<p>If you can believe this, we are still trying to decide which school before decision day.</p>
<p>We are down to RIT and Rose Hulman. One thing we noticed at RIT was the state of the art labs and wonderful experience these gave the students. My husband was amazed at some of the things these kids were doing.</p>
<p>Rose Hulman has the smaller school, the community atmosphere, and the high price tag. But how are their labs???? Because of some medical issues my husband was unable to visit RHIT with my son. Can't quite get everyting out of him we would like to know.</p>
<p>Could a current student give us some insight on the equipment and facilities?</p>
<p>I was told that Rose does spend a considerable amount of money replacing / updating parts of their equipment each year. </p>
<p>At the same time, most Rose students (they quoted 95%) go on internships to gain similar hands-on experience they would get in a lab (except we’re talking real world experience).</p>
<p>I know that hands on is good–RIT has a required paid co-cop for all students. I just want to make sure that the equipment that they are learning with is top notch. I am going to be honest, I was an advertising major and know a lot more about broadcast than I do computer science labs! So if I say something that does not make sense , chalk it up to the fact I that I don’t really know what I am talking about. </p>
<p>I just know that there is a lot of funding at RIT. I think Rose -Hulman seems to be a higher quality school and does have smaller classes and these are all pluses! But I know that funding is also essential to a technical school.</p>
<p>Anyone else have any experience with the computer science labs at RHIT?</p>
<p>In regards to CompSci, I would think that most students would be usually using their laptops and all students are required to get the institution-selected laptop which usually is top-notch technology.</p>
<p>Most of the things we saw at RIT I did not understand. There were labs where students were making their own computer chips. There were labs where people were dressed all in medical type suits working on big machines. There were labs where 3d printers were being used to help duplicate some sort of computer parts. (Now you know I was telling thie truth about being in advertising) My husband found this amazing–this was all in the computer science dept. </p>
<p>What I would like to make sure of is that some of these opportunities (or similiar) are at Rose Hulman. Son has admitted buildings at RHIT were much older than RIT. I told him that is fine–it is what is going on inside the buildings that counts!!!</p>
<p>Son has done a lot of research/ projects/ programming on his own --but he needs some very real and professional instruction so that he can keep advancing. He loves the idea of small classes. But there is no Tom Golisano in Terre Haute.</p>
<p>When we visited RIT, I had some concerns about the intern program. Several students gave me the impression that, since internships are required, they were obliged to accept less-than-thrilling internships in order to graduate.</p>
<p>hollyanne, It sounds like you’re more accurately describing labs more associated with Electrical and Computer Engineering. The computer science lab is basically a lounge with workstations with laptop docking stations where CS students collaborate and work late into the night.</p>
<p>As far as ECE labs go, the MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) lab sounds most similar to what you’re describing. It’s located on the 2nd floor of Moench Hall and is a clean room (where you wear the medical type suits) and study some cool nanotechnology. Here’s an article from 2002 when the lab was announced:</p>
<p>I wish I had a good picture of it. I see it most days, the windows to the lab are tinted orange and I see people in the full body suits in there. There are also a wide variety of labs where students do the things you mentioned. I am just a ignorant ChemE, so I can’t tell you too much about the voodoo magic that the EE’s and CPE’s do, but it is definitely some high-tech stuff.</p>
<p>Thank you for comments- see I told you that I know little of which I speak.<br>
When my son told me the buildings at Rose were not quite as modern as RIT I got a bit nervous and wondered if the facilities were as up to date and offered the same experiences. I know that most people rank Rose as a higher choice .<br>
We have been to RIT twice and are going to go again today–I really want to make sure we are weighing all the pros and cons . Even though RIt offered a lower cost package, my son willl end up with a fair amount of loans at either , and I just want him to be happy.</p>
<p>In addition to the MEMS lab Nic mentioned, we do have labs for circuit board manufacture, rapid prototyping, and CNC and laser cutting, which are some of the other things you mentioned at RPI. And while some of the buildings on campus, particularly Moench Hall, have been around a while, more that half of the buildings on campus have been built in the last 15 years.</p>
<p>Yes, Nick has a good point. Here’s the new buildings since 1997- Sports and Recreation Center, Olin Advanced Learning Center, Percopo Hall, Apartment Residence Hall, Myers Building, and Hatfield Hall.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info–my husband is here with me and can dictate what I am really looking for.</p>
<p>Do you know if there is an intergrated circuit fabrication laboratory? He says it is like MEMS on steriods–I guess MEMS itself is not that big of a deal or that recent of a development in technology. And this is what I am afraid of.</p>
<p>Also do you know if RH is doing any work in Nano Technology?</p>
<p>We will call RH tomorrow.</p>
<p>I want this to work out so much , but at the same time do not want to pay more for a school that has less facilities.</p>
<p>I wish there was someway of combining the best of both schools- the small community feel with the leading edge workspaces and facilities. </p>
<p>My husbnd prefers the leading edge type thing–I am a mom and I want the nurturing! I want him to be in a co-operative environment with other great minds solving problems. But my husband and son still worry about giving up some of the amazing labs.</p>
<p>Just another couple days–can’t wait til this is over.</p>
<p>I know that RHIT opened a new Test & Product Engineering Laboratory last year with a pretty cool high precision automatic analog tester for production-level analog and mixed signal IC’s. Check this: [Rose-Hulman</a> Institute of Technology - Fred Berry Named ASEE’s Outstanding Entrepreneurship Educator](<a href=“404 | Rose-Hulman”>404 | Rose-Hulman)</p>
<p>And yes, I think nic767 mentioned that there is a MEMS lab. If you look up Micro-Nano Devices and Systems (MiNDS), students do indeed gain experience in fabrication and modeling of micro/nano devices and systems and do some really cool projects. Here is the link: [Rose-Hulman</a> Micro-Nano Devices and Systems (MiNDS)](<a href=“404 | Rose-Hulman”>404 | Rose-Hulman)</p>
<p>We did not look at RIT and I’m not sure how big of a grad program they have, but many schools with grad programs have a lot of research money to go with it and professors that are there to do research (not necessarily there because they want to teach). Teaching is usually a requirement of the the research grant. We got the idea that professors at RHIT are there because they want to teach. An important Q to ask RIT (or post in their forum) about how many TAs teach or help in large classes. They always say there are hours that you can meet with your professor, etc, but you might be spending more time with TAs than the professors in the bigger programs.
I was initially focused on the latest & greatest equipment, but the first couple years of engineering are pretty basic math and science classes. I think the environment was great for cooperative learning vs some other schools that weed out or make you competitive against one another and throw a ton of work at you.
I was worried my son would be set on Carnegie, but after visiting he liked the open friendly environment at RHIT and did not like the environment at CMU.
I hope that helps with your decision.</p>
<p>It looks like it is going to be Rose. This has been such a difficult decision. I am scared and I think my son might be too. He really likes RIT and all they have and do, but was just so impressed with the small classes at Rose. I think it will be good for him to be in a place where he can get to know the teachers and that was one thing he liked when he visited. I am hoping with the small class sizes the teachers can really get to see each students strengths and get them to expand on them so they can fly. </p>
<p>High school was not always the best for my son–he was skipped several grades in math but then that became a bit of an issue --one year his BC calc teacher told him right out-I don’t like 14 year olds in my class . (She was totally serious.) Principal intervened but there was damage done, he dropped the class and did not take it again until two years later. (did things like AP statistics and courses at community college in between)</p>
<p>Why I am saying this is I guess I am trying to convince myself that his decision to choose Rose will be the best. He has a brilliant mind that needs nurturing , not someone thinking he is strange for being different.</p>
<p>It’s natural for students and parents to be nervous/anxious/scared about college. I know I was. He made a good decision, IMO. It sounds like he will really benefit from the community and atmosphere at Rose.</p>
<p>I think he made the right choice. He will be surrounded by brilliant minds in a nurturing environment, rather than a competitive one. My S liked the open, friendly nature of the dorms. Jared likes to say “he’ll find his tribe”…</p>