<p>Hi,
I'm a high school senior student from New Delhi, India. I'm planning to do a Computer Engineering course from either Georgia Tech or RIT this fall.</p>
<p>I have already been admitted to RIT and have recieved $10,000 scholarship per year. RIT seems to be a really nice institute but under-rated. The admission faculty is really nice and polite and reply as soon as possible. They were extremely helpful. The RIT website also provides a lot of insight into the Campus and Student Life. </p>
<p>Whereas with Gatech, its just the contrary. I have already paid $380 for my application ($155 each for getting my transcripts evaluated from WES and JSilny as I am a international applicant and it was required in the application process!, plus the $50 application fee). The people there are really snobbish and dont care to reply. Also, their website has no details about the institute!</p>
<p>My parents can at the most provide me with around $75,000. So this scholarship means a lot to me (RIT one). Moreover, I have heard that RIT has a great co-op system so I might be able to pay my fee myself in the 3rd and 4th year.</p>
<p>What about co-op at Gerogia Tech?</p>
<p>Also, my relatives live quite near by to Rochester while I have no one to go to in vicinity of Gatech, for instance during vacations.</p>
<p>Please weigh all the options and tell me what I should do? Would it be really worth to leave the scholarship at RIT and take a loan and go to Georgia Tech?</p>
<p>I don't know too much about this, but here goes: It seems like there is a lot in your favor at RIT, especially if money is a consideration. And although Georgia Tech is ranked much higher by USNWR, RIT is still a good school and the rankings aren't everything. I'm not too knowledgeable in this field, but I think you could get a good education at either school and it may be in your favor if you can do so without getting yourself too deep into debt. Is there any chance of getting a scholarship/fin.aid from GaTech?</p>
<p>In that case, it may be a good idea to go to RIT. As I said, it may not be ranked as highly as GaTech, but I have heard good things about their engineering programs as well as their contacts within the business community.</p>
<p>But keep in mind that I don't really know much about engineering schools...</p>
<p>Dhruv42, go to the RIT forum. Listed there is a thread "Overview of visit to RIT." It was written in two parts due to its length. It will give you a host of information about RIT. As you will see, I REALLY liked the RIT programs. I think academically, it is on par with Ga Tech and in some ways has a more practical slant in its education. However, be aware: RIT is in a very cold part of the US. Also, there isn't much to do there except study.</p>
<p>@taxguy
Thanks a lot for the advice. I did read your review and it provided a lot of insight into RIT! good job I must say, it helped me a lot.</p>
<p>One thing I cant figure out is that why is RIT not highly ranked? Everyone seemes to praise it, from current students to alumni. Their co-op is superb. The campus and faculty also seems nice. Still they are not even in the top 20 Undergrad Engineering colleges!</p>
<p>I dont really care too much about the Social scene. Im not into partying and clubbing as such. Just want to get a good education which would help me in landing a good job.</p>
<p>As education in India is really cheap, me and my parents want to absolutely sure that RIT would be a good investment or not. </p>
<p>Why is it that GATECH has got a much better ranking than RIT?
(My major is Computer Engineering)</p>
<p>If you plan on going to graduate school, Georgia Tech would probably be a better choice. GTech is a research institution and RIT is primarily a teaching institution. GTech would give you more opportunities for research involvement. RIT is starting their first PhD in comp sci next year. RIT has a very nice new building and good resources. The responsiveness of the RIT admissions office may not apply once you are admitted. Once you enroll, it is the responsiveness of the faculty that is important.</p>
<p>The 25th-75th percentile SAT at Georgia Tech is 1250-1430. At RIT, it is 1110-1310. That is part of the reason why GTech is ranked much higher. The graduation rate at GTech is 72% while at RIT it is 57%.</p>
<p>RIT is definitely a second-tier school and GTech is clearly top-tier. Georgia Tech is much better respected in the US. A GTech degree will carry more weight than an RIT degree.</p>
<p>You will have to weigh the financial factors but I think it would be worth taking loans to go to Georgia Tech. I think pride in your school is worth a lot, as well as the tangible advantages of Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>Also, the co-op at GATECH is not as good as that of RIT. At RIT, I can think about paying my fee on my own in the 4th year. What about at GTech?</p>
<p>Don't forget: rating are for graduate programs and NOT generally undergraduate programs. People seem to forget that. Thus, you almost need to ignore the rating and rankings when considering undergraduate programs. There are a lot of fine colleges that have a strong undergraduate focus and not as strong a graduate focus such as RIT, Amherst, Haverford, Rice and many more.</p>
<p>In addition, RIT is very career focused. Ratings and reviews tend to downplay schools like this. They like very theoretical programs and strong liberal arts programs.</p>
<p>Let me say again:RIT is primarily undergraduate focused with a few good graduate programs. In addition, they have a strong coop for engineering. However, as I noted in my review, it is very cold in Rochester. Bring your long woolies.</p>
<p>I did, however, love the administrative people that I came in contact with. They were very helpful and friendly. I think that this translates to most of the staff at RIT.</p>
<p>You should choose the place where you think you would be happiest. Georgia Tech has a higher grad rate than RIT but it is low relative to the quality of students at GTech. RIT's grad rate is low but it is about what you'd expect given the caliber of students. There is a PhD program in microsystems E at RIT but not well established yet. On the other hand, I think the computer engineering program at RIT has some of the least satisfied undergrads. Ask about the percent of compE students who graduate from compE without transferring to a different major at the two schools. Then compare.</p>
<p>Coops have been hard to come by lately everywhere. Students are largely responsible for finding your own coop. The differences in coop and internship opportunities at GTech and RIT may not be as great as you think. Ask GTech about their support for coop/internship.</p>
<p>I am extremely foccused and toughness of the course doesn't really bother me. After preparing for IIT for last two years, I'm quite sure I can handle everything.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your concern..!</p>
<p>Also, is it tough to tranfer from RIT due to its quarter system?</p>
<p>Dhruv42, If there is dissatisfaction it is due to the lack of things to do. RIT isn't that hard to get into,but it is a much harder school than people expect. They don't water down the curriculum.</p>
<p>Yes, transferring from a school with quarters to a semester system or from a semester system to one with quarters, does present some challenges. One year of a course, such as English, won't be a problem since this will also translate to two semesters. The problem that you will run into is if you take only two quarters worth of work or one semester. You may not get equivilant credit.</p>
<p>As for reputation, there are a lot of employers who recruit from RIT. In addition, if you get a coop, you will be making lots of connections and have real world experience that the Ga Tech kids don't get.</p>
<p>Finally, Ga Tech, if I recollect, is a state school. State schools are almost always more bureaucratic and harder to deal with and harder to get the courses that you want than that of private schools. My suggestions is to visit each school. Check out the students, the culture of the school, the food, the dorms etc. Don't let rating sway you nor should any comments here on CC sway you too much.</p>
<p>Have not heard anything about CompE being highly rated at RIT. Is it possible that you are confusing RIT with U of Rochester?</p>
<p>It is probably true that RIT does not water down its courses. They are quite demanding I hear. And I am sure students can get into good grad schools from RIT. One of the faculty at RIT is a graduate of RIT who went to Stanford for a PhD.</p>
<p>You might be very pleased with RIT. They have some very good students in the engineering programs, much better than the average students at RIT. Rochester is my hometown, so maybe that is part of the reason why I am not as impressed with it. I know students who go to RIT and they are very smart and good people. They like RIT. I think the student body there tends to be kind of serious and practical. There are a lot of students from India and a great Indian buffet down the street with the best murg makhani. It might be worth attending RIT just for that.</p>
<p>But, in terms of overall prestige and research opportunities, Georgia Tech is better.</p>
<p>@collegehelp
Thanks a lot for your advice! I am talking about RIT only, not Univ. of Rochester.</p>
<p>Its quite clear that GAtech is a more prestigious institute than RIT, but since I have received a scholarship from RIT but GAtech doesn't offer and financial aid to International students, would it really be worth going to GAtech in terms of jobs and grad school?</p>
<p>Would being at GAtech give me a LOT of advantage or will I be able to excel from RIT as well?</p>
<p>Whether Georgia Tech is worth the extra money depends on your family resources and personal values. I think Georgia Tech would offer a substantial advantage in terms of jobs and grad school but I am not sure exactly how much. I think you could still excel with an RIT degree. </p>
<p>I think the unknown factor here is your stats. If you are a 700+ math, 2000-2300 total range student on the SAT, you would probably be shortchanging yourself at RIT.</p>
<p>Regarding the weather in Rochester...I happen to like the winter season. It is quite beautiful. And I like the fall and spring seasons, especially fall which is usually gorgeous in western NY. The summers are moderate temperature because of Lake Ontario.</p>