I got accepted into RIT’s computer science program for the fall, and their aid package is quite substantial, around 47k of 51k including federal loans. I’ve been to one of RIT’s events, and I can see it as a school I’d go to.
But I have my reservations about RIT, like the male-female ratio, a not-great reputation for academia, and the lack of a classics program, that UMass satisfies. The problem is that UMass’s package is only around 22.5k, leaving me with over 18k to cover in private loans.
Is it worth committing to UMass anyway, for all the reasons I wouldn’t like it at RIT? Should I try to appeal my financial aid package? Is 95k in loans over four years a bad idea?
Yes, loans are never good. I love UMass but I have a friend who goes to RIT and he loves it. Go with the cheaper school in this case.
not worth it, take the 47k!
Go to RIT. My best friends son graduated from there 2 years ago and he has a great job now and loved the school. Don’t go into debt, its not worth it.
Thanks, all of you! I just came back from the certamen at Harvard, and the lack of classics at RIT is really becoming a point of contention, so I’ll appeal at UMass, but if they don’t match RIT’s offer, I will definitely be putting in my deposit. Go Tigers!
True there is no classics program, but my S14 is really happy at RIT. He’s looking forward to eventually taking a class in “History and Manufacturing of Siege Weapons”. Otherwise the history is more slanted to Asia (Japan, China). He lives in Art House this year which has more of a 50/50 M/F ratio. I bet you could find a way to keep your interest in classics alive.
You know what, take that savings and take a classics class somewhere else over the summer or online. Get out for as little debt as you possibly can.