<p>Hello all. I am a high school senior with a tough choice between Stony Brook University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Stony Brook's Financial Aid package leaves me with only $5,000 in loans whilst RPI's Financial Aid package leaves me with $7,000 in loans and $8,000 in loans or cash. Stony Brook is also much closer to home - 30 mins as opposed to 4 hours - and residential life would be easier. RPI, on the otehr hand, is a better institution for science and engineering I have heard. My intended major is something in Engineering, such as Aeronautical or Biomedical Engineering.
My question: Is the $10,000 difference in loans/cash worth going to RPI over Stony Brook?</p>
<p>My older S had a similar choice. He applied to RPI ED, and had to turn it down due to a bad FA package. So he was left with Stevens and Stony Brook regular decision. The cost break down between Stevens and Stony Brook was very similar to what you are facing.</p>
<p>S chose Stevens for the same reasons you are considering RPI. S will graduate with $22K in debt to the federal government, PLUS $31K in debt in NJ CLASS loans. That is $53K in debt. He will graduate next month and has a job offer waiting for him from one of the companies he worked for through the co-op program.</p>
<p>I do think Stevens was a better choice than Stony Brook, but sometimes we look at that loan balance and wonder if it was… he will be struggling to keep up those payments for some time, but he WILL be employed. I am not so sure he would have had that guarantee w/Stony Brook.</p>
<p>Anyway, I don’t have a definitive answer for you. It isn’t an easy choice. I just wanted you to know we also faced a similar choice a few years ago, and we chose the engineering school over Stony Brook.</p>
<p>Thank you for your example. How much is your son’s salary?</p>
<p>I also must add I was accepted into Stony Brook’s Honors College.</p>
<p>He has been offered $60K + 10% bonus.</p>