Accepted to both UConn honors program and to Rensselaer for chemical engineering. UConn is honors with a full tuition ride, and RPI is a substantial scholarship but will still cost more. RPI has a great reputation for STEM and is a smaller school where resources may be easier to find, but I would definitely stand out at UConn and it has a lot more options that I can pursue outside of engineering. Any advice for making a final decision?
Solely based on engineering, II would say RPI if you can swing if financially but if it will be hardship, run with your UConn honors acceptance. Congrats on having solid options!
UConn is a good engineering school, and that’s a pretty sweet deal. To me, it depends on how much more RPI will require you to take out in loans. For example, to exaggerate a bit, if UConn requires $10k in loans, and RPI requires $150k, go to UConn. But if UConn requires $10k and RPI requires $12k, go to RPI.
Basically, RPI doesn’t have enough of a boost in reputation in this field to make massive debt something you should consider. But if the debt difference is reasonable, you can consider RPI.
With that said, you did mention you like the non-engineering options that UConn offers to you, and the ability to be a bit of a stand out student there. To me, that, plus the money, gives the edge to UConn. There are things you can do to make your UConn experience have what you like about RPI (internships, co-ops, research, independent study with professors, etc.), so if you do choose UConn, do those things, and you’re golden.