Here’s a recap of our visits over the past year + with my D24. I can’t remember if I’ve done any of the before, but here they are all in one place now that touring is over.
Rowan University, moved up (in my mind, anyway) after visiting, but eventually came off the list, due to its location (felt like the middle of nowhere).
Wentworth - came off the list after visiting, but then later was added back in. I did not go on this tour, so this is just D24’s takeaways… Pluses: D24 was impressed with the labs and maker space facilities. Location in Boston a huge draw. Cons: D24 did not love the open, urban campus - was hoping it would be more of a closed campus like that of her sister’s (Simmons).
TCNJ - came off the list after visiting. Campus was very cute, but as with Rowan, it felt like there was really nothing around. In addition, after visiting some private schools and seeing their engineering spaces, my D and my H felt that the facilities and equipment wasn’t on par with what they had seen elsewhere.
SUNY Bighamton - remained on the list, not sure the visit moved the needle too much in either direction. Pluses: Nice campus, big but not too big, the structure of the 4 residential colleges were really cool. Far enough from home to feel like it is “away” (and in another state), but easy enough to get to and get home on breaks. Dining options seemed good and varied. Cons: Another isolated campus, though the campus does provide shuttle service between campus and downtown. Did not get to see downtown, but understand it is not much to look at/experience.
Rochester Institute of Technology - came way up after the visit. Pluses: The campus and facilities were really impressive. Very cool to see an environment full of makers. The campus is self-contained and in the middle of a suburb, but it seems as though there is a lot of attention toward making campus life active and engaging. Cons: The campus is in the middle of nowhere. The city of Rochester is not far, but without a car, feels like it might as well be hours away. Also did not seem like the city would be a hub of student activity and recreation (admittedly, only drove in for dinner and a quick peruse through some neighborhood). It is also a bit further from home than feels comfortable (6.5 hours), especially given there doesn’t seem to be accessible public transportation (amtrak) to get back and forth. That’s a long drive or an expensive flight.
University of Delaware - down, came off the list after visiting. I personally really liked the campus, but D24 felt it was too big (she didn’t love the idea of needing to take a shuttle bus around or walk far). One thing we both noted was there seemed to be no diversity at all among the students we saw. Every single one looks like they could have stepped right out of our middle class, predominantly caucasion, New Jersey high school.
Stevens Institute - moved up on the list. we visited on Good Friday last year, so campus was very quiet and we did a self-guided tour. Will be going back for an admitted student event, but the impressions from our limited visit were: Pluses: Loved the size, feel and location of campus. Small and contained, but adjacent to Washington St. in Hoboken. Poked our heads in the engineering labs and D24 and H were impressed. Cons: Perhaps because we were there on Good Friday, the only people that seemed to be on campus were obviously international grad students. Thus, it didn’t feel very diverse (but in the completely opposite way of UDel). Also a concern that the campus empties out on the weekends.