<p>These are two of my top schools. I plan to study engineering. I have visited both and loved them. They seem similar other than that Vanderbilt is private and UVA is public. Since UVA is sort of a smaller sized public, they had a similar feel. I know they both have sort of a rich-kid reputation but I feel confident I will find my niche in either school. Can anyone discuss the positives and negatives of both? If it means anything, I also plan to use a Navy ROTC scholarship at whichever school I attend.</p>
<p>bump (10 char)</p>
<p>Well. Keep in mind my answer is obviously biased because I chose UVA, and I am also not in the E-school. The Engineering programs at both school are good, but neither are the greatest in the rankings, obviously. Some things that made me lean towards UVA (as an out-of-state student from Tennessee)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Big city vs. small town--I'm from the Nashville area, and I didn't really want to be around the city all the time, although Nashville is nice in moderation. Charlottesville is quaint and has personality.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial Aid--in my experience, UVA gave me MUCH more financial aid than Vanderbilt. Something to think about.
**And the NAVY ROTC program here is great.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Positives for UVa:
-the school is big enough to have amazing resources, but small enough to get one-on-one time with professors
-you're at the #2 public school so e-school and College classes are superb
-many programs are top-ranked (systems, BMe, EE)
-it's probably going to cost less
-public, so state-funded research in addition to grant-research </p>
<p>Cons:
-some programs are small and/or capped
-UVa isn't know to be an engineering school...but neither is Vandy
-aid is going to be tougher to receive
-some find the e-school too small here</p>
<p>I don't know much about Vandy's e-school. UVA is ranked higher, but that doesn't mean much. Frankly, I would pick the school based on the feel, both places have a superb reputation. Do you have a major in mind?</p>
<p>Also, I'm a tour guide for the e-school, so I can throw some details/facts around if you have specific questions.</p>
<p>I'm looking at either Aerospace or Mechanical. I know that Vandy doesn't have Aerospace so I would definitely choose Mechanical there. Is it fairly common to pull a minor or second major for engineering students at UVA? I'm really interested in history, medieval studies, etc. One of the things I really like about both of these schools is that the curriculum is not so set that I cannot possibly study any other areas. I don't think I could do the same thing at many of the big publics. I know from reading some of your posts, shoebox, that you used to go to VT. Was it your experience there that there wasn't much room to take non-technical classes other than the general requirements? I am looking at some of the big publics as well but I just like a lot about what I saw when I took tours at UVA and Vandy. I did not get to sit in a class or spend the night at either school. Did you do either of those things? Do you think that either one is real important to do before I make a choice?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I'm going to bullet some things quick for you and post in further detail later...dig up any more questions you have in the meantime
1. apply to both!!
2. UVa has aero and mech
2a. many aeros double in aero/mech. i've been told it's a difference of a small number of classes, but i can't tell you exactly how many/hours.
2.5. you can minor in history, no problem. i'm minoring in politics. that's the beauty of uva
3. search my past posts for reasons on leaving VT.
4. i didn't sit in on any classes. Classes are pretty much the same anywhere at schools like UVa, Vandy, VT. Instead, I looked at the pros/cons of the different programs.<br>
4b. I don't think it's important to do it now. Instead, start thinking about visiting schools in the spring after you've been accepted. I'm not sure how far you are from UVa/Vandy, so I'm not sure if you can do it in the month you have between letters/making a decision. But I wouldn't buy a non-refundable plane ticket...too much in the air with decisions these days.</p>
<p>Apply to both, I did . That is, if you got in go for Vandy for Engineering. For anything else I'd say UVA</p>
<p>I have already applied to both. I am just torn between the two. What makes you say to pick Vandy for Engineering? I realize rankings don't mean much but UVA is actually ranked higher in Engineering while Vandy seems to be ranked higher (at least by US News) as to national universities. Again, I am not choosing a school based on rankings, I'm just curious why you said Vandy for Engineering.</p>
<p>I'd say UVA over Vandy just because UVA has aerospace. You need to like engineering to stick around. Trust me!!</p>
<p>I dont know much about the Engineering programs but you mention the difference between the private vs public and that is something my S was concerned about as well. We visited and he applied to both UVA and Vandy as well as Georgetown, BC, Wake, UNC CH, and others and he felt that at Vandy (and all privates) ALL students are held to the same standard. At UVA and UNC the OOS kids are held to a much higher standard than the in-state kids. Also, at Vandy the ratio is 9-1 profs-students, so I think that when shoebox says classes at UVA, VT and Vandy are "pretty much the same", I'm not so sure that is accurate (especially about VT).</p>
<p>No, I meant that what you're going to learn and how much is pretty much the same. And the student ratios don't always mean much...many intro classes are still going to be huge, many upper classes are going to be smaller.<br>
Also, OOS kids aren't held to a higher standard once they matriculate, especially in engineering. They simply come in with higher stats, but that's because UVa sets the 2:1 ratio of IS/OOS and to fill that 33%, they take the best. But I see no difference in IS/OOS kids when it comes to "standards". We all have to learn the material and pass it. Many IS engineers outperform the OOS students, but many OOS outperform other ISers. It's ignorant to say OOSers will do better than ISers. Especially in a difficult major like engineering.</p>
<p>Hi,dwhite, shoe is exactly right. My son is instate, graduating in May. High stat kid who I'm pretty sure could have gotten in to some of the elite privates if he had chosen to apply (had great ec's, recommendations ,etc. as well). He did ED (when it still existed). Virginia has a mandate to its citizens. For every Virginia kid who is there with high 1200's , there are many instate kids there with high 1400's and 1500's. These instate kids know a great university when they see it and know the cost cannot be beat. This myth that all of the OOS kids are so much superior to the IS kids seems to be a myth that just doesn't die(it
seems to resurface on this forum every few months or so).
Just anecdotally, I was sitting at a high school basketball game about 4 years ago and casually asked the woman behind me how her son liked Vanderbilt.
She proceeded to go into a 2 minute rant about how he could have gotten into Virginia(he was salutatorian of his class,etc) but wanted to get out of Virginia. She was upset that they were paying over $40,000 a year for him to go to school when the other kids on his floor in his dorm were saying things to him like , "what are you nuts, I would have killed to
have gone to Virginia if I could have gotten in."
Nothing against Vanderbilt. It seems like a great school. The private/public IS/OOS
debate just gets tiresome after awhile. Happy Holidays to all!</p>
<p>Certainly didn't mean to offend. When I said they are held to a higher standard, I meant for admissions, not when they matriculate. I realize this is an on-going debate and unfortunately, it is fueled by both IS and OOS kids. Were we live we know MANY, MANY kids from NOVA who will say the same thing about the admission standards for VA kids in other parts of that state. I was simply stating a fact about admissions for both schools - I realize both NC and VA have certain IS ratios they must meet.</p>
<p>One things certain, international students coming to UVA are practically professors in their own respect.</p>
<p>My S got into both in engineering. He picked Vandy because he felt Vandy was more diverse in its students. As stated 66% of the students are from Va. at Vandy only about 20% are from Tenn. I will tell you my S had lunch with everyone of his professors his first year for an one on one. He also actually worked with a 12 year old patient his first semester and made a prosthetic arm for him in which he uses now one year later. Vandy also does a great job of what ever you want to major/minor in they will make it work. I know as a parent, I have been able to call the head of the Engineering dept and talk to him at any time. As far as fin. aid, Vandy has started a program in which no kid will have more than 10k of debt when he/she leaves Vandy. As far as the ROTC program at Vandy I cant comment. One last thing Vandy does an unbelievable job of preparing their freshmen to college life they meet together in small groups every week for the first semester and a half helping their freshmen plus they all live together in brand new dorms. Also there are no high 1200 at Vandy, they are all 1400 and 1500's. Everyone is equal. </p>
<p>Finally both are great schools, you'll have a great experience at both and you cant go wrong with either choice. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Very interesting. You make some valuable points. Thanks Trey.</p>
<p>My son has actually had nightmares at having to learn with and socialize with these low SAT kids ( 1300 types) who are not his equals. He is so above all that (no diversity for us on that issue-only deal with those on our level). He is worried (rightly so ) that some of these lowly kids might just kick his ass in the workplace (or in life) at some point.</p>
<p>First to trey. At Vandy, there are people who have gotten in and accepted admission with SAT scores lower than 1400. Don't believe me? Ask Vandy's admissions department.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I will tell you my S had lunch with everyone of his professors his first year for an one on one.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As did I. The professors at UVa are very open and are willing to talk about anything with you. You just need to make the effort. I had lunch with 3 of my professors this semester. And UVa pays for you to have lunch with your professors.</p>
<p>sev, I just want some clarification. Are you saying that your son doesn't want to deal with the 1300 types who are not his equals? Because that's what it seemed like.</p>
<p>I'm seriously concerned that you're a UVa parent. SAT scores, are not, and should NEVER be, the defining factor of a person. This is why your SAT score is not the most important factor in admissions; a 4 hour test does not show the mettle of a person. On CC, we have continually strived to emphasize this point. And we'll emphasize it again and again. Standardized scores are somewhat important, but not as important as your transcript, ECs, essays, etc.</p>
<p>And what exactly is your son so above? Someone who got an SAT score of 1370? I know someone who got into Stanford with an SAT score under 1300 a while back. But he did amazing things to improve his community; when he wasn't in school, he was helping out. And he deserved to go to Stanford. He's currently a grad student at Harvard. He never brags about the things he's done and when people realize what he's done, they ogle at his brilliance. Why? He keeps reaching farther and farther into the stars. Instead of focusing on his past achievements, he looked for ways to improve what he's done and thinks of new things that will help out. And you know what? I'm pretty sure my "lowly" friend would kick you son's butt if they were in the same industry.</p>
<p>Another story. When Dean J came to visit, she told a story about a girl who had a low SAT score who applied to UVa. She got in. She was at the top of her UVa class 2 years later. Despite her low SAT score. SAT scores, in the big scheme of things, mean nothing.*** Your work ethic, your determination, your drive, and a pinch of luck are what determine your success.***</p>
<p>Your son should be "rightly worried" about these "lowly" kids beating his high horse ass. The last things those kids will be worried about is their SAT score while your son will still be ogling the pinnacle of his academic career: his SAT score.</p>
<p>Sorry if I seem harsh. That last post really riled me up. What you just posted reflects horribly on our University and it perpetuates the idea that the students at UVa are snotty arrogant people. And that's not the case for the majority of students that attend this university. Also, the idea that the all knowing SAT score is important needed to be debunked. SAT scores have their importance in undergraduate college admissions. After that point in your life, they mean close to nothing.</p>
<p>DB123 - Thank you! I read that and wondered how to respond. Your response is far more eloquent than what I was working in response.</p>
<p>If I could copy and paste db's response, I would. I would also add that the average SAT for entering UVa is a 13-something (UVa</a> - Total SAT Scores). So, hopefully he isn't at UVA, or he can't work with a majority of the school. Also, he's going to have to learn how to work with people that have lesser, and more, abilities than him. That's life. If he can't, he's going to struggle, terribly. I seriously hope your post was a joke.</p>