I got off of the Lafayette waitlist and I have 2 days to decide whether or not to accept. I am conflicted because I like the fact that Lafayette has small classes but I think there might be more recourses at Virginia Tech.
Overall, I want to go to the school that will provide me with the best opportunities and education in engineering and I would really appreciate some insight on how these two schools compare.
Thanks!
Tech might pay you to go away. Way over-enrolled
It really depends on affordability (if there is a meaningful difference) as well as the type of environment you want to spend the next 4 years.
Cost is not an issue and I am OOS so they did not offer me that scholarship @barrons
Every situation is different, so it’s hard to tell someone you don’t know what to do.
Having said that, my D looked at both and VT was significantly preferred (2nd behind Purdue, Lafayette down around 7th/8th). And as a (retired) MechE, I personally view VT as a much better program. Most external rankings agree with this, for what they’re worth.
First of all congrats on two fine choices. previous poster is correct, only you can decide
Generally speaking, Lafayette would be a better choice if you want to take advantage of all a LAC provides in addition to top-flight engineering. VT will allow you to go deeper in MechE than Lafayette and would probably be a better choice purely for engineering education.
You mentioned ‘best opportunities’ but is that solely in engineering or, in overall education? Would you prefer to be a ‘better’ engineer on day 1 of graduation or would you prefer to have a broader skillset that a LAC school like Lafayette should provide. My brother in law was a MechE from Lafayette and he always tells me what he valued most was learning the ‘softer skills’ (English/writing, economics, liberal arts electives, clubs) which prepared him well when he transitioned from projects to management. Maybe that’s hard to value at 18, just some food for thought…
Also you mentioned your attraction to Lafayette’s smaller classes. How do you feel about a State school with large university offerings but very focused on engineering versus a smaller private school with a blend of liberal arts and engineering?
Good luck with the decision!
As a parent of an engineering student currently at Lafayette I echo the last posters comments. In addition the diversity of students and dialogue/discussion may be greater at a LAC. Both schools are great but only you can determine what your priorities are.
Both good choices, just different vibes. Although Virginia Tech is best known for engineering, they have plenty of other majors available. Engineers are only about a quarter of the undergraduate population, IIRC, from researching that in the past (a son is an engineering grad from VT). https://vt.edu/academics/majors.html Good luck with the decision!
Thanks! I am visiting soon in the next few days.
Also, what I am currently questioning in regard to the opportunities both schools offer is whether I will be able to get good internships, research both independently and with professors and participate in competitive design teams. @Red87
I question whether I would be overshadowed by the other hundreds of students at VT and struggle for opportunities like the ones I mentioned above.
However, I also question whether Lafayette has as many recourses and programs as VT. I am also looking for a community that is not cliquey and I fear that may be the case at Lafayette.
I am also planning on going to grad school so I also would like to go to a school that will help me get into grad school and give me the skill set to complete it.
Also they gave me an extension on deciding 
Virginia Tech is well recruited nationally , has an Engineering Expo career fair (one of the largest in the country), research opportunities , design teams , grad school opportunities , access to non engineering courses as part of the ABET curriculum. Division 1 sports, lots of clubs, beautiful campus with strong school spirit and loyal alumni. Visit both and decide where you’ll feel more comfortable, which vibe you prefer. If there is a significant cost difference, you may want to consider that. Both good schools, with good opportunities, just different. Enjoy your visits!
OP, do you have housing set up at VT or are you on a waitlist? While you’re at VT, I think it would be good to ask about how they’re handling the over enrollment situation, especially in engineering. Some kids will be in newly made triples, some in lounges, some in nearby hotels. They have to hire 23 new professors at this late date, and there will be a lot more 8 AM classes, etc. I think it’s all manageable but it’s worth factoring into the decision-making.
I hadn’t heard anything about students in hotels.
My D just finished her freshman year of engineering at VT. She has a 3.5 GPA and was able to take an english class as an elective this spring, because she loves to write. I’m sure you will have opportunities within the curriculum. She loves it, however, with the over enrollment this year, I would think twice if I had a toss-up between two schools. You will still be able to get internships, because VT is heavily recruited, and considered one of the top engineering schools in the country. But if research is really your thing (my D is not that interested), I would think that the sheer numbers in your cohort would make that more difficult to arrange.
@rosemaryandthyme I have everything set up at VT and I am in LLC for engineering
@kp2023 That’s great! The LLC for engineering is supposed to be excellent and might be a big plus. On another thread a parent with a child in a VT LLC was told that LLCs may still have to triple up. But it should be a great community regardless.
Here is a website that addresses some concerns about enrollment in case you haven’t seen it - https://vt.edu/vt23.html
Good luck!
Probably @Regretful can give you more precise/up to date answers about Lafayette opportunities for internships, independent research, et. than I can.
From my time at Lafayette, I can tell you the professors are readily accessible and friendly. As a solely undergraduate institution, the undergrads are, naturally, the focus. Faculty is chosen and tenured for their teaching skills whereas in larger universities more of a premium is placed on research/publishing.
At Lafayette, you will know your professors, they are really interested in their students, and there are no TA’s.
As for cliques, the feedback I have from friends who have current students there is that it is a very open, diverse, and friendly place. That was certainly my experience. Lafayette is not a cut-throat institution. It is highly collaborative.
I’m really glad you will visit buy am worried that you won’t get the real vibe given school is out. Hopefully you can meet a professor or two. Don’t hesitate to ask! That’s exactly the type of thing which a small tight-knit school can arrange on short notice.
There is a big focus in the career center starting in freshmen year. Personally I feel that getting internship is more dependent on the student’s motivation. I do want to say they have a very generous program giving students stipends to help make research and internship more affordable during the summer.
I have not heard from my child issues with cliques etc.
Students are on campus doing research for the summer. Perhaps admissions can help coordinate a meeting.
I think once you are on campus you will get a gut feel. Let us know your decision.
Agree. “Gut feel” will guide you. Virginia Tech and Lafayette seem to be very different environments. VT is ten times the size of Lafayette. Some love big schools (mine did), others don’t. Both have D1 sports but different types of programs. Either school should help you get a good job. Where do you see yourself at, enjoying your college years and opportunities? No wrong answer here , both good choices .
In my circles, VT is would be much preferred for engineering. If you are looking more toward management, then maybe they would be similar. If you’re visiting both, ask where recent grads have gone and see if either match more of what you are looking for.