<p>UVA is a better overall school and more highly regarded by VT has a better engineering rank. Would it be a disadvantage to go to UVA in terms of getting a job out of school?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s ever a disadvantage to have a degree from UVA. It’s really up to you. Is overall name recognition more important, or is the quality of your program? Keep in mind UVA still has a top-notch engineering school; it isn’t like you would be downgrading to a no-name program.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>You are asking UVA fanatics whether you should go to UVA? I can tell you the common reaction right now: “no-brainer”, “is this question even worth asking” etc etc.</p>
<p>I don’t think you would be at a disadvantage going to UVA because even VT Engineers will grudgingly admit that UVA Engineers aren’t completely incompetent. If you think there’s any possibility that you might change your major then there’s an advantage to going to UVA because UVA has a strong reputation in many different fields.</p>
<p>As for engineering, I can’t say but it does seem as if UVA emphasizes quite strongly that it trains engineering students to participate in fields other than engineering, e.g., UVA website “We don’t just graduate competent engineers. We graduate leaders of innovation who transition seamlessly into professional environments and who have the strong foundation needed to succeed in advanced study in engineering and a range of professions including business, medicine and law.” I recall seeing another article from UVA with descriptions of what recent engineering alumni were doing. In every single example, no one was actually working in engineering! They were in risk management, business, or pursuing medical or legal degrees. I’m confident that there are some UVA engineering students that actually pursue an engineering career! </p>
<p>Va Tech trains you to be an engineer. Some students will, of course, pursue MBAs and JDs but basically you go to VA Tech for the engineering expertise. </p>
<p>So, do you want to be an engineer or do you only want to use engineering knowlege for some other purpose? Do you like one university more than another irregardless of the ranking?</p>
<p>Seriously… UVA by far.</p>
<p>If you leave America how many people will of heard of VA Tech as opposed to UVA.</p>
<p>Why limit your options and education to just an expertise in engineering, when you can get a well rounded education with a concentration in engineering.</p>
<p>The only question that should be asked is , can I afford UVA or VA tech?</p>
<p>If money is not an issue, I see no question . =]</p>
<p>Everyone someone asks this question, I ask them: Are you choosing between UVA and MIT? where the difference in engineering programs is astronomical or are you choosing between UVA and VA Tech? where the difference is marginal</p>
<p>bigshot3008 “If you leave America how many people will of heard of VA Tech as opposed to UVA.”</p>
<p>Many people haven’t heard of either university so what does that prove? When I was in Korea the people at the semiconductor company had heard of Va Tech (my undergrad) but not UVA (my Darden MBA). So go figure. </p>
<p>“Why limit your options and education to just an expertise in engineering, when you can get a well rounded education with a concentration in engineering.”</p>
<p>Expertise in engineering at Va Tech does not limit your options or future education. My roomate at UVA had an undergrad in mech engineering from Va Tech and was pursuing a joint JD/MBA. There’s a difference between understanding what someone else is talking about and having expertise.</p>
<p>IMO, the OP should visit each university; try to meet with professors; talk to students etc and make his decision without regard to the rankings.</p>
<p>When I visited different countries in west Europe, and South Africa, and talkedd to both American students there and students that were going to pursue college in America; everyone brought up ivy league names, UVA and UMich. Not one person even mentioned VA Tech. </p>
<p>There is no comparison about how far a degree from UVA can carry you , over a degree from VA tech.</p>
<p>Most of the average and below average students from my school never even knew VA tech existed until the shootings.</p>
<p>UVA is a name that will carry you far.</p>
<p><a href=“http://farm4.static.■■■■■■■■■■/3205/3111637650_96cd940394.jpg[/url]”>http://farm4.static.■■■■■■■■■■/3205/3111637650_96cd940394.jpg</a></p>
![http://farm4.static.■■■■■■■■■■/3205/3111637650_96cd940394.jpg[/url]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3111637650_96cd940394.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>The Thomas Jefferson Statue in Paris along the Seine River. People in Paris know what UVA is~</p>
<p>@bigshot - My own son chose UVa SEAS so we obviously value the education he will get. VT’s e’school is top notch. The people you spoke with were students fixated on an American education. In the professional world VTs name holds it’s own and then some. </p>
<p>The UVa and VT engineers future depends far more on what they do while they are in school, what opportunities do you create, then which one they choose. If a student will be happier at one school, fit in better, and therefore preform better, they are more likely to create a successful atmosphere for themselves.</p>
<p>Both are excellent in their own right. Both have their own strengths. A name is the worst reason to pick a school. A good reputation will never hurt you, it’s just a poor reason IMO.</p>
<p>^^^This is wishful thinking. That was probably America 20-30 years ago when very few people got B.A.'s. Name matters and it matters a lot when you’re spending a significant amount of money. Our society has become obsessed with prestige, and so we have all moved in that direction. A name is the best reason to pick a school IMO for certain fields (I-banking, academia, consulting jobs, law-related jobs, any jobs with any prestigious entity). You don’t choose UConn over Yale because you don’t like New Haven…</p>
<p>PS: The whole “you make your opportunities at whichever college.”…it’s a nice line to tell people who are forced to go to non-prestigious schools. When they apply to jobs, they will often not even be called…that is how a lot of the professional world works today.</p>
<p>Oh my. </p>
<p>“Our society has become obsessed with prestige, and so we have all moved in that direction”</p>
<p>Surely the groups of society who are obsessed with prestige and are graduating with close to 6 figure debt and few job prospects are moving in a particular direction: one of being cash strapped for many years and facing stressors on many levels. </p>
<p>Then there are those who value making the most out of attending the school that offers a sound program in their field, where they feel comfortable and can afford. I agree with Chris and blueiguana. VT and UVA are both great schools and you would do well coming out with an engineering degree at either one, maybe with a different focus from each, but a great degree either way. </p>
<p>BTW, if you are talking about Tech in your last P.S. wahoomb, I don’t think there are many grads from the VT engineering school who are not getting phone calls about jobs…they have a pretty decent job placement ranking from what I have heard.</p>
<p>I am the proud parent of a UVa CLAS student, but I am very familiar with Va Tech. It is a wonderful school, with a world renowned engineering program. In the field, there is a healthy rivalry between UVa and Va Tech engineers. Check out the schools. The vibe is very different and the engineering focus can be different. One is not necessarily better in the abstract, but may well be better/more comfortable for the OP. Graduates of both programs have success in the job market.</p>
<p>To those OOS who have yet to spend a day as a UVa student, you really have very little to add to threads like this. The name of your college is not your ticket to success. I know many recent UVa grads who have taken up to year to find even a starter job in their chosen field. And, I am in an area where UVa has tremendous name recognition. Some have been among the top graduates in their chosen program. Sure, folks ohh and ahh when they hear my child is at UVa, but will that automatically translate into a job? A lot more depends on my child’s efforts and the job market in two years than the mere fact he has a UVa degree.</p>
<p>My D is in SEAS - and as AVA55 has pointed out, the vibe is very different. Tech is a great school, but it would not have been the right engineering program for her. I think blueiguana summed it up nicely: </p>
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<p>Both schools are great,just different. Both well regarded by recruiters(in a WSJ article, both schools were rated in the top 25 by job recruiters-VT at 13th overall (5th for engineering) and UVa at 19th overall(9th for business-not ranked in the top for engineering). Have a UVa SEAS grad son who is gainfully employed(thankfully) and a current VT engineering son who just completed his sophomore year. After a somewhat lackluster high school career (gradewise-SAT’s and EC’s were fine), he has completely turned it around at VT and has an almost 3.9 GPA. I credit both him and VT and the education he is getting there with that. I asked him if he had any interest in trying to transfer to UVa and he does not. UVa was a better fit for older son (the more ambitious,preppy one who is now in consulting). For younger,more laidback son, VT is the better place. We are so lucky to have both of these schools in Virginia.</p>
<p>
I want to repeat this. It gets lost in this conversation. For those of us that are blessed to be instate…what a luxury!</p>
<p>Wahoomb "The Thomas Jefferson Statue in Paris along the Seine River. People in Paris know what UVA is~ "</p>
<p>Okay, I’m just fooling with you. But, how many statues did you come accross during your visit to France? Probably a lot. There are a lot of statues in Washington DC and a good number of people have no idea who they are or what they did. Yes, the Parisians may have heard of Thomas Jefferson (as we have heard of Voltaire) but that doesn’t mean they know anything about UVA. As you know, Thomas Jefferson was a prolific writer, ambassador to France, and further developed concepts of liberty, freedom and governance. Was the TJ statue for these reasons or did it say in small print at the base “Here is the man that created UVA!!!” I could take a poll in Washington DC (fairly cosmopolitan city) and I’ll bet only a minority of people would have heard of the University of Sarbonne (a great university). So, whether or not someone has heard of UVA or Va Tech is not that important IMO.</p>
<p>A lot of you make excellent points but wahoomb is clearly correct, " name matters…"</p>
<p>You are lying to your self if you think a business is going to hire someone graduating Summa Cum Laud, top honors, deans list etc. from University of Kentucky ( Gatton ) Lexington business school over another person who graduates with a C-average from U Penn Wharton.</p>
<p>While both are good schools , UVA is better known than VA Tech and more prestigious, according to rankings etc. The Yale club in NYC even allow UVA alumni to join.</p>
<p>I just want to repeat this because I think this is an excellent point , " PS: The whole “you make your opportunities at whichever college.”…it’s a nice line to tell people who are forced to go to non-prestigious schools. When they apply to jobs, they will often not even be called…that is how a lot of the professional world works today. "</p>
<p>I am not saying VATech name is meaningless, I am just saying when other schools are put in the mix ( ivy’s , MIT, CIT, Duke, etc.), VA Tech goes on the lower end of the list.</p>
<p>Bigshot, please give it a rest. I’m the proud parent of two U-Va grads but (1) Tech is easily on par with U-Va worldwide in engineering circles, (2) your suggestion that the Yale Club of NYC renting space to U-Va means anything at all is not only just plain silly but, frankly, is a little pathetic, and (3) you are flat wrong in assuming that a summa cum laude grad of UK would not beat out the bottom of the barrel from Wharton. Happens all the time. The world is full of high achievers from “no name” schools. It is precisely this attitude that turns so many people off against U-Va.</p>
<p>@novaparent</p>
<p>I never said VA Tech was not on par with UVA in the engineering circle. I said UVA is a better known school, just because you get a degree in one subject does not mean you will be applying for jobs with different focuses.</p>
<p>Yale club is not going to allow just any college to join there club, it further supports the prestige UVA has.</p>
<p>I am not wrong. Many recruiters for fortune 500 companies that visit Wharton and McIntire, will not even visit to recruit students from lesser ranked colleges.</p>
<p>The world is full of more high achievers that attended known colleges than no name schools. Apparently attending a no name school does not keep you from achieving things, it just gives you more opportunities when you attend a school with a name.</p>
<p>Yes UVA and VA tech can go side by side in the engineering world, but he does not know what will happen in the future, whether there will be engineering jobs available or if he will still like engineering when he graduates.</p>
<p>You should really work on your reading skills buddy.</p>
<p>Speaking of the Yale Club, according to my dad the buffet there is out of this world. Hopefully this summer I’ll get to experience it :D</p>