Trying to pick between these two as they overlap by 18 days. Here are some factors for deliberation that I currently have. If y’all have participated in one of those before, could you clarify some of the uncertainties I have?
Content alignment with my interests: BWSI wins slightly. In the future, I’m aiming for aeronautics on the mechanical engineering side (structural design, fluids, etc.). BWSI seems slightly closer, but it still looks like it leans more toward software/control systems than hands-on hardware design. ROSS is purely math-focused, but I still think it is valuable since advanced math doesn't just make me better at math, and I'll probably be doing math as a hobby in the future.
Life quality: ROSS wins. I don’t think I’d want to live in Boston for a month on my own or just with a friend.
Challenge level: ROSS probably wins. The problem sets at ROSS are hard. I’m less sure about BWSI—based on the online materials and project descriptions, it seems like we can just learn and build those stuff by searching on our own. Also, the contents don't seem to be hard, nor do they seem to require hardcore engineering.
Cost: Not a deciding factor.
Prestige: ROSS probably wins? I know the BWSI UAV track has a lower acceptance rate than many other tracks, but I’m not sure how prestigious it actually is in practice or how it’s viewed.
Connections: Unclear. Does BWSI provide opportunities to connect or work with MIT professors?
Free time/facilities: Not sure here either. How much free time do we actually get during ROSS? Also, what facilities are available—are things like gyms accessible? It seems on their website that we are restricted from the institute's indoor areas and gyms.