<p>Not sure this thread is serious, considering.</p>
<p>I just feel that Vtech is too easy an</p>
<p>??? You have a 1420 Math plus CR. That’s very good, but it’s not so high that eng’g at VT will be some cake walk for you (or anywhere else). All good eng’g programs will be a challenge for you. </p>
<p>Very doubtful that you’d get any merit from GT unless you’re a URM. </p>
<p>Bob Wallace is right, you can get an excellent eng’g education in your state. You can also get good eng’g scholarships at some other schools.</p>
<p>You need to ask your parents how much they can spend each year on college. You say that they’re not good with money. I don’t know if that’s true or if you just think that way because they won’t pay OOS rates. They may have a high mortgage or other bills and can’t afford to pay high college costs. </p>
<p>You may think that you’ll send your kids to their dream schools, but you have no idea of what your future situation is or what college costs will be like then. And few people like to spend thousands MORE for something (a public education) that can be had for less in their own state. </p>
<p>Anyway…ask your parents how much they WILL pay each year. You may find that they will pay all of UVA’s cost, or you may find that they’ll only pay ten thousand per year (or whatever). </p>
<p>The point is you need to know so you’ll know what you’re dealing with. If your parents’ are ones who think that students should pay some/most of their own way at college, you may find out that even UVA isn’t affordable.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’ve ALWAYS heard Virginia Tech’s name pop up when people talk about engineering. Those who are in the field know which schools are good for what subject.
If you get into UVA or VT, pick one and go. They are both nationally ranked. Save the money and be thankful you’re in a state with great options. (Unlike LA, MS, etc. for example)</p>
<p>Seriously, I’m often recommending people stretch if it really makes sense, but for you, with VTech in-state, and your parents limited resources - no way. </p>
<p>I work with many, many fantastic VTech engineers, and if you study hard, you will lose very little by attending there. EVERY beltway company recruits there, and is one of their prime sources for engineering recruits. </p>
<p>Your future will be determined far more by how well you do at VTech than whether you went to GaTech instead.</p>
<p>The reality of many if not most families is that they are not in a financial position to send their child to every school that their son or daughter would like to attend. I understand the disappointment of a young person that has worked hard and would like to attend a certain school.
None of us know the particulars of your families finances nor is it any of our business. Beyond the insane expense involved with so many colleges there may be reasons that your parents have not shared with you because they don’t want you to worry.
It may not seem like it now but you are very fortunate to have the in state options that you have. I wish our in state options were nearly as strong.
Many families these days are looking at college education costs that exceed the purchase price of their homes and are trying to find a way to provide an education for their children while managing all their other financial commitments. Part of becoming a young adult is seeing the reality of these things and having an understanding and appreciation of them.
With the school that is your top choice, maybe with merit aid if any is awarded, work study and earnings over summers you can bridge the gap that makes up the difference in affordability. I would definitely have a solid plan B if that isn’t feasible.</p>
<p>Another reason to take a hard look at VT is that UVa is not a given, not with the fierce competition in N Va and their desire to bring in kids from throughout the state. Btw, I can understand wanting to get out of N Va, but even a short drive and you’re in a whole other world.</p>
<p>I don’t think UVa is better for engineering anyway. VaTech has a better “tech” culture.</p>
<p>Other than the fact that GT is in a different state than VT, what, specifically, is it that makes you prefer GT? Have you compared curricula, etc., to have a reason to prefer it, other than it is out of state?</p>
<p>If you are just looking for “a change” realize that VA is a big state and VT is a big school with a huge variety of students…it’s not as if you will be continuing on with all the same kids you have known since kindergarten.</p>
<p>This is my last post on here. Yes I do love Virginia schools. I do appreciate all of your opinions, I was just saying BrownParent was only telling me things I already knew. The rest of you have been very helpful and I had no problem with any of your opinions. I just didnt know if my parents were right, or holding out, and you have taught me that even for a high income family, college can be difficult to afford. Lastly, shout out to the people like GreatKid and BobWallace for understanding where I’m coming from. Peace</p>
<p>OP, realize that with an income of approximately $150,000, your parents are probably paying about 1/3 of that income in taxes of various sorts. Out of the remaining $100,000–which of course is still a good amount of money!-- they are paying mortgages, cars, insurance, living expenses, hopefully saving for retirement–and, if you live in the DC area of VA, it’s really a high cost area.</p>
<p>To be full pay at GT (since you said you did not have the stats to qualify for merit money) would run over $50,000/year. </p>
<p>Paying your college costs alone would leave very little left over for the rest of your family to live on. And you said, also, that you did not want to take out any loans. What is your contribution here? No merit money, no loans, do you have significant savings that you can contribute?</p>
<p>No one is intending to be mean to you–not your parents, not the parents here on CC. But sometimes the facts of life don’t give us exactly what we want, when and how we want it.</p>
<p>If you truly want to get away from Virginia, and do engineering, have you looked into what kind of merit money you might receive at Alabama or Louisiana Tech, or other schools with automatic merit money? Try to define what you like most about GT, and look for those aspects in other colleges, both in and out of state, where you might get the money you need.</p>
<p>I am just happy that you do have good alternatives available.</p>