<p>Ok so I narrowed it down to Syracuse (the honors program) and RPI over the weekend. I visited both again and was surprised at how strikingly similar their academic programs are. I plan on double majoring in Aerospace engineering and physics with a possible minor in art. I was just wondering what you guys though, especially since i liked both schools almost equally (Syracuse a little more) but Syracuse is considered a 3rd tier school while RPI is definitely a second tier. RPI gave me more money but i know for a fact that i can get the same from Syracuse if i appeal, so money is not an issue. I just wanted to know what everyone thinks. any input (as long as its justified and gives a reason) is very much appreciated. thanks</p>
<p>oh and also i guess i could be considered a “top” HS student too, but that doesn’t really matter too much i guess.</p>
<p>why do you say Syracuse is a 3rd tier school when it is ranked 58 in the country?</p>
<p>in whichever environment you feel more comfortable, I think, because the environment has a big impact on what person you will become eventually…</p>
<p>I said that its a third tier school becasue I’m almost positive it was ranked that way last year. </p>
<p>And when it comes to feel I didnt really find that there was too much of a difference at either school except for the fact that Syracuse is a univeristy and has a bit more school spirit I guess. Thats probably why this decision is so hard. My gut feeling isnt telling me to go either way.</p>
<p>“I said that its a third tier school becasue I’m almost positive it was ranked that way last year.”</p>
<p>Who lied to you? We were ranked 53 last year. 1st tier schools are schools in the top 100. Please be informed.</p>
<p>Oh ok well I’m glad. That actually helpes my decision a bit I guess. And you seem like you go there. What are you majoring in London? If its engineering, then how do you like it?</p>
<p>I’m an economics major & Global Enterprise Technology minor.</p>
<p>House of London, are you taking any classes in Whitman this semester? It would be funny if we were in one of the same classes. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Communications Sciences & Disorder (CSD 325). That’s about it. Anything econ related I’m taking in Maxwell.</p>
<p>Syracuse is not a third tier school. You should check your sources before assuming that. RPI is also a good school – they are both good choices. It depends on which one feels right for you if the money is similar.</p>
<p>If you have it in your mind that Syracuse is a third tier school then you should really go somewhere else.</p>
<p>Not sure how being a $40K/year school in the middle of the US & World Report top 100 college list is third tier, but maybe you should either do a bit of better research or go with whatever knowledge you have accumulated and follow that direction.</p>
<p>Syracuse possess a top five Communications school in Newhouse (possibly the top school in the country in a tight race with UCLA as I understand it), the second ranked Architecture school in the country and a top 40 Business school. For engineering, it depends very much on the major you are picking as far as where they are ranked.</p>
<p>My daughter has told me about several “Ivy League wanna-be’s” that didn’ get in and are in Syracuse instead and how all they do is complain. Her view, and that of the other kids around them, is “shut up and go elsewhere if you are so miserable”. Hate to see you in that boat, so do a bit better research on the engineering majors you are looking at and then follow your heart from there!!</p>
<p>“Not sure how being a $40K/year school in the middle of the US & World Report top 100 college list is third tier”</p>
<p>Actually Kowal, there are plenty of schools outside of the top 100 that are 40k+ a year (i.e St. John’s University (Queens, NY)) (And that’s if we’re speaking on total cost of attendance as opposed to just tuition) I myself just can’t fathom how you could make the sticky price of a school outside of tier 1 over 40k. What makes school like Syracuse so expensive is the immeasurable amount of career opportunities, resources and network that comes with everything else that you could ask for in a college.</p>
<p>HOL: I think Kowal is defending SU…re-read…</p>
<p>I mean, it was a little weird to defend SU by saying how expensive it is haha. Lots of less expensive universities are more prestigious (a host of flagship state unis for example) and lots of worse universities are just as expensive/more expensive.</p>
<p>Third tier was an inaccurate use of the term as both SU and RPI are tier 1 schools (so not only is SU not 3rd tier, RPI isn’t 2nd tier either :P). RPI is ranked slightly higher overall than SU at 42. SU is, as previously mentioned, 58. Give yourself some credit, kid ;). You didn’t do too shabby.</p>
<p>However, for engineering, I believe RPI is significantly more well known and ranked significantly higher. I haven’t seen the individual program breakdowns but RPI is nearly breaking into Top 20, coming in at 23 of all universities in the nation for undergrad engineering programs. SU is well out of the top 50 at like, 70 something. That’s a pretty significant difference in my opinion, even as someone who doesn’t pay much credence to the rankings. HOwever, perhaps the aerospace rankings are more close. I don’t know about physics and art. My bet is that SU has a better art program and RPI the better physics department, but I’m not sure. I’m not even a science/engineering/math person but when I heard RPI I immediately thought, wow, good job, that’s a good school. SU, ehhh, it’s more well known for other programs.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, you seem to like the campus vibe of SU more and you said yourself that the actual material you learn in the programs is virtually identical. I honestly think that with good grades, you can go anywhere from any university, so think about which environment will help you succeed most. Maybe being closer to the top of your class at SU, and in the honors program, will be beneficial to you. Maybe you will be much happier with the campus vibe and spirit (and the better looking girls hahaha) at SU. Your happiness and (hopefully) resulting success is what matters in the end. Good luck.</p>
<p>rodney, I know kowal was defending SU. I was just informing her that there are some schools ranked outside or the top 100 that are 40k+ because that’s what he/she thought…</p>
<p>re-read…</p>
<p>“I mean, it was a little weird to defend SU by saying how expensive it is haha. Lots of less expensive universities are more prestigious (a host of flagship state unis for example) and lots of worse universities are just as expensive/more expensive”</p>
<p>Thank you. That’s exactly what I said.</p>
<p>Bottom line…both schools are good schools, the original poster should try to figure where he would be happiest. </p>
<p>I work in a technical environment, with a lot of engineers. We would candidly look at both schools equally in terms of hiring.</p>