Attending Rose-Hulman: Should I Confirm Acceptance?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision of whether to confirm acceptance to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) after receiving an acceptance letter. Participants explore the school's reputation, its focus on undergraduate education, and the implications for future academic and career opportunities.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously notes their surprise at being accepted to RHIT, given their modest academic stats compared to typical applicants.
  • Another participant describes RHIT as a small school with a physics department that seems primarily focused on preparing students for immediate employment in engineering.
  • Concerns are raised about the limitations of attending an undergraduate-only institution, particularly regarding opportunities for serious research and challenges in gaining admission to graduate school.
  • One participant asserts that RHIT has one of the top optical engineering programs in the country, expressing confidence in hiring graduates from the institution.
  • Another participant mentions negative perceptions of the surrounding area, suggesting it may be uninteresting and emphasizing the school's focus on preparing students for the workforce.
  • Concerns are reiterated about the transferability of credits to graduate programs, which is seen as a significant drawback for those considering further education.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of opinions regarding the value of attending RHIT, with some highlighting its strengths in specific programs while others question its limitations for students interested in graduate studies. The discussion remains unresolved with competing views on the institution's merits.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty about the implications of attending an undergraduate-only institution, particularly concerning future academic opportunities and the local environment.

jgg
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In short: has anyone here attended RHIT?

Has anyone here heard of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology? I applied as a joke since it was apparently (according to friends and US News World Report, mind you) an uber-difficult engineering school. I got an acceptance letter today and just started cracking up, since I have modest stats compared to most applying to a school that apparently shares app's with MIT (31 ACT and 3.9 GPA + lot's o' EC's), so I didn't really expect to make the 3000 person class. But I did, and they're asking for a $250 deposit to 'confirm' my acceptance (which seems scam-ish, but I called the school and it isn't). So, should I go ahead and confirm the acceptance and see what scholarship/financial aid I get? I've pretty much got a full ride down at a big state school here (University of Kentucky, which I refused to name in a different post...but oh well), albeit I'm not sure where all the money will come from (all merit/some merit some financial aid, etc.)
 
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I got accepted and visited the college. It is small, the physics department seemed so-so, and was mainly interested in getting you hired as an engineer as soon as you graduated it seemed to me. Interesting area though, check it out if you are even modestly interested.
 
Honestly, I don't know why you would. Rose-Hulman is undergrads only, which means that you likely won't have the opportunity to do serious research and that getting into grad school will be difficult. You may not yet know whether you want to go to grad school or not, but why limit yourself at this point? I don't know, maybe I'm dead wrong and someone could enlighten us.
 
One of the best optical engineering programs out there, I'd put it in the top 3 in the country at the undergrad level. I'd hire anyone with a degree from the place.
 
@ TARSIER

I actually heard the area around it is horribly boring. From the people I've talked to, it does seem like they emphasize the idea of getting a BS and entering the work force.

@ Manchot

Yes, I understand that it is not only undergrad only, but also has an issue with allowing the credits you already earned to transfer to a grad school. I'm pretty sure I want to go to grad school. This was a huge turn-away for me.

@ Dr Transport

I'm not interesting in OE. Thanks though.
 

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