<p>I can't decide if it would be wiser to attend University of Virginia or Virginia Tech. University of Virginia is the far better overall ranked school in academics but Virginia Tech has a better Engineering program. I am planning on getting a Masters in Mechanical Engineering.
UVA- Ranked 24th Nationally and 39th Graduate Engineering School
VTech- Ranked 72nd Nationally and 24th Graduate Engineering School</p>
<p>So if I admitted into both schools and money isn't a factor which one should I choose ?</p>
<p>Would it be smart to go to UVA to get the Bachelors and then go to Grad School in Virginia Tech ?</p>
<p>I think either choice is fine. In this case **I **would choose UVA because I would like to study in an environment with intellectual diversity, and the prestige factor would matter less to me. Also if you change your mind about engineering you have excellent options without having to change schools.
However, if you are like my son you might choose Virginia Tech because you prefer the “nerdier” vibe. So it depends on what you value in your college experience. Have you been to both campuses enough to get a feel for what it would be like to go to school there?</p>
<p>You may also want to compare the course offerings in MechEng between the two schools and the strengths of their departments. I think you can get an excellent engineering education at either one. You can decide later about where to get a Master’s degree.</p>
<p>That is actually a tough choice. I would probably say normally choice the school that would be better for your major but If you for some reason decide you want to change during the semesters you would have much better options at UVA for a strong overall school. If prestige matters to you, both are prestigious with UVA getting the edge. So I would take UVA and plus if you want to go to grad school just go to VTECH for grad school.</p>
<p>I’m not sure you need to worry about graduate school yet. You may very well change your mind. Even with undergrad, you will start off in general engineering and decide later on the actual department. For undergrad engineering, VT is ranked 16, UVa is ranked 34.</p>
<p>I have had kids at both schools. Both are great and either school is fine for engineering. They are different though. I would go with fit. Check them out, visit, and see which one you see yourself at for 4 years.</p>
<p>Those ranking differences aren’t enough to decide one way or another. </p>
<p>Visit both and pick the one you like best.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that many eng’g majors end up changing majors for various reasons…grades, interest, etc…so you might want to go where it’s easier to change majors to something else that you might like.</p>
<p>Both are great choices! My cousin went to VT for engineering and loved it. But I’ve also heard good things about UVA’s engineering department. Have you visited the campuses? If so, which did you like better? That could be a good tie breaker. You need to feel at home at the college you attend because it’ll make everything else more enjoyable. If it was up to me, I’d go to VT because they are known for their engineering program. All the best to you!</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to decide yet. Apply to both, and see if you are accepted to both, and only then decide. UVa is a harder admit than VT. If you do get accepted at both, pick whichever school you are generally more comfortable in. Both have good undergrad engineering programs, so you won’t go wrong either way, and may safely decide based upon other factors than the strength of the engineering program. </p>
<p>With that said, of the two I would lean towards UVa for undergrad. Lots of people start out in engineering but end up changing majors to something else. UVa has generally stronger non-technical majors than VT.</p>
<p>FYI, I’m on CC as a parent, and am an engineering manager, with an MS in EE.</p>
<p>The difference in engineering between the two isn’t enough to warrant a decision based on it. I would probably choose UVA because of its prestige and its great campus.</p>
you might choose Virginia Tech because you prefer the “nerdier” vibe. So it depends on what you value in your college experience. Have you been to both campuses enough to get a feel for what it would be like to go to school there?</p>