Rochester Institute of Technology has a great campus. It’s expansive, with plenty of wildlife and great scenery. Here are five things to avoid to make your college career at RIT even better!
1.) Humans vs. Zombies is played twice a year at RIT.
We have some of the largest games across the nation because so much of our student population participates. Students who are zombies chase others, and those who aren’t shoot the zombies with Nerf guns. Every morning after, there is literally a graveyard of old Nerf bullets that squish and crunch under your shoes as you walk to class. Inevitably, on your walk, a player will bump into you, run in front of you or just generally make your walk unpleasant. I can’t count how many times I was accidentally hit with a foam bullet. Just don’t leave your house if you don’t plan to play.
2.) There are about 3-4 bus cycles every hour.
If your class starts at 11, don’t take the bus at 10:45. Not only do you run the risk of running late if the bus isn’t on time, but you will be packed like sardines with other students who have made the same decision. The amount of body odor that students can give off so early in the morning may be surprising, but it’s still pungent. And who wants to start their day shoved into the smelly armpits of another student?
3.) The food on-campus is very expensive.
If you can’t avoid eating prepared foods on-campus, you’d better avoid grocery shopping on-campus. The same foods at your local Walmart can run you at least 50% more here. Don’t grocery shop on-campus unless you like spending more money for less food.
4.) If you’re not a winter person, you can avoid outside for most of the school year.
Rochester gets slammed with cold weather and tons of snow. This past February, about 33% of our days were in the single digit temperatures! Many of our buildings are connected with tunnels and bridges. Leave the outside to those crazies who wear shorts in the middle of winter and actually find freezing temperatures to be fun.
5.) About midway through every semester, students can plan for their next semester.
You go on the Student Information System, select your classes and put them in a cart. A couple weeks later, you enroll with that cart of classes and you’re all set for the following semester. Don’t wait on choosing your classes! Sometimes you’ll need permission from your advisor or a special code. If you wait until the date of enrollment to begin selecting classes, you’re not guaranteed to get them, and if you do this enough times you could even delay your graduation by not meeting your program’s course requirements.
Most of the things you’ll want to avoid at RIT, you’ll realize after attending for about a year. But if you know these going in, it can make your freshman year easier. You won’t have any unnecessary “tardies” from the bus or the hardcore players of Humans vs. Zombies, and you’ll arrive warm and fed at the right price. Finally, you’ll arrive at the correct class because you enrolled correctly!
Tianna Mañón is a recent grad of Rochester Institute of Technology, where she majored in Journalism and Political Science. She enjoys practicing yoga, traveling, running and cooking. When she isn’t doing these things, you can find her nose deep in a new book or making coasters for her business, East Coasters.
Key takeaways
- Humans vs. Zombies is played twice a year at RIT with some of the largest games in the nation, so if you're not playing, expect crowded, chaotic walks and stray foam bullets.
- With only about 3-4 bus cycles an hour, don't catch the bus 45 minutes before class or you'll risk running late and getting packed in with everyone else.
- On-campus food runs at least 50% more than the same groceries at a local Walmart, so skip on-campus grocery shopping unless you like paying more for less.
- Rochester gets slammed with cold and snow — about a third of February's days were single-digit — but many buildings connect through tunnels and bridges.
- Plan next semester's classes in the Student Information System; waiting until enrollment day risks losing classes, getting delayed, or missing requirements.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Humans vs. Zombies at RIT?
- A campus-wide Nerf tag game played twice a year at RIT, with some of the largest games in the nation. Zombies chase other students, and those who aren't playing shoot the zombies with Nerf guns. Spent foam bullets litter the walkways the next morning.
- How often do the buses run at RIT?
- About 3-4 bus cycles every hour. Don't take one 45 minutes before class: you risk running late, and the bus gets packed with other students who made the same call.
- Is food expensive on campus at RIT?
- Yes. The same foods you'd buy at a local Walmart cost at least 50% more on campus, so skip grocery shopping there unless you like paying more for less food.
- How cold does Rochester get during the school year?
- Rochester gets slammed with cold weather and tons of snow. This past February, about 33% of days were in single-digit temperatures, though many buildings connect through tunnels and bridges.
- How does class registration work at RIT?
- You select classes in the Student Information System and put them in a cart, then enroll from that cart a couple weeks later. Some classes need advisor permission or a special code, so don't wait until enrollment day, or you may lose the classes you need.
- What happens during a Humans vs. Zombies walk across campus?
- There is literally a graveyard of old Nerf bullets that squish under your shoes, and players bump into you or run in front of you, so you can end up accidentally hit by a foam bullet. Don't leave your house if you don't plan to play.
- Why might taking the bus 45 minutes before class be a bad idea?
- Not only do you risk running late if the bus isn't on time, but you'll be packed with other students who made the same call, and the body odor students give off so early in the morning can be surprisingly pungent.