<p>The Univ. of Rochester is not a Tier 2 school. It is on par with Carnegie Mellon. Newsweek Magazine named both Rochester and CMU “new Ivies” in 2007. Rochester Institute of Technology is slightly lesser in ranking, but from what I’ve heard, expect the kids to work hard…WPI has a robotics program, I think…and they have a reputation for being extremely hands on with different learning styles…have you considered Western New England college? That would be slightly lower in ranking, but may be smaller and give your son merit money(?)</p>