Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Know this, those campus tours and brochures you've recieved haven't told you much. I know every school does this, but WPI really knows how to rig the system. First off, if you do come here, be ready to WORK, and work like you never have before. I came out of a boot camp hs, and I'm used to these kinds of workloads, but if you don't think you can handle about 40+ hours of schoolwork per week by sophomore year, look elsewhere. Secondly, the location's terrible. There's almost nothing to do off campus, most local bars aren't much, and this place is FRIGID COLD in winter. This really becomes an issue if you have a car, and don't want to pay crazy parking fees (who does?) or if you're like me and have a bike that you can't bring up here because it's just too cold to ride, or that it snows at least once a week more than half the year. About the people, well, it's what you make of it, i guess. Not every girl here is ugly, and not every guy here is hideous, contrary to popular belief. It's just a lot of people here are FAT. I mean, I was told that obesity isn't much of a problem up here, but some people here just don't seem to care about how they look. If you're like me, and are a guy in a stable long-distance relationship, this place will offer you little temptation, so there's that. But if you're a guy who's single, then all I can say is… good luck to you, buddy. And ladies, be ready for guys to start paying more attention to you, a Lot more attention. Also, please be careful because the creepy ones are very unrestrained up here, as this place lacks the jock/religious presence I'm used to seeing keep order. As both a three sport HS athlete and a Methodist, I take heat for my views and my refusal to cheat, while some people here are free to awkwardly make creepy advances on whoever they want. Now I'm not telling people to give no lines and keep your hands to yourself, but learn how to flirt if you actually want romance. Long distance relationships can work if one of you goes here, but Especially if you're a girl in a long-distance relationship, you will probably take some flak, as many people, guy and girl alike, will expect you to find love up here. It's a damn shame this place at least nominally prohibits adequate self defense, b/c you're gonna need it. Crime's a problem too, mostly because most students here are used to living in suburbia with mommy and daddy and having things be given to them, without ever learning how to defend themselves. Frat/sororities here are little like at other schools, in that they have many members in hard science majors. The parties by and large get old quick. But, whatever, there are plenty of people who enjoy getting drunk with sweaty masses of Brahs and mediocre at best women, largely from whatever school around here. And the rest of the students are very nerdy. So, if you're into playing lots of video games/Dungeons and dragons/starcraft/growing a neckbeard, then this is the place for you. The largest student body participation event of the year is a bunch of dungeons and dragons geeks playing together on weekend nights, take from that what you will.

About the teachers, some don't seem to care about each student, and a lot are involved with research, to the point of putting you second. But some are very nice, and will help you with what you need. Office hours and extra help are almost always available, you just have to go. The IQP and MQP are what make this place unique, and you will either enjoy them greatly, but again, no slacking off.

Speaking of slacking off, don't mess around. If you don't put that hammer down early freshman year, and you play video games/mess around all day, you're gonna disappear faster than Jimmy Hoffa. And PLEASE, before you come here, temper your videogame/facebook/internet use habits. We don't need anymore antisocial shutins or cynical jerks.

Some positives though. Most teachers here are great at their jobs, and quite a few will make class at least somewhat entertaining. WPI Extracurriculars are great, but it feels like we don't get a lot of people,since there are so many shutins. There are a lot of different cultures here, even if we have far too many kids from Massachusetts and surrounding states. So, if you're seriously committed to a hard science/engineering major, and are ready for those things, and especially if you are geek/attention starved/a bro as it is, then this is a good choice for your college experience. even if you're a pretty well adjusted, normal person, you may like this place, too, as most people here are very approachable, even if they might be at least a little odd. So if this sounds fine to you, then go on ahead and fill out that application. Just don't forget your maturity, or calculator.