Rhode Island College

Date: Dec 23 2011
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
I have tasted two worlds: A private, expensive, out-of-state, religiously affiliated college first, then RIC, a public, very cheap, in-state secular college second. I can say with confidence, RIC was the better choice all along.

ACADEMICS: Not so great. There is absolutely no prestige attached to this college, and it is widely known as a place where students go to just "take classes". However, with the tuition being a FOURTH of what the average private college costs, you honestly are better off in the end here. A Brown degree will trump a RIC one in job interviews at the start of your career, but a fews years in and experience/expertise is ALL that matters when moving onward. I thought the Economics program here was demanding, and I worked quite hard, especially in the Research Seminar. My advice on succeeding at RIC is to get very good grades as this will offset the poor academic reputation of the school, which is what I did.

SOCIAL LIFE: Much better than the private college I attended. My classmates at RIC were friendly and acted authentically. We came to really enjoy each other's presence, especially in the upper level classes where you get familiar with the people in your major. Although I didn't make many close friendships, I was a commuter and wasn't looking for any. If I lived there, I think I would have really liked the people. There are parties off campus in Providence, and if you're connected with the on-campus crowd a little, they will gladly welcome you in. Might I add, if you are a guy, there are a lot of attractive girls at RIC. They are always in the computer lab, in the dining hall, walking around campus, and sometimes in your classes. The catch is that you have to get to know them. Many are commuters and you have to be intentional with your opportunities if you want to befriend one.

FACILITIES: The majority of buildings, facilities, restrooms and roads are old and the campus is not pleasing to the eye, though they are starting to make some serious renovations. Some complain about parking but there are always spaces; you just have to park farther away near the recreation center and walk. The dining hall is a pretty uncomfortable place to sit down and eat a meal, which I why I only ate there about 15 times in my two years. The recreation center is a nice place to shoot hoops. I spent time in there when I was high school and continued up through my time at RIC.

RIC is a great place to study and earn an undergraduate degree, especially if you're from Rhode Island. I got the college experience living away first, which I appreciated, but living at home and working a part time job while in college is a really sound strategy. Why expend a ton of energy at a prestigious, private college, end up in mass debt, and have no gaurantee upon graduation that you will find the job you studied so hard for, especially in this era of unemployment? It's not wise. I have no debt from my time at RIC, drive a beautiful car that's also paid off, and hold an Economics degree. I will never regret transferring here and graduating from here.