Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Date: Oct 19 2009
Major: Mechanical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
RPI is a good research school and has a lot of well known professors.

There is much attention paid to learning facts and theories which are taught in any accredited engineering program, from the same books. The supposedly "boot-camp" curriculum was no more difficult than other schools (I've studied/taught engineering at 3 others).

The classes at RPI were not lacking, and facilities are excellent. As might be expected from a traditionally technical school, however, almost no attention was paid to the personal development of students. A sense of community was lacking and the administration repeatedly made decisions based on PR and $ over the lowly students' well being.

RPI recruits well, it is easy to fall for the pretty campus and peppy tour guides who will tell you that "the ratio" is "no big deal."