@annamom@limerick1913 regardless of when you pay your deposit, they send out notices for orientation to everyone at the same time.
My son got his notice to sign up for student orientation on May 5, 2017 and registered for it the same day.
On May 12th he registered for dorms/meals.
That same day I made reservations for a hotel for the night before so we’d be relaxed for that long day (recommended).
The last day of dorm/meals registration was 5/25 otherwise you get assigned the default dorm/meals.
One small note for parents; During Student Orientation (SO) there is also a Parent Orientation which although is not mandatory, it is very informative and helpful as they supply much information about contacts, procedures, and so much more information than what can be easily found on the website. The parent orientation was very entertaining throughout and kept our attention so it was well worth it. They helped us understand so many things which we had not even thought to ask from as minimal as ap-classes and whether to retake in college, to making sure that your child’s dorm-mate has your phone number in case of some urgent issue. I definitely recommend atleast one of the parents attend the parent orientation. Keep in mind you will not see your student for the whole day because SO will occupy his entire day with things he has to take care of like registering for classes and other things. You will see your student the next day at which time both student and parents are dismissed.
Is anyone else having a problem with the housing portal where it says that your server timed out? Once you got your RPI email how long did it take for you to have access to the housing portal?
Fantastic! Son’s SAT 1550, ACT 35, wGPA 3.95, 9 AP courses heavy on math/sci, all 5’s except 2 4’s in ENG LIT/COMP and GOV. No medal, went to someone else not even using it. $35K total FA package. Not bad, but many are doing a lot better than that.
Please find out how renewable the non-loan components of the FA package is. What are the requirements for renewal and what percentage of students meet the requirements for renewal. The ARCH Program makes this extremely important as you will have to pay for 3-4 consecutive terms. Find out how the “employment” during the Jr year will effect eligibility. Find out if one can regain renewal (better grades, increased financial need). Find out if there are any requirements that might negatively effect the bottom line for attendance.
@StudentsR1st I was under the impression that merit scholarships were awarded for 4 years and were not dependent on maintaining a certain GPA. Has this policy recently changed?
I have no idea. My advice was to RPIChemEson. Regarding GPA requirements for merit scholarships super performers in high school often think that it will be easy for example to maintain a 3.5 with no grade below B (B- is below B). It is important to know 1) is there a probationary term before the scholarship is gone? - rough 1st Term. 2) is there a way to regain the scholarship?, 3) what is the percentage of students who remain continually eligible on a term by term bases FrFall-SrSpring? I think (3) is most important followed by (1) and then (2).
One should also know what is meant by good judicial standing? Is a Warning with some community service considered not good judicial standing? A water balloon fight could easily fall into this category. Is one in good judicial standing while their “case” goes through the investigative and appeal processes? How does membership in an organization not in good judicial standing effect and individual’s good judicial standing? For example would all members of an intramural sports team accused of misconduct remain in good judicial standing? What about if the team is found guilty?
Finally are there any other requirements? Are students expected to support the Institute in all it does? If so what does that mean? Does it include fund raising? Suppose that as a donor, I meet with a student so they can thank me for the scholarship. I ask the student how are things on campus, what is good, what is bad, what is the environment? Based on the comments I raise issues - is the student’s scholarship in jeopardy?
@StudentsR1st According to the RPI website, there is no minimum gpa requirement in order to keep a merit award.
Need-based aid may vary from year to year depending on variances from year to year on the submitted tax info. This is common practice at all schools.
I didn’t read anything about good judicial standing being a requirement for maintaining a merit award. Are you aware of any situations where a student had a water balloon fight and ended up with his scholarship being pulled? Do you have any specific examples of a merit scholarship being eliminated based on any of the items you mentioned in your paragraph 2 or 3?
shuttlebus: Whether or not someone lost their merit scholarship for participating in a water balloon fight is irrelevant. It was an example of what would likely fall into the lowest level of judicial action. The conditions for renewing merit scholarships need to be clearly understood by all. This applies not only to RPI. Regarding examples of scholarships being eliminated for points 2 and 3. Examples are irrelevant.Suggesting that someone answer a question does not require examples. Further, details of such examples would likely compromise a student’s privacy and therefore would be inappropriate for this forum. Finally, I do not have, and should not have access to RPI judicial records.
^ Examples are not irrelevant; examples support your claims. Thanks for responding. I am no longer concerned about a merit scholarship being pulled for judicial reasons.
First, I never claimed to have personal knowledge of a merit scholarship being pulled for judicial reasons. Second, I would have no way of knowing unless it happened to me or someone who shared their experience with me. Third, what is the harm in encouraging people to ask intelligent questions? If there is no risk of one losing a merit scholarship for disciplinary reasons, the administration can make it clear (in writing) that even if one is suspended for disciplinary reasons they will not lose their merit scholarship. Otherwise potential students who have received merit scholarships deserve to know exactly what is required to maintain the scholarship, which of course includes knowing how eligibility will be lost.
shuttlebus: we need to agree to disagree. You are no longer concerned about a merit scholarship being pulled for judicial reasons. I am concerned that it could happen and am encouraging prospective students to ask detailed questions.
@BoroDad If you don’t mind my question, was your $20k leadership award in addition to need based aid or is it a total financial aid RPI offered? My son has applied ED this year and cost is a concern… Thank you!