Wow, congratulations to all getting nearly or full-ride offers!!! For those trying to figure out merit vs. financial aid awards, I think RPI is combining financial aid under the umbrella of merit award when offering those large ($30K+) packages. In other words, if you did not apply for financial aid, the merit award is pure merit; if you applied for financial aid, I think the award is a combo. Here’s my stats (hope it helps decipher for those awaiting awards): I took the SATs once and earned a 2330 (CR 750, M 800, W 780), I took the SAT IIs one sitting and earned 800 Math 2, 800 Chemistry, 800 French. I did 3 varsity sports all through high school but not recruited athlete and have a variety of leadership positions. Not URM.
I did not apply for financial aid. I received “Rensselaer Leadership Award $15,400.” Did anyone who did not apply for financial aid get offered $30K+/yr packages?
@VMT, Yes, I hope that my post did not come across as boastful and was intended as only to help clarify that possibly “merit” awards vs. “financial aid+merit” awards are different. I was really pleasantly surprised to receive anything from RPI because I did not apply for financial aid. @Sapphire50, Thanks and Congratulations!
Good luck to everyone!
Now I’m curious, why wouldn’t you fill out the Fafsa? We knew there was no way in the world we would qualify for any type of aid(& we don’t unless you count the $5500 loan everyone gets) but filled out everything & prayed for miracles lol.
My son applied ED and just got his email address last week. He is dragging his feet about applying for housing and I am bugging him about it so he can reserve a spot in a good hall.
@Sapphire50, based on what you list and my opinions of the schools, I’d say UMASS Honors vs. RPI should be the decision. SUNYs are great but your son might be bored. I know two really amazing RPI graduates who loved it there.
As for the boy/girl ratio thing, it’s true of any engineering or science school. Definitely a lot of girls on the accepted students page on Facebook.
@rhandco @vmt We are revisiting all of the schools - RPI is the only one we’ve not visited yet. He and his dad are going on Monday. There was actually a lovely article in NY Times just yesterday about revitalization of city of Troy. We are in Boston right now to visit Northeastern tomorrow for their accepted students day. And back to Rochester on Thursday and Friday. Went to Pitt last week. Will try to get to UMASS later in April. And he was invited by Stony Brook for a tour of Brookhaven Lab on April 10. Problem is we like them all!!! But time is running out. Decision day will soon be upon us.
@sunnydaydream When my daughter applied for colleges last year, we knew we couldn’t get any aid. (unfortunately) so we did not fill out the FAFSA or the profile. After speaking to several admission officers before she applied and hearing what they had to say, we simply didn’t completely believe the “100% need blind.” If we thought, however, there was ANY chance we could get aid, we absolutely would have completed the financial aid forms.
In terms of merit aid, it seems to me that there is less this year among the students who don’t demonstrate financial need. Of course, I’m basing it on a couple of students I know so it’s not a big enough sample size. But last year, a lot of kids with great stats not applying for aid, received $25k in merit. This year, it seems to be more like $15-$16k. That’s quite a difference.
@desie1 I knew without a doubt my daughter wouldn’t qualify for any aid but nothing ventured nothing gained – right?
As far as merit aid for those without financial need – If anything our fafsa should have hurt her rather than helped her but rpi gave a $46,300/yr merit scholarship (plus an additional $5500 unsubsidized loan but I don’t include that as it will have to be paid back should she decide to take it)
@sapphire50 while I think Stonybrook is a great school education wise as far as college experience it’s very different. Very much a commuter school we know more kids who regret having gone there than those who loved it but with everything it is what you make of it.
@Sunnydaydream The same here. We knew that we would not get need based but filled out out fafsa anyway. Our daughter had above average stats (34 ACT, 4.6 gpa, top 2.5% of a very competitive school, AP’s,2nd degree black belt, extras,etc), but our financial aid was about 16k merit and of course the loan that everyone gets. I am definitely jealous. I’m not sure what your kid did to get that boost, but I hope she continues whatever she is doing. She must be pretty special. RPI would be our top choice if we were in your situation.
@Sapphire50 One thing you might consider is their career placement. I went to WPI and at least back then there was a world of difference between schools. I had a HUGE leg up in securing a job compared to friends who were engineers at some other schools. Also, everyone had a very easy time getting into grad schools and very few (I don’t remember any) were forced into going to grad school because of a lack of a job. Other schools (specifically some state universities) did not have the same advantage and if you are on the fence about schools, I would look into that. It will make an enormous difference in 4 years. Ask some current seniors if possible. I think RPI does a very good job in this area. This is one reason I hesitate to have my child to go to the school that I think we will be most likely to choose (due to financial reasons).
@CrazyMomof3 - great point. RPI has great career services (I was both a student and recruiter at RPI). We are visiting WPI this week, I suspect they will have pretty good career/placement services as well. I was on the forum for a different school and this question was raised. Although I don’t think this should make or break a decision, it’s good to know what kind of help you will get as a student, what companies typically recruit and hire from the school, etc.
After receiving the Merit/Financial aid package today RPI has officially entered the picture. While my daughter got accepted back on Pi day, my wife, an RPI Alumnus, did not expect to see any aid so we kind of wrote RPI off. We, and she in particular, were very surprised to have our daughter receive 16.6 a semester. This now puts RPI in contention with some of her other choices.