<p>I guess a lot would depend on the job placement rate for the student’s major. (You can only live below your means if you get a decent job fairly quickly.) Is there a link for RPI job placement rates?</p>
<p>Here’s a report with some useful information from the class of '08: <a href=“http://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/CDC%2520Annual%2520Report%2520Class%2520of%25202008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/CDC%2520Annual%2520Report%2520Class%2520of%25202008.pdf</a></p>
<p>That gives the percentage of students who had a job after graduation, average starting salary by field, etc.</p>
<p>Could you try posting that link again. I tried it but it did not seem accurate. thanks.</p>
<p>Try this link
[Career</a> Development Center (CDC) for Students :: Recruiting Stats](<a href=“http://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/students/jobsearch/offers/stats.html]Career”>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/students/jobsearch/offers/stats.html)</p>
<p>“… To date, 72% of the Class of 2009 who have completed the First Destination Survey have reported future plans including: attending graduate or professional school, entering the military or accepting employment…” </p>
<p>It seems like 72% of total would be good for this economy, but I don’t think it says how many have not responded. The nonrespondants might have a lower %. </p>
<p>Per loan decisions, look carefully at when the interest start accruing. It seems like there are not many intererst-deferred loans around these days. So debt load could be much higher than it looks.</p>
<p>Here is the annual report link:
<a href=“Students | Career and Professional Development”>Students | Career and Professional Development;
<p>Honestly, pick a college you can afford, and wants you, because you obviously have a lot to offer, don’t spend 4 years worrying about where the money is going to come from, how you are going to do it, and missing out on the real focus… do really well, then make your mark in grad school. The four years of college will be forgotten as to where you went once you continue with your education.</p>
<p>NO!! It’s not worthwhile taking on a huge debt for any undergraduate degree. I had a Medal Scholarship that paid for everything, but looking back 30 years later, it would not have been worth it for my parents to go broke over it, or for me to take on a huge debt. Most states have a very good in-state public school engineering program, with the advantage of more choices if engineering doesn’t work out. Honestly, the courses are about the same.</p>
<p>It’s more important to do well, no matter where you go to school. Good grades will get you a good job and/or admission to a good graduate school (with better aid opportunities in graduate school).</p>
<p>You can appeal man! I know it may be too late for you but for others listen up! I know people say that they’ll only give you a couple of thousand but thats not true. They gave me 35k in loan and scholarship leaving my family 20k in debt in the beginning. I couldn’t get a plus loan because my parents are in bankruptcy and they’ve used my credit to get survive and I’ve taken care of my self my entire life no one would sign for a private loan for me even if I wanted. I called my counselor like every day for a week researching possible ways to get money. I appealed showing them my mother is poor and I have no one else. I showed them how hard I’ve had to work and my life has not been so bad but I SOLD MYSELF. I didn’t lie but I definitely did not leave a thing out. That’s what you gotta do. Make yourself known and show them you want to go BAD. They gave my 9k more in aid found other federal aid I didn’t know about like 4k more in loans cause my mother got denied the plus loan, monthly payments, private scholarships. I’m attending in the fall.</p>
<p>It’s really impossible to tell if a school is going to be worth what you pay for it. If you choose to go to Harvard over your state school, you’re not necessarily going to be any better off after you graduate just because you went to Harvard. It depends on you and what you do with you education. It’s typically true that there are better opportunities at private schools and the top public schools (ex. better faculty, more research opportunities, better co-ops and internships, and other resources), but a driven student at a state school (assuming it’s not UC or something like that) can get the things they need to succeed on their own… it just might take more work.</p>
<p>Bottom Line: It’s probably not worth going into massive amounts of debt for any school, whether it be RPI or anywhere else. A small amount of debt is survivable, but you don’t want to dig yourself into a hole that you’re not going to be able to climb back out of… it will be counterintuitive.</p>
<p>like dadinator said, it depends on the alternatives and on the family situation. We live in Virginia, which has great, but relatively costly, instate publics.</p>
<p>Our EFC is roughly 20k, and DDs package is composed of need grants, merit grants, and federal loans. We believe we can make the parental contribution without private loans, or with minimal private loans. We would have ended up paying about as much at Virginia Tech or UVA (but without the Federal Loans). DD wants (and I think needs) a smallish school, so RPI was clearly the right choice. </p>
<p>20k EFC for someone with an income below 70k sounds really high to me, BTW.</p>
<p>Just came from bringing my D to RPI, class of 2014. Every step of the way we have had nothing but the best from RPI. The staff are amazing - replies to email within hours, no question left unanswered, professors, deans, teachers, housing coordinator, RA’s, security, etc. all so responsive. I was concerned in the beginning about RPI, as to security, housing issues, the cost - but I have been impressed every step of the way - and I am not easily impressed. Dr. Jackson spoke today and she is charismatic, brilliant, and cares about the students. The Student and Parent Orientation for First Year Experience was a class act all the way. I can tell you that every parent I spoke to was very happy. I also spoke to random students on campus and asked how they liked it. The responses were all positive. Not a disgruntled soul could be found. I was proud to write the check. Is RPI worth the Debt? If you want the best for your student - you betcha!!!</p>
<p>I’m glad evertything has gone so well!</p>
<p>My S is just heading back to start his sophmore year. I had a discussion with another parent whose S is going to a highly ranked, flagship state school. The difference in the two schools was rather startling - the flagship school had virtually no orientation program at all (I think the kids had a barbacue one afternoon and then a free movie that night), the class selection process for freshman was a feeding frezny, there was no one to talk to for help in courses, housing , etc.</p>
<p>It made me appreciate the level of service at RPI (that I had been sort of taking for granted).</p>
<p>One other point, though - the kids that I have spoken to do not seem to have a very high opinion of Dr. Jackson - they had a joke that the only times you see her are at freshman orientation and then at graduation. They are all very negative about her elevated salary and her being on so many outslde Boards of Directors. Oh, and they don’t like the fact that a new 19,500 square foot house is being build for her at a cost of $3.5 million.</p>
<p>All in all, as a parent, I have been very pleased with my S’s choice of RPI.</p>
<p>Thank you for your comments Dadinator. First, as regards Dr. Jackson, I understand the sentiment. However, her accomplishments are astounding. It must be understood that sometimes professionals have to make “contacts” for the students and pave the way for them being as highly regarded as, well, as we regard them as parents - at least most of us. I have no point of comparison with past presidents, however, U.S. News and World Reports just rated RPI #41 beating out even Univ of Illinois.</p>
<p>Second, education must be viewed as an investment. Yes, I can find a cheaper investment but it is not as likely to pay off down the line - and investing in my daughter’s education at RPI is not a risky investment. I can think of no better way to invest than in my amazing daughter. I am not criticizing in any way those who must make a choice based on cost and certainly there are many students who will do well wherever they attend. For us, I could not be more confident and feel as secure were it not for the RPI community.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Worriedmom and Dadinator. We brought DS (Class of 2014) up last weekend because he’s participating in one of the weekend trips. </p>
<p>I was very impressed with the programs that were held for parents during the summer orientation sessions. Each of the speakers seemed to really be dedicated to putting the students’ needs first and I really felt that the kids will get a lot of personal attention.</p>
<p>I am an alumna of MIT and I have to say that when DS didn’t get accepted there I felt sad for him. But now I think that things may have worked out for the best. I floundered badly at MIT and ultimately did not receive my degree there. I felt very much at sea, that no one was looking out for me as a freshman. At the RPI orientation, I got the exact opposite feeling – that there are lots of people who care about how the kids do.</p>
<p>Re: Dr. Jackson – it does seem like her salary and perks are excessive, but it’s not something that I get particularly worked up about. (Though if they wanted to throw a bit more money into decorating some of the older freshmen dorms instead of her new digs, it would be money well spent. All I can say is they are somewhat Spartan.)</p>
<p>My son is now an RPI senior so the comments here bring me back to August 2007 when we brought him to campus for the start his freshman year. While we drove home that day with the normal parental mixed feelings, I can tell you that our son has had an extremely positive experience at RPI. The academics have been demanding but after doing paid internships for the past two summers, I think our son realizes how well RPI is preparing him for an engineering career. He has also had a lot of fun there and made very good friends. He has always looked forward to getting back to campus after academic/summer breaks and I think that is a common sentiment amongst the students. (My cousin reports that her daughter is always happy to get back to RPI after breaks as well!) Last Saturday, we helped our son move into an off campus apartment which he will share with three of his best friends until their graduation next May. The years at RPI have gone by very fast indeed, but they have been good ones.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your comments. One last comment that jumps to mind after reading these posts, the kids there are amazing. I was so impressed with how NICE they are to each other - and parents. We were lost on many occasions (there really ought to be a law that no two buildings can look alike - the freshman 5 dorms are identical and confusing) yet every time we had to approach another student the response and effort to assist was impressive. One faculty member told me what a supportive environment it is - not just the instructors but the other kids. We stopped in to interrogate the public safety personnel about crime and safety and even THEY were great and could not help but comment how great the kids are to each other. RPI knows how to foster that environment/community. Students present as very supportive of each other and differences are tolerated/accepted/celebrated - not scorned and ridiculed. I was also impressed with the parents at the orientations. As with their kids, the parents are down to earth, serious, no frills, intelligent friendly people. RPI acts to foster that as well - as mentioned above - the orientation for the parents was impressive. Parents had to eat “family style” at tables with other out of towners and the conversations were facilitated. </p>
<p>Everyone from the admissions personnel to the residential staff, to the Freshman Year Experience staff, to the instructors, the RA, and virtually everyone I have met at RPI take the time to respond meaningfully, always seeking to help, and all issues are resolved promptly - in some cases within a couple of hours. They also are not hesitant to politely and appropriately provide valuable guidance and advice on knowing when to back off and let the kids handle it themselves. I find myself feeling very confident to rely on their sound judgment. </p>
<p>Again, a class act all the way. We may not be eating out as much and have to cut back, but my investment is well placed.</p>
<p>RPI has been great for my son going into his third year, and we had very good vibes dropping off our daughter for her orientation trip. </p>
<p>About Jackson’s salary - you have to compare to salaries she could get as a CEO or President of another school. CEO salaries have been outrageous for years. The ratio of CEO salaries to worker bee salaries has gone off the charts. Theoretically they offer expertise that benefits their company/institution orders of magnitude more than they are paid. Judging from the economy, something is amiss but until the system works itself out, I’m glad RPI is keeping Jackson. Her 10th anniversary party was a bit over the top but the students who attended had a great time.</p>
<p>My brother and my husband went to RPI as undergrads umpteen years ago. While the education was great then and is great now, the environment has changed drastically for the better. I give Jackson much of the credit for that. It is a supportive environment that the bigger schools can’t realistically supply, yet it is not coddling. I’ve seen coddling and I’ve seen boot camps. RPI has struck the right balance.</p>
<p>Echo all the positive comments about the past week’s orientation. Outstanding program for both parents and students (only wish we could have had at least one sunny day!) It looks like they’re keeping everyone occupied with lots of activities through the weekend. Our son quickly found several friends and was anxious to get us on our way on Tuesday - a little sad for us but we’re happy he’s happy. With a little planning over the summer, he was able to get all the classes he wanted- an enviable schedule of calc, chem., phys and econ – nothing before 10AM, nothing after 11:30 Friday and time for hockey. I spoke to Dr Jackson at the reception and found her to be gracious and engaging. She’s done quite a lot for the school over the past decade and I think things will only get better. The personal attention and staff engagement (especially Marie Dieffenbach in MANE) really give us confidence that this will be a great experience and well worth the investment. Can’t wait to go back on October 22 for Family Day.</p>
<p>I am glad freshman orientation went so well for everyone. It brings back memories. My son also had a great orientation at Pitt, which they do in two stages called PittStart and then early move-in. On move-in day we had “Arrival Survival” staff on hand every time we turned around. The students later had a cool experience led by the Provost ([Thousands</a> Make Flashlight World-Record Try In Darkened Petersen Center - Sports News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh](<a href=“http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/24770414/detail.html]Thousands”>http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/24770414/detail.html)). Pitt has a good engineering school, medical and nursing schools, a coop program, much lower tuition, fairly high USNWR ranking, and more choices if things don’t work out in the first choice of major. Most states have at least one alternative like Pitt.</p>
<p>For me, RPI was worth it because I had the Medal Scholarship. I did well there and afterwards. But I saw people graduate from RPI with GPA in the low 2’s have trouble finding jobs. If a student runs into worse academic trouble there, it won’t seem so friendly. On the other hand, in my career, I’ve seen scads of people graduate with high GPA from public schools, go to grad school at RPI or elsewhere, and do extremely well.</p>
<p>Another thing to bear in mind, RPI’s reputation has arguably slipped over the last 30 years. Jackson is trying to turn that around, and breaking some eggs in the process. This affects the value and perception of an RPI degree.</p>
<p>My point is to shop wisely, especially before taking on a lot of debt. If you are thinking “well, RPI is better than Pitt or VA Tech” that’s quite debatable. I say that having attended all three.</p>
<p>The point about large state schools offering more alternatives should things not work out with the initial major is certainly valid. However, the one thing that struck me this past year as we visited schools was the potential difficulty in switching majors that require going across “College of …” boundaries. I know for example, University of Maryland has a few “limited enrollment programs” , engineering and business being among them. This might make it tough for someone thinking of switching from say, engineering to biology or from “undeclared” to business. When I posed a question about the ease of switching at one prominent school, the answer was effectively the student really needs to think about what they want in a career before applying . That might work a few but certainly not all 18 year olds. RPI’s answer to this question was a primary driver of our interest in the school. When you apply to RPI, you apply to the entire Institute not the School of Engineering, Science or Management and can change majors fairly easily down the road. The presenter in fact said he attended RPI and changed majors three times. This plus the individual attention and the extensive academic support structure makes RPI an ideal choice for certain students.</p>