RPI or UCONN

[u/Minecraft_Toaster]

Recently I got the opportunity to go to RPI for roughly around the same price as UConn. I want to do mechanical engineering and I don’t know which option I want. I know RPI is the better engineering school but something about UConn like speaks out to me. How is the work load at RPI do you get internships and how hard are the classes? How’s the social life?

[u/DividendPower]

Too me, it's an easy choice. RPI because of its reputation, academic rigor, and outcomes.

[u/shantm79]

UConn's mens' bball team is better, but academically RPI is.

[u/niemir2]

We get this type of question a lot. Being an instructor and MANE alumnus, I'll speak to the course load.

I won't lie or sugar coat. It's hard. It's really hard. You'll be pushed to your limits, and often beyond them. RPI has a well-earned reputation for rigor. You're not alone, though. We encourage you to work with your classmates on homework and studying, and collaboration on assignments (besides exams) is usually allowed.

The professors in MANE are also great. I had nothing but great experiences with them when I was a student.

[u/DoctorYaoi]

RPI is a very challenging school, if you chose it you should better be pretty confident in your abilities

[u/ButterCCM]

RPI is insanely hard but you’re rewarded greatly for it especially in an engineering field, very high job rate with good salaries. That being said if you really like the feel of UConn I’d say it’s best to go with your gut and if you’re not challenged enough you consider a transfer.

[u/Lower_Attention_728]

How is UConn and rpi in the same sentence for engineering

[u/mopijy]

The only reason to pick UConn is if you want the D1 big sports experience - basketball mainly. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

[u/crabapple58]

if you want a more typical college social environment with varied majors, clubs, and sports then UCONN. If gender ratios matter: UCONN is more balanced. RPI has a wider range. of engineering specialties. You will be employable graduating from either. CT aerospace and defense recruits aggressively from UCONN = incentives to retain talent in CT.

[u/IcyPackage3912]

Oh damn, I’m from Connecticut and I had this same dilemma. Well, I ended up choosing RPI because engineering is ranked higher. Classes are not hard to me but that really depends on the person. Social life is what you make of it. Like, I went out to make friends and by the end of my first semester I had a lot of friends sooo

[u/redfireforever103 → u/IcyPackage3912]

+1, same dilemma but for CS. Was ultimately happy that I went with RPI, they at least had a strong URP program in the early 2020s, plus with RCOS being a thing. I don't think I would've done either at UCONN.

Honestly made a lot of friends bonding over difficult courses, clubs as well.

[u/arrty]

Met a lot of my conn friends at rpi. Now i live in NW CONN. Depends on major and opportunities for research and professors and field you eventually want to end up in.

Biotech, civil, aero, elec and comp sci i would lean rpi.

[u/Vast_Salary]

No doubt RPI!

[u/Live-Visit-9598]

RPI and Uconn are both great school. The reality is that RPI is a smaller school, Uconn is huge - you should definitely consider that, it’s the biggest difference! Depending on the classes, class size may be about the same though. I’ve known both to have great opportunities for internships if you seek them out. Uconn’s in the middle of nowhere but lots to do on campus, RPI has more of a downtown and things to do. Uconn is big on sports, RPI has lots of clubs and extracurriculars that are geared towards the nerdy-science or gaming crowd. Both schools have greek life, but Uconn has more of an emphasis on it. If you’re not in a frat at uconn, as a dude at least, you’re not getting into the parties unless you know someone. Not sure about RPI. You really can’t go wrong with either, but in my opinion the academics are going to be a lot better at RPI.

[u/Live-Visit-9598 → u/Live-Visit-9598]

Biggest thing is to go with your gut feeling! You’ll find your niche and friend group wherever you go, you just have to seek it out!!

[u/hannnnah]

In terms of value, RPI for the same price as a state school is an excellent deal given the reputation, academic rigor, and quality of programs.

That being said, you may be comparing apples and oranges here in terms of your experience and preferences. You're comparing an engineering/tech focused school in a small city with a large university in a rural area. Do you want to be at a huge school with lots of other programs and students studying a wide variety of majors, or is your preference to be in a smaller, more focused school.

You get out of college what you put in in a lot of ways. I think RPI will give you a leg up because of the name and reputation, but that's not going to make a difference if you hate it there. Pick the place you feel you can thrive. In this case, I think you're comparing two very different college communities and should choose the one you prefer.