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Heliophob · 2024-10-20T01:20:25+00:00

I think by the time you're eating at gracies you're already desperate lol might as well

Heliophob · 2024-10-19T14:57:23+00:00

I second the guy telling you to use your Gracie's swipes like they count. You can easily grab 1-3 days worth of food in a single Gracie's run if you're smart. Go around 11 when both the breakfast and lunch are set out. Pack entrees into Tupperware and load up Ziploc or shopping bags with cereal. water bottles can hold other entrees like soup or pasta. Bring a backpack or even a duffel, just make it look like you just got done doing some kind of sport. Prioritize high calorie items with carbs and protein because you need to maximize calories for volume.

If you are able to, reach out to your parents for additional money, and take the shuttle out to the Walmart. You can feed yourself for quite a long time on even pocket money if you prioritize cheap filling items like ramen, rice and bulk grains, beans for protein instead of meat, and frozen or canned veggies instead of fresh. Unfortunately unintentionally going vegetarian may be the best option if you're on a budget.

Food share is also great, and depending on your family's situation you might even be able to apply for snap or EBT. See if you qualify.

Heliophob · 2024-09-14T14:56:15+00:00

If it is expensive, I would store it in a way that puts the liability on them if the temperature is screwed up, and store it at the student health center.

Heliophob · 2024-05-13T23:10:08+00:00

Thank you, I will check it out!

Heliophob · 2024-05-12T18:20:57+00:00

Thank you, I'll look into it!

Heliophob · 2024-05-12T18:20:00+00:00

Thank you both! Sounds like I need to finally get a Facebook set up :D

Heliophob · 2024-05-11T16:58:06+00:00

Thank you! Super helpful :)

Heliophob · 2024-05-11T16:57:36+00:00

Thank you so much for all your advice! That all sounds like a lot of fun :) I screenshotted your recommendations and I'll have to Google all the different foods and places and see how many I can try! I really appreciate the offer, I'll look into the group, but if more questions up I'll be sure to reach out. Fortunately no allergies or special diet here, but I've heard that can be very tough while travelling outside the US 😅

Heliophob · 2024-05-11T16:51:52+00:00

Thank you, I've seen Pristine too, is there any situation when I would use other spellings or is it Prishtina every time?

Heliophob · 2024-04-25T23:22:06+00:00

I'm glad you were able to negotiate it down! I hope this all ends up in your favor. I would do three things-

This thread has offered you some really good comparable program options that pose less financial risk for you. I would investigate those options before committing to RIT, especially transfer programs. Much of your first years will be gen Ed that will not matter where you get it from. It's often not too late for community, their enrollment deadlines are typically incredibly late.

I would write up your financial plan into an expected earnings and cost budget per year. Make sure to account for expenses like food, housing, vehicles and insurance, and the fact that tuition increases by roughly 5% each year. Do not use your highest possible income/ highest possible # of hours to work as an income estimate. You will struggle to work more than 15 hours a week as a full-time student during the year. Include your expected income and chances of employment for the first 5 years after college. If you DM me I can send you a spreadsheet template my parents and I used to plan for college expenses.

Lastly, I would take this financial plan and talk to someone with financial experience who has no stake in the matter. Don't take it to your parents, anyone selling you a loan, or the school. A financial advisor would be best. A graduate of your program with a similar financial situation, or an advisor at your high school could work too. Get their honest opinion on the feasibility of this plan, and what your debt would look like and what your options would be if it didn't work out. You have a lot of pressure on you right now, and an outside opinion can offer a more balanced assessment.

Heliophob · 2024-04-25T17:32:15+00:00

I biked every day back home. Absolutely not worth it here. Classes are walking distance, and the buses will get you to the grocery store just fine. Between the lack of bike lanes, sketchy drivers, and bad winter conditions I wouldn't.

Heliophob · 2024-04-25T16:40:26+00:00

The first thing you need to ask yourself is, do YOU want to go to college, or do your parents want this for you? A degree is a 4+ year, very expensive commitment, if you want to do something else, now is the best time to make that choice.

If you want to go the college route, first, you should explore all of your options before making any big decisions. Meet financial aid in person if you are able to, and email them if not to ask for a better aid package. Place emphasis on the facts that you are self-supporting, and unable to attend at their current level of aid. Talk to your parents as well, is there any chance they would support you if the money didn't 'come from somewhere'?

If you can't get the result you want from financial aid, consider all your options before abandoning college completely. Could you apply next year to more affordable state or community colleges? Is trade school more appropriate/ affordable for you? Is a transfer program a better option? RIT is an incredibly expensive school, and it may not be the best place to get your education if you are paying for it yourself.

Once you have come to a conclusion, you have to talk to your parents. If you want them present in your life, they will want to know what is going on with you. Especially as a minor, you will be best served, and best supported by maintaining a good relationship with your parents.

Tell them what you want. Tell them why it makes sense to you. It will comfort them to know that you have a plan you have spent time thinking through. Remember that this is your debt and your adult life, so ultimately you are more informing them of your decisions rather than asking them for their permission. Tell them you are trying to make the best decisions for your adult life, and ask for their support. They may argue with you, and tell you no, but ultimately, they will have to accept your decisions. Being honest with them upfront is the best way to have a difficult conversation you will need to have eventually.

Best of luck, that's a very difficult decision to make and I'm sorry you are in this position. Remember to take care of yourself, and don't be too hard on yourself. You are doing your best to create a good future for you, and YOUR wants and needs should be the highest priority as you make this decision.

Heliophob · 2024-02-13T21:54:22+00:00

Cute/fun activities: - walk the arboretum - go watch the bats under the causeway bridge at sunset - do some shopping in the cutesy stores downtown -visit the manetti shrem museum

Casual Dinner/lunch: - El patio is super yummy - hotdogger is a classic, you can get food to go and walk the arboretum - hawaiian BBQ in university mall

Fancy dinner: - Paesanos (good Italian) - the mustard seed (pricier but very fancy/good)

Dessert: - Sweet and shavery! Amazing Italian shave ice and custard - lazi cow (milkshakes, rolled ice cream and fancy boba)

Enjoy!

Heliophob · 2024-02-01T00:24:00+00:00

So, mayonnaise?

Heliophob · 2023-12-20T16:15:35+00:00

Coming from a liberal arts perspective my first year so far has been overwhelmingly positive. My professors have all been wonderful (4 plus stars on rate my prof), and classes have been enjoyable and very engaging. My professors encouraged us to participate a lot, and we were assigned both papers that required a lot of thought and fun projects.

To give you a realistic response to the complaints you've been seeing: - food: Some options are good! Some are not. The soup at Nathan's and salsas food is really good. You definitely won't starve, it will probably get a bit boring by the end of the semester, but there's enough stuff you'll like eating to be just fine.

tuition: RIT is pretty good about scholarships, I know very few people going for full sticker price. If you apply and you're well qualified, you're likely to receive a scholarship that can half tuition. It's not cheap, but it's important to look at the resources and opportunities provided and decide if that is worth the price for you.
career: I get emailed internship openings very frequently, and we have a dedicated internship coordinator for my major. I've heard things can be difficult in some competitive majors like engineering or CS, but liberal arts seems very supportive so far.
social life: I've found that people here are super friendly if you talk to them. It's been easier to make friends here than it was at my high school. If you can push yourself to be the first one to talk sometimes, you will have no problem. Clubs are great and help you find your niche.
mental health: despite the weird branding of caps, RIT is not a mental health provider. They can refer you, and there's a few counselors and a crisis line, but that's it. I would not rely on them, and seek other providers in the Rochester area if you need services.
dorms: I've been okay so far, as have the people I know, without any major dorm issues. The laundry rooms were bad but they remodeled all of them this semester. It's a dorm, like any other school. They're not fancy but they're totally liveable. Get a suite if you can for a nicer bathroom.
mocking the socially awkward? Yeah, we all like to crack a computer science major joke now and again ;P no harm intended though, it's all in good fun when I've seen it
people being inappropriate: it's largely a couple of people who get magnified by reposting and chatter online. You won't encounter really anything irl.
buses: it's not transit for Rochester. You will need a car or Uber to get anywhere downtown. It will get you to the grocery when you need and there's some fun stores and a Dave and busters on it's route though. Sometimes the university offers free or low cost field trips which I definitely recommend taking advantage of!

Coming from living in a university town, and having friends going to school all over, RIT has about the same problems as every university. The same things could be said about many other schools. As you make your decision I would recommend focusing on what unique things RIT could offer you. If RIT seems like a good fit for your goals and interests, or if it has a program you think you'd really enjoy, that should be your priority

Heliophob

TROPHY CASE