WPI: The Big Picture
The project system is one of the best things I can think of in my school. It allows people not to study abroad, but rather the opportunity to grow and develop professionally and as a person as you work with outside organizations to really get something accomplished. Not to mention the fact that there are so many place abroad to choose from when considering the location you want to go to.
The city of Worcester is very college orientated, with a dozen colleges, which is great.
I do however wish that there was a greater sense of pride and community on campus both geared towards our own community and that of the city of Worcester. It seems often that we are only focusing on our studies and not our community.
WPI Academic Life
Because of the exceptional amount of class hours that we have over other universities, engendered by our 7 week terms rather than the normal semesters, there is a lot of student teacher interaction and class participation, as well as many lab hours within most majors. I personally believe that many of WPI's classes are very creatively geared towards really developing not only academics, but real professional knowledge, which holds to the polytechnic spirit. As an Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as a Computer Science Student, I spend lots of times in labs and doing assignments. Though the work is not unreasonable. I do feel that, as a double major that is passionately devoted to keeping both majors, that the requirements at WPI make it very difficult to complete a double bachelors in a 4 year time frame. The distribution requirements for any one major are already very extensive and leave only small room for additional work, the the diversity of what you can do is very good.
WPI's Student Body
The student body is eclectic, with a lot of foreign students (though most seem to be local MA and CT kids). Most are very tech orientated, which can be assumed. There is a very large Greek life on campus that is starkly different in its character from many other Greek campuses. It being orientated towards being a social outlet for people who don't necessary fit in with the dorky tech kids. Students are often career orientated rather than orientated towards possibly furthering there education beyond a bachelors, or sometimes a masters. Many student are relatively socially and politically inactive, with most extra energies being focused on keeping up to date on current and advancing technologies.
WPI Student Activities + Social Life
Tuesday nights are the party nights, with little to no classes for most students on Wed.s. Many people stay up late and work or party. On campus living is relatively uncommon beyond first year, though more dorms are being built so I believe that will begin to change. Much of the party scene is at the Fraternity houses, though apartment parties are common as well. Freshmen can't go the fraternities for the first semester, so many go to the social house (rugby house, ski house, etc.). Social life for many men and women is strongly focused around fraternities. Though sports can be big for many as well, even though we are D3. The WPI area doesn't have a tremendous amount to do, but with a car or a long walk it is easily possible to explore much of the city of Worcester and what it offers.
WPI Naked Truth
I love WPI, though I can easily say that the environment here is not for everyone. Take a close look at what is offered and what can be made to happen (it is often said that people wont tell you no here, you can make majors/projects/Independent Studies for almost anything), then decide if it is for you. If you love working directly on technology and concepts that effect and run the real world and how you can take advantage of the modern technologies to expand you knowledge and understandings hands on then WPI is a great school.
