Did you get notification via email?
Son also just got the email on the accelerated dual program.
No word on honors but my son did get notified about accelerated dual degree and Performing Arts Scholarship this week.
Hi, My son is also trying to decide between RIT and IIT for CS major - both costing around $24K each. What are your thoughts on both the schools?
I am going for Robotics/Mechatronics. I also got into Virginia Tech and WPI.
IIT
- Scholarship is guaranteed for 4 years - even if your FAFSA changes - you need to maintain 2.0 GPA which is obviously too easy and they don’t take it away easily even after drop
- Scholarship extends into 5th year if you are part of their BS/MS program
- My IIT package is better - around $15k from pocket for everything. RIT around $20k.
RIT
- Just got accepted into accelerated BS/MS program officially for RIT.
- Their co-op program is crazy good - one of the best if not the best in the country
- planning to take scholarship session to learn if they are similar to IIT
I would suggest also comparing campuses, dorms, food, coop, etc. Which location do you prefer - RIT is close to Canada (cold, skiing, more suburbs) while IIT is basically in Chicago (windy though… haha). I am planning to visit schools too.
I am still torn, hoping to make decision in April - after “big / ivy schools” reply.
the presidential scholarship for RIT only drops by $500 if you drop below a 2.8.
Thanks for the detailed reply. He got into WPI too, but didn’t get much aid from there. So trying to decide between RIT and IIT, along with Pitt and ASU. Still waiting for a few more results.
Accepted! Mechanical Engineering- Aerospace option
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What are anyone’s thoughts on RIT vs. WPI?
My son didn’t care for the WPI campus or Worcester. The suburban RIT setting was much more his style.
We have visited both, but obviously haven’t attended either as of yet.
WPI - higher ranked (significantly, not just by a hair). Smaller campus and student body. Strong across all of its majors. Campus is decent, has character, some older cool-looking buildings, new maker space, etc. It’s in Worcester, just outside of the main city there (adjacent). Worcester itself is a very mixed bag, that’s it’s own discussion (a city with appeal and issues, other colleges).
RIT - lower ranked (although some specific programs it is VERY strong in). Larger campus and student body. Campus is larger, and I personally liked it. They have a large number of new buildings, as well as a new Dorm/Dining complex called Global Village which was very impressive (nothing like that at WPI). RIT is more out there in the boonies. It’s outside of Rochester, and it feels like a somewhat isolated campus - at least in terms of not feeling it’s part of the city. This can be a draw for some, if you like that campus on its own feeling.
I think the major is a real key in any discussion of WPI and RIT. D2 is leaning toward WPI currently of the 2, but both are on her list.
Does anyone know when honors will be announced?
My AO said the last week of March
We also were looking at both for my son. He liked WPI until he went to RIT. Larger campus, great new buildings, more diverse. WPI was too small for him and the trimester vs semester was not to his liking. In addition, RIT co-op program is superb and he liked the idea of applying his education to real life work. Regarding ranking, according to US News, for Engineering (not overall school). RIT is ranked better than WPI and IIT both. Both great schools, whatever is a better fit.
Absolutely, and good post. That was sort of my point. For Engineering, Video Game Design, and a number of other majors, RIT is ranked very highly and has one of the more impressive CO-OP programs in the country for those programs.
As for the trimesters, I found that interesting as well. Seemed like a more intensive course path, i.e. shorter, more intense bursts. She says she thinks that may be better, but I see it as a double-edged sword. For example, being really sick for 3-4 days is going to have a larger impact. Classes may feel more intense. We’ll do some asking.
We have RPI on the list as well, which has it’s own pros/cons. such as their “Arch” program requirement.
Yes, agree about the trimester- we had some concerns about the pace and if you start to fall behind there is less time to catch up etc. RPI also on our list. Lots of discussion about that. Such an excellent school, but the tour really turned my son off. The guide, the other kids, the campus, the town, a gloomy windy day…everything! Also the concerns regarding their more recent financial issues, dropping in ratings and Arch program.
My son had a similar reaction to RPI. Troy still looks as run down as it did when I applied there for Masters 35+ years ago. We visited with a friend’s nephew who was a current student and he was quite negative on things. He ended up having a terrible experience with the Arch program.
The HONORS decision is already known! Officially you would get it in 2 weeks or so, but unofficially when you email to Admissions they can already tell you: “sorry you are not part of it” 
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The other issue that can happen with a trimester is that the school year may not end until early June, which could limit a student’s availability to participate in summer internships/co-ops.
My son was accepted to both RPI and RIT for Fall 2020, and he had RPI slightly ahead of RIT. But he also got a full ride at Alfred St. and decided to try that…which he hated and left at the end of the first semester. When he reapplied, he took a deeper look at the schools, RIT just seemed like a better fit for him. He hated the Alfred St. campus, so dealing with Troy was not on his wishlist of experiences he wanted to go through again. Plus, we had heard about the Arch program as well. So RIT went to the top of his list and he was accepted again a few weeks ago.