Hi!
I’ve been accepted to four colleges and need help narrowing them down.
Bucknell University (NO FIN AID)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (SIGNIFICANT AID)
Rutgers University - New Brunswick (SIGNIFICANT AID)
Stevens Institute of Technology (SIGNIFICANT AID)
NYU wait list
A little background:
I am not the most social person; in fact most of my friends are nerdy and quite the opposite of social. However, I find that I need a good mix of the two to feel comfortable. I was raised in the city, and I feel as though keeping this environment is in my best interest. I also need ethnic/gender-based diversity; otherwise, I find it hard to talk to people.
I’d like to have a decent campus life (as well as outside of it), but nothing too controlling or party-centric.
I’d like to go somewhere far (minimum of one hour away, I currently live in North NJ) and somewhere that fits most of these requirements. Which college is the best option? I know there isn’t one that has everything I’m looking for. Any advice would help!
(Aspiring female computer engineer, a minor most likely in finance)
Fin aid is not too big of a concern!
Thank you (:
forget about nyu, it will be too expensive even you get in.
net price each that you were accepted?
My recommendation without knowing the net price would be Rutgers, it has a great CS department and probably the cheapest to attend.
@collegehelp42 I read your concerns about RPI and Troy in you other post. Troy would not give you anything close to what you are used to from living near THE CITY (NYC). Even though Stevens is probably the closest to home out of your list, I think it is the only one that would offer you the type of campus and off-campus environment you are looking for. Thinking of it in a different way, with normal horrible NJ traffic, Stevens would probably be at least an hour away so you are all good.
@collegehelp42 Visit each one and go with your gut of where you can see yourself in the next 4 years. We loved Stevens. However, if you aren’t an engineering or computer science major (which was my daughter’s case), I didn’t see the benefit in spending money on the tuition. However, I do want my son to attend Steven’s because of his interest in engineering. The co-op program is fantastic. I thought the kids there were very friendly and down to earth.
Have you paid a visit to any of your accepted colleges? I know with RPI, they offer complimentary overnight visits with an assigned host (freshmen student.) With these visits, you will be able to shadow your host to all their classes,eat with others in the dining halls and get a chance to really get a feel for the environment. With the exception of Bucknell College, my son was accepted to the others on your list too. We felt Stevens was hard to find parking, there was a good number of commuter students and we didn’t find it a good fit.With Rutgers,my son felt he’d would be lost in the crowd and he feared (his other friends who were already there) their mandatory “Expository Writing” course. After an overnight visit at RPI, he said this place was great for him.He is currently finishing his sophomore year in the CS program. RPI hosts Career Fair Day usually every September and the school encourages everyone to attend. They offered resume tips, mock interviews before they experience being interviewed with company recruiters. Well, my son handed in his resume to a company recruiter, a few weeks later, he was called for a interview, and the next day after the technical interview, he was offered a summer internship as Software Engineer. He said the process was easy because the school offered the tools for success.Did you attend their Accepted Students Day last week?
“I am not the most social person; in fact most of my friends are nerdy and quite the opposite of social. However, I find that I need a good mix of the two to feel comfortable. I was raised in the city, and I feel as though keeping this environment is in my best interest.”
From what you described above, Stevens sounds like by far the best choice and probably a no-brainer if you sit down and do a pros and cons list. Hoboken is a nice little city and you can always jump on the PATH and get into NYC when you need a City fix.
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@collegehelp42 I am not the most social person; in fact most of my friends are nerdy and quite the opposite of social. However, I find that I need a good mix of the two to feel comfortable. I was raised in the city, and I feel as though keeping this environment is in my best interest. I also need ethnic/gender-based diversity; otherwise, I find it hard to talk to people.
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Based on your description of yourself, I think RPI could be a good fit in terms of student body. You sound a bit like my D, who is at RPI and found she fit in well. Students are largely nerdy, but there’s also plenty of other types. She has a pretty diverse group of friends. There’s plenty of parties and things to do, but it’s not a major focus. The boy/girl ratio is skewed but my D hasn’t found that to be a problem (most of her friends are guys, though she has girl friends too.)
RPI has an excellent reputation in among employers and recruitment is strong for CS. The academics are rigorous which gives you good preparation for he real world. And the RPI Lally Business school offers a minor in finance.
That being said, while Troy is a nice little town, it’s not the big city atmosphere. So if that’s very important to you, then Stevens might be better with closer access to NYC.
Of course you should visit the colleges if you possible can to see which one you feel fits you best.
Good luck!