Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

I'm also an EMAC major, and I can honestly say that the department and classes here are one-of-a-kind. The school is finally realizing the importance of art and design in our culture, but they're putting a distinct spin on it; technology, as well as artistic rigor, must be emphasized and perfected. Some of the courses here are the most innovative and exciting things you'll ever want to take part in. All of them are "studio-based," meaning that instead of learning calculus (note: rigorous math and science courses are required for all majors; if you're not bright in these fields, don't apply) and physics by taking notes on a blackboard, we spend time in a studio applying our knowledge to the real world.

But moreso than academics, there's always the social life. Despite what people may tell you, one does exist--a pretty good one at that. This ain't a party school, and the weekend doesn't start until Friday, sometimes Saturday. But when we party, we party hard. I'm not too into the frat scene--I enjoy a good party every now and then--but what's even more interesting is the variety of different activities you can get involved in. There are more things to do here than at most colleges, and just about any kind of club you can think of, we'll have.

Two extreme setbacks exist to the RPI community: the Ratio and Troy. The dreaded Ratio, where guys outnumber girls 3 to 1, is often complained about at the school. But honestly, we're an engineering school; at all of the top engineering schools, this ratio exists. I personally think we have it better off than CMU and Georgia Tech; if some of the guys here actually made an attempt to talk to the girls, they'll realize that it's not so bad. I've found that most of the guys who complain about girls generally are the ones who wouldn't get any if they were at NYU or USC. Besides, I've never found it too big a problem; there are so many colleges in the area that parties end up attracting a lot of girls from a lot of places.

Troy is another thing oft bitched about, and I must say, the place does suck. It's a shithole. But Albany is only 15 minutes away, and it's a great place to hang out. And personally, I'd rather be 15 minutes away than actually centered IN Albany, because that'd be too distracting. With the way it's set up now, when I want to concentrate and work diligently, I can, and when I want to party, I can make a short trip and do that too. So it's not so bad.Anyway, RPI is a tough environment, let no doubt exist. When people lose motivation and aren't very good at making friends, they end up hating the place. But if you can meet the challenge, you'll learn to love this place. If you want to work hard and learn a lot, as well as learn to balance a social life and join some great activities, and end up getting a great job or going to a top grad school when you graduate, this place is definitely for you.