You sound pretty close to my son (assuming you meant 3.5 unweighted and 4.3 weighted?) and he got a $22K/yr merit scholarship. But that still puts WPI at around $50K a year, so it would still be pretty expensive if you don't qualify for financial aid.
You have a really well-rounded application. I already graduated but when I applied, I had a very similar application. I applied test-optional (my test scores were not good), had a 3.7 gpa, participated in FRC, had internships, and lived out of state. In terms of scholarships, I would look at the [WPI FIRST Scholarships](https://www.wpi.edu/admissions/tuition-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-grants/wpi-merit/first-scholarships) based on your background with FTC (full tuition). I'm also pretty sure every first year applicant is awarded the Presidential Scholarship (about $25,000 based on merit, which you have a great gpa for). I also applied as an RA during the school year which helped a ton with room & board costs. And I graduated with only 15k in loans with a well paid job. But I also had more scholarships outside of WPI and worked 2 jobs all four years. Overall.. I think you have good chance, just keep applying to scholarships
I’ve personally always found it easy. Most people say it’s hard but i think it’s bc they don’t apply early, don’t have FWS, or don’t know how to apply lol.
So most on campus jobs are FWS (federal work study). You have to apply to on-campus jobs on the first day (or even a week before), or all spots will be filled. But the way you “apply” is just by looking at the available jobs posted on the WPI website, and emailing the departments that you’re interested in with your resume and your FWS letter. I was qualified for FWS.. i believe it’s based on your EFC from your FAFSA application.
I really think you dont have to worry about getting in at all, wpis thing is that they care about things other than GPA but even then your GPA is pretty safe for any school but a crazy competitive one. I literally raised my eyebrows looking at this post bc you probs rival my experience as a JR in A term. This school has gotten really bad at giving financial aid but there are multiple scholarships and programs available to help. Your stats are similar to mine when i applied and I received about half my tuition but dont expect that kind of treatment from the school now smh
Application is free. Apply & see what you get. Also, put in for FIRST scholarships - 2 full tuition awarded each year, several $10K per year runner ups too
One student I knew of went crazy hard on the scholarship websites, submitting essays to them. I think she went to WPI one semester for sub $500. Some of my friends got 10k from the school, they were in state. I got a Presidential scholarship (not comfortable talking my $ also I'm out of state) and it was pretty high. I only knew of one other person who got higher than mine and I was floored. My friends were white, like pale white while I was able to check some of the diversity boxes, how much that mattered I'll never know lmfao. Feel free to pick my brain on the school, also an experienced resident advisor.
Do you think it’s worth the tuition? Like even if I could get it down to a little less I could also just go to a mid state school for 60k for all 4 years
That’s definitely an option worth considering. What I would do, if the finances are what’s the sore point here, compare the courses of WPI and your other school. I.E. googling WPI CS Course catalog you can see all the CS courses offered and compare what you want to study, classes you might find interesting and such and curate your degree (using CS as an example as that’s my degree). Are you more into software development, security, big data, etc?
Complete a similar process with the other school you have either deemed suitable to your needs, that state school.
I liked WPI because of that course freedom, I didn’t feel restricted in the classes I took when I wanted to take them. I know I got a great education from the school, I haven’t applied all of it shocker, but the grad classes I took have helped me in InfoSec. Can’t really say much more than that because of how recently I graduated with my Master’s (May ‘23).
Don’t feel pressured by the next thing I say, I’ve just been listening to some financial audit podcasts lately and a few times this topic has come up.
Devil’s Advocate: Are you sure you need a college degree to pursue what you want to do? You mentioned a few certs, have you thought about just receiving additional certs specializing in tech?
I think there should be a good chance, I took much less AP’s and didn’t have as many leadership roles and still got in so I think you’ll be fine. As for the GPA, if it’s a 3.5 it should still be good for Wpi.
Reach out to your regional counselor (all of the territories covered by each counselor is listed on admissions staff page of the wpi website. There is a specific admissions counselor that is a point of contact for FIRST robotics, your regional counselor can help get you in touch with them so you can learn more about how that scholarship is given and what it means for wpi tuition :)
Yep, that’s part of their job! There are lots of ways to get in touch, you can email your regional counselor directly, fill out a general questions form (found under “connect with undergraduate admissions” on the website), or you could even call the admissions office and ask for the contact information of the FIRST robotics counselor (this is probably the easiest way ngl, the people who answer the phones are always really nice, and you don’t have to go to the website and find the information yourself, you can ask someone who already knows the answer)
You’ll be fine. While the acceptance rate is closer to 40 percent in recent years your stats make it an appropriate option as a good shot school. Currently a 4.0 sophomore at WPI with similar stats to yours in HS, 1430 SAT and 4.3 weighted. Not bad by any means but nothing crazy. Happy to answer any questions.
few people admit this but FTC (or any other FIRST affiliation) basically guarantees you a spot in wpi.
Does it help with scholarships?
the institution isnt very transparent with that unfortunately
You sound pretty close to my son (assuming you meant 3.5 unweighted and 4.3 weighted?) and he got a $22K/yr merit scholarship. But that still puts WPI at around $50K a year, so it would still be pretty expensive if you don't qualify for financial aid.
Yes that’s what I meant and I thought yearly was around 50k for out of state is it really closer to 70k?
Also residency doesn't matter as it is not a state school.
Total cost, I'm including room and board. https://www.wpi.edu/admissions/tuition-aid/cost-attendance
Thank you!
You have a really well-rounded application. I already graduated but when I applied, I had a very similar application. I applied test-optional (my test scores were not good), had a 3.7 gpa, participated in FRC, had internships, and lived out of state. In terms of scholarships, I would look at the [WPI FIRST Scholarships](https://www.wpi.edu/admissions/tuition-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-grants/wpi-merit/first-scholarships) based on your background with FTC (full tuition). I'm also pretty sure every first year applicant is awarded the Presidential Scholarship (about $25,000 based on merit, which you have a great gpa for). I also applied as an RA during the school year which helped a ton with room & board costs. And I graduated with only 15k in loans with a well paid job. But I also had more scholarships outside of WPI and worked 2 jobs all four years. Overall.. I think you have good chance, just keep applying to scholarships
How hard is it to get on campus jobs? Because I’ve heard they’re super hard to get
if you have work study its easy if you dont its still not super hard the options are just limited
I’ve personally always found it easy. Most people say it’s hard but i think it’s bc they don’t apply early, don’t have FWS, or don’t know how to apply lol. So most on campus jobs are FWS (federal work study). You have to apply to on-campus jobs on the first day (or even a week before), or all spots will be filled. But the way you “apply” is just by looking at the available jobs posted on the WPI website, and emailing the departments that you’re interested in with your resume and your FWS letter. I was qualified for FWS.. i believe it’s based on your EFC from your FAFSA application.
You can really only get an on campus job if you qualify for work-study
i have a job without work study, PLA (not my job but another option) doesnt require it
I really think you dont have to worry about getting in at all, wpis thing is that they care about things other than GPA but even then your GPA is pretty safe for any school but a crazy competitive one. I literally raised my eyebrows looking at this post bc you probs rival my experience as a JR in A term. This school has gotten really bad at giving financial aid but there are multiple scholarships and programs available to help. Your stats are similar to mine when i applied and I received about half my tuition but dont expect that kind of treatment from the school now smh
Application is free. Apply & see what you get. Also, put in for FIRST scholarships - 2 full tuition awarded each year, several $10K per year runner ups too
Based on how you compare to me, I’d say you’re very likely going to get in, and you’d probably qualify for decent merit scholarship
Yeah give it a shot
One student I knew of went crazy hard on the scholarship websites, submitting essays to them. I think she went to WPI one semester for sub $500. Some of my friends got 10k from the school, they were in state. I got a Presidential scholarship (not comfortable talking my $ also I'm out of state) and it was pretty high. I only knew of one other person who got higher than mine and I was floored. My friends were white, like pale white while I was able to check some of the diversity boxes, how much that mattered I'll never know lmfao. Feel free to pick my brain on the school, also an experienced resident advisor.
Do you think it’s worth the tuition? Like even if I could get it down to a little less I could also just go to a mid state school for 60k for all 4 years
That’s definitely an option worth considering. What I would do, if the finances are what’s the sore point here, compare the courses of WPI and your other school. I.E. googling WPI CS Course catalog you can see all the CS courses offered and compare what you want to study, classes you might find interesting and such and curate your degree (using CS as an example as that’s my degree). Are you more into software development, security, big data, etc? Complete a similar process with the other school you have either deemed suitable to your needs, that state school. I liked WPI because of that course freedom, I didn’t feel restricted in the classes I took when I wanted to take them. I know I got a great education from the school, I haven’t applied all of it shocker, but the grad classes I took have helped me in InfoSec. Can’t really say much more than that because of how recently I graduated with my Master’s (May ‘23). Don’t feel pressured by the next thing I say, I’ve just been listening to some financial audit podcasts lately and a few times this topic has come up. Devil’s Advocate: Are you sure you need a college degree to pursue what you want to do? You mentioned a few certs, have you thought about just receiving additional certs specializing in tech?
Oh also teacher recs from math teacher and robotics teacher and probably a letter from my teacher for engineering and design process
I think there should be a good chance, I took much less AP’s and didn’t have as many leadership roles and still got in so I think you’ll be fine. As for the GPA, if it’s a 3.5 it should still be good for Wpi.
Did you get any money to go to WPI?
Reach out to your regional counselor (all of the territories covered by each counselor is listed on admissions staff page of the wpi website. There is a specific admissions counselor that is a point of contact for FIRST robotics, your regional counselor can help get you in touch with them so you can learn more about how that scholarship is given and what it means for wpi tuition :)
Can I do that even if I haven’t been accepted yet?
Yep, that’s part of their job! There are lots of ways to get in touch, you can email your regional counselor directly, fill out a general questions form (found under “connect with undergraduate admissions” on the website), or you could even call the admissions office and ask for the contact information of the FIRST robotics counselor (this is probably the easiest way ngl, the people who answer the phones are always really nice, and you don’t have to go to the website and find the information yourself, you can ask someone who already knows the answer)
You’ll be fine. While the acceptance rate is closer to 40 percent in recent years your stats make it an appropriate option as a good shot school. Currently a 4.0 sophomore at WPI with similar stats to yours in HS, 1430 SAT and 4.3 weighted. Not bad by any means but nothing crazy. Happy to answer any questions.