Parent/Student with completely opposite reactions to a college after a visit

RH is certainly quite different from most schools that are discussed more frequently - in a group with Olin, Kettering, Cooper Union, maybe Milwaukee Engineering. Not widely known, not a “brand name” to the general public. I know they flooded me with marketing back when I was in HS but it never interested me.

But after getting a degree/working in engineering, it’s certainly known in the field - the #1 USN ranking for non-PhD programs isn’t an accident.

So concerns about the quality, opportunities, etc., shouldn’t be an issue IMO.

Culture, fit, etc., are certainly very important, and it’s hard for anyone who hasn’t attended to say a lot about it. If one of my kids really liked a school that I didn’t, I’d be sure to have a conversation about my concerns and make the kid hear/understand/discuss the concerns and our different viewpoints. But at the end of the day, I think I would leave it up to the student, barring serious safety concerns. Kids also have to learn to make decision and, over from mistakes. (Though this would have pretty significant financial impacts - make sure the kid knows what you will/won’t contribute in the event of transfer, additional years, etc.).