WPI vs. RIT?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1

<p>I'm pretty torn between these two schools. I intend to major in either civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering at one of these colleges. If people could answer the following questions about WPI, that would be a great help towards my making a decision by next week.
My main concern about WPI is the IQP. It is my understanding that it is a project often unrelated to one's major. I don't really like that fact and it doesn't make much sense to me. If someone could explain the IQP's value to me, that would be helpful.</p>

<ol>
<li> What do you like about your college?</li>
<li> What don’t you like about your college?</li>
<li> How is the food under the meal plans?</li>
<li> Are there decent dining options near campus (ex. pizza & burger places)?</li>
<li> Is there easy access to the nearby cities or towns?</li>
<li> If you took engineering exploratory courses at your college, how helpful were they in helping you choose a major?</li>
<li> If you took engineering preparatory courses in high school, how helpful were they in preparing you for college workloads?</li>
<li> What kinds of things are nearby to do on weekends and during spare time? </li>
<li> What kind of laptop do you have, and what programs would you recommend getting for it?</li>
<li>How do you like the quarter system at WPI?</li>
<li>How is the internship/co-op program at WPI?</li>
<li>What are the major projects like at WPI?</li>
</ol>

2

<p>Quoting from the WPI website:
[Interdisciplinary</a> & Global Studies Division - Interactive Qualifying Project](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/academics/Depts/IGSD/iqp.html]Interdisciplinary”>http://www.wpi.edu/academics/Depts/IGSD/iqp.html)</p>

<p>"The Interactive Qualifying Project, or IQP as it is known on campus, is WPI’s most distinctive academic requirement, and is unique in higher education. The IQP challenges students to address a problem that lies at the intersection of science or technology with social issues and human needs and is done under the direct guidance of one or more faculty advisors, usually in teams of 2-4 students.</p>

<p>Many IQP ideas come from external sponsors, while others are proposed by faculty members or the students themselves. Students usually arrange their IQP while they are sophomores, and then complete the project in the junior year. An IQP involves at least 1 unit of academic work – the equivalent of three courses – and can either be completed in a single term, or spread over multiple terms.</p>

<p>The objective of this interdisciplinary requirement is to enable WPI graduates to understand, as citizens and as professionals, how their careers will affect the larger society of which they are part. Generally, these projects involve some analysis of how technology affects, and is affected by, individuals and communities. Many of the projects are proposed by external agencies or organizations, and most are done in teams. About 60% of all IQPs are completed through the Global Perspective Program at one of WPI’s Project Centers in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, or Europe.</p>

<p>The IQP is an intentionally broad and integrative experience; student teams are drawn from all disciplines, and the project topic is typically not related to the students’ major field. The methods used by IQP students sometimes arise from training in the social sciences or humanities. "</p>

<p>If you use the links on the page I listed above, you can read a lot more about the IQP, including overseas project locations and descriptions of completed IQPs. You can even read the project reports. Note that it says the projects are “typically not related” to your major, you can choose a project that you find meaningful and interesting. </p>

<p>My son attends WPI but also looked at RIT a few years ago. I think the schools are quite different even though they are both tech-oriented. My son didn’t like RIT at all, not sure what all the reasons were but I know he didn’t like the campus or the location. He was also not interested in co-op, and would prefer a 5-year Master’s program. Seems like co-op is important at RIT. To me RIT seems more like Northeastern Univ. Internships are really important and the career center does a great job of getting employers in for job fairs (for permanent jobs for seniors and internships for everyone else). Co-op does exist but I heard less than 3% of students do co-op, because they feel the combination of IQP, MQP and internships take the place of co-op and allow you to graduate in 4 years.</p>

<p>Campus food is pretty good, but not fabulous: 1 main cafeteria with lots of different choices, and a small food court in the campus center, and the Goat’s Head Pub. There are about half a dozen places a few blocks off campus on Highland St. and TONS more choices in the rest of Worcester, some of which are accessible by a campus bus (Woobus). Worcester has 13 colleges and universities in its consortium. Boston is about an hour away by car, a little longer by train.</p>

<p>Like I said, I think these schools are very different, so you should try to visit both and do plenty of research to make the right choice for you.</p>

3

<p>My S visited both campuses and applied to both schools. </p>

<p>RIT’s academic staff went out of their way to meet with him, show him labs, etc. Campus is nice, but a little on the “community college” looking side (all the building look the same). The campus is rather isolated from the rest of Rochester. Not sure what campus life is really like there. The co-op opportunity is a smart way to go, in my opinion. It takes an extra year, but you don’t pay tuition that year and you get paid. As someone who hires people, relevant experience is a big plus for a new grad.</p>

<p>S picked WPI. Campus is compact and attractive and close to shops and restaurants. Newer campus center and new athletic center opening soon. WPI seems to be doing a lot to raise its national profile. It’s appearing on lists like Bloomberg’s ROI list and Forbes. S has not yet reached the point of selecting an IQP, but I see it like this. The IQP as a opportunity to gain experience and perspective outside your area of expertise. It can also be an opportunity to explore your own interests outside of engineering. Like the co-op, the IQP and MQP provide tangible experience that will be viewed favorably by employers.</p>

<p>WPI’s term system takes some getting used to, but it also means you work hard for 7 weeks at a time and get a week off both fall and spring, as well 3 weeks+ at Christmas. I recall RIT’s winter break is very short. Activities are probably similar at both schools. What are your interests?</p>

4

<p>BeanTownGirl gave you lots of good stuff there. And good advice to go and visit both to make your decision. I don’t really see a comparison between WPI and RIT since they are such different schools, but let me see if as an Alumni and a current parent I can help a little on this IQP hurdle…</p>

<p>First, as you know, WPI is a project oriented education. You will learn by doing. Not to say you won’t learn in other ways, but one of the hallmarks of a WPI education is that you will step into the workplace and know quite a bit about how to be a systems engineer or project manager on day one because of the IQP and MQP experience. </p>

<p>The IQP allows you the opportunity to delve into an unrelated area but apply the skills you’ve learned in your Freshman and Sophomore years to solve that problem. Even though the project area won’t necessarily be related to your major, it will be problem solving and you will utilize everything you’ve learned up to that point - and then some. It’s not usually a “technical” solution. It’s usually a societal problem or issue. It gives you the opportunity to work with a group and you will find out how you relate to others - just like you will in the workplace - and you will hone your interpersonal and presentational skills, as well as get to know some faculty very well. It pushes your boundaries and sets you up nicely for approaching your MQP and another interesting project to discuss on those job interviews. </p>

<p>WPI does a great job of having a bunch of IQP opportunities for the students to choose from - and places to travel to. It is, just like so many things at college, all what you make of it.</p>

<p>As for some of your other questions, I loved the 7 week terms. Real depth in a short amount of time. And if you were in a “painful” class, it was over in 7 weeks!</p>

5

<p>We just came back from visiting both last month. Son really likes RIT, but is keeping WPI on the list. Some of the differences we noted (and none are good/bad distinctions, just depends on what you value): </p>

<p>WPI<br>

  • small, close knit community feel. Students coming up and hugging one another all over campus!<br>
  • a much greater “service” component feel with the projects and study abroad possibilities
  • a lot of talk about how great the cookies are
  • the student body seemed much more “tech-ish” by looks (it was rated by someplace, I can’t remember as one of the nerdiest schools in the country)
  • more of a college town feel. Close to Boston.</p>

<p>RIT

  • much larger feel, more spread out, students seemed to cluster rather than mingle and blend
  • incredible resources, labs, etc., everything seemed very new
  • much better on-campus dining and recreation. Seemed it would be easier to stay in shape and eat healthy here.
  • coops, of course
  • dorms were really small and cramped.
  • very suburban feel. Close to Rochester.</p>

<p>Every student we spoke with at both schools LOVED their school. I don’t think you can go wrong with either one, but they are very different. It just comes down to fit, I suppose.</p>

6

<p>good discussion…
a few WPI points:
The seven week terms are not so scary if you realize that you take 3 courses at a time (or 4 if you overload)! It makes it quite do-able, but you can’t be a procrastinator and you need to ask for help if you are floundering. You can’t afford to get behind! They provide plenty of academic support especially for the typical freshman courses (“MASH” center), and kids often study/work together. Very collaborative environment, a feature important to my son.
Facilities- RIT did have one of the most awesome new athletic facilities we saw on our many college tours over two summers. But, WPI’s new athletic center will be opening this fall!!! The RIT campus looks uniform and newer because it is a fairly new campus, having relocated from downtown Rochester. My son really objected to the uniformity of the buildings, though it didn’t bother me. Funny what they will react to!
Nerdy kids at WPI - yup. Not sure if RIT is any less nerdy, but perhaps they have a broader spectrum since their art programs seem stronger? But my son liked WPI because he felt they were mostly “happy nerds”, and he didn’t get the same vibe at some other places (CMU for example).
WPI has a lot less snow even if you ignore this year’s freaky mild weather :-)</p>

<p>But as always it comes down to fit!</p>