay just to park your car on campus at all. At RIT, parking is free, *and* you can pay to park closer.

4th Year Male -- Class 2005

Education Quality: A+, Campus Aesthetics: C

All together a great school for your acedemics and getting the job done at school. Not a place to come if you arent serious about what you want to do. Social aspect could recieve a makeover though.

1st Year Male -- Class 2007

Education Quality: A+, Social Life: C-