RIT students share advice for incoming class

Arriving at Rochester Institute for Technology for the first time can be daunting; it means new faces, new (mostly brick) buildings, and some unwritten rules that students must learn on their own. We asked a few seasoned Tigers for advice on the RIT student experience.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there

With over 300 student clubs and organizations, and myriad academic and social experiences, RIT has a community for everyone. Maybe you’re into sports or sustainability. Or just maybe you’re the type of person who wants to do it all.

“I wish someone told me to go out and just try,” said Onvida Serixay, a fifth-year computer engineering technology major from Buffalo, N.Y. “You can try going to an event by yourself or trying to be a first-year representative of some club. Sometimes it takes a few tries before something sticks.”

“Don’t close yourself off from opportunities,” added Alex Matthews-Elston, a fourth-year exercise science major from Houston. “Putting yourself out there can be scary, but it always pays off–whether it’s new friends, a job or research opportunity, or just some extra help from a professor.”

Set your own pace

One of the toughest aspects of college is learning how to find balance between academics, sleep, and a social life.

“Establishing a routine is one of the smartest moves you can make,” said Nasir Williams, a third-year game design and development major from Newark, Del. “Whether it’s going to the gym consistently, having a set bedtime that you stick to, or intentionally carving out time to relax and enjoy your time outside of academics, having something every day or week that you can count on happening makes college life feel a lot less hectic.”

Tina Lin, a third-year new media design major from Philadelphia, advises new students to use their time wisely. “You’re going to have a lot of free time or hours of downtime between classes, depending on major,” said Lin. “Learn to use them to your advantage whether to study, to do homework, or even meet up with a friend.” 

RIT will surprise you

College students are often put in rooms with people they’d never cross paths with otherwise, a great opportunity to expand horizons.

“You really do meet all different kinds of people,” said Keiko Takahaski, a fourth-year film and animation major from Mount Olive, N.J. “I remember meeting other students and being surprised at their hobbies or cool wardrobes. I thought it was so awesome that I was meeting such unique people who were unapologetically themselves, and it made me excited to discover who I was, too.”

While RIT earned its initial reputation as a tech and industrial-focused institution, the campus has a way of defying expectations. RIT’s creative spirit plays a significant role in its ranking as a "Most Innovative" campus and a “Top School for Co-op or Internship Programs,” leading to hands-on career preparation, by U.S. News and World Report.

“What surprised me the most was probably how innovative the school is,” Williams said. “Coming to a tech school made me think that most of the initiatives I’d see here would be computer based, but there’s so much investment in the arts and different creative ventures. It’s incredible to see and be a part of.”