@STEM2017 i think you are making the right decision. good luck. you don’t have to pay the deposit until May 1 so you are losing nothing by waiting and only stand to gain.
S was initially not accepted into the Virginia Tech engineering school. About two weeks ago, he received an e-mail from VA Tech saying if he attended a five-week summer program and received a B or better in each class, and then passed a calculus diagnostic exam with a B or better, that he would be accepted into the engineering program. The program’s cost is $2200 plus additional costs of transportation, etc. We don’t know for sure, but we think that S was brought into this program possibly because VA Tech anticipated more acceptances than is (so far) the case.
S is weighing not only the cost but also losing his last summer at home. For the last month, he’s been tipping his hand strongly to attending UCF/Burnett Honors College. Can anyone make a persuasive case for S to carefully consider VT Tech’s offer? (He’s probably not going to decide definitively until the last minute, May 1st – go figure.) Thanks for any thoughts you can offer. I’m fine wherever he goes – just want him to think carefully through the options.
Oh, and complicating things every so slightly – his girlfriend is attending VA Tech engineering. 
Sounds like they offered him the STEP program. It gets very good reviews, and I think the kids who go really benefit from it. Definitely make starting in the fall easier, they’re used to the campus, pace of classes, and have made some friends. Don’t know if this signifies a yield problem or not, but if it’s for STEP - this is offered every year to some students and means they would like to have him. But totally get that it’s a chunk of his last summer. Good luck with the decision @VABogart
This sounds like it could be a good opportunity for him but it certainly does bring in some added stress to the decision making process. Now having to weigh two good options. Good luck with the decision!
@VABogart – It’s interesting that you should mention the anticipated acceptances. My daughter knows of a few friends who were waitlisted for VT engineering and chose instead to go to VCU and UVA. The three kids were more interested in pre-med to being with, but the rumors (that are now at a fever pitch with seniors) were that some acceptance years on a VT waitlist are better than others, and why not just go with a sure thing.
This doesn’t seem to be a wait list situation? I believe he is already in University Studies and can move into Engineering if he does well in the STEP program ( looks like a small program and probably personal attention with emphasis on having the participants succeed).
@sevmom You’re right – it’s not a waitlist situation. S already is in University Studies and can move to Engineering if he passes the STEP program.
It was a bit odd that the e-mail came from the Engineering School Diversity Officer. I can’t realistically believe that VA Tech is trying to actively recruit more Northern Virginia white males into the Engineering School, which leads me to believe that they’re taking into the STEP program a broader swath of applicants that they initially turned down, who may have been at the top of the “rejection” pile, and have given them a chance to get into the Engineering School if they succeed in STEP. (S has a GPA of 4.33W, 3.8UW and 1430 SAT, so he doesn’t seem to need a remedial/preparatory summer school at VA Tech, but whatever.) I agree STEP seems to be a terrific program, but the additional cost, the lost summer, and the availability of other attractive college options makes it less likely that S will take the school up on its offer. He’s got till Monday to decide.
I’m sure it was frustrating to not be accepted directly to engineering with his stats. There are over 40% OOS in engineering these days so some strong instate kids are left behind in the process .If you can afford the STEP fee , maybe just let him know that, back away, and tell him to just let you know where to send the deposit when he decides ? One of my kids was all set to happily go to JMU when he unexpectedly got off Virginia Tech’s wait list. His first reaction was, oh no, why do I have to now think about all this again! It is a stressful process but it will be over soon! He has very good options Good luck!
Excellent advice, thanks sevmom. Two weeks ago, we told S we’ll support whatever decision he makes, and then did just that – stepped away. Guess we’ll know Monday!
S just made his decision – he’s going to UCF. He’s thankful, though, to have had this VA Tech option to consider. And D will be in 11th grade next fall, so we’ll be back to look at VA Tech again soon.
All the best to those who will be enrolling at this amazing school in August. Go Hokies!
@VABogart Hope your son has a wonderful time at UCF! Thanks for letting us know his decision.
Congratulations @VABogart!
Seems like your S is making a sound decision. UCF has shown him the love and has made him feel wanted.
He spent the past 4 years proving himself. No need to throw away half his summer proving himself again at VT. With no guarantees.
Well done!
I’ve never been a fan of picking a school based on whether or not a school shows you the love or not. Some schools are just better at that than others , or feel the need to do that. And in a state like Virginia, lots of instate kids are interested in schools like UVa, Wm & Mary and Virginia Tech already. My kid that loved UVa and ended up going there as an instate kid got no major love at all from them. Lots of unsolicited interest from higher ranked privates though, that we were not crazy about playing for !
Respectfully disagree @sevmom.
Virginia Tech has shown my S love in the form of scholarships, honors college, and acceptance to a fantastic LLC (Galileo). They have said yes to every request. For these reasons and more he will likely choose VT (let you know tomorrow).
Most of the higher ranked schools offered him nothing more than acceptance.
And that is the best combination, a school that shows you the love and also seems like a great fit! Good luck with the decision!
@STEM2017 All the best to your S’s decision!
Our S admitted tonight that for months, UCF was his lead choice, primarily because of the reasons you stated your S’s preference for VA Tech (early acceptance, great scholarship, Honors College, immediate acceptance to housing of his choice, etc.). You also head the nail on the head – I think S was weary at the prospect of proving himself yet again over the summer, with no guarantees.
I’m surprised that your instate son was not accepted into engineering. It seems to be getting harder all the time. And other OOS programs seem to be happy to snap these high Stats kids up. Sounds like UCF will be wonderful for him!
To clarify, I think it is great to choose a school if that school does "show the love " and also is a great fit. I just wouldn’t necessarily discount a school that is otherwise the best fit, because that school did not show as much love . Like most things, it tends to come down to cost and fit.
Good luck to anyone still making a final decision today!
Thank you @sevmom. Agree 100%. Your advice and opinions have been very valuable to me and to others. Keep them coming!