I am currently making the tough decision of choosing between RPI and Lehigh. Both gave great monetary offers (my dad would have to pay 11k at RPI or 14 k at Lehigh). Can I get some opinions on which school might top the other? I am currently 50 50 on where I want to go next year to major in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (possibly minor in Comp Sci or Management). I also want to go to MIT for my masters as it has always been my dream school (I was denied undergrad).
Considerations:
RPI:
-the “dreaded ratio” (I am male)
-I know friends shouldn’t play a role in deciding what college to go to, but around 5 good friends of mine have committed (however, another person that I am not fond of has also committed)
-D3 baseball so I can possibly have a shot at making the team
Lehigh:
-Apparently the party scene is extremely huge and I’m not that big of a party guy. (Does not partying much affect my rep and overall experience at Lehigh?) Aside from the partying, I hear Lehigh has an amazing social scene
-With the friends situation, none of my friends are going.
-D1 baseball, enough said
Definitely tour first. RPI is colder and is in upstate NY. Lehigh is in suburban PA. RPI is a bit more well regarded for engineering and it will be easy for you to take up some business class/minor or something.
Lehigh has a pretty large Greek life and sports centered scene, which may not be for you. However, the engineering program at Lehigh is good as well, so you can’t go wrong with either. I’d recommend taking a look at the area and going to admitted student days if possible That could be a huge factor for you!
I graduate in the late 1980s. The social life at RPI is tied closely with the all-women Russell Sage College in downtown Troy. Parties will still be 60:40 or 70:30. We also made local trips to places near Albany, Siena, and Skidmore. As a baseball player, you would probably be among the more social students.
Though I know some Lehigh grads, I will leave it for someone who knows the college better. Two great choices.
They are both great for undergraduate engineering.
If you could play D3 baseball at RPI, that would be pretty cool. It doesn’t sound like you were recruited though, so I would check with the coach to see if “walking on” is a realistic possibility. If it is, that might be a valid reason to pick RPI.
Lehigh is strong at combining technology and business. A large percentage of the engineering and computer science majors are also pursuing majors/minors in fields like business, finance, or supply chain management. The “Integrated Business and Engineering” and “Computer Science and Business” programs are popular. The majority of Lehigh CS students are on the “Computer Science and Business” track, which means they are simultaneously studying for both an ABET CS degree and an AACSB business degree.
Lehigh is likely a more “mainstream” social environment, with more gender balance and probably more partying. RPI may be a “nerdier” environment with fewer girls and probably less partying.
Personally I would favor RPI. Both my kids (who ended up going to Yale and Swarthmore) applied to RPI and would not have considered Lehigh. I think RPI is a very highly regarded STEM school.
I’d go with RPI. As others have mentioned it’s highly regarded for engineering - more so than Lehigh. It also has a strong CS program and a good business school with a strong tech focus. It has very high job placement rate for engineers and CS grads, as well as preparation for top grad schools. My D is engineering there and wouldn’t have considered Lehigh (for her major).
Of course, Lehigh has the gender balance advantage and more humanities courses if you want those, as well as D1 baseball (hockey is the only D1 sport at RPI).
About the dreaded ratio: It really isn’t as bad, unless you’re the introverted shy type who likes to stay in his room – in which case, socializing with girls becomes even more difficult. But for more outgoing types, there are plenty of girls (more now than before, 70/30). As @Magnetron mentioned there’s Russell Sage nearby as well.
The RPI student body is more nerdy in general (one thing my D likes about it), but also quite diverse with the whole range of people into sports, partying, outdoors, etc. Lots of clubs too. There are plenty of parties if you’re into that but also lots to do if you’re not. Bear in mind that engineering major, especially if you also minor in CS, will keep you pretty busy
It is JMHO but be sure to visit both schools and see where you could see yourself. Also, really think about which environment you’d like to live in. I’m very familiar with RPI - there really is plenty of social life and so many girls from the women’s college and other colleges who are eager to meet the future engineers. I would also think about if you’d really have time to play baseball with the rigorous RPI Engineering curriculum. I hear the LeHigh library and campus are amazing! I would also try to check out if RPI has professors/instructors who actually speak English well. I hear that can be a problem. Lucky you…two great choices. Go with where you think you’ll fit best. Most likely you’re going to graduate school so this is just the first stop.
I would also think about if you’d really have time to play baseball with the rigorous RPI Engineering curriculum.
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In reference to this ^, I confirm that the engineering workload is heavy. But it is manageable even while playing sports (Patriots’ current defensive coach was an engineering major + football player at RPI), and there are engineering students on the hockey team too.
The sports teams at RPI are filled with engineers. It is definitely possible to be a successful student athlete at RPI, though it does take a lot of discipline. Lehigh is very well respected as well; they have particular technical areas that are especially strong. Definitely visit both before making a decision.
I left you a private message about my son @ RPI who has VERY similar interests as you.
If you want more info, PM back. All of what is said above I would agree with, but gave you a bit
more detail in the PM.
I’d go with RPI. It’s highly regarded for engineering. It has a strong CS program It has very high job placement rate for engineers and CS grads, as well as preparation for top grad schools. Lehigh has a better social scene but if you are not comfortable with the party scene, then it is hard to fit in. RPI has a tougher rigor. Given that you already know friends who are going there, it is one less thing to worry about as a freshman.
The only downside is the area surrounding the campus, not much to do there, and winters can be long.
