<p>My son is also going to study CS and has been accepted at Case and RIT (also Queens in Canada and Wisconsin), waitlisted at RPI and waiting to hear from Waterloo.</p>
<p>I just did some searches and this is what I found: the first post is from this same blog/forum</p>
<p>Answer to why RIT has low retention </p>
<hr>
<p>On another post, someone asked why RIT has lower retention than many schools in its category as noted by US News and World Report. It has lower retention when compared to all ivys and when compared to many other technical schools such as CMU and Cal Tech etc. Here is my response to that poster:</p>
<hr>
<p>We investigated this issue for my daughter. There are a number of reasons, in my opinion, for the lower graduation rate, much of which has little to do with school quality:</p>
<ol>
<li>RIT overall isn’t that hard to get into. They accept about 65%-70% of their applicants although this does vary from school to school within the university. However, it is uniformly a very tough school to do well in. I think that many kids go there without an understanding of how difficult a technical school can be. You mentioned that the graduation rate of schools such as Cal Tech, MIT, ivy schools etc. have a much higher graduation rate. However , they also have very tough admission standards. Generally, retention has a direct corellation with the toughness of the admission standards. The higher the admission standards, the greater the retention. This certainly isn’t RIT’s fault, and I personally applaud them for maintaining high standards for their students. </li>
</ol>
<p>I should note that being on a quarter system adds to the toughness in some ways. If you get sick for a while, you will miss more than with a semester system. Both mid terms and finals come at the students with greater frequency than with a semester oriented school. As for my personal opinion based on interviewing both students and faculty members, I personally believe that RIT offers a stellar academic environment. Most kids don’t seem to leave RIT because of academic reasons.</p>
<ol>
<li>There is comparatively little to do on campus. Unlike other schools such as Penn State, Ohio State, Northwestern and other big name schools, RIT doesn’t have a lot of school spirit. For example, sports, which really does build school spirit ( such as with University of Miami and Syracuse), isn’t that strong RIT. RIT’s strongest sport is hocky, which isn’t that popular in the US. Frankly with the weather being so cold, who wants to play tennis, football, baseball etc. Kids tend to stay indoors, and I think develop cabin fever.</li>
</ol>
<p>This is compounded by the fact that RIT really isn’t right near anything. Yes, Rochester has a lot to do in the City, but you really need a car to get anywhere. Even with a car. Rochester still isn’t as neat a city for a college student as other cities such as Boston, NY, Miami, Wash DC etc.</p>
<p>Also, unlike other technical schools such as CMU, RIT doesn’t have a drama program or musical theater. This reduces the activities available on campus and reduces the number of girls that apply to RIT, which will be discussed below.</p>
<p>I should note that RIT is building a “student city” where there will be restaurants and shops. However, this will take a long time to build and to finish. I also don’t know about the type of facilites or stores that will be in the city. For example, I wonder whether there will be a bowling alley in the city?</p>
<p>I should also note that RIT is trying to increase activities on campus by supporting lots of clubs. There are over 100 clubs right now available to students. However, my feeling is that this just isn’t enough to overcome the other problems.</p>
<p>Finally, the US News ranking system builds in alumni contribution as a factor in the admission process. Generally schools with strong sports programs have high alumni contribution percentages. Frankly, I feel that this is a rediculous factor in ranking a school.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It’s REALLY cold in Rochester: Rochester is very, very cold most of the year. In addition, they get a lot of snow , and it can be quite overcast and dreary most of the year. Thus, kids tend to stay indoors a lot. I guess many kids get cabin fever. The weather can also be depressing if kids are cooped up for too long a period of time.</p></li>
<li><p>RIT has a mediocre male/female ratio. The ratio of guys to girls was about 70-30. RIT is trying to remedy this,but, most of the girls are found in the school of imaging science and art. Thus, their might be one girl for ten guys in the science and engineering courses. This is a REAL problem for them that they need to remedy.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, many girls tend to study humanities related stuff such as history, English, etc. These areas on not strong at RIT and thus, don’t attract a lot of students who want to major in humanities related majors ( other than for art and design).</p>
<p>Of course, if you are a girl, I would imagine that you would love the male-female ratio.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>RIT does have a coop program. US News rankings really doesn’t handle schools with coops well. This may require many kids to graduate in 5 years or more. This, thus reduces the potential 4 year graduation rate.</p></li>
<li><p>Kids might take jobs as a result of their coop: Sometimes kids are offered full time jobs through their coop experience. They might then switch to part time status and take 6 or more years to graduate.</p></li>
<li><p>RIT doesn’t seem to have the support system found at some other schools. At some schools such as Syracuse University, Villanova,etc., there is a strong support system of tutors, counseling and other forms of help for students.Although professors are accessible at RIT, I never got the feeling that there was nearly as much hand holding and support for kids as found at other schools. Perhaps because RIT is less expensive than Syracuse and that of other private schools, they don’t have the money for this type of support. Who knows? </p></li>
<li><p>Housing is a real problem: Althoughl RIT guarantees housing for all the years of a student, it doens’t guarantee that you will either like the housing or be near your classes. While they do have some nice appartment type housing, geting them is very difficult. You either must win the lottery or get to know someone who has an appartment. They do have plenty of housing at a nearby hotel and other places that require a bus in order to get to the main campus. Frankly, who wants to have to take a bus to get to class each day? I guess kids can bring their cars and pay for parking as an alternative. Still, it is a far cry from having dorms that are close by and within walking distance of all classes. They have too few dorms that are within walking distance, and these are mostly for freshmen and for some sophomores however.</p></li>
<li><p>RIT is not as diverse at it appears. I believe that great diversity in all ways helps the educational program for students and provides more things to do since differing groups look for and sponsor differing types of activities. RIT has some decent geographic diversity although most kids are from NY.They don’t, however, have a lot of nomal minorites that you would expect to see at most schools. For example, RIT has a very small Jewish presence among students for whatever reason. While I was touring RIT, I also didn’t see a lot of underrepresented minorities. I don’t know how much this affects the quality and quantity of things to do, but I suspect that it does have some affect.</p></li>
</ol>
<h2>There are probably others who can paint a broader picture than I. These are just based on my opinions while touring the school. I certainly could be in error regarding one or more points. See the thread, “Overview of Our Vist to RIT” found in the RIT forums </h2>
<p>CW: 91% freshman retention
[Best</a> Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-freshmen-least-most-likely-return]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-freshmen-least-most-likely-return)
Division of Computer Science
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio</p>
<p>The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) has recently undergone a restructuring to recognize an internal Division of Computer Science (CS) and Division of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). This restructuring is in recognition of the evolving needs of CS and ECE, and in anticipation of a phase of growth and expansion for the department (and its divisions) over the next 3 to 5 years. Accordingly, the CS division invites applications for several faculty positions from individuals desiring to be part of our growth and expansion through making fundamental contributions to computer science and fields impacted by computer science. Appointments at all ranks, including an endowed professorship, are of interest and will be considered. All applicants must either hold great promise for or have a significant track record of research leadership and grant funding, as well as teaching excellence and service contributions. All applicants must have a Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field. Appointments will be made until the positions are filled, beginning as early as Fall 2003.</p>
<p>The department is pursuing the development of leading academic programs and research thrusts influenced by the Bio-Micro/Nano-Info theme. Bioinformatics, including computational genomics and neurosciences, is a designated growth area of the CS division, with world-class opportunities for impact through collaboration with the School of Medicine at CWRU. Two other designated growth areas are data mining and visualization, and pervasive networks and distributed systems. There are exceptional opportunities for impact in these areas through exciting collaborations with a wide range of initiatives in the department (i.e., the ECE division) and on campus. Accordingly, special attention will be given to candidates with strong background in: computer algorithms; networks and distributed computing; data and knowledge management; software engineering; human-computer interaction; graphics, visualization and multimedia; and computer architecture. Further information about the positions and the department is available at <a href=“http://www.eecs.cwru.edu/[/url]”>http://www.eecs.cwru.edu/</a>. </p>
<p>CWRU is located at the heart of the University Circle, which is a cultural center of Cleveland, surrounded by museums, including Cleveland Museum of Art, Crawford Auto Museum, and Cleveland History Museum, as well as the Severance Hall, which is the home of Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.
Application packages must include: (i) a current curriculum vitae; (ii) statement of research and teaching interests; and (iii) biographies of the references providing letters of recommendation. Applicants must arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be submitted directly. All applications and nominations should be sent to:
Faculty Search Committee
Division of Computer Science
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue</p>
<h2>Cleveland, OH 44106-7071</h2>
<p>Ohios Case Western Reserve University Chooses LifeSize to Build Global Research Gateway in California
HD video communications allows engineering research teams at Ohios top-ranked university to collaborate with clients across continents
Austin, Tex. Jan. 26, 2009 Austin, Tex., January 26, 2009 High definition video communications from LifeSize is helping Case Western Reserve University become a global engineering resource for clients around the world. Using LifeSize HD video conferencing systems, Case links faculty at the universitys Science and Technology Application Center (STAC) located in San Diego, Calif., with researchers and students in Cases department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Ohio, enabling the university to bring Case’s world-class talent base and Northeast Ohio’s lower-cost structure to the Pacific Rim and Asia for applied technology research.
In 2007, Mehran Mehregany, Goodrich Professor of Engineering Innovation, was asked by the university to establish a presence for Case in Southern California to connect to global research clients. Striving to maintain relationships with the large group of graduate and Ph.D. students he leads, communicating without video conferencing systems was challenging.
Communicating with my students over video has entirely changed the quality of our interactions, Mehregany said. This technology is a significant enabler for the work we are doing.
For the first six months, we didnt have LifeSize, Mehregany said. Email and conference calls were our only modes of communication, which was not effective at all. There is just something about the human psychology of seeing one another and our interactions were missing that.
Mehregany has a LifeSize system set up in his office at Case and an identical system at his home office in San Diego. So when students want to meet with him, they just drop by his office for a chat. Mehregany and his team also use the built-in H.239 data-sharing capability and a document camera, allowing them to collaborate in real-time, sharing computer data or studying tiny electric motor drives.
When I do come to Case, my students dont feel like I have been away, said Professor Meregany. One colleague told me that when people ask, wheres Mehran? they say, hes on TV.
Case Western Reserve University is a world leader in the innovative use of HD video, and LifeSize is proud to count them among our earliest customers, said Craig Malloy, CEO, LifeSize Communications. LifeSize technology is helping bring valuable research projects to Case in Ohio from all over the world, giving global companies access to an incredible pool of talent.
Case: The Connected Campus
Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as Ohios #1 undergraduate university, Case Western Reserve University has long been a pioneer in advanced communication technology. In 2005, surgeons at University Hospital in Cleveland performed the worlds first live telesurgery in high definition. On campus, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Campus Career Center and the Housing and Greek Life Departments all use video on a regular basis.
Through their partnership with University Hospitals of Cleveland, LifeSize video conferencing equipment allows surgeons at the hospital to broadcast surgery instruction back to the Case Medical School student classrooms.
At the Case Career Center, students can have their first interviews with potential employers over LifeSize video.
In both the Housing Department and Greek Life Department, north and south campus residents used to drive or ride the bus to fraternity and sorority meetings and study groups. Now, they have LifeSize units in the student unions at both locations, eliminating travel and increasing focus.
In the School of Nursings graduate-level informatics courses, a combination of healthcare management and information systems, many of the students are currently working as nurses in regional hospitals. Now, they can attend class via LifeSize in this distance learning application.
To see how Case Western Reserve University and other customers are putting LifeSize video conference & telepresence solutions to work, case studies are available for download at: [Customer</a> Success Stories | LifeSize Communications](<a href=“Lifesize | Enghouse Video”>Lifesize | Enghouse Video).
About Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is located in Cleveland’s University Circle, the 500-acre, park-like home of more than 40 cultural, medical, educational, religious, and social service institutions. The only independent, research-oriented university in a region bounded by Pittsburgh and Rochester on the east, Nashville on the south, and Chicago on the west, Case Western Reserve holds membership in the Association of American Universities, and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by several nationally recognized professional accrediting associations. For more information, visit the universitys Web site at [Case</a> Western Reserve University - Home](<a href=“http://www.cwru.edu%5DCase”>http://www.cwru.edu).</p>