<p>I am planning on majoring in ChemE and am considering UVA, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame. My dad would like me to go to VT because of cost (in-state) and the reputation of its program, but I tend to see it as a less academically rigorous choice. I really like the feel of UVA and it's more rounded approach. Notre Dame is somewhat of a fill-in school, but I have legacy going for me, and I like the first year program, and smaller school. I have been accepted into Notre Dame, so I'm not to worried about getting into the others. I know the college selection is ultimately up to me, but I would like input on the pros/cons of these schools.</p>
<p>VT because of cost (in-state) and the reputation of its program, but I tend to see it as a less academically rigorous choice</p>
<p>lol…why do you think that ChemE wouldn’t be rigorous program at VT? I’m nearly certain that you will be well-challenged.</p>
<p>Its really the school itself and the average GPA, SAT admitted.</p>
<p>They’re all really good. You’ve worked hard and you’re very lucky, and some of that work ethic and good fortune is probably due to your family. </p>
<p>Can you recognize your debt to your family and still get a really good ChemE education at one of these schools? Sure can. You could go to VT, as Dad suggests. You could go to UVA and contribute the $10K annual difference in cost yourself by some combination of in-semester work or summer work or loans (you are after all going to be a chemical engineer–there are very few of these grads who are out of work for long). You could go to ND and, well, that would require some imagination, wouldn’t it? None of these schools is out of the question because you’re a lucky person and you’ve chosen a major that is in great demand. We all should have such problems, OP. Don’t let these stop you.</p>
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<p>That’s really faulty reasoning; the average gpa, and SAT scores of the admitted students for the college as a whole have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the undergraduate ChemE program. In fact, if you place a lot of faith in rankings (and it sounds like you do), none of the schools you’ve listed appears in the USN top 10 ChemE programs. You know what school does? University of Delaware at #10 although they certainly don’t have terribly impressive overall numbers for admitted students.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech has the #20 ranked ChemE program in the country in the 2014 USN report. I don’t know UVA’s current rank for their program but in 2011 they were 32nd. Notre Dame doesn’t seem to mention their ranking anywhere on their ChemE page so I have no idea of that program ranking (except it isn’t in the top 10).</p>
<p>Please don’t waste your parents’ money looking for status. If you are serious about ChemE you can do as well or better at VTech as you could at any of the other schools you mention.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech for Chem E hands down. It’s by far the better program…faculty is most important here. And it’s the cheapest. Win-win situation. </p>
<p>You’ll get paid the same with a Chem E degree from any of these schools so paying a premium will not provide a good return on investment.</p>
<p>The three schools really differ in feel and student body. Additionally, the number of Chem E’s for the three schools mentioned varies. Here’s a website for reference. It’s called College Navigator.</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - University of Virginia-Main Campus](<a href=“College Navigator - University of Virginia-Main Campus”>College Navigator - University of Virginia-Main Campus)</p>
<p>What are the key factors that you are looking for in a university (in addition to strength of academics)?</p>
<p>Its really the school itself and the average GPA, SAT admitted.</p>
<p>That is meaningless. It’s a large state school offering a 100 majors. Of course it’s going to admit a number of average students.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, that says NOTHING about the qualify of its College of Eng’g or the students who are eng’g majors.</p>
<p>Do you really think that the CoE is filled with those “avg GPA, avg SAT” students? Heck no. The CoE is filled with mostly the top quartile.</p>
<p>And 44% of VT’s frosh are top 10% of their school…so certainly not GPA slackers.</p>
<p>74% have a 3.75 GPA or HIGHER!!!</p>
<p>*Virginia Tech for Chem E hands down. It’s by far the better program…faculty is most important here. And it’s the cheapest. Win-win situation. *</p>
<p>exactly.</p>
<p>When I read posts like the OP’s, I can’t help but wonder who they think are the profs for these STEM classes? Do they think that VT (or similar schools) is hiring some ole HS bio teacher from the local rural high school? These profs’ CVs are impressive.</p>
<p>VT has an excellent engineering school. Don’t get caught up in the hype. Look deeply into these programs, visit each school, meet with professors, consider curriculum, course offerings, etc. If your Dad wants you to look instate for the tuition savings focus there. </p>
<p>Having said this, there are serious engineering students that make this comparison (VT/UVa) are no slave to rankings and stereotypes, and make the decision that UVa is the better fit for them. These are two different programs that approach engineering differently. Apples and oranges. If you look very closely, digging into each program ignoring hype and noise, one is going to appeal to you more then the other. I have a son who made this decision three years ago. He faced teachers, mentors and coaches telling him he was throwing away his education turning down VT and going to UVa for engineering. There is great bias instate. It never bothered him. He knew he was making the decision for the right reasons, it was well thought out, and right for him. He’s a third year mech’e, on deans list, very happy, has had wonderful internships, and has never had any regrets. </p>
<p>Some kids don’t want a huge e’school. There’s nothing wrong with that choice. There’s something ill advised in having a bias against a school because you think (wrongly) the other students aren’t as accomplished. Make an informed decision, take the time to really find which is right for you academically. That’s something people respect even if they would have chosen something different for themselves. This is not about which one is better, it’s which one is better for you.</p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Agree with other posters that VT is a great engineering school and taking cost into account certainly seems to offer most bang for buck. But while Virginia Tech IS the strongest overall engineering program of the three, that quality difference doesn’t really extend into Chem E. Beyond specifics of cost, all would seem reasonable choices. Go where you think you’ll be happiest but be careful not to falsely presume VT to be in any way a “weak” option here, and don’t forget $.</p>
<p>I have an engineering grad from both UVa and VT. Both are good programs . You would have good opportunities from either school so look at feel of the program, social stuff, etc. You will start out taking general engineering classes before you decide so there is even a chance you may decide you want to pursue something other than chemical engineering once you start college.</p>
<p>I agree with UCBChemEGrad’s opinion. My D is planning to go to UMinn (no. 4 for Chem Engg.) (unless she gets into UCB). So I did a lot of research in this area and did checks with friends (I am a Mech Engr. though) and faculty.</p>
<p>Good luck !</p>
<p>No one in the know would say that VT engineering is inferior. By no means is the program at VaTech less than top quality. Why do you think there’s a wait-list to get in to the VT College of Engineering?</p>