I am new to CC and would just like some input on my final two school choices.
I was accepted to the Mechanical Engineering Program at both WPI and RIT, and waitlisted by Cornell . Anyways, I am struggling to choose between RIT and WPI because they both have so much to offer.
I enjoy the open maker-spaces at RIT, the co-ops, and the renewable energy option, but WPI has a great campus feel and a better overall ranking. Some pros and cons and other opinions of the schools would be helpful in making my decision.
My interests: Baseball, Soccer, Theater, Band, First Responding
We visited both and looked very closely at WPI, including several visits. I have to say it is one of our favorite schools after 3 college searches. We loved the hands-on approach and unique scheduling. Campus is very beautiful. Itâs in a nice part of town, and the Worcester downtown is undergoing a major remaking. The surrounding area has lots to offer. Downtown Boston is only a short train ride away. Job prospects are terrific. I would not knock RIT in any way, especially for engineering. We liked it a lot. I"m sure you would be happy there and would do well with your degree. But WPI was one of our very favorites (out of 50+ schools visited). Good luck making your decision!
WPI:
Better location, closer to Boston and the various opportunities it provides for internships and research, smaller classes and friendly, accessible professors, a great reputation with employers. They are also opening a brand new Maker space /innovation lab next year. ECâs you will be okay with 1st responding, division 3 Baseball & soccer a small but efficient theater club. The only thing to really consider is if you are comfortable with a 7-week schedule, it requires a lot of discipline and ability stay on top of your workload. it is also very project based. Better weather than RIT, Smaller campus, just a lot more cheerful.
RIT is not a bad choice, but WPI has a lot more to offer.
Pay no attention to rank. Ranking systems are flawed. What you need to emphasize is fit. WPI is like no other school. Their curriculum is project based, their terms are short, with only three classes, and you can study engineering abroad (I mean real engineering, not getting ECs out of the way in some foreign country). If this resonates with you, WPI is your school. If youâd prefer a more traditional approach, RIT is your school.
Like @TTG, we visited lots of schools when my son was searching. WPI made his final list of three. He ended up at Cal Poly, but didnât make his final choice until 2 days before the deadline. Thereâs lots to like about WPI.
My daughter chose WPI for next year. The projects presented at Accepted Studentâs Day did not compare at any other campus! Time will tell how the 7 week courses play out butâŠthe projects were quite impressive.
Agree with all thatâs been said. We just visited both campuses and besides the great programs that WPI offers, we thought the WPI campus was much nicer. RIT was huge, not very attractive. Think very large industrial park. The kids we met at WPI were also much more friendly, though admittedly we only spoke to a few at both schools.
I think it really comes down to fit. These two schools are pretty different, but both are good choices IMO.
My son chose RIT (over WPI, RPI, URoc, other state schools) for EE.
He found WPIâs campus to be sort of cramped, and wasnât excited about either the strong group focus or the short terms. A lot of people are turned off by RITâs âbrick-cityâ campus, but my son didnât care. It just wasnât an important criteria for him. He liked that RIT had a larger, somewhat more diverse student body, with the strong arts programs, etc.
He wasnât as excited about the schools where he felt that âeveryoneâ was an engineer, and he liked the strong co-op program at RIT. Again, all just âfitâ. The city of Rochester isnât at your doorstep at RIT, but isnât far and there are parks and cultural activities to explore.
He is getting a great education and co-op opportunities, is happy with most of his instructors, and has a diverse group of friends/experience through his involvement in athletics. The new President is the former Dean of the School of Engineering at UMichigan, and I think he will have a positive influence on the schoolâs reputation and direction.
. Anyways, I am struggling to choose between RIT and WPI because they both have so much to offer.