<p>Hello everyone.
I’d like to tell you about my concern that I have had for a long time.
This might sound stupid but I just wish to hear some advices from many other people.</p>
<p>I’m currently studying at Northern Virginia Community College and I’ll be transferring to a 4-year University by end of this Spring semester (2011).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I spent 2 years in Northern Virginia Community College and I will be earning Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering by May 2011.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve completed 46 units and am currently taking rest of the units required for the degree (21 hour)</p></li>
<li><p>My current GPA is 3.19 (For 46 units): I have straight A for all my engineering courses.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve applied for Virginia Tech and UVA SEAS.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m eligible to transfer to Virginia Tech under the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. (As long as I don’t bomb my last semester)</p></li>
<li><p>I’m NOT eligible to transfer to UVA under agreement. I applied for competitive admission but my chance is slim.</p></li>
<li><p>I expect my cumulative GPA to increase up to 3.4 by the completion of Spring Semester but I don’t think this is going to help me get admitted to UVA because I’ll hear from them BEFORE the grade for Spring semester is posted.</p></li>
<li><p>My younger brother is in UVA SEAS as a freshman and he really wishes I could come UVA SEAS. Also, my parents strongly want me to attend UVA if possoble.</p></li>
<li><p>I absolutely like Virginia Tech and I think Virginia Tech students are so much better than what I am now.</p></li>
<li><p>But I would choose UVA over V-Tech if I ever can (#8 is definitely one of the reasons why)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And let’s assume that I am admitted to V-Tech but NOT admitted to UVA.</p>
<p>Option1.
1. Transfer to V-Tech and Earn Bachelor’s degree in EE (maybe minor in Computer Engineering)</p>
<ol>
<li> Go straight to work force or start studying for Master’s degree in Engineering.</li>
</ol>
<p>Option2.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Choose to stay in CC for 1 more year and wait for next year’s admission season.</p></li>
<li><p>Boost up my GPA by retaking some low grade courses and some additional math courses like Differential Equation and Linear Algebra.</p></li>
<li><p>Next year, apply for UVA or maybe even better schools like UIUC (My very best friend is in UIUC for Computer Engineering)</p></li>
<li><p>See all my same-aged friends graduating University EVEN BEFORE I first get into University as a junior (this is the killer part)..
They’ll graduate in May 2012 and I’ll be a junior in September 2012…. I’m now 21 years old and I flunked out for a year at high school because I immigrated to U.S. when I was 18….</p></li>
</ol>
<p>How much difference does one make just by going to one of the top undergrad schools?</p>
<p>Is ONE full year going to be worth if I spend that time to choose UVA or UIUC over Virginia Tech?</p>
<p>What would you do if you were in my shoes?</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong if I ever sound like throwing mud at VT. Virginia Tech’s engineering school rank is actually a little bit higher than UVA but I just have a special circumstance.</p>
<p>And I do understand the difference between V-Tech and UVA because I’ve searched over and over about it. </p>
<p>Thanks for reading. Any comment would be appreciated.</p>