The Rochester Institute of Technology

Date: May 26 2013
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
Game Design and Development Major

I'm in their Game Design and Development program and I am incredibly disappointed. I am surprised they managed to make it on the top ten list honestly. The classes you learn code don't go into the depth you need to know for your career and you're told to "learn that on your own time", when these are the topics that are brought up in interviews. On top of that, you aren't properly taught 3D programming in the major unless you take extra classes because they felt it "wasn't important to learn." You aren't really taught much on the design side of games either, like level design or game play. Most classes, even the coding ones, are taught with textbooks that aren't very helpful and when you take these coding tests, you are tested on your knowledge from the book, not what was taught in class. The classes weren't very challenging either, with the exception of those unrealistic tests. For me, it was easier than high school. You're taught so little in class and,as a result, you are forced to teach yourself in order to fill in the gaps because what the professors did manage to teach was poorly done. The professors in this major aren't even people that have worked in the field, for the most part. A lot of them are just fans of the video game community that hopped on board when RIT started the program or graduated from RIT and jumped right back in to teach. In short, you're taught a small amount of actual game design and development by people who don't have the proper experience to teach and if you want to know more you have to teach yourself.

Another kicker, the major is a popularity contest and no matter how skilled you are, if you aren't in the 'in crowd' you won't get the crucial opportunities you will need to land a job or at the very least a co-op. Most everyone is super fake to your face and back stabs you in order to get ahead. This is the major's version of 'networking.' It's not about what you know, it's about who you know.

The rest of the campus as a whole is depressing. The weather is always terrible. There's never any sun and there's not much to do. People aren't very friendly and if you ever need help(housing, tutors, professors, RA's, campus police, etc.) they somehow always manage to blame the problem on you and tell you to go home. Also, the campus police is a joke. Many people report others having drugs, weapons, committing other illegal acts, and they do nothing. They offer little to no safety. One weird trend is that a handful of people wind up sick and have to go to either specialists or doctors to get checked out. RIT manages to tear each and every person down one way or another.

What's even more depressing is watching each and every one of my friends here at RIT turn miserable, depressed, angry, and suicidal. I've already had one friend attempt to kill herself and wound up in the hospital, and I know of others who have taken their lives. The counseling here blames the students for the problems RIT causes and offers no help for people like them or anyone else. Everyone turns ugly from the horrible ways RIT treats its' students.

If you're thinking of going to RIT don't. Going here compares to buying a McDonald's burger and expecting to receive what you see on tv. What you see is delicious and joyous, but what you actually get is a poor imitation topped with misery and defeat.