We actually drove by RPI but couldn’t fit in a tour due to their scheduling limitations. She did not like the town of Troy at all nor the campus as seen from the outside. It was honestly a very gloomy day and we were all very tired from lack of sleep and traveling so that may have tainted our perception. But she does have a friend who goes there and loves it so she is open to it. We really do need to visit and have her shadow someone to know for sure though.
LIkely not the pretties city - but I do think that given it’s four years, from across the country, and there are ADHD concerns, etc., it’s well worth the “detailed” visit to any and all you are considering.
Obviously it’s not always easy logistically - but given the care you’ve taken this far, it’s important.
Just curious - coming from Washington, how did you even hear of WNEU? It’s definitely one people have to “find” vs. knowing about.
1 Like
As has been recounted, the ABET accreditation is obviously important and verifies curriculum, so leave the coursework aside.
FWIW I grew up and have always lived in northeast. I have barely heard of WNEU, where as RPI has been on my radar forever (and I don’t live particularly near RPI). I had to look up where WNEU is just now. I’d never say name recognition should be a #1 concern, but I wouldn’t always ignore it entirely.
I would look at graduation rates…I would suspect RPIs is much higher (though that is a guess) and really look at social atmosphere and facilities of both.
2 Likes
Yes we are on the west coast as well. Right now that is the biggest negative for RPI, with no direct flights to Albany. Still, we will be visiting this spring because right now as an accepted student this is the most power they will have to vet universities. Something to consider is differences in how the curriculum is implemented and differences in electives available. Another thing to consider is availability of research with faculty and extra-curricular engineering clubs. I know WPI is pretty distinct in its curriculum implementation in that it is a heavily project based school. It’s academic year runs through 4 very fast paced 7 week quarters. Depending on the kid that may be appealing or not. RPI is a more traditional semester based system with the Arch caveat. Unlike for example UW, RPI is a school that will get kids into core engineering classes starting their freshman year. If that is appealing you can see what UVM and WNEU do in this regard. Another aspect is that small programs can be good, but too small usually means lack of access to equipment, limited electives etc… ABET accreditation is great, but it should be thought of as a minimum standard. Something else to consider is where does your daughter want her first job to be. If she is fine with it being in New England then any of these programs may be ok, although RPI and WPI will likely be more intensely recruited there. In terms of nation-wide recruiting, and the ability to move back to the west coast after graduation I suspect RPI>WPI>UVM>WNEU.
4 Likes
Especially post-Covid more employers are becoming comfortable with an initial interview via Zoom instead of on-campus. This is a particular benefit when looking for internship and coop positions since an offer is often extended after just the first interview, while for post-college those making it past the first interview are typically brought out for a plant visit before an offer is made. So it may well be possible for her to find summer internships on the West Coast and a successful internship often leads to a job offer after graduation.
1 Like
We are from the northeast actually and are hoping to move back in the next couple of years. We just did a search for all of the schools that offer robotics engineering. It was not top of her list by any means but they did a nice job in making it feel very welcoming. We now know to request the same shadowing opportunity at the others. Unfortunately it was the last school we visited and so had no time to add it to the other schools visits.
1 Like
While admissions is a sales department, we had several schools that gave that exact same feeling - including the one my daughter is at - although that’s not why she went.
And just because it’s not the biggest name doesn’t mean you can’t get a great education - and a great outcome. But I would definitely ask for their outcome report!!
No matter where your student wants to end up - so much hiring is done online today - I think they can get anywhere.
My son interviewed with 20 companies - mostly nowhere near the school - not even the same region. He’s in Arizona now (went to Alabama) and he could have ended up in Southern Mass as well - one of the offers.
While the “best name” and all that could matter or matters to many - I still say - she has to be there four years, day after day - and it’s a brutal major - so where she finds comfort absolutely should matter somewhat.
That she had an experience there - shadowing for a day that maybe isn’t happening at other schools - is a bummer - so she could truly compare.
And you noted that she might already be ahead academically - I can’t know for sure, but the quality of student at WNEU is likely not to the level of RPI and WPI.
I think about WPI - and you mentioned it may be a little too big - but hopefully you noted their class schedules - is very different with the 7 week courses but I believe they also factor international study into it - which is not necessarily easy for engineers at other schools.
In the end, where ever you decide to send her, make sure they have enough academic breadth (other majors) just in case - and if she goes and has a wonderful four years, then I think mission accomplished!!
It’s great she has wonderful opportunities - and I hope she finds that school that looking back in a year from now, she’ll feel like - yep, this was the place for me!!!
5 Likes
All very good points, thank you! I will discuss them all with her.
We are hoping to move back east as well in the next few years, hence the push to send her east.
We don’t live all that far from Western NE. It’s a nice small college. That department is very small, it seems. I think you should carefully look at the other more robust options your student has.
WNE is a fine college for the right student. The kids we know who went there all lived within an hour of the school. I’d check to see what sorts of things are happening on the weekends there as well.
4 Likes
This is also what I worry about. I don’t want her to be the smartest kid in her classes. While that may feel good, it doesn’t give her anything to reach for. Some competition is a good thing. We just need to find the right balance.
1 Like
I had looked WNEU several years ago for a student I was helping. Being over cautious we wrote it off because of Springfield Mass and safety of the area. There were other similar schools were safety was not an issue. I do agree with TBNA about the academic rigor of the curriclum and being among your academic peers.
1 Like
I think WPI would be the best choice from all I have read. They have the best Robotics program according to all of the ranking sites I have checked. RPI and WPI seem to be neck and neck in terms of mechanical engineering. I liked it. But my daughter has to feel it. I’m considering coming out again with her to give her the full experience with RPI and WPI and possibly UVM. The one thing UVM has going for it over all of the others (other than proximity to good skiiing!) is that they offer chinese language classes, which my daughter has been taking for the last 6 years and would like to continue. But of course that is not a game changer in any way. There are plenty of colleges nearby where she can satisfy that need. And yes, she could get her masters at a different school. But getting into the hands on robotics early on would keep her interested. She is a hands-on kind of learner anyway. At least she prefers it.
1 Like
There is another significant benefit to UVM… if the D decides that engineering is not for her (which happens in a pretty significant percentage of cases) UVM has dozens of other majors for her.
Even the most committed engineering student really doesn’t grasp what the program is all about until they are in it. Yes, ME is hands on and yes, Robotics is team and project based. But there is a ton of foundational theory (math, math, more problem sets and math) before you start blowing things up and building cool gizmos and creating incredible “stuff”. You aren’t getting a scout badge in robotics- you need to be a well rounded scientist and engineer first.
I don’t think every kid needs to aspire to “the best” program in the desired field. But I do think every kid needs a solid backup major at the school they end up in. And take a look at the overall statistics on switching majors and transferring…and retention rates from freshman to sophomore year.
One final point – the gender divide in engineering. I think RPI and WPI have been sensitive to- and taking action on- the issue of women in engineering. It’s everything from how many female faculty you have (a hard and longstanding problem to solve) to “do men dominate the discussions during class?” which is an easier problem to solve. But see if WNEU has been devoting resources to supporting women.
Good luck- your D sounds fantastic!
8 Likes
Regarding hands on experience - one of the reason’s that my friend’s kid chose RPI was that it was easy to get into the car clubs as a freshman, whereas in other schools they had to wait until sophomore year to get into a hands-on-experience type of club. I don’t know whether this would be the same with robotics, but it is definitely something to consider, whether they can get hands-on-experience right away.
As for the gender divide… two girls whom I know at RPI said, “The odds are good… but the goods are odd!” But honestly, I think that this would be the same at any engineering school. It’s just that when the engineering school is part of a bigger liberal arts university, like Penn or Columbia, there are many social options. RPI is very focused on engineering.
5 Likes
I wasn’t referring to social options for women. I was referring to the phenomenon of women in science (and engineering in particular) not having the kind of support that their male classmates have.
Social life- to each his/her own.
An engineering program, anywhere, is going to give its students all the challenge they can handle 
And to quote Stephen Jay Gould ‘The Median Isn’t The Message’. While the average student at WNEU may not be on par with those at her other choices, students are not randomly assigned to majors. Many of the ones that gravitate towards majors like engineering are likely to be plenty smart.
She has some good choices and I hope she finds the right fit.
3 Likes
Whether or not she’d be “beyond” the programs, it seems like both WPI and RPI have Chinese opportunities - with RPI a minor. Not sure if available to all students but it could be researched.
Chinese Language | The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (rpi.edu)
Language Programs | Worcester Polytechnic Institute (wpi.edu)
2 Likes
Whether or not she’d be “beyond” the programs, it seems like both WPI and RPI have Chinese opportunities - with RPI a minor. Not sure if available to all students but it could be researched.
Thank you! I don’t know why I thought they didn’t have it. I had researched many schools before we settled on these 4 choices so I guess I just assumed. Never a good idea 
1 Like
Apparently both offer a minor in Chinese! That is so good to know.
5 Likes
My daughter was in engineering at a male dominated schools (at the time the ratio was 70/30?). Although she was a captain on an team sport, she did not like group projects and those were the only things she really had a problem with. Three on the project, only one would be a woman. She liked to get things done weeks before they were due and the others didn’t. It did prepare her for her job situation, where she is the only woman on her team, all her bosses are male, etc. She does her work, her bosses like her, and her bonuses reflect that.
I think if you/daughter are satisfied with all the schools, and can afford them all, then it gets down to the little things. Does she like the idea of the required RPI summer program? There are some old threads about how much parents/students didn’t like it (cost and no air con). Does she want to take a minor in another subject (Chinese, art, theater, history)? Does she have other hobbies or activities that one school offers or has in the area - jogging, hiking, skiing, a capella?
Engineering firms will know the schools, but the average person will not know WNEU and often not RPI (unless they follow college hockey). Most will know U of Vermont (although she’ll be asked where is that? or is that the one in Burlington?) It won’t be an issue when seeking employement…
3 Likes