<p>I'm considering applying to RHIT and I had a few questions.</p>
<p>First of all, how is the financial aid at RHIT? How well can they meet need? I would really hate to be accepted and not be able to attend due to financial reasons. </p>
<p>Second, how much of a disadvantage am I at if I decide to apply in late January? I'm hoping that I would have gotten my ACT test scores back by then and then I could decide on whether I need to retake them or not. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how competitive I am for RHIT. I didn't go to the best high school, and therefore, I didn't have access to APs, IBs, etc. Here are some of my stats, maybe you could tell me if I'm competitive enough:</p>
<p>I'm planning on majoring in either computer engineering or electrical engineering
GPA UW: ~3.8
ACT Composite: 30 (still waiting on results from Dec. test)
ACT Math: 26 (I'm hoping to improve that!)
ACT Science: 35
ACT English: 32
ACT Reading: 31</p>
<p>ECs: Open source contributor, computer work for school, electronics hobbyist. My school doesn't offer much in the way of ECs and I didn't know where to look elsewhere. </p>
<p>Recommendations:I can get at least two good recommendations from teachers, and I'm sure that my principal would not mind writing a good recommendation for me. </p>
<p>Courses: I took the courses that were available to me. Even though I have enough credits to graduate, I'm planning on taking Calc I, Intro to Phys and Intro to Chem at the community college (as none of those classes are offered at my school). </p>
<p>I would recommend applying as soon as you can with the scores you have. If you don’t get accepted initially and send better test scores they will reconsider your application. Physics is required for admission, so make sure your application at least mentions that you will be taking it. What Rose cares about most is how much you have challenged yourself and how you have done, and since it sounds like you are taking the most advanced classes at your high school and taking extra classes elsewhere and have a very good GPA, I think you are in good shape. They take into account what classes your school offers, so it won’t hurt that you haven’t taken AP classes.</p>
<p>As far as financial aid, over 90% of students receive aid, and the average merit based aid is around $10,000 per year. You should fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can so Rose can put your aid package together. In early March Rose sends out letters to all admitted students explaining the financial aid package.</p>
<p>I appreciate the reply. It makes me feel at least a little better. What do you think my chances are? </p>
<p>It looks like a really good option for me, as I think I would appreciate the small size of the school, as well as the rigor and depth of studies. The whole #1 thing doesn’t hurt, either. It also seems like a rather safe area, too, which is one of my concerns. </p>
<p>I know that the deadline is in March, but I remembered reading somewhere that the application fee was only waived if it was submitted before January 11th (or sometime around then). Is that the case? If so, that might make me expedite my plans a little, as money for college applications is a little tight. </p>
<p>When the school says tha they meet 88% of need - their financial aid package will already include loans, an assumption about earnings during the shcool year and during the summer.</p>
<p>You have to come up with the additional 12%- either from additional loans, additional help from Mom and Dad, additional summer earnings, additional employment while at school, etc.</p>
<p>I’m going to have little luck getting any help from my parents. I’m probably going to have to foot the EFC myself as well. Oh well. Here’s to going into debt!</p>
<p>My son is a student at Stevens IT and that is the case - they meet about 85% of “need” (which is what the FAFSA determines - need is not the balance due, necessarily). He has had to earn the balance, or take out extra loans in addition to what we have budgeted.</p>
<p>I would say your chances are very good, but of course I am not an admissions counselor so I can’t really make an accurate prediction. I would definitely suggest mentioning everything you mentioned here on your application, especially what your high school offers as far as classes and extra-curriculars. </p>
<p>One thing to consider about financial aid is that the 88% is an average; many, and maybe even most students have all or close to all of the their need met, and some students have significantly less. I don’t know how all that is determined exactly, but you might want to call or email the financial aid office and they can get some more specific information.</p>
I wasn’t expecting anyone on here to be an admissions counselor, but it does brighten my affect to have someone else say that I have a chance. I’m going to start on the application today! :)</p>
<p>
I’ll call them after the holidays, as I believe that they’re on vacation until the 4th (or at least the admissions office is). </p>
<p>Well, everyone, I appreciate the comments. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Well, I almost have my application finished, I’m just drafting up a personal statement…then I have to get recommendations and those pesky transcripts! </p>
<p>A quick question: One of the programs that interests me is Ventures. How hard is it to get a position on a project there? I was thinking that it might be something I would do over the summer following my first year. </p>
<p>Another question, although slightly related to the above: How common are “hands-on” projects at Rose? I’m assuming it depends on the class. </p>
<p>Last year all three of my roommates had jobs at Ventures, and two of them worked there the summer after freshman year. It isn’t too competitive, and they do higher students starting freshman year. It does depend on your major and on what projects they have going on; if they get a software project they might be looking to hire 10 or more computer science or software engineering majors at once. </p>
<p>Hands-on projects do vary by class, but right now I have a project in every class I’m taking. This tends to be the case for junior and senior year. You’ll have projects and hands-on labs freshman and sophomore year, but you’ll also have a lot more traditional lecture style classes. It also depends on your major, but for MEs most of our projects are in teams and involve hands-on work such as taking measurements on an experiment or designing something and building it in the machine shop.</p>
<p>I talked to my computer engineering major friend at Rose (who actually introduced me to the school in the first place). He’s a sophomore right now.</p>
<p>He says that for the CS part of the CPE curriculum (CSSE 120/220/230/232/332, of which he has taken most of those), expect at least one major project at the end of the term. For him, these projects have included (or will include) processors and command shells.</p>
<p>He hasn’t done much in the ECE line yet (ECE 205/250/333/351/300/331/380/342), but is trying to find someone to provide info about that. He did ECE130 and absolutely loved it; I think there was a small project at the end of that class; I don’t think the AC and DC Circuits classes really had much in the line of major, hands-on projects for him. </p>
<p>Oh, and all of these were group projects. Rose is pretty big on that. </p>
<p>Once again, thank you for the comments. I really do appreciate them. </p>
<p>Is anyone here familiar with the application? I’m trying to find some type of “other” category for the activities page, but I can’t seem to find it. I would email the admissions office, but they’re closed until the 4th. </p>
<p>This is really the only thing that’s preventing me from submitting my application today Any ideas? </p>
<p>On another note, it’s nice to find a good engineering school that doesn’t penalize you for not curing cancer in the 9th grade or witnessing an automobile accident, pulling the victims out of the burning car, and performing emergency brain surgery with nothing but a ball of yarn and a Torx screwdriver.</p>
<p>If I’m accepted and the financial aid works out, it’s quite likely I’ll be part of the class of 2014. I like what I see. I believe that Rose is a good match for me, as I value small size and quality of education highly. It seems to have a good balance of academic rigor, while not being overwhelming, as it seems to be at some other technology schools.</p>
<p>Awesome! nick5212, I’m in the same boat as you. If financial aid works out I’ll be at Rose, good luck to you! Hope to work with you in the Class of 2014.</p>
<p>Here’s a question for those more familiar with Rose’s financial aid system: If it turns out that the amount of aid is not enough, can I ask them to increase it?</p>
Any ideas? </p>