Is the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences harder to get into?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>If I understand, UVA has a liberal arts school and an engineering school. Is the engineering one harder to get in to?</p>

2

<p>There are seven undergraduate schools and colleges. Offer rates vary from year to year (stats going back to 1980 are on our website). Residency is obviously a factor to consider.</p>

3

<p>Engineering is harder than other majors so you can assume it is harder to get in to.</p>

4

<p>But it seems like a lot of people go there for a BA so they might be happier for solid Engineering school attendees (since that is unfortunately the school’s known “weak” area)</p>

5

<p>

Uh, some majors, perhaps, but not all. Some of the sciences geared toward pre-med are very challenging.</p>

6

<p>You’re not going to game this. Engineering is somewhat self-selecting. Admissions is looking for different things in each. BG, I think the connection that you’re trying to make, that UVa would be glad for good SEAS applicants is misguided. Engineering may not be what UVa is ‘known’ for but to infer that it is an easier admit, or they are hurting for high quality, high achieving applicants is wrong. It’s not harder or easier it’s different, a better fit for some. </p>

<p>I also agree with jc40. Engineering is a demanding major but you can’t make such sweeping statements that put it above all others. There are kids in many other majors and areas of study that work very hard. </p>

<p>What are you interesting in studying? I’d strongly suggest applying based on that.</p>

7

<p>Oh don’t worry, I’m not trying to “sneak in” by applying for the easier school. I’m going for Computer Science. (Not interested in a BA in Computer Science from the liberal arts school, I want a BS)</p>

8

<p>Best of luck then BassGuitar. If accepted and you decide to attend UVa SEAS it would be a mistake and underestimation to go with this attitude towards the program and your peers:

</p>

9

<p>I think many people mistakenly sell UVA short for engineering and claim it is a “weak” area simply because it’s not “ranked” as a top 10 eschool (or have the reputation of a McIntire) which truly misses the reality that only a handful of students will ever go to those top 10 schools while the next 25 schools, of which UVA is one, are also exceptional programs that far outpace the hundreds that come after them. Our final list (as an OOS family) included Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and UVA. There’s not one bit of second-guessing that UVA was the right choice.</p>

10

<p>For what it’s worth, I graduated SEAS and I can’t tell you how many times I tell people I have a UVa degree and they’re impression of me goes up without even opening my mouth much further. The UVa name attached to me has done wonders for getting me in doors…after that, it’s up to me to get me to stay in that door, but I’ve gotten that down somewhat ;)</p>

<p>On the flip side, any major/well-known program will do this. VT, GT, Maryland, Embry-Riddle, UT…any of these (and this isn’t an exhaustive list) will get your foot through more doors than other schools, not just UVa. However, again, it’s up to YOU to get your body through the door, and get it to stay there</p>

11

<p>How much of an advantage do I have applying as a female applicant to UVA’s ESchool, since I’m a minority (I believe SEAS is 30% female)? Does anyone have stats specific to the ESchool?</p>

12

<p>Gender isn’t a factor used in our application review. </p>

<p>I replied in 2013, but there are stats about admission rates for each school on the Office of Institutional Assessment website. Of course, remember that things can change a lot from one year to the next, so use the stats as part of your decision, don’t use them as the only factor.</p>

13

<p>@"Dean J"‌ is intended major a factor in your decisions? For example, if Arts & Sciences tell you they need X math majors and Y English majors, do you make your decisions with that in mind? Or do you simply admit to the colleges without regard to intended major?</p>

14

<p>Students apply to a college, not a major (unless they want Kinesiology). </p>

<p>Also see:
<a href=“http://admission.virginia.edu/admission/academic-interests”>http://admission.virginia.edu/admission/academic-interests&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Over Specialization in High School”>http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2014/02/over-specialization-in-high-school.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;