[JamesBrown]

I am a Senior at RPI, dual majoring in Computer Systems Engineering and Computer Science.

1) I am going to look at RPI, Drexel, UMD, and BC. If anyone has gone to these colleges, what are they like? How was your experience?

Like I said, I go to RPI now and I love it. Classes are tough, but that is a given for any of the big engineering schools.

The two biggest criticisms I hear about RPI are complaints about Troy and that every one is anti-social. Now in my 4th year here I don't think either of these are valid complaints. First, Troy is not that bad, the area around RPI is fine, I have always felt safe here, this is my 3rd year living off campus and I have never had a problem. Down town is not that bad either, the City is rally starting to revive the area and between Troy Night Out and the Farmers Market they have some cool city wide events. That being said, and going along with Ian's description of Troy being sketchy, I would say that I would not reccomend walking through South Troy at 2am alone, but I would not reccoment walking through any city at 2am alone. I regularly walk to and from campus, and other apartments at night and have never been botherd by anyone.

The claim that RPI is anti-social is absolutely false. Surelike anyengineering school there are kids who only leave their rooms to go to class and then go straight back to play WoW. However there are also tons of activities on campus, there are Engineering and Gaming clubs like the ones Ian mentioned. But there are also Sports clubs and other things that can help to give you a break from all engineering all the time. Personally, I play Rugby for RPI and also work on FIRST robotics and the Battle Bots Team. If anything RPI is balanced. Also if you have heard of the ratio (of guys to girls) it really isn't as bad a advertised, when you factor out allof the kids who never go out the Ratio evens up.

2) Does anyone have colleges that you would like to recommend, that have Biomed. Engineering as a major?

3) Any ideas of classes that I should take in senior year?

Any Science and math classes will help, even if you can't get credit for them having the background knowlege will help you keep up when you take them in College