<p>Hello CC! I need your help in setteling this conundrum for me....</p>
<p>There are currently two schools I'm thinking about: RPI and Umass amherst. I know RPI is well ranked in engineering, and I looked at their programs online and they seemed quite good/interesting. I also saw that RPI has pretty ok research oppertunities for EE, and they regularily place top students in top grad programs. I know Umass is ranked far below RPI in engineering, and I looked on their website and I can see why...(circuit analysis is split into 2 classes( I and II) instead of being one class as in RPI, same thing with electronics, less electives etc. If I was just thinking about going for engineering, it would be a no brainer: I'd go to rpi. However, I'm also interested in CS and umass's CS department seems pretty good: They offer many interesting electives, have good research oppertunities (their grad program is ranked in the top 20 for cs), and definatly seems better than RPI's cs program, at least to me. Most importantly, Umass accepts all CS undergrads who graduate with a gpa of 3.6 or higher (witch i'm positive I can do) to their master's program (grad programs ranked in top 20), and get this, they charge NO TUITION. RPI has offered me 22k in scholarships, but it'd still be 10k more expensive per year than umass. I would be able to graduate debt free from umass, but I'd have about 30k of debt after graduating from rpi.</p>
<p>Here is a pro con summary for you all:</p>
<p>RPI
pros:
*great EE program
*well known in industry, so I'm sure to be able to get a great job if I go for that
*good research oppertunities in EE
*I'd fit in very well socially there (I'm kinda a nerd)
*At least decently prestigious. I wouldn't feel dumb telling my schoolmates I go there (superficial I know)
cons:
- Troy sucks
- I'd graduate with debt
- Although I like nerds, I'd also like some..social balance and also RPI is 70% male.</p>
<p>Umass
pros:
*great CS program
*good research oppertunities, assuming I can get a professor to notice me
*amherst rocks. Really Pretty town, great fine dining etc. Also, their on campus dining is excelent (I like my food)
*Free master's degree from their top ranked program
*no debt after graduation
cons:
-I'd feel dumb telling all my school chums that I'm going to umass (wouldn't be buying a umass hoodie lol)
-Alcoholism prevelent on campus/may not find people I like
-worried I may not get a good job offer if I dont do the masters degree thing, because Umass isnt as well known for CS/engineering in industry</p>