VT had a decrease in applicants this year. They posted that they had 31,000 applicants. This is a decrease from last year.
Likely reasons for the decrease…
using the less popular Coalition App
requiring the SRAR
requiring 3 unique essays
only allowing one choice of major, with no fallback on “undecided”. You either get your major or get rejected.
Having said all that, yield will probably rise because anyone doing all that work probably considers VT one of their top choices. This is the case with my son.
So 31000 applicants with a targeted enrollment of 6500 or so would suggest an admit rate of between 60% and 65%. If they expect a yield of about 33%, split difference betwee 30% last year and 35% two years ago, they will admit about 19700 or so. If they expect higher yield, 35% or higher, they will admit fewer. How close their yield rate guess is to actual yield will determine waitlist chances. If they bet low and its high, bad news for waitlist. If they bet high and its low, waitlist kids have a chance.
One might argue that the more involved application, more required essays, etc., means more of the applicants are seriously interested in the school. Which would mean higher yield
@bboop42 It’s very tough for me to decide with so expensive. It’s 4 year cost. Rutgers being instate $35k and thought I will get some schol but got none. UMD is very highly regarded in CS program but it very expensive about $50k($15k higher). VT is reasonable but still higher $40k. Everyone here in NJ says UMD is pretty good and big companies come and will have high value when I apply for MS. I am scared about debt though my parents will help me.
Wondering if financial aid other then merit will be offered…? i still see nothing about grants or FAFSA…my dd also got into JMU and their financial decision will be shown end of march…we want to see how being in state cost will be compared to out of state cost from other schools…we still see nothing on financial aid on her portal site…hmmm? wondering if any was given…congrats again…everyone…
@cshigh Are you a Jersey instate? If so, Rutgers should be around $28k if you are planning to stay on campus. Although we live 20 minutes away from New Brunswick, I have figured that to be the cost for my son to live on campus for the SOE program. By the way, they gave ZERO in aid.
@cshigh Given VT OOS is approx $42k/year, UMD OOS is approx $51k/year and Rutgers IS is approx $34k/year…
Save the additional debt ($32k VT and $68k UMD) for Grad school IMHO. All these schools will provide a solid UG education that will provide you Grad school opportunities (assuming you do well) if you choose to go further with your education. This is my opinion, I suggest you talk with your parents to see financially what they can and cannot do. Best of luck.
@bboop42 thank you for the advice. @spqr70nj yes, I am NJ instate. Though it says $28k for on campus,Rutgers listed another $5k cost miscellaneous,books,bus etc to total of $34138. Yes unfortunately I also got zero aid.
How much f college reputation is considered to go to top tier MS college? UMD is ranked significantly higher in CS and engineering compared to Rutgers or VT.
VT football days has to be more fun than Rutgers. Serously though, the VT experience with a small town and Power 5 football as an undergrad is awesome and VT is a great place.
@cshigh As a person who just finished my UG recently as an adult at Rutgers on campus during the day, I have interacted with many engineer students, I can confirm that, for what I have seen and heard from the students there, the program is very good. If you apply yourself you will get great co-ops and internships (and eventually a job). Lots of large companies recruit constantly at Rutgers. I did a six-month coop at a large global pharma company in the area as part of my major, and I worked with several students from around the country, including engineering and business students from UMD, Michigan, TCNJ, Virginia (not Tech tho), Florida, plenty of Rutgers students, and others. All programs are good, and all students were top notch motivated individuals with the same knowledge-base. If my son/daughter wanted to do engineering, I would definitely encourage Rutgers as a great option. Currently, S19 is accepted to Rutgers, and considering it, but wants to go South.
Just my two cents observations as I was on campus.
If you graduated Rutgers why did you reply? Football has not been good since Coach Schz. More to undergrad than honors. It is a good college like VT, working hard and having fun for the best for years of your life. Check out Center Street during game day at VT. That is a part of college. Let the kids work hard and have a great experience. Also, VT has an awesome Greek experience.
After issues with my portal, I checked my portal today and got offered a FULL RIDE!
I got one big scholarship ($13K/yr) and the rest are grants and small scholarships.
Pamplin, Finance major
1490 SAT (790 M/700 EW)
4.2 W GPA
ECs: Owner of an online business, manager at a restaurant, FBLA officer, etc…
Essays were okay.
I’m super shocked! I don’t even think I deserve this. Congrats to everyone who got in! To those waitlisted/denied, I hope for good news for you all soon!!
@cshigh Talk with your parents given they appear to be footing the bill with little aid. Yes, VT is an amazing campus and college experience no doubt…is it worth an additional $32k in cost to you and/or your parents, that is a decision only you can make. Don’t over-weight decision based on rankings nor simply where the best “college experience” may be. Being strapped with DEBT is not fun or a good idea (yours or your parent’s). As to your question on college reputation, while not Rutgers, my nephew went to ODU (not ranked) for engineering and has just finished at University of Texas - Austin with his masters. So, yes, it is very possible to go to a top Grad school coming from a less known, or in this case unranked UG school.
was accepted with NO aid, and am extremely disappointed. legacy, instate, top 10% of my class, 1520 SAT, good extracurriculars, AND I attend a top 2 governor’s school for STEM, where VT is the second most popular college choice for grads. majoring in math. I expected at least SOME merit aid but got absolutely nothing. am very disappointed so far as my out of state school has expressed way more interest in me attending than any virginia schools. step it up VA! (also I did check the VT scholarship portal, and I qualify for a whopping ZERO scholarships.)
not trying to sound entitled, but my stats are factually much higher than the averages for the VA schools I applied to except UVA where I’m a bit above, so I figured that logically, the schools would want me to attend, to boost their stats. but apparently not.