Honestly, if you are having second thoughts about the academics at RPI (which are truly fantastic-- but don’t sound like they are a great fit for YOUR interests) can you pick up the phone and find out if it’s too late to accept one of your other affordable options?? It’s only early May… colleges are used to “melt” and movement at this stage of the game. Doesn’t cost to make the phone call, does it?
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I totally understand! I think at this point I’m just worried about finances, and my other “affordable” options would be Ohio State, UCONN, or UMASS. I’m not huge on the whole “state school” experience, and although I haven’t toured OSU, I can’t really see myself there. For me, it’s more valuable to attend RPI versus going anywhere else or trying to call other colleges- I think I had hoped W&L would be able to provide some aid, but that was a pipe dream.
Just sleep on it. U Conn might be a good compromise though- the area is safe, tons of majors, and I’m assuming it came in under budget???
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AFAIK the RPI Business major requires only 2 semesters of calculus so you wouldn’t have to take more, unlike Data science which typically requires 2 more semesters, in which case it’s better to see the exact curriculum that is waived and preceded the class you could potentially take, in case your HS class didn’t cover everything they did. But if you don’t have to take a Level 3 class in a subject, no need to worry about Level2 not being enough. You would need to ensure the 4 or 5 on BC though - strong motivation: avoid 2 semesters of calculus entirely. I’d get a tutor asap 
Yes, that many loans = W&L is out of the picture.
40k is a good budget though.
If you want to see whether you’d have a better shot elsewhere, you can apply to a few colleges that miscalculated yield or just got ×@# by the FAFSA mess and still have places with FA. I’m sure some have Business and they may be a better fir while not being more expensive. (And of course you wait till you hear from them before you decide anything.)
Or reconsider UConn or UMass?
(Did you get into Honors anywhere?)
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You can check out these colleges, see if they’re a better fit than RPI. If so, you can send an app - they take CommonApp and not all have an application fee. If you get into one you like and it comes in within budget, it’ll give you a real choice.
Drexel (Philadelphia)
Ithaca, NY
Hobart&WS, NYS
Washington college, Md
Loyola Maryland
Wagner, NYS
If you’re okay with OH, IL, IA, MN… there are more posssbilities.
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While at UMass, you could cross-register at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire College, and Smith College – take some smaller classes (if that appeals) and use those LACs to enrich your experience.
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You can only take $27K total over four years - thank goodness - save you the head ache of being $200K in debt - b4 more school. That’s $2400 a month for ten years - before more loans for grad school - and you’ll have a car, rent, and more - so W&L is not an option here
If they’ll pay $40K a year, you have your answer. RPI (or another if there’s more).
Law school will be a fortune on top.
It sounds like you might have not done a “merit” school selection.
PS - if you struggle in calc, definitely re take in college.
Best of luck to you.
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In this case, trying the old final exams of the college courses allowed to be skipped will let you make a more informed placement decision.
If you are taking out the difference between $92,700 and $40,000 in loans, over four year that is more than $200,000. This is way, way, way too much. On the one hand no one will loan you that much – you would need to get your parents to cosign on the loans, and they would most likely be stuck paying it off because you just plain will not be able to. Also, $200,000 in debt could make it very difficult to either go to law school or to get an MBA.
I think that you just need to forget about W&L. Pretend that you never were accepted.
Then deal with the issue of whether to go to RPI, or to do something else.
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When we visited Troy a month ago I was pleasantly surprised, it has come a long way in the last 30 years. In terms of “nothing to do” you are in a decent sized metropolitan region, 1-2 hr drive from decent hiking, skiing etc… a 3 hr train ride from NYC, or Montreal could easily be done on a weekend if you can spare the time. Yes, the academic intensity is high there, but we thought the kids were nice, just be ready to work. I wouldn’t let your struggles with CalcBC discourage you. Oftentimes a second pass starting from a clean slate will help. In terms of the official 70:30 ratio it didn’t seem quite that skewed when we visited just walking around campus. Is it 70:30 within the business school? I suspect that ratio is heavily influenced by certain majors.
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You should not have a dream school that you have not visited. Of course, the AO was warm and friendly: sales is their #1 job. Can you ask for a week or so to decide so you can visit? Ideally, you want to see if the place coudl be ‘home’ for four years.
Really hard to recommend paying sticker sight unseen with loans.
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You would have been better off at umass. More options. Better socially. Cheaper for you. Too late? An accelerated associates at nearby comm coll, then transfer to umass?
Wash and lee full price not worth it.
Best wishes wherever you end up.
I follow a “financially independant, retire early” blog. It made me really excited about Troy if RPI is where you choose. Sounds like a really wonderful place!