RPI Medal --- how does it work?

<p>Jamielee -- Thanks for the info!! Based on FAFSA we are ineligible but hopefully RPI has different standards. At any rate....we have time to consider options and other schools. The application process is just beginning for my D.</p>

<p>Jamielee -- I notice you are from Long Island......we looked at Stony Brook and I thought it was a great school -- especially the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) program. Did you choose RPI because of the Medal Award?</p>

<p>I know a woman who had never heard of RPI. She went to a small academically poor school in New Jersey and was awarded the RPI math medal for having the highest math scores in her HS class. (1970s) THis award was given to her as a junior in High School. At the time, RPI offered summer classes to medal recipients covering there tuition, room and board for the summer. She took College Chemistry the summer after her junior year in High School and while at RPI during that summer,met people who were there for the summer because they were in RPI’s accelerated bio-medical program. She’d never heard of an accelerated medical program and was intrigued. She applied and was accepted to the accelerated medical program and went on to graduate and happily practice medicine in California for the last 25 years.
I am very grateful to RPI for the math medal. I hope it opens doors for you as much as it did for me. ;)</p>

<p>Great story!</p>

<p>My daughter is a medalist there - freshman bio major. It has been a fabulous school for her. Lots of help available from professors and fellow students. Her dad and I met as Penn State grad students, but our daughters would be lost there. RPI has been worth the money so far.</p>

<p>Hey Krismom – Go Penn State! I still bleed blue and white. My older daughter will graduate this year from Penn State…in IST after 3 years. My husband and I also met at Penn State. It’s been a great fit for my older daughter. My younger daughter, just put in her deposit at RPI. It seems to be very different than Penn State…but my daughter was totally taken in by the chemistry laboratory tour. She truly loves science and RPI will be the place for her.</p>

<p>AdvicePlease - this response is a few months late… but yes, I chose RPI mostly because of the medal award, the financial aid package in general actually. </p>

<p>I never considered Stony Brook, it was too close to home for me and I didn’t want to go to a school where I would know a lot of people from high school.</p>

<p>jamielee – Are you happy with your choice? Do you like RPI?</p>

<p>Another very late response (I only stumble upon this board every now and then) - I love RPI. I never expected to be so happy here, especially since I didn’t seriously consider attending until I received my financial aid packages.</p>