Help me choose between Rensselaer Polytechnic University [$38k, business] and Washington and Lee University [$93k]

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Hi, all! I’m currently a high school senior and Washington and Lee University just took me off the waitlist Thursday night- my AO called me and said the official offers will be released on Monday. I’ve already put down my deposit for RPI, which I initially chose over some other mid-tier schools (Lehigh, UF) due to its tuition being much cheaper. I’m having trouble deciding now, and I just wanted some insight from other people.

I’m an Asian-American female who took 6 APs and applied unhooked with a 1510 SAT and 4.5 Weighted GPA- something like a 90 average unweighted. I grew up in New England in a medium sized town with about 200 kids in my graduating class. It’s below average in diversity (primarily white and Asian), as well as a fairly affluent town. My family is considered middle class for the area. I’d consider myself liberal, although my friends are a mix of different ideological views. I applied as a business major for both schools, and I’m interested in going to graduate school, although I haven’t decided whether I want to pursue Law School or get a MBA. Also, I’m interested in potentially getting into Politics.

At RPI I’d be studying Business Management and possibly going for the 4+1 BS in Business and MS in Data Analytics. My problem is that I’ve never taken a Computer Science course, and I’m currently taking Calculus BC (Calc 1+2) and struggling a lot. Going to RPI and locking myself into a STEM major this early on is something I’m scared of, especially since it’s not like I can just switch into a Biomedical Engineering or Computer Science major. However, the price is only 38k a year (without factoring in financial aid), and the Merit Scholarships are renewable on a per year basis, and there’s no minimum GPA required to keep it. As long as I don’t get put on academic probation, I would be paying around 40k a year. However, it’s definitely one of those schools where everyone is always grinding, the weed out courses are difficult, and the 70:30 ratio of men to women is throwing me off. Plus, there doesn’t seem to be a strong school spirit or really anything to do in the area. My parents went there for graduate school and warned me to basically never go into Troy itself, as it’s not a safe environment.

Washington and Lee, on the other hand, was one of my dream schools. I never got the chance to tour (red flag, I know), but through my research myself and my communications with the Admissions Office and the interview I completed, I really enjoyed the “vibe,” so to speak. The campus culture and the wide array of activities available to students are incredibly interesting to me. However, it’s twice the sticker price of RPI at 87k a year, and nobody’s ever heard of it, at least in the Northeast. I pushed my financial aid information in, but I highly doubt I’ll get any money. I’d be studying business and possibly political science, as well as continuing to pursue music. I think I’d attempt to go to law school afterwards as well. I know Washington and Lee has one of the least stringent business curriculums out there, and I’m a bit worried about diversity. People say that you can make a lot of connections, but I’m not exactly “in the know.” I’m also interested in Greek Life so I’m not too worried about that, and I know the campus has many activities that make up for the lack of real town, but it’s pretty isolating and I think it would be an 11 hour drive from my current location.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

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How easily can you and your parents afford the WLU price without parent or cosigned loans?

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Neither school seems ideal for you. Was there a less expensive public or private school on your list that you could still consider?

It’s true, RPI is a grind it out school where even business requires two semesters of Calc. Most majors are very math-y there. And the town isnt great but the price is nice (my S18 was similarly down to RPI and Pitt). Great companies also recruit from RPI so if your law school plans change that’s good. So if you can tough it out, job prospects are good. Suggest you get a Calc tutor from day one.

W&L is well regarded but expensive. You can get a poli sci degree cheaper elsewhere.

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We’d need to take out loans.

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Paging @DramaMama2021

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I actually had committed to RPI already and withdrew my other applications- in hindsight, probably not the best decision, but I liked the school well enough and wanted the smaller class sizes compared to UMASS or UCONN. I hadn’t expected to get off of any waitlists, which is why I had locked in my decision so early.

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I have a junior at W&L and would be happy to answer questions.

BUT…

It does not seem a good fit financially if it requires loans, especially with the potential for grad school (law & MBA are expensive!) Have you contacted the FA office? They are typically generous with need-aid, if you qualify. There will be no merit aid at this stage.

RPI also doesn’t sound like a good fit, other than financially.

You may want to reach out to some of the other affordable options that you turned down to see if they’d let you reconsider. Did you have other options that would not require loans?

Lastly, review the NACAC list of schools still accepting applications and offering financial aid to see if any are of interest.

Best of luck!

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OP: Have you run the NPC net price calculator for W&L ? You might get meaningful financial aid.

It appears that–other than from a financial standpoint–Wash & Lee would be a great school for you. Call your regional rep & ask about financial aid.

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Thank you so much! Yes, I’ve contacted the Financial Aid office, but she seemed a little perturbed at my call and told me that they were working on it and would send estimates as soon as possible.

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My parents make a little over 250k combined, which is right over the W&L promise- the amount of students getting meaningful financial aid goes from over 90% to only 47%. I haven’t tried the NPC yet, but I’ll go do that! Thank you!

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The NPC promise is not absolute. At my income, 88% got $38K and we got none. It’s based on assets too, not just income.

If you need to take loans, it’s too much.

If you need them for RPI, then in now way can you afford W&L.

Computer science - many students haven’t had exposure. Yes, it’s part of the RPI curriculum and it’s likely a good thing.

Nonetheless, you can’t afford W&L - unless you get huge aid - since you’re already taking loans (for WPI).

The WL is need aware and they’re going to seek full pay most likely.

As for law school - you can go anywhere and major in anything - so these choices shouldn’t play a part.

I hope you can afford RPI - loans aren’t good. But assuming you are full pay at W&L, that’s really your only option.

Good luck.

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I hope you can see the WL financial aid award before you need to make a decision.

@tsbna44 the student was accepted…we have no way to know how their college ability to pay factored into this…or whether they will receive need based aid. The OP needs to see the finaid award themselves and then make a decision.

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I understand - I’m just noting they are basing an assumption off the W&L table - but it’s never that easy.

The family makes $250K.

I’m also assuming WL, being need aware, they will go after full pay.

OP will know - when they are told.

One cannot be forced to make a decision without knowing the financials. And I’m basing on what OP said:

I pushed my financial aid information in, but I highly doubt I’ll get any money.

As for the comment that know one has heard of it - yes (and the same could be said for RPI in business) but that doesn’t mean they’re not great.

Those who need to know - know. Both place very well.

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Hopefully they’ll get back to you soon. I’m sure they are swamped right now.

Did you have any acceptances, other than RPI, that would be possible with no more than the federal student loans? I’m unclear if RPI would require loans, but some other posters seem to think it will.

Only share what you are comfortable sharing, but my point is if grad school is in your plan it is best to minimize or avoid debt for undergrad.

Of course, I hope W&L becomes a realistic possibility. But I’m biased. :smiley:

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Washington&Lee is very well-know on thr eastern seaboard, though not as much as in the South.

A 4 in the Calc BC exam would give you the equivalent of calc 1&2 at RPI.

Was RPI your least expensive option?
What was your budget?

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They released my decision, and I haven’t qualified for any aid- the $87,000 price tag isn’t even accurate, because it’s actually $92,700. My parents can essentially cover up to 40k per year, meaning that if I wished to attend W&L, I’d have to take out loans. For law school, I’m expected to pay my own tuition. which is completely understandable.

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Thank you! I actually talked to a current student majoring in Data Analytics at RPI and she said that her AP Calculus credits didn’t transfer successfully, but she recommended retaking Calculus again regardless as a refresher. Yes, RPI was my cheapest school out of the 21 I applied to. I mentioned this in a previous comment, but my budget is 40k per year. Unfortunately, all the private universities I applied to are way above that range, which is why I turned them down.

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Basically, it looks like RPI is within your parents’ budget, while WLU is way over.

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Yep. Looks like I’ll be an engineer this fall!

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You can’t take out loans to cover that much. Even if you wanted to. So that’s off the table.

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