Rochester Institute of Technology Top Questions

There's people here from around the world, and they represent every kind of interest. There's clubs and activities put on by the student government, but since it's a large campus you just have to remember they DO exist. There's artists and there's engineers, so you can dress as nice or crappy as you want.

People here think "race, religion, LGBT, socio-economic, and/or other various things" are a reeaaallllyyy fucking big deal. It sickens me. I don't give a fuck if you're Black, Asian, gay, rich, poor, a drug addict, or claustrophobic. People are people. All these groups seemed to determined to make the point that everyone is equal, yet they choose to do so by point out all of our differences. People are just people. Why so much obsession over the differences? Getting back to the question - Yes, the various racial, religious, social, sexual, and lifestyle groups definitely have a very predominant role on this campus. I tend to stay away from them as they fill me with disgust, though I'm sure they wouldn't still be around if they weren't helping out a lot of people. I think it's really tough to feel out of place at RIT. We seem to have the entire array, from drunken frat boy assholes to nerdy computer geeks, and everything in between. What's weird is that you see a lot of friendships between types of people that you never expect - drunken frat boys and nerdy computer geeks, for example. Jeans and t-shirt. No coats even though it's 8 degrees outside and snowing. Yes different types of students interact quite frequently (see above). Two of them are tables that can seat eight people, but someone is sitting there eating alone listening to an iPod or reading a book. Another table is a group of four guys talking about computer stuff, and the last is two girls. Occasionally substitute one these four, at random, for a large, well-balanced mix of male and female students. We're all from the Northeast, Texas, or Alaska. Most of us are well off. This is a college campus, that really isn't much of a question... we're a shitload of liberals. Salary is pretty god damn important here, yeah.

It's hard for anyone to feel out of place at RIT considering how many different groups, clubs, jobs and events there are. It's near impossible to categorize 15,000 students into financial backgrounds, political opinions, etc. - there is such a diversity of people. Different types of students interact all the time. Many of my friends are international students, and it makes the campus so much more interesting.

RIT seems to be a fairly open-minded and inclusive campus. Being a lesbian, I have never been the target of gay bashing on campus. Compared to when I first came to RIT, the GLBT community has grown and expanded through RIT Gay Alliance (RITGA) as well as by recently obtaining a GLBTQ Center on campus. Although I feel RITGA has a lot of work to do in proving its worth and showing more GLBTQ support and pride, I have seen impovements and am hopeful that RITGA will become even stronger in the near future with the aid of the new center.

The people at RIT are just your atypical bunch, yeah sure there are the groups of once high school jocks and preppy bitches, but for the most part it's sad to say, but it's a school for the average nerd/dork/geek/ or whatever. Most the people here got picked on and have a variety of interest. I mean come on how many schools say their largest club is the Animie Club. Being with Deaf students is an experience too. I mean you get used to hearing noises that sound like a seal barking, or the pure passionate moans of sex a few floors below you. Most can't hear at all so why should they care, it catches you off guard at first, and their giggles from all the hearing students, but there's really no difference other than where your "voice" comes from. You don't have to learn sign but knowing some really does help. I mean, at the cafeteria I learned to sign cheese because I always ask for a slice of cheese for my Chicken sandwich, so most of it's just from . I know plenty of people though that don't use any and get along just fine. Expect to see a lot of people from the state of New York, and if you're from a state west of New York (Mid West) like me, everyone has this stigmatism of hillbillies until you get to a major city and then it breaks up and once out of it it starts up again. Nothing horrible just comical, at how New Yorkers know nothing about geography.

The RIT Gay Alliance thoroughly disappointed me with its lack of organization, and the general feeling of being ignored/unwanted because I did not care about the "gay agenda" nor did I identify as anything. Cliques formed very quickly amongst new group members, and I stopped going to meetings after a month. I can't think of any student that wouldn't be welcome here- even the non-tech savvy enjoy it here. I can't stereotype what "most students" wear because there is too great of a diversity of people on campus. Different students interact, although there is often a hesitance between different groups sometimes because of communication issues. Most RIT students are from within New York State, particularly the Rochester area.

Most groups on campus aren't radical, and are more curious about others than confrontational. A closed-minded student, unwilling to accept different viewpoints would feel out of place, because everyone is different at RIT. Again, it depends on the student. There might be people wearing buisiness suits, pajamas, casual clothes, or miniskirts (especially if they're transgender). Different types of students interact a lot, especially hearing and deaf. There's a lot of people that know sign language or a willing to communicate by other means. Table one: a kid with a collar and a tail, two girls in casual clothes, and a guy with huge headphones, Table two: a group of deaf students, one is wearing a cool hat. Table three: a group of students studying and watching a hockey game. Table four: a student sits alone because his friends are in class. There are mostly upper-middle to upper class students here. Depends on the student, but mostly aware and mostly liberal. Students I know don't talk about money often, except for student debt.

Out at dinner you're likely to see a table of deaf students signing while they eat, some teammates at another table, an entire hallway out to eat together, and some friends from different buildings and majors. RIT is really diverse and an opportunity to met people from different religions, nations, and interests.

I'm black and there are VERY few blacks here (I know almost everyone that is), there are very few Latin people here, and so on (no offense to any other minority). I personally haven't encountered any problems, especially not from any Prof. Im usually only the minority in my classes but I never really notice. It's not something that's major (to me at least)even though I'm from the city where theres more diversity. The only thing I noticed is that the white people (from MY experience and more the females)aren't as open to being cool and chilling with you or whatever. I feel like I have to make more of an effort or something, but guys are more fun anyways so I dont care either ways. This is not true of the whole student body, just SOME of the people I've met. I think everyone is cool with everyone though regardeless of race or sexual orientation from MY EXPERIENCES. You might feel a little out of place if Your into dressing nice!!! lol I'm not use to seeing people wear the biggest sweats ever and slippers when it freezing outside. If you are sane like myself you'll feel out of place, let's just leave at that. Im from New YOR CIty.. Dress to impress YOURSelf if noone else... I would say a lot of people dont put much thought into what they wear. COme career fair though people change into human beings that dress nice lol. It's possible for different types of students to intereact as long as they are willing to. 4 tables of students in dining hall: table 1 same as table 2 similar to table 3 similar to table 4.. i don know. There's not much diversity, but there are different people .. i dont know this is a tricky question!!! i think i already answered this one most RIT students are form EVERY WHERE.. Inernational students, a lot of Upstate NY people, cali, Virginia, texas, different places. finacial? i dont know. i cant tell the rich from the poor eventhough i know a few of the rich (a couple of them bing international) Politically aware: yes active? kind of mayb lots of liberals/democrats dnt kno earn 1day:some do

RIT has a diverse student body. All races, LGBT, all religions, and level of wealth can be found here. All orientations are recognized by RITs administration. This allows for very unique learning experiences. Students range from quiet to loud, outgoing to introverted. There is a place for all students at RIT. Likewise, students wear clothing from professional to casual to punk rocker. All of these students can be found interacting, especially at the coffee shops. RIT students come from around the world. Many students come from India, and Asia, and Europe as well as from Canada, all of the US and a large portion from New York State. Some students are active in politics though RIT is not known as a rallying type of school. According to Facebook, most RIT students are conservative. I have to disagree though because many outspoken students profess Democratic views.

I came from a rather sheltered section of Long Island, New York. Coming to RIT opened my eyes to a lot of different cultures considering we have students from all over the world! I'm not a religious person, but there are groups you can be a part of, and there's a chapel that accepts all religious sectors that you can attend. I find that the school is very accepting of all students no matter their gender, sex, race, ethnic or cultural backgrounds, or religion. There are kids that can be grouped between the popular masses depending on their majors: the engineers, the business students, the science and mathematics students, and the arts and photographic arts students. I was in the Naval ROTC program, even though it's held over at the University of Rochester, and I was a Fine Art Photography major at the same time during my freshman year. I felt that I couldn't fit in with either of the two groups of people because I was being judged because of my "artsy" major for someone who wanted to be in the military, and I was typically stereotyped as being a "hardcore conservative" among the photo students, and neither of the allegations were true. You can feel out of place, but then again that happens everywhere. You do see students befriending people who are of the same cultural background, but I find that is also a comfort zone for students who aren't from the United States, and it might help them transition to being in a new environment alongside someone who is experiencing the exact same thing. I know from personal experience that different types of students interact. I just helped a friend dye her hair blue a few weeks ago, yet I am one of the most conservatively dressed people I know. I live in a house with two people who are in the military but I also hang out with self-proclaimed socialists and hippies. Although I am not of religious beliefs, my best friend attends church every Sunday and we don't judge one another. RIT has really been a place where I can fit in, with everyone, by being myself. It has been that simple. The four tables of students in the dining hall I see include a table full of girls and boys from the hockey teams. They are all wearing some sort of RIT hockey pride, where it's a sweatshirt, or pair of pants with the tiger paws down the side. They are eating rather healthy food and sharing lots of laughs. I also see a table full of boys with somewhere unkempt hair and rather interesting facial hair. There are beards, and moustaches I have never seen the likes of, although they are not my personal typical crowd I find myself in, they are very enthusiastic about the latest advance in a new nintendo game that was just released. I see another table full of deaf students. They sign at what feels like 100 mph to me, but I can't turn away because they have the most natural and best reactions to one anothers' stories that I have ever seen. The last table I see is full of photography students. They are sharing their latest projects with one another and nodding at each others' criticisms, accepting the friendly banter along with the constructive advice. Most RIT students I meet are from New York. That happens with most states, the biggest population is usually born or living in that current state. I have seen all different financial backgrounds. I have seen students not pay a dime whether they are on scholarship for an ROTC reason, or because they have a great passion and not enough money to attend the school. A friend of mine worked three jobs as best as he could, with a full course load of 18 credits, while his mother worked two jobs back home across the country, so that he could graduate with the finest degree from the school he loved. There are political groups on campus. Whether you support them or not is your choice, but I feel that everyone should remain respectful. There is a socialist group, but there are also the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine cadets on campus that feel offended by their banners and messages at times. Being called "killers" is not something that is taken lightly. There can be harsh words spoken and I'm sure from both sides. I do not mean in any way to offend any socialist whatsoever. I know from experience the beliefs that can be judged from either side, but at least RIT accepts and stands by the freedom of speech. I find that the school is hard to judge politically. It is easy to pick out those who share their opinions openly and freely, but I have learned to stop judging books by their covers. Although I participated in ROTC, I was and still am an independent. And being a photography major doesn't make you a democrat. You have to march to the beat of your own drum, whether you're on the left, right, or middle, that is your decision. You don't have to share your beliefs with everyone you meet. I have found my place in the middle, and that's where I choose to stay. Students share what they plan to earn, or hope to earn, one day. I like to listen to students with plans, who are taking their futures seriously and want to discuss the possibilities of success (financially) that they can and will achieve someday.

There are some organizations on campus sadly who are available for minorities that they believe aren't able to succeed at RIT like the northern star center for African American, Latin American, and Native American students or so it seems. But other than that I think RIT is tolerant of differences. Unintelligent students would be the only ones who would feel out of place. Majority of the students wear regular clothes, except for the "different" students who wear cloaks at night. Yes different types interact. To be real honest, the four table example isn't really relavent because it's just like high school in that aspect that you sit with your friends, by yourself, or get your food to go, no "jocks" or "nerds" in the social hierarchy. Most students are from Rochester.

RIT is very very very diverse. A lot of respect for all the cultures and different background's is expected by everyone. If you dont like to study. RIT is no the place for you. If you cant stand different personalities , RIT is not for you...Get used to different races and over all hearing impaired people ( they a very important part of RIT culture)