Rochester Institute of Technology Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Kiere

Please, please PLEASE go visit colleges!!! Most school just paint a pretty picture and photoshop everything to give you a false image of what their campus is like. I'm a transfer student who just blindly chose a school right after graduation and assumed it was a good fit for me. I was unhappy with the college I picked. Everything the college put on their website was completely wrong!! So I dedicded to transfer to RIT (after visiting the college of course!) I would encourage parents to be open their student's career/major choices. This is the time when we're all trying to figure out place in life. To the students, if there is something that you don't like about a school, speak up! It's your education, make the most of it!

David

Don't worry about the price, apply anyways, and see what kind of financial aid package you get. I go to a private college, and it would have cost more to go to a state school. This is because the state schools have less flexibility on grants/aid, and private schools do not.

Heather

When looking at colleges, really look around even if you think that you know exactly which college you want to go to. I transfered after my second year because I only looked at the one college I thought I wanted to go to. As for making the most of the college experience, it's cliche but make sure to keep an open mind. You never know what kind of activities you might end up enjoying or who'll be your best friend or even if you'll like a new kind of food.

Stephanie

The best advice i could give to parents and students looking into college would be to visit many college campuses and while ate college to take advantage of everything colleges have to offer. Visiting college campuses is so important when trying to find a school that you feel comfortable at. When visiting schools chances are you will come across one and feel complelty comfortable at it. Comfort while at college is very important. Also while at school take advantage of resources like the libraries and professors. Also get involved with clubs and meet different kinds of people

Michelle

Visit the college before you choose. Consider location and also be prepared to accept alot more responsibilities.

Sarah

Dont just visit. Look at college reviews online from actuall students.

Shawn

Make sure that you visit every school that you apply to so that you can get the best perspective of life on the campus. I recommend doing an overnight also if possible. Try to see if anyone you know has been to the school/visited the school/ or is going to the school and find out their opinion on it. Ask yourself what kind of life that you want in school. Do you want to party all the time, a balance between partying and academics, or do you want an academically focused school that promises a bright future? These are all important things to discuss with your peers, and think about. Remember, nothing is permanent and you can always change colleges if you dislike the one that you choose to attend. Meeting friends and being active in the social clubs is highly recommended. While personally participating in a varsity collegiate sport I have found that it is very beneficial both academically and socially. Choose your college carefully and enjoy the experience to the fullest. You only get a short period of time to take advantage of it.

Rebecca

Visiting the school is important. The right school will FEEL right. Also, talk to the students. Ask them what they dislike about their school. You can learn alot more about the less known issues by just talking to the students and asking questions beyond the norm.

kyle

i would say take a good look around and make sure that the college you are chooseing is right for you. Do not just look at the price of tuition or how much financial aid is rewarded but everything else that the school has.

Deven

Reading articles online and looking at pictures taken by professional photographers can only teach you so much. We live in a country where most graduating high school students continue their education at the college level, and because of such there is high competition. This competition is not only between students trying to attend a school, but also between schools trying to attract students. As so, the articles you might read, and the pictures you might see, could potentially be far too biased to be truly useful to you in your decision. The answer is to get out there and find out yourself. Visit the school, but don't restrict yourself to guided tours. Sit in on lectures, talk with students you pass by, make a note to yourself how the facilities are being used by everyday students. Find a school that suits you, and pursue it. Don't try to fit yourself into a prestigious school that doesn't suit your style. The end result shouldn't be about your college's reputation, but about the experiences you can have, and the enjoyment you can find in learning there. You make the world, it doesn't make you.

Christine

Visit the college beforehand. Its important to see what the college is like when students are there and in action. The area in which a college was located was about 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the deciding factor for me and can really contribute to your success.

Eric

Learn everything you possibly can before committing to a school so that you can find the one that meshes best with your personality. You'll be much happier that way.

Patrick

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Adam

I feel as though the social life is the most important aspect of any college, and the teachers' abilities / skills / creativity [as teachers] are next on the list. It is hard to get an accurate cross-section of either of these things without living on campus for at least a semester, so my advice would be to read what other people have to say about the college. When I look at reviews of RIT from other students or alumni, I see mostly negative comments being made, and I am more inclined to say similar things now that I have been a student for 2 years. If you care purely about academics, then feel free to read the pamphlets that the colleges send in order to glorify their prospects, but the information that previous RIT students can give acts as a far better gauge.

Joanna

Go to a community college first and figure out exactly what you want to do before you spend a ton of money on a big school. You will get all of your general stuff done and be able to do exactly what you want when you get to the real college and you won't spend as much money on it.

Chrystal

Pray

Larry

There are a lot of great colleges out there that can obviously help boost a students potential to obtain a great career. The selection process of a college should be more of the students decision not the parents decision. But when you get to college the more you put into your school work and projects the better experience and oppurtunity you will recieve for your career. Aim to go beyond the A mark and wow the class with class projects and you will get the most out of your college experience.

Kevin

Go and look at the places that your interested in but dont be afraid to go somewhere that you would never expect you would want to go. Once you get to a college you can immidately get a vibe and you get feelings about a place when you step on campus. If it feels right than it probobly is and if its only ok dont go there just because your friends are. Find a place that you fall in love with at first site and trust me you will know when you find it.

Patrick

The first and most important thing about finding a good fit for a college is what the student wants. Of course parents may or may not be able to afford one's entire tuition, but there are many ways to attain aid for school. I came from an underprivledged family where both of my parents did not work. I was able to live up to expectations and attend a private high school on scholarship and have most of college covered. Cost seems to be the make or break issues for most families in deciding where to send their child to college. Second, the environment needs to suit the student. Whether it be a large or small school, every student has a preference. In order to make the most out of their experience, they need to be comfortable. You do not want your son or daughter having a negative attitude heading into their first year of college. In the end, it is what you make of it. Going to college brings in a new level of responsibility. The more you put into your college experience, the more you will get out.

Daniel

Choosing a college can be a very difficult decision. Often students and parents do not go through the necessary steps to ensure that they are choosing a suitable college. To the parents: Do not choose a college for your child. You can suggest a college for them, but they are on their way to being adults, you need to show them that you trust their decisions. Visit every college that you are concidering. Do not go on a campus tour, go on a day that college is in session. You can tell so much by observing a college on a regular day. Also let your child make descions about their college experience. (For example: what kind of floor they will live on, will they get a job or not, etc.) Be there to support your child but be a little hands off. To the students: Research your colleges in excruciating detail. Listen to your parents advice. Remember you are an adult now and you need to make mature decisions. Try and find a college that will give you a balance of fun and school work. Go to the college of your dreams, don't let money stand in the way.

Thomas

Read online reviews and take their word for it.

Gregg

Finding the school that fits what you want to do and your budget is the most important thing.

Joshua

Take your time and put in the extra effort to fill out as many applications as you can. This is the rest of your life that you are dealing with. Think of what you want in a school and then inquire to see if they have these things. The schools that seem the most interesting to you are the ones that you should visit. Remember, having fun is a huge part of your college experience, but don't sacrifice anything for academics. Like I said, this is the rest of your life.

Jennifer

Find as many grants and scholarships as possible or subsidized loans. Unsubsidized loans will only take you backwards with accumulating interest.

mike

find a place that suits your interests and major and make sure u visit before enrolling

Elyssa

Do what you feel right in your gut. Your first instincts about a place are most often the right ones so if you feel a place isn't right don't go there but if it does feel good you'll most likely be happy there. Choosing a college can be a truly life changing process and you don't want to spend most of your academic career changing colleges. There will be bad times at a college and there will be good but if you go with what you think will work for you the first time around you'll most likely end up happy. Just don't settle for a school because your parents want you to go there, go there for you.

Lauren

I transferred to RIT after a one year break from another private university, which I attended for 2 years. When I first started college it was right out of high school, I didn't know what I wanted to study, and I was not ready to leave home. I learned a lot about myself during those first 2 years, while I commuted from home and took a mix of liberal arts courses, but no more than I could have learned going to a community college, which would have been several thousand dollers cheaper for my parents. Taking the year break from school changed my life. I experienced the real world while I worked full time and rented my own apartment, which both allowed and made me take responsibility for the way I managed my time and money. Working a minimum wage job also helped me realize the value of a BS degree. Those life experiences helped me make a better decision on where to go to college. Paying for my own way, now, has also helped me appreciate my education at RIT, and motivated me to make the very best of it.

Deborah

Defintely get involved with different activities, both educational and recreational. It's never too early to start building your network. These are the people that are going to give you advice and to help you find jobs. Also, live in the dorms your freshman year. It really is a huge part of the college experience that I am glad I had. You learn to interact with different kinds of people, some you get along with and some you don't.

Marlon

As my college experience, it does provide you a lot of options of activities, courses, and community services as you interesting. the schedule is very flexibility that fit your interests courses. Social with students/friends help improve your lifestyle in better way, including facuity/staff. It's all about time management. Once you time managment, your college life will be great that you will never forget. Everything in enivorment are great on and off campus. On off-campus, there are a lot stuffs that you can do such as Wal-Mart, go-kart, bowling, mini golf, restaurants, etc... This college is very great for everyone including parent and families.

Natalie

Some would argue that you can't put a price tag on education, but unfortunately, there is a price tag, and it's REALLY big. I think it's important for a dialogue to exist between parents and students about the cost of school. Get it all out in the open and make the right financial plans and decisions together. If you are honest with each other about your financial expectations you will avoid conflict down the road when it's time to pay off those student loans. Once, the cost of tuition is off your mind you can worry about what's really important, whether it's decorating your new dorm room or re-decorating your kid's bedroom into that home gym you always wanted, and when school starts you can both focus on what's really important, THE EDUCATION!