<p>Hi,
Son wants to major in computer science & we're trying to arrange some college visits next week for a trip from NC (vacation) to NJ (home). </p>
<p>Contemplating taking a 7 hour detour to visit Virginia Tech, but didn't know if anyone had any thoughts on this? </p>
<p>It would involve quite a bit of travel, but I know it's a generally well-regarded school & perhaps less competitive than others? (son has 34 ACT but UW gpa of 3.1 [all As w/some APs jr. year, but unmotivated 10th gr year]). The OOS VA Tech tuition looks really good ($20k), especially as compared to $30k at Penn State, $45k at Rensselaer PolyTech, $40k at Drexel, etc.</p>
<p>Would very much appreciate any thoughts!!!</p>
<p>Va Tech is a great school. It is kind of out there, geographically but so is Penn State. I am not sure about less competitive - these things are so unpredictable.
Frankly, if my kid was thinking of those 4 schools, I would push VaTech. A 7 hour detour is probably easier than making a special trip - but will you all be "in the mood" for a visit? I know how these things go on vacation!</p>
<p>Thanks JustAMom! Appreciate the encouragement. Don't think we could swing a return trip. On this drive, had thought of substituting drive throughs of UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, Johns Hopkins (more along our travel route) for long VA Tech trek, but since those schools would be such reaches for son, admission-wise, re-thinking (again!) that maybe we should do VA Tech, instead, after all.</p>
<p>VA Tech actually has a better male/female ratio (41% girls) than other tech schools (e.g. GA tech--only 30% girls). That's important to son! Thinking VA Tech would be less of a party school than Penn State? I used to live in PA and heard all sorts of Penn State party stories. Not loving that for son....</p>
<p>Hi Jolynne, Welcome to the beginning of the college search! Enjoy it because this year will fly by! I will start by saying we are very biased toward VT as we have our first moving into the dorms in August! It is a great school especially in the fields of technology. S thought it had the whole package of what he wanted: strong academics, great atmosphere, a tremendous sense of student pride and community. </p>
<p>It is big, 5300+ in his incoming class, but for some reason, when we visited and talked to the professors, the school "shrunk". Which leads me to my advice: set up a tour/info session and visit if you can. My son had about 8 schools on his list last summer and once we visited, he knocked off three after spending half a day on their campuses. It saves you the $ for the app fees and him the time (and believe me his time will be filled this year with writing: scholarship application writing, college app writing, etc.- it can become overwhelming)</p>
<p>VT isn't an Ivy, but it is getting harder and harder to get into. His ACT score looks great- in the top 25% of what VT accepts, but as you said his GPA is a bit low. We were told at the info session that they are definitely "numbers driven" and look at the strength of the student's curriculum, GPA and then board scores......There is a part on the VT application that allows the kids to share information that they felt impacted their academic record, so maybe your son could write about what was going on in his life as a sophomore. </p>
<p>Finally, here is a link off of the VT website that shows the stats for this years incoming class that may help:</p>
<p>Freshman</a> Snapshot | Undergraduate Admissions | Virginia Tech</p>
<p>Good luck with everything and enjoy the journey with him! And Go Hokies! :)</p>
<p>You are right about the others being reaches. Did you guys consider NC State? another really great school - I am not sure how much of a reach it would be, if at all.
If he would consider Drexel then consider Temple.
Yeah PSU is a party school - but it is also big. I have known lots of kids go up to University Park as freshmen who have done very well.</p>
<p>I've known some NJ kids who went to VT and absolutely loved it. didn't seem to feel the isolation. It sounds like a well-rounded place, with great academics, not impossible to get into as some. Seems worth the trek, provided, as was mentioned above, that you and S (him especially) are up for it post-vacation.</p>
<p>Thanks for that input, KandK, JustAmom & garland!! Interesting re: Temple. I went there for grad school & while I loved it, I definitely did not hang around campus (studied at night at Villanova in the 'burbs!). Little nervous about sending youngish-18 yo to North Philly. But, something to consider. It's definitely close. Hadn't thought of NC State. We could drive through..it's right on our trip route. </p>
<p>Again, appreciate the thoughts!!</p>
<p>I thought NC State would be "in the neighborhood"!<br>
Several friends of my kids have gone to Va Tech and not only have been very successful but loved it.
Temple - up and coming, IMO. One of mine was set to attend but got another school (West Point) - a number of kids from our hs have gone there recently and loved it. A lot of new building going on, you may not recognize it. Yes it is in a "bad" part but security is top notch and very impressive.
Venturing off campus must be undertaken with caution - of course.
Drexel is not the best area either - hence the Temple suggestion.</p>
<p>you cant really define any school as a "party" or "not a party" school. are there more parties at psu? do more people party? yea, probably. but if your son is looking for a party, im sure he can find one anywhere. every college has parties on the weekend.</p>
<p>Thanks for those thoughts, JustAMom. Agree--security at Temple is v. good. Just seemed like a different (more dangerous) world than even the Drexel/UPenn area of Philly. We should see if we can fit in a visit, though...it's not far from where we live.</p>
<p>laurstar---I've heard that a lot & I'm sure it's true (can find a party anywhere). I just think it might have an impact if the overall 'feel' of the school is more party-oriented than not. Good to keep that aspect in perspective, though, that's true.</p>
<p>If you're going that way and the interest is in computer science, then a really good choice would be the CISAT program at JMU. I know lots of kids and several family members who have been to both VT and JMU and they have all been very happy at both. </p>
<p>College</a> of Integrated Science and Technology - CISAT - JMU</p>
<p>That's a great tip, cartera, thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Add me to the chorus who suggest "If you can get there, by all means visit." True, VT is geographically isolated, but the campus is located in a beautiful region and there's lots to do on-campus. And as cartera45 recommended, be sure to stop by JMU to tour the CISAT. It's right on Interstate 81, and there's a small mall adjoining that is frequented by students.</p>
<p>Jolynne - let me add that if you drive through JMU on I81, don't judge it unless you drive onto campus. My D had no interest in JMU because she had only driven through on the interstate. After I talked her into really visiting, she moved it from a consideration to her first choice and is going there in the fall.</p>
<p>Just to add, some people make a big deal about 81 dividing JMU's campus. We did not find it a big deal. There is a tunnel that runs underground.
There are other campuses that are divided by major roadways and one never reads/hears about it. At other campuses, like Ohio Weselyan, one hears/reads about a roadway seperating the campus. For example, schools like Boston University are seperated by Commonwealth Avenue. I have not read about any complaints regarding that.</p>
<p>PS, the girls at JMU are really pretty, and they outnumber the boys by a wide margin.</p>
<p>northeastmom - so true. I always warn people that driving through on I81 cannot even begin to suggest how nice the campus is. My D's good friend was trying to decide between VTech and the University of Richmond and on the way back from VT, she decided to look at JMU. She came home, applied, and is going there.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for those added ideas! Put JMU on the list to see after our visit at Vtech. We'll be getting there late (4 pm) but will make an extra effort to really go into the campus & I've emailed to see if we can talk to a few people, even though it's late.</p>
<p>Btw, son completely enjoyed NewHope's report re: the number of girls/attractiveness ("can we stay for a while, then?").</p>
<p>VT teaches many of their math courses through online courses in their math emporium. It may or may not be something your child would like.</p>
<p>Jolynne, </p>
<p>VT and JMU are favorites of my students -- we have several at each school. If your son likes Comp Science, do stop at George Mason. It is a wonderful school for technology. So is UMBC. My son, a rising senior, has done a camp at George Mason and toured UMBC. We've also been to JMU a few times for other activities. None of the schools really interested him, but that does not mean they might not been for your son. VT is more of a personal reason (PM me if you want to know.)</p>