Thank you! We will stop by RPI again on the way back from Canada and confirm the choice.
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RPI is a āfitā school, so after spending time there she should have a better idea. Definitely an Engineering powerhouse so it really depends whether she wants Engineering or not.
Engineering will be technical and specialized right from the start and RPI will offer topnotch opportunities in that field.
The downside to Engineering is that you canāt really study much outside of it because thereās so much to learn in just 4 years (though many students take 5).
Geology is actually a pretty good major professionally, especially hydrology, but it will require a Masterās degree. It does keep open the opportunity to learn more than Geology - Geography, Urban planning, agriculture-related issues, physics, environmental science, Energy-related fields, Economics, Geopoliticsā¦ Can all feed into it. Studying in the Artic may also matter. The field is definitely broader than Engineering, with a different focus.
She could always accept the W&M wait-list with a LOCI, if she loves RPI or UVM, no harm no foul. 
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Thanks! At RPI you could minor in geology if you take 4 classes in the subject, so it could be useful to see if they wanted to go that route after engineering school.
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Iām sure you already know this, but I just wanted to note that although RPI has a reputation for being an engineering powerhouse (a reputation I reinforced myself), I would suggest in some ways it is quite similar to MIT in that it has all sorts of cool ST-M or just math-heavy stuff in addition to engineering.
So, the School of Science, for example, has a nice Earth and Environmental Sciences department:
Now, do a ton of undergrads actually do a primary major in that department? No. So if you knew you wanted that, and did not want engineering, you might not consider RPI.
But if, say, a kid started in Environmental Engineering, was also doing a Geology minor, and then decided to pivot fully to an ES or Geology major, that would at least be a real option.
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Thereās a Hydrogeology BS at RPI also, fwiw.
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^ Thatās awesome.
RPI sounds like a strong academic choice for this student so fit will really matter.
I have trouble envisioning someone who likes UVM and RPI so it should be pretty clear after spending an admitted student day there.
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Thank you! I think they need to stop by 1 more time tomorrow to make sure RPI is the right fit. But it does check many boxes!!!
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Have you arranged for a day with a lunch in the cafeteria, attending a STEM and a NON STEM class..? That type of āadmitted student dayā is really useful.
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No, but we do plan on stopping by again tomorrow. We did eat at UVM cafeteria though and walk through RPIs.
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Decision madeā¦ RPI!
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Congratulations!! Time to buy that hoodie!
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