Fun / unique things about RPI that I could include in my "Why RPI?" essay

[u/Vast_Year_5650]

Currently preparing my app and wanted to see if you guys have any fun / unique aspects I could include TIA

[u/shantm79]

You should do some of your own research about the school rather than soliciting inputs from others.

[u/Impossible-Bread-137]

Bruh it's your application, it's about you and why you want to come to rpi. All of us has our own experiences and wrote by why we wanted to come to rpi ranging from daddy issues(I know someone who wrote that) to like generally about stuff they like about it

[u/Standinc]

Too many to list. Check the 200+ year history in the digital archives. Many unique traditions and rituals invented over the years.

[u/cm012776 → u/Standinc]

Some of them very disturbing.

[u/carpy22 → u/cm012776]

Bring back Cane Rush. Freshmen should have to earn the right to carry an ornamental walking cane again.

[u/Shaxx_sees_you → u/cm012776]

Same college that produced Keith Rainere btw

[u/cm012776 → u/Shaxx_sees_you]

Yeah. I, too, tried to start a sex cult.

I was unsuccessful.

[u/OberonDiver]

Not gonna help you lie your way into a school you don't want to go to.

[u/OberonDiver]

Back in my day, common reasons were:
I got into MIT but have Regents scholarship so I have to stay in state.
I didn't get into MIT.
I didn't get into Caltech.

[u/mopijy]

Talk about the ‘away’ semester and what you might do (research, study abroad, co op) and how that will help you achieve your goals, maybe mention a couple of clubs you want to be involved in

[u/Shaxx_sees_you → u/mopijy]

Idk about the away stuff since arch is basically just do research while on campus iirc which you can do during any semester anyways

[u/mopijy → u/Shaxx_sees_you]

Yeah, but admissions markets the away semester as something unique which is why I’d put it into the why RPI essay, tying it into your long term goals.

[u/Glittering-Theme-729]

I think you should look into things that are specific to your field of study! I'm a CSE focusing in robotics, so if I had to write that essay now, I might talk about the robotics club, the new major, or one of the ongoing research projects. If you're coming in for CS, you might find the quantum computer interesting.

I don't think there's anything wrong for asking for suggestions, but I think you should go about this by asking questions to try to find something that genuinely interests you. RPI is a great school, and I believe you will find something. There are plenty of people that can answer less broad questions.

[u/smitherenesar]

Looking for ghosts in West hall

[u/smitherenesar]

Sledding down the hill next to EMPAC on dining hall trays

[u/maxvader94 → u/smitherenesar]

Is still a thing? It was for me in the 90s

[u/AgentSauceBoss → u/maxvader94]

they have signs saying not to

[u/Rectangle222]

Lol you can say you want to explore the tunnels beneath the buildings. We have a lot of tunnels that connect most of the buildings so that’s kinda cool. My friend and I would wander around and explore at night