<p>congratulations, shoebox, on all of your opportunities. Hopefully my son can do as well, I believe he is off to a great start.</p>
<p>Nice article in the Cavalier Daily about the four Goldwater scholarship recipients from UVA. Four students nominated, four received the award. </p>
<p>[The</a> Cavalier Daily | Four University students earn scholarships in technical fields](<a href=“http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2010/04/15/four-university-students-earn-scholarships-in-technical-fields/]The”>http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2010/04/15/four-university-students-earn-scholarships-in-technical-fields/)</p>
<p>I’m so glad I took a peek in here. Nice to see some of the old favs and a few new names talking about engineering.</p>
<p>Having spent a good number of years working exclusively in engineering, I’m a little concerned that the field is getting a lot of attention during an uncertain job market and many are flocking towards a purely technical education, thinking that is the “correct” method for teaching. This style is fine for many, but I believe that the next generation of technological leaders will come out of more broad, rounded programs. </p>
<p>I would never say that there is a right or wrong way to learn. I think students should attempt to assess which style best fits their goals.</p>
<p>I have to admit that I’m sad Shoe is graduating this year. Her contributions to these discussions have been so great. I wish we could tack a few of these threads for future students to read. :)</p>
<p>tnalflncva: I wasn’t Honors, but I knew a few people who were and it didn’t help their situation too much. If your son is aiming to take other classes outside of engineering, UVa is the right choice, hands down. VT just doesn’t have the same selection as UVa. Also, I don’t know if he’d be interested in religious studies, but we have one of the better programs around. I know two people majoring in it, and they really enjoy their classes.
As for the party scene, I think the scene was greater at VT. Blacksburg, really is, in the middle of nowhere. There’s not a whole lot to do, other than drink or be quite bored. C’ville, however, has a TON of options for things to do, especially sober things. The Greek scene is somewhat big here, but that doesn’t rule Grounds (I’m not Greek, have friends both in and out…most engineers are not Greek, and since that’s where his classes will mostly be, he’ll have lots of opportunities to make non-Greek friends). </p>
<p>Again, I’m biased. I love it here. VT Honors is a good bet. But if your son wants a wide variety of class opportunities and a place with (interesting, a variety of, things to do), UVa wins.</p>
<p>Dean J: I was waiting for you to come bless all the new little engineers! I know you secretly love us the most :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, I just posted to a GT thread and I’ll see what they say</p>
<p>wahoomb: It’s true, I’ve basically made my decision to go to GT, but my parents aren’t convinced at all… that’s why…</p>
<p>What major are you going for hart?</p>
<p>I want to thank everyone for their input and honesty. We have a smart grandson who
will figure it all out especially after the Day on the Lawn Monday and Hokie Focus Saturday.
Although he has other options, he is pretty much committed to staying in-state since BOTH
schools are amazing and he is honored to have UVA or VT to choose from. I apologize for anything that skewed towards the negative on this thread against either school because that was never the intent…just wanting confidential insight and input before D-Day arrives. I myelf would never have gotten in to any of these schools so congratulations to all you students…you have great futures ahead of you…I wish you all the best!</p>
<p>hartachepura, I got into GT and UVA as well (both for engineering). I’ll choose to go to UVA instead because of their computer science and math classes that more theoretical and pure. I would rather go to GT for grad school, not undergrad.</p>
<p>hartachepura, I’m going to make the assumption that you already know the stats at GATech of students that graduate in four years. This would give you a very good idea how realistic completing their excel. masters program within the specified time is. I’m sorry I don’t have the number in front of me or I would post it. I’m sure you could get it easily from GT. We liked it but were taken back by the low % of grads in 4yrs compared to UVa & VATech. That being said, good luck at an exceptional school.
For my S UVa seems to feel right. It does seem odd how many people are trying to tell him that he wouldn’t receive a technical education!?! My job is to help give him all the tools and information he needs to make HIS decision (and hold his hand if he reaches for it).<br>
BTW. I didn’t know Dean J liked engineering students best 
We are huge fans of hers so the feeling is mutual.
Peace.</p>
<p>Boy, lots of good advice here. Thanks to all. My daughter has been accepted to Clemson, UVa, and VT. We were able to attend Hokie Focus, but couldn’t stay for Days on the Lawn at UVa. A prof at Clemson gave us some personal attention, and we toured the architecture bldg. at UVa with a grad student. We’re pretty confused. My daughter has the VT w/honors option, but it’s about $8K more/yr. But VT is a 5-yr program vs. 4+2 for UVa and Clemson, so that takes a bit of the sting off.</p>
<p>Our impressions were that Clemson was in transition, getting ready to build a new 30,000 sf bldg for architecture and looking to hire both a new dean and chair. Campus tour was very pretty, and students were enthusiastic.</p>
<p>VT was stunningly beautiful in the mountains, but Blacksburg was quite small without a lot of shopping options. The architecture program was amazing, especially from a technology perspective. Their shop had everything. Hokie Focus was VERY professional, with the president and several other high-ups welcoming everyone and giving worthwhile speeches. I almost got teary-eyed as they talked about their love for VT. You could tell people really love the school, football, and being Hokies.</p>
<p>UVa campus was lovely, with a dignified feel to it, and Charlottesville was really interesting, especially the outside mall downtown. Very cool, and lots of cute shops and good food. The architecture program seemed solid, but not quite as high tech facilities. Broad educational opportunities, but not necessarily more than VT’s honors program. </p>
<p>Impressions are that a student would leave UVa a bit more refined and marketable in the Northeast as well as the South. VT grads would have a big network, especially in the South, and end up with a bit more of a technical edge. Clemson seems pretty solid, but not quite up to VT and UVa standards. So, with the $8K discrepancy/yr., UVa is looking pretty compelling. Thoughts???</p>
<p>I forgot to ask about Days on the Lawn; did attending it change anyone’s mind one way or the other? I expect it was good, and we would have loved to stay, but just couldn’t swing it with my DD’s schedule.</p>
<p>
I don’t think my background is too much of a secret…I came here from a highly selective, somewhat quirky engineering school. :)</p>
<p>When a faculty member here mentioned possibly making me a FIRST referee, I almost exploded with happiness.</p>
<p>I like all students, but I really like engineers. Maybe it’s because I can’t fathom doing [some</a> of the stuff they do](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVCLdyM-Ouc]some”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVCLdyM-Ouc). </p>
<p>For those who feel like a youtube break:
[YouTube</a> - Why Do We Do It?](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYXj2hZhv6o]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYXj2hZhv6o)
[YouTube</a> - SEAS At A Glance: Perks of Attending U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMlXXS6kWEQ]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMlXXS6kWEQ)
[YouTube</a> - SEAS At A Glance: Coolest About SEAS](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2wvmlcU3Yo]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2wvmlcU3Yo)
[YouTube</a> - SEAS At A Glance: Why Choose Engineering?](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwWcDcVnJw]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwWcDcVnJw)
[YouTube</a> - SEAS At A Glance: Preparation for the Future](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyEep-xZFzk]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyEep-xZFzk)
[YouTube</a> - SEAS At A Glance: What Courses Are You Taking?](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkOcK9TIZR4]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkOcK9TIZR4)</p>
<p>Dean J,
You are a FIRST, ref? Are you kidding!?! Which year? For FTC? My son is on a VA FTC team that has been at UVa for states the past two years. My son met a professor at the engineering open house this year that was considering being a judge. We encouraged him telling him what a good time he would have. I saw my son after his judges presentation. He had a smile from ear to ear. He said “You are NEVER going to believe who my judge was… and he loved my CAD work!”. My son was over the moon when the professor stopped by our pit later to see him and look at his design work. I work as a mentor with our FTC & FRC teams. It is amazing to watch what these kids do. I love every minute of it! We just got back from Worlds in Atlanta. Such an amazing program we are fortunate to be involved in! :)</p>
<p>
No…not yet. 
I’ll be following up to remind that professor that I’m willing and able to be one.</p>
<p>I went to Atlanta and worked with a few people in the FIRST organization while at my last school.</p>
<p>Hi chromedome, Welcome to the forum. Yes, there is a lot of great info here, from so many perspectives. I am a bit confused, you mentioned that VT is 8K more a year, is that 8K more than UVa as well? </p>
<p>We looked at Clemson about summer of 2007 and thought the same thing that you did about its arch program. I would be a bit concerned to see that not much has changed in terms of progress. But, maybe things are starting to get moving along now. </p>
<p>I guess it is going to come down to the fact of whether your d wants to go with a 5 year program or the 4 + 2 or 3. There are obviously pros and cons to each. We looked at UVa too, but our son felt that he wanted to get maximum studio/design time in his major and then get busy in the real world five years afterward. He ended up at VT as a Landscape architecture student. He felt the grad school option may be something he wanted to pursue after he saw where his specific interests led. But, to each his/her own. (Ironically, he just may end up at UVA for grad work down the road as he has spoken very highly of their Land Arch MLA program- one of his best professors got his MLA there). </p>
<p>One last thing, he has been fortunate to be able to incorporate into his studies some great liberal arts/individual interest type classes, so he feels that he is getting a very well-rounded education. AP credits have helped a lot there. </p>
<p>I don’t think your girl can go wrong either way; they are all great programs. It just depends on how she wants to get her arch education. Good luck to you as she makes her choice!</p>
<p>(BTW, for the shopping factor you are right, Blacksburg just doesn’t cut it. But Christiansburg is a mere Hokie shuttle bus ride away It is funny how that part never came up with a boy :))</p>
<p>Hey, KandKsmom! Thanks for your input. Yes, believe it or not, because we are out-of-state, and VT won’t give in-state tuition like Clemson, my daughter got a small scholarship + fed grants + work study and that’s it, leaving us with about $20K/yr to deal with. UVa came through big-time, with a scholarship getting our outlay down to about $12K/yr. Big difference. Clemson is close to $15K out-of-pocket. So UVa looks good from a $$$ standpoint now. Funny, but we wouldn’t have thought that just looking at the numbers off the website when we first started the application process. Just goes to show you that you should apply if you’re interested, not if you can afford it.</p>
<p>NOW, big question, does anyone know someone who has gone to UVa, then gotten their masters at VT? Or vice-versa (less likely, I’d imagine due to the 5-year program)?</p>
<p>chromedome- I’m sorry I don’t have an answer for you about the UVa undergrad/VT masters, but…
WOW, congratulations to your daughter for the acceptances & kudos to you for advocating for her for the best financial aid packages!!! It’s so hard not to look at that BIG number and discount a school. Sometimes you can work it out!
Job well done!!! :)</p>
<p>I am happy for you both, too! Hopefully others will see your scenario and not give up hope re: Virginia state schools and OOS FA. One thing you may want to do, (and possibly already have) is to call VT and see if they will come up with more money. Maybe if you let them know that she is very interested in both the VT and UVA arch program, but got more $ from UVA, they may up their FA. I know VT is tight with merit money, but I thought UVA was as well, so who knows, it couldn’t hurt to ask I guess.</p>
<p>But, regardless, she has some great options. You may want to go over to the architecture forum to ask your question about the UVA to VT masters situation. There is also an architecture site called archinect.com that has an education forum with some grad students who post. Maybe some of them know of someone who has gone that route. </p>
<p>Again, tell her congratulations for receiving these awards for all of her hard work in high school!</p>
<p>I have to make this decision soon as well haha. I think it really depends on what you want to do. I know MANY people who graduated from both engineering schools and have successful careers. The ones who graduated from UVA are more along the management/consulting line of engineering whereas the Vtech grads are more along the design side of engineering. Also, I have noticed even though Vtech does have a stronger engineering department, UVA grads tend to go to better graduate schools.</p>
<p>Search through [shoebox10’s</a> posts](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=43525421]shoebox10’s”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=43525421). She went to both schools and always did a great job of comparing the two. :)</p>