I’m currently trying to decide between these two schools – I want to study engineering but I also what to take classes relating to my hobbies of art and music. WPI is an engineering school thats a good size, not too far from my home (2 hours) and has music lessons that I’ll be able to take for guitar without having to audition like at U of R. I got in for undecided engineering. U of R has students taking other majors so I assume there will be more diverse people taking all different majors in arts and humanities as well as the sciences. It’s also a 7 hour drive from where I currently live. I got into the mechanical engineering program. I was considering Lafayette but I knocked that off my list after hearing about how big greek life is. I’m looking forward to hearing anyone opinions on these schools!
Though WPI represents a nice option for the quality and breadth of its engineering programs, it seems you would be more satisfied with studying engineering amid the wider array of academics available at the University of Rochester, as well as with the diversity of student interests you would encounter there.
I think UR will open more doors for you with its prestige and the students there also have a lot of fun. If the audition doesn’t work out I am sure you can find some sort of club to satisfy your guitar itch.
Based on its description in Choosing the Right College, UR’s musical instruction appears reasonably accessible:
WPI is project based education with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking as reflected by its distinctive degree requirements. This results in a student body where all majors are involved in interdisciplinary thinking by program design and they know this before they get there. It is not your typical STEM university.
At WPI all available majors are undecided by entering students.
Check this out @ https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/pbl-higher-education
Guitar interests? See @ https://www.wpi.edu/news/professor-vj-manzo-creates-research-lab-electric-guitar-innovation
You cannot be a music or art major at WPI
Engineering typically is the least flexible major at most schools, as there are so many required classes. We toured URod a year and a half ago and were impressed with the very flexible curriculum. I don’t remember all of the details, but I do remember that you could select “bubbles” of different classes. I’d check their website for details.
The gorgeous architecture of the library felt like an Ivy school…the buildings and campus were beautiful. I think they did have underground tunnels between many buildings, which would be amazing in the cold winters, but there was a blizzard in late November so that is a factor if you aren’t used to harsh winters.
Son is a junior at UR. I would say Rochester is by far the better academic school. Fine engineering program! Lots of students take music classes at Eastman. A very rigorous place but if you keep an open mind and try a little, you can find your social group. I’ve been extremely impressed with all the students I’ve met.
I do not question the high regard and observations you have noted here regarding Rochester. I do wonder what you actually know about WPI… especially regarding the breadth and depth of the engineering offerings. the quality of the student body and the unique nature of its interdisciplinary project program. The median, GPA of matriculating student at WPI is 3.89/4. This is an unweighted GPA as weighted GPAs are not comparable between secondary schools and therefore not valid compressions.
Are you familiar with the university?
American Optical was headquartered just outside of Worcester for decades and funded a physicist in optics for generations at WPI. We knew that Rochester was probably the best school in the US to pursue a PhD in optics.
That having been said, where have you gathered your WPI impressions?