<p>....to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
it's about 15,000/yr</p>
<p>I want to major in maths and/or physics.</p>
<p>So compared to MIT, is that a good school?</p>
<p>Lol. if you got into MIT, go to MIT. its that simple.</p>
<p>what do you want to do?</p>
<p>RPI is a very good engineering school. Compared to MIT, it’s a good school, but it’s not in the same league. But, it doesn’t all boil down to just going to MIT simply because you got in – you have to consider the financial side, too.</p>
<p>First we don’t even know why you’re comparing it to MIT. If you just wanted to ask for general purposes, because you’re trying to decide whether to go to RPI and MIT isn’t even in the picture…go to RPI! It’s a great science & engineering school.</p>
<p>If you’re trying to decide between RPI and MIT it becomes more difficult. Personally, I would think that if the cost of attendance is going to be about the same at both schools, I would attend MIT unless I had some really pressing reason not to (you hate Massachusetts, it doesn’t appeal to you, you just really love RPI for some reason, etc.) However, if MIT is much more expensive than RPI with the scholarship, then it might make more financial sense for you to go to RPI. You have to be realistic about what you and your parents can pay off and will be willing to pay off, and whether you will be willing to take on the sometimes-crushing debt that elite schools that don’t give merit aid will leave you with.</p>
<p>thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>I don’t think financial issues will be too bad of a problem. The reason I compared it to MIT is because I want to apply to MIT but if I don’t make it in then would RPI be a good second choice?</p>
<p>whats better in classes and reputation for mathematics and physics: Cal Tech or RPI?</p>
<p>If it doesn’t put too much strain on your family’s budget, I think it would be definitely worth $15,000 extra to attend MIT. </p>
<p>As for RPI and Caltech, Caltech has the better reputation and on a whole RPI’s location is terrible and there isn’t much to do in Troy/Albany. I think Caltech would be better overall than RPI</p>
<p>RPI’s a fine school. It’s not on MIT’s level, but it’s a fine school. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to still apply to MIT and Caltech, but you don’t even know if you’ll get into either of those! Worry about that bridge when you come to it. 
In the meantime, congrats on your scholarship offer!</p>
<p>
Do you mean as a transfer? If you’re an incoming freshman, what schools besides RPI are you considering? Or did you get this scholarship as a high school student not yet ready for college?</p>
<p>The RPI Medal is awarded to high school juniors at the end of their junior year. If the Medal recipients then apply to RPI and are accepted, they will receive the $15,000 a year scholarship.</p>
<p>I would agree with some of the other posters. RPI is a very good school - you should consider applying there, as well as MIT and Cal Tech (and other appropriate matches and safeties for you) and then see where you get in.</p>
<p>My son was awarded the RPI Medal last year. We did apply to RPI and a bunch of other schools. He is going to Northwestern. Northwestern meets 100% need and Northwestern’s grant/scholarship was a much better offer than RPI even with the Renssalear Medal scholarship.</p>