SAYA Youth Visit Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY University of Albany

SAYA participants in high school recently took a day trip to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Albany. They toured the campuses and heard from current students about their experiences at each school. Below are some reflections from several youth who attended this trip.

”On November 11th we traveled to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The first thing we did when we arrived was go to lunch. Looking around the dining hall, you could see all the students gathering together, eating and spending time with each other, and gossiping about their lives with joy. Later, we were taken on a tour of the campus, which was beautiful. The college has been around for a very long time. We learned all about some of the available majors, how there are over 200 clubs and organizations, and the school’s sports programs. On our tour, I saw one quote that stood out to me: “Why not change the world?” which showed me that college is a stepping stone to something greater.”
- Razaul

“SAYA recently gave me the opportunity to visit two universities in upstate New York. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a large private flagship university. During the presentation there, we received a lot of information about the science programs and how they excel in STEM, which I enjoyed hearing about. When we visited the University of Albany, I found the school very visually appealing. The University also had a lot of programs on STEM and Business, which made me want to attend. The administrative staff we spoke with seemed really friendly, and I got in-depth insight from students as well. The campus looked festive, active, and felt very comfortable. I would consider putting the University of Albany on the top of my list.”
- Tasmim

“Even though the weather was cold upstate, visiting the University of Albany was worth it. The campus is spread out and has a beautiful fountain with a tall pillar that shows different colored lights at night. We learned about the University’s Educational Opportunity Program, which provides students with assistance to help them become more comfortable on campus and succeed in the degree program they choose. The counselor we spoke to was informative about how this program works, and provided insight on the ways to be successful as a college student. It was nice hearing other college students' experiences and the challenges they faced and overcame. Overall, the University of Albany has moved up on my list of colleges I want to attend.”
- Jacqueline

“Once I saw the University at Albany campus, I fell in love with it. The infrastructure is beautiful - when you enter, you can see many columns, the four residence halls located on the corners of the campus, a fountain, a bell tower, lecture halls, and many more buildings. The university has over a hundred undergraduate programs, large residence halls, and offers an exceptional amount of clubs and activities. This university went from the bottom of my list to one of my top choices!”
- Mohammed