Is anyone trying to decide between these two? Or has decided? Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Wow – 2 very different settings. My kid chose WPI for the size (UMass felt much too big for her liking), the academic calendar (4 quarters), and the project-based curriculum. She enjoys teamwork. It also had plenty of music opportunities for her; more than she had expected at an engineering school. I think it comes down to what is important to you; which is a place where you can see yourself “at home” for the next 4 years. And of course, if money is an issue, and if you’re in-state, UMass could be a bargain. Good luck! Let us know what you decide (and if you have specific questions!).
@cameo43 Thank you! WPI felt like home to me from the first time we visited. I, of course, did not want to influence my son. We visited many great schools in the summer before his Junior year, and WPI was the one he wanted to go back to for the Fall Open House. Our whole family fell in love. He made up his mind then. Even after we had visited some more schools last summer, it was still till top choice for my son. The quarter system is a plus. Also, project based curriculum - our son enjoys team environment, works really well with others. So when December acceptance came, we all were over the moon thrilled! But like you said, because we are in-state, UMass is a bargain financially. My husband took our son to the accepted students day to UMass this past Sunday, and they came home hopeful. Very impressed with Honors College. Loved the Engineering building just for Computer and Electrical Engineering students. We are all going to WPI accepted students day next week. Even our daughter is taking a day off school. We all feel like this is the place. Money is a big factor though… So just hoping to get some more info from either “veterans” here or people in the same boat.
Can’t be sure how it is now, but WPI had one building for EE with a CS related addition. Then a new separate building was built next door to EE for CS. Updates are constant.
Got to go back and take a tour! In the STEM world, the half life of laboratories is not very long.
WPI '67
@retiredfarmer Thank you! Always great to hear your input! We will be checking this out next week! So excited!
@retiredfarmer, say it isn’t so! I can’t believe you haven’t been there recently. You’ve got to see the Foisie Innovation Studio, among other things! Your posts are always so helpful here; you need an in-person update on that campus! 
At our Accepted Student Day April 3rd at WPI, the interactive media and game design department head as well as the Computer Science head told us about the approval of yet another building which should be up in 2 years and the hiring of many staff members within the two majors that we checked out. WPI has such a great vibe. We got to tour a few labs and really like what we see. My son is choosing between WPI and RPI, which we will visit again next weekend. I really like WPI and so far my son is saying that if he had to choose today, they would be it, but he wants to give RPI its chance.
Thank you for your encouragement!
Just signed up to take my 16 year old Australian Shepherd and the old Buick to WPI at the end of May. Although I have read all kinds of material and am aware of the constant parade of new buildings, seeing it first hand will be fun! I will also be able to reminisce with old classmates about all the new toys and an overnight trip to a hamburger stand which ended up in NYC at the Empire State building and slide rulers that predated the computer.