<p>I heard some thoughts that it is because of the graduate program that made WPI way behind in the overall ranking. It says the undergraduate part is really worthy. Do you all agree?</p>
<p>I am asking coz myself is a little struggled. My friends who are not applying to college will ask me what kind of school I am going, however, if I say "oh, just a university ranked 70", I felt been embarrassing coz its a good school and I am a hardworking student. :p
So actually WPI has a good reputation?</p>
<p>I am asking these question coz I don’t really know WPI is the education I wanted. From the posts in cc, I am only getting more confused and not having an overall perspective of WPI…and everybody’s criterion is different…so…er…maybe you r right…</p>
<p>Engineering “rankings” are generally not very useful since they only relate to faculty size and research output. Engineering success is based on the individual’s talent and motivation. Most accredited programs offer enough of a background to get a decent engineering job. WPI is definitely well above average and there are also enough research and project opportunities for interested students, although there probably isn’t as much breadth of research available at a large state school. Motivated undergrads who do well at WPI make it into jobs at top firms and get admitted into top-tier graduate and professional schools.</p>
<p>Where WPI does poorly in rankings is peer assessment. Peer assessment is highly subjective and is done by deans of other schools (problems with this metric are discussed in this article: [News:</a> Reputation Without Rigor - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/19/rankings]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/19/rankings)). Everywhere else (SAT scores, class rank, graduation rate, etc.) WPI is clearly a top 40 school. However, the administration is working on improving graduate program and student debt through extensive fundraising. Hopefully this will improve our currently poor peer assessment score.</p>
<p>WPI has a strong reputation in the engineering/tech field, and in the northeast United States. You will have great access to jobs at many prestigious companies with branches/main offices in the area, and there are quite a few. </p>
<p>However, outside of engineering, and particularly outside the northeast, many people will have never heard of WPI. Those that have think its like ITT Tech, which trains students to become electricians, etc. A very frustrating experience!</p>
<p>BostonEng, you’re kidding right? How can anyone put WPI in the same boat as ITT Tech? I agree with your statement that WPI is not known very well outside of the Northeast, but all they have to do is see that it is a 4 year- ABET accredited school, and its already above ITT.</p>
<p>And that the tuition is 30 something thousand a year! That should SAY SOMETHING… lol</p>
<p>Oh yea, about rankings… I think WPI’s unconventional curriculum doesnt quite fit the criteria US NEWs seeks, and wht IndianPWNER says about the Peer Assesment ranking is also true. Any student that WANTS to succeed at WPI WILL. They are so many resources here: the Career Developement Center, teachers, IQP, are so beneficial</p>
<p>I don’t think BostonEng is saying that WPI is similar to ITT Tech, just that non-engineers can get confused. BostonEng is right - any univeristy with “tech” or “institute” is going to have this problem. I’ve had to educate a few relatives about this. Since my other kid attends a liberal arts college, I’ve had to do a lot of educating about that, too.</p>
<p>firefly is right; i am NOT saying WPI is comparable to ITT tech. WPI is a fantastic school, and many employers recognize that, particularly in the northeast.</p>
<p>unfortunately, perception supersedes reality, and the perception to non-engineering folk is that WPI is like ITT. most people will not have a copy of us news or anything handy to classify undergrads, so they base it on the first instinct. </p>
<p>you can definitely succeed at WPI, but that depends on your goals and definition of success. if you want to become a writer for the new york times or an investment banker for goldman sachs you are going to have a ton of momentum against you. if you want to be an engineer at raytheon or some other large company, you will be all set.</p>