Hey everyone,
So here’s the thing, I’m planning to attend RPI in the fall and I’ve selected “undeclared” for my major when I was filling out the application. Before I make my final decision, I was wondering if I could take these 4 courses my first year: “some kind of history, math, chemistry, and english”. The reason I ask is because I’m also planning on reapplying to the Naval Academy and those are the courses that they like to see reapplicants take. I will also be doing NROTC.
, Thanks
Also, I was planning to pursue majoring in math at the Naval Academy. So if I get rejected again, I would still like to pursue math at RPI.
You can take those four courses. Take the following in your first year:
I. Some math (any math you want, we offer everything) I have no idea what kind of AP credits you have, but I’d assume it would be Calculus I, II, or Multivariable calculus first semester. You’ll need to take math both semesters.
II. Chemistry I (either semester)
III. Writing 101 (English) or Intro to Communications (either semester)
IV. Intro to Science, Technology, and Society (history), but there are other equivalents/similar courses. (Either semester)
Would also like to say that you’d probably get a more thorough math education at RPI than the Naval Academy - but I do understand that the Naval Academy is free so that’s definitely an incentive. RPI also offers large NROTC scholarships though.
Note that RPI does not offer the ROTC scholarships. Those come from the military services. For the coming year, the scholarships have already been awarded, and they are highly competitive. Most ROTC cadets are not on scholarship.
@NoVADad99 You’re right, it’s not offered by RPI, it’s offered by the military services. I apologize if I miscommunicated that originally, but they have not all been awarded. You can apply as a full-time college student, but you are right that they are competitive. NROTC is pretty small though, many are on scholarship.
Thank you Joe. With those 4 courses, how hard do you think it will be to maintain above a 3.0 GPA at RPI because I heard that the average GPA is 3.11? Im assuming that this is mainly because of most students majoring in engineering which is really hard.
At this point Im really stuck between RPI and Penn State, I also have a transfer agreement with Boston University (non binding) so I would like to try and uphold that just in case I don’t like RPI/PSU (as long as I have above a 3.0 GPA and graduate HS they offered me a spot in the class of 2021 but I’d start sophomore year rather than freshman year at the school).
@flightzealot I need to know more about your preparation in high school before weighting on any likelihood of you getting a 3.0 at RPI. Also, I don’t see why you’d want to do a transfer if you enrolled. RPI and BU are (literally) equally ranked schools with similar prestige, and it’s really sucky transferring after your first year. They’re also of very similar rigor, they’re both ranked in the top 5 hardest schools in the nation so if you can’t get a 3.0 at RPI you still wouldn’t make it at BU. I’d recommend not to transfer if you enroll at RPI unless you really don’t like it. Also don’t let the idea of transferring limit you from pursuing opportunities like getting a job in a lab, joining Greek Life, etc.
If all you want to do is transfer though, Penn State is an easier bet. It may not prepare you as well for BU, which will be a slap in the face coming from Penn State. There probably wouldn’t be a transition academically from RPI to BU or vice versa. The issue would be transitioning socially. Again, though, don’t take transferring lightly. It’s not a fun time. I know friends that have transferred from their schools and they were socially isolated for their next three years.
I think there are other factors to transferring too.
For example, some people believe that since their credits transfer that they necessarily apply. The thought is that just because you can transfer classes that all credits apply toward your destination class, and this isn’t always true.