Stony Brook (COA 15k/yr after scholarship) vs. RPI (COA 35k/yr after scholarship) for computer science? Is the higher cost of RPI worth it? Will it have opportunities to offer that Stony can’t?
Stony brook vs. RPI. Social life, food, academic/internship opportunities, employment after graduating, school atmosphere.
One thing that bothers me about RPI is that I’m Asian and it doesn’t seem v diverse? Also I’m female and the gender gap. I’ll be ok bc I’m pretty assertive, but still, insight on that or anything I mentioned before would be much appreciated!
Extra question: I also got URoch and UMich but no scholarships/FA and idk if writing an appeal letter for FA is going to do anything (I most likely won’t unless u guys think I should? Is it effective? They’re both like $35k above my EFC, but I understand a lot of people have it worse and the FA office already made their decisions. I don’t want to push for something I didn’t get.)
My major differs from yours but I am asking myself the exact question. I am most interested in hearing what anyone has to say specifically about employment after graduating RPI vs SBU. My sense frankly tells me that RPI is probably better but in either case it will still ultimately boil down to the quality and efforts of the individual.
Hopefully someone answers us with some meaningful detail.
If 20k x 4 = 80k is chump change for your family, and you like RPI better than Stony Brook, then feel free to go there.
However, for most people that 80k is serious money, and RPI would be off the list.
Both of these can get you where you want to go. RPI does not have any special magic that is worth 80k more. You also like Stony Brook better. Save the money. Go to Stony Brook. Do well there.
As for the others, if they are $35k above your EFC, a financial aid appeal is not going to make them suddenly affordable unless they 1) promise to meet full need as they determine it and 2) there were important errors made when they processed the aid application in the first place. You would need to speak directly woth the financial aid office, and ask them to wlk you through their calculations until you can find the error(s).
In terms of stony’s environment, and as a current student, i wouldn’t advise to go here. The environment sucks really bad as well as the food. If you’re into drinking/smoking you might fit in, but moreover there aren’t many leadership qualities in the population. Harsh but true. Also, many classes in the compsci dept are bad, as they aren’t refined and the expectations for students are way too high.