Hello- My S will be a HS senior this Fall and will be applying to RIT for Game Design and Development. I see that RIT uses an RIT Application or the Common Application. Is there an advantage to choosing one over the other and are the essay choices the same on both the RIT and Common Applications? Thanks for any help and insight!
The one big advantage to applying via the RIT Application is that your son’s RIT page (which will be generated for him once he applies) will automatically link up with his application - others who have filed the Common App have had issues with their RIT page linking up to their application - he would likely need to email the tech people to link up the sites. Why is this important? Any received/missing documents will be listed on that page, along with other important announcements - acceptance/financial aid, etc. If your son does submit the Common App, have him wait a few days, then contact their tech people to make sure that his account is connected to his application.
I don’t know about the RIT essay, as my daughter applied via the Common App. It was at least a month before we figured out the issues with the account not linking with the application. Really unfortunate for such a tech savvy school.
My daughter applied with the Common App in 2013, since she was applying to a good number of schools that would accept it. I don’t remember problems linking up with the personalized page, but it has always bugged her that her RIT username has “x” for her middle initial - I think that’s from the Common App.
My son is applying Early Decision this year. He’ll do the RIT app, which from the print preview looks to be pretty simple. He’s only interested in one other university, which does not accept the Common App. Hopefully those two applications will do it for him (but we do have some other schools ready if disaster should strike in January).
By the way, my daughter adores RIT (despite the weather).
The print application is kind of buried at http://www.rit.edu/upub/pdfs/Undergrad_Application.pdf
According to it, the “personal statement” can be:
This brief statement helps to personalize your application, allowing us to become better acquainted with you. Please choose one of the options listed below:
State your reasons for aspiring to a career in your chosen area of academic interest.
Write a brief essay indicating your main reasons for applying to RIT.
Describe a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you.
Provide a copy of an essay you have already written for a school assignment (any subject).
Another tip - if you know an alum, you can save the application fee - https://www.rit.edu/alumni/benefits/feewaiver
@mamaduck and @MazeArtCrew thank you so much for your replies!
@mamaduck My son is contemplating applying to RIT in the early decision program. He has a few other schools he’s interested in, but RIT is his number one choice. I’m concerned that applying ED will box him in… what if he’d do better financially at another school? I assume you’re on board with your son applying ED… does he have any other schools he’s considering?
@markinct I’m sending you a private message with details of our situation that I don’t care to share publicly 