Sorry, this is another one of those “my son can’t choose” discussions. He was all set on Case for EE until today, when he suddenly announced he thinks RPI may be better for him because it will push him harder in terms of engineering education, and he thrives more when pushed. He figures that, because of this, in the end he will get a better engineering education at RPI than at Case.
I sort of agree with that part about him doing more when pushed … but… I really like Case Western’s emphasis on writing and worry that he needs to be pushed more on the writing! I can’t see much on RPI’s website that talks about writing, whereas Case has a seminar approach which seems oriented to researching and writing a number of papers over four years. Also I am worried that with RPI’s 70% male campus he, being a sort of quiet boy, will not be in a good place to actually gain any attention from a nice girl from time to time.
We visited Case twice, and RPI only once, in the fall of 2013. He declined to visit RPI on accepted students day, and I didn’t push it because he seemed pretty set on Case. Now I am feeling a bit annoyed about that.
Case offered him a lot more money, but we can basically afford either one. RPI is much more accessible to where we live. For example, is the electrical engineering really better at RPI? What about the other stuff that goes with, i.e., math, physics. Will he be asked to do much writing and speaking?
Of course, its his choice but I wonder if there is anything he is really missing in this analysis.
Can you really count on the reasoning of a 18 year old? He is just saying he likes RPI more now, maybe he is influenced by his classmates or friends, maybe …
These two schools are similar, and he can not go wrong with either.
When you choose a school, it always comes down to reputation, affordability, major and atmosphere, given your situation, CASE may have the edge, but then, it is his decision.
Well, I’m not an engineer, but I do work with a bunch of them, so I asked them and they mostly were more familiar with RPI (not surprising since we live in NY). No one said anything negative about Case but that gave RPI a small edge in reputation.
What we have not been able to learn much about is major - how is electrical engineering at Case, versus RPI?
Its after May 1, so perhaps this is too late but here goes: I know something of both schools, and they are similar in academic caliber and industry connections. Both schools have a long history of excellence from the 1800s. My son studies math and physics at Case and the arts and sciences are very strong at Case, as it was a merger of a liberal arts college (Western Reserve U) with a technology school, Case Institute of Technology. I think that both schools have good connections to industry, Ohio has solar energy firms, NASA, the tire companies in Akron, as well as ties to the automotive industry, and all the Case kids we know in EE have solid summer jobs. RPI is very connected to IBM and Pratt and Whitney, and thats a good thing for the EE students. As far as writing, yes, the Case writing programs are very good, I think, they ask students to take three writing classes to graduate in arts and sciences or engineering as I understand it. I am not familiar with RPI’s program, but just looked it up for my younger son, and it does require humanities and social science electives, and would hope that would include writing. Case has more girls, with the nursing college and business college. The two cities are different, I think RPI is closer to skiing, Case has very good fine art museum and the Cleveland Orchestra tickets are a bargain for Case students, they can buy a season pass for about $40 /year, truly a bargain for the Cleveland Orchestra. The museums and orchestra are walking distance from campus. Cleveland is the more interesting city, has professional sports teams, although RPI has on campus hockey watching action. Both schools have active Greek life. Cannot go wrong at either school for EE. Case pushes students and offers a very rigorous pure and applied math, and physics, as well as the engineering disciplines.
Cool, thanks @Coloradomama. My son did choose Case in the end, though it was a close decision. Since this is an RPI forum I won’t talk about what I love about Case, just say that my only regret is the 8 hour drive across NJ and PA.