Accepted Yesterday!
GPA: 3.86
ACT: 27
Merit: $106,000 ($26,500/year)
Lots of extracurricular activities and 3 year science research program (essentially been doing undergrad research since sophmore year isolating factors that contribute to Anhedonic severity which is a common factor of depression), fencing since 4th grade, backpacking trip leader and counselor, extracurricular projects such as go kart and catamaran and electric skateboard etc etc
Good luck to everyone!
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Exactly what I did. There were some that said that we applied to too many schools, however as paprents we have to ensure that neither us as parents or our child will be saddled with eternal debt. We will love the school that loves her best and provided the best over all experience, financially and fit wise.
"These are only merit scholarships. I think they will announce need-based later (most colleges do) to fill the gap. You should contact them perhaps.
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If this is true than that would be great because as it stands now, even with this great merit aid, it will be a struggle.
My daughter’s portal gave her merit and the financial aid information. You have to click through to find it.
My daughter really loves it she is an introvert also; when we visited schools she was most comfortable there. I know my son would have been very happy there also; He’s CS and did get into all our state schools in MA. 35 ACT 1540 SAT, AP classes, extra after school clubs and sports, top ten high GPA same STATs as my daughter but got a fraction of the Merit that she did … I’m so sad for him. I know it will all work out but it’s frustrating.
Did he get into UMASS Amherst? We are still waiting on them. That is a great school, my daughter considered it but it’s just huge. UConn is half the size and my son did a precollege program there. What is your son’s second choice?
Yes he got into Umass Amherst which is affordable for us no Merit but he goes to a private school and is in state. He got full scholarships to Umass Lowell and Dartmouth. Amherst has a very competitive Computer Science program but like you said it is HUGE
We thought of umass as a safety until I saw the stats of everyone accepted for CS! Great food there, lol, always ranked #1 in country
Yes, WPI does often offer girls more merit money than boys.
I was unclear. I realize WPI doesn’t promise to meet full need. By “have to” offer more aid to those with low EFC, I meant WPI would realize the natural consequence of not offering enough aid would be those families turning down admission (and hurting WPI’s yield.) Whether they want to call it Presidential Merit or WPI Grant, I don’t know that it matters on WPI’s end.
For tuition breakdown, please see https://www.wpi.edu/offices/bursar/tuition.
It is not $72,000… I care because as an alumnus I donate every month, but they only have a little over $1/2B endowment and are not supported directly by taxpayers.
@retiredfarmer, The estimate that I received yesterday in my daughter’s acceptance says $ 72, 454
@retiredfarmer The cost of attendance is 72K. That’s what it is written in this year’s fin aid letter. Just tuition went up 2K and everything else went up a little bit. Unfortunately.
Unless they have recently changed the rules, admitted students are not restricted by major. When given the choice, many students do not graduate in their original major as they discover other interesting opportunities in their first year. By way of example: CS may discover robotics or BME while Biologists /Chemists switch majors both in and out. Data Science is discovered by many math and CS students. A good deal of solid information on job placement in different fields is also discovered. Dialogue with faculty, research teammates and interdisciplinary project/classroom activity also develop these new interests. Most first year work is basic foundation which leaves open choices as long as the selected university makes it possible.
This is an advantage! The range of opportunities out there are not widely know to many students. One mentoring or not mentoring teacher can make a difference.
A great deal has changed since I was a student there. We started these changes in the late 60’s.
Son got in with 17,000 merit. As others, was really hoping for more. Got into honors program at UMass Amherst, honors at UMass Lowell & full tuition, 32,000 at Drexel, and 80% of tuition at PC. He loves WPI and it would be a great match for him, but way out the price range 
Agree. WPI is a great school but it’s hard to justify the cost. My son got large merit scholarships from other schools. He’ll come out as an engineer in the end no matter where he goes.
Congratulations to everyone that was accepted. Well done!
Unfortunately this time of the year it is a sad realization for many families regarding college affordability. Every year I see a good number of kids being accepted only to realize they can’t attend because of price tag. For those that are considering attending and are over the fence regarding cost/benefit, I have a current sophomore (son) at WPI and he is thriving there. i personally consider it to be a great investment. Please PM me if you have any questions. Also, know that you might be able to cut some costs 2 and beyond by living in off campus housing and avoiding purchase of school’s meal plan.
It’s a great school and my son’s first choice. We will make it work but the merit offer was significantly lower than his other acceptances.
We have two daughters in college and there will be 3 years where they are both in undergraduate programs. We found that, while WPI did not meet need for our youngest daughter for the first 3 years while our older daughter is still in school, the merit far exceeds need the 4th year when our oldest will be out. So averaged over 4 years it is about a wash. Our oldest is at a school that meets 100% need, but for her first year she was the only one in college so need was low.
Son was deferred to RD. Would love to know if his chances now are just like any other RD applicant - or perhaps more or perhaps less. Any advice here would be appreciated.