Virginia Tech vs UVA question

The most popular majors within UVa engineering currently ( based on Fall 2015 enrollment numbers) are Computer Science (360), Systems Engineering (287), Mechanical (280) and Biomedical (279). Not surprisingly, CS enrollment has gone up quite a bit over the last few years (according to the historical data). I would imagine some of the departments in most schools are harder to gain admittance to than others. And that may be worth checking out if someone has a particular area of interest. http://www.seas.virginia.edu/about/stats.php

@sevmom Yep this is what I heard from a VT college rep a month ago. But I did NOT know about UVA denying you flat out… That’s not good.

@lostaccount To be fair he got into UVA too. And regrets his decision all the time not going there… But also UVA wasn’t as prestigious as it is today.

@TheAutodidact Students apply to UVa with a specific area of interest and applications are read in terms of what school you applied to , and decisions are based on that. http://admission.virginia.edu/admission/academic-interests

Even if a student is waitlisted, they are evaluated for getting off the waitlist for the particular school they applied to only (arts and sciences, engineering, nursing,etc.). “a wait-listed student will be considered for an offer of admission only in the school to which he or she applied.” http://admission.virginia.edu/waitlist But check with the office of admissions directly if you have any questions or want to be sure how things will work for you. If you find out anything different from what I have said, please be sure to report back.

Some schools you might look into in addition to UVa and Virginia Tech are schools like Alabama and Clemson. Alabama in particular is known for good merit aid.

Thanks for the info. Don’t think I’ll be applying to Alabama or Clemson… I don’t like either myself and I don’t think I’d even be allowed to, despite being a huge Tide fan.

I found this on the UVa admissions blog. Someone asked " If I was denied entry to Nursing School can I be considered for College too or is that not an option?" The Admissions Dean replied, "I’m sorry, but the deny is from UVa. You can’t be reconsidered for a different school. "

What other schools are you interested in then? What restrictions are being put on you in terms of where you can apply (since you say you don’t think you’d be “allowed” to apply to Alabama or Clemson)?

@sevmom Alabama and Clemson would be considered too lower ranked for what I’m going for. Other colleges I have some interest in are Colorado School of Mines (though they are focused on environmental things and not EE or CPE), RIT, NC State, Oregon Institute of Technology. I’m still working on building that list. I’m really looking for a school that has good electrical and/or computer engineering, and at the least a CS department. I also am wanting it to be in or near mountains.

Another question I have is this: If I just enter the school (VT or UVA) as regular admission, at what point do I apply again for the undergrad engineering school? Or, do I have to wait until graduate school to apply again?

“Alabama and Clemson would be considered too lower ranked for what I’m going for.” These are both perfectly fine schools. Don’t get too caught up in rankings and prestige.

No, you would not have to wait until graduate school to apply again for engineering at either UVa or Virginia Tech. But it would be easier to start in engineering to begin with.

UVa

http://www.seas.virginia.edu/undergrad/transfers.php
http://www.seas.virginia.edu/undergrad/transfer_guidelines.php

Virginia Tech

http://www.enge.vt.edu/_files/undergraduate/com_requirements/COM_NonGE_Admitted_2016_After.pdf

OK that makes me feel much better.

Re # 6. I believe Virginia Tech engineering has changed back to guaranteeing entry into engineering ( for non engineering majors) if a non engineering student completes the requirements and has at least a 3.2 (used to be 3.0 I think). The engineering department (in an update) said there had been a miscommunication between the department and the university (plus I believe many kids and families had complained according to a post I saw on the Virginia Tech forum). But the OP should check for sure if that is a concern. http://www.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate-changing-majors.html Click on non engineering to engineering and then updates. The engineering department also has regular info sessions for non engineering students to explain the process and what it takes to transfer into engineering. It is not an easy process but it is doable if a student is motivated to transfer into engineering and can do well in the initial classes.

You (and dad) better get over the prestige thing and start applying to schools like VCU, GMU, Alabama, Clemson … at least as safeties or find somewhere else where you match the middle 50% in GPA + SAT. Unless your private has a long history of admissions to top schools for students with your GPA … it will be what it will be. At a private school, can’t you go talk to your guidance counselor and get some good advice on match schools.

There are lots of really qualified private and public high school graduates in any year … and schools really do not give private schools much preference unless … well, they always get preference (equivalent to TJ).

Seems like you are mighty late to this game, or are you just a junior looking to build a college list ?

A 3.0 sounds really low … .but things can happen … 3.2 is more difficult. Do you have a lot of STEM AP credits?

You may want to look at and show your father the Common Data Set for Clemson and Alabama. It’s much more competitive than you think to be admitted to either school. With your reported GPA and grades , you may not even be competitive for admission to Clemson. Clemson and many other schools look primarily at GPA, class rank, standardized test scores and class rigor. If you look at CDS for each school that you’re interested in, you’ll be able to see what weighs the most in the admission decisions. ECs are not weighed heavily.

@PickOne1 I can tell you know I will NOT be applying to VCU. That’s my least favorite school and it would not suit me at all. And yes I do have a great college counselor who also happens to be my advisor. I’m sure we’ll work on my list at the next meeting.

Also I don’t think I’m very late to the game. Not sure what you mean. As far as STEM AP credits, I’m doing Bio right now and I’ll be doing Physics next year. After honors chem last year, I’m avoiding that at all costs.

@carolinamom2boys I don’t know about that… I mean I had a 4.67 freshman year then I dropped to a 3.6 (4.0 scale) last year, but that’s greatly excusable because of the new school and also it’s reputation. I’m back up to about a 3.7 now and I’ll get that up even more second semester for the full year. Clemson and Alabama are not schools that suit me. Again, I will be looking at schools with similar admission rates and criteria, just not those ones. I’m not sure on my full list quite yet.

@PickOne1 OP is a junior. His current stats would not make Clemson a safety for Engineering, questionable match.

Good luck to you in you college search.

Just for clarity, I am a hokie (92). The debate between the two schools has gone on forever, and will continue to be that way. Both schools are great. And quite honestly are a pretty good complement to each other if you look at the big picture. BUT, if you want to study engineering in the commonwealth, VT should be your first choice. It’s a great program, and widely recognized. I work with folks from all over the country who readily recognize Tech as the engineering school. Amazingly enough, I have had to correct many folks when they think UVA does not have one. Go figure.

The one question I have for you mr didact, is what program are you interested in where Clemson or Alabama would be too low ranked. All of the land grant schools in the south east have such similar programs, it’s almost a no brainier to just blindly pick the one in your home state.

@DecideSomeHow Thanks for your comment. First, a funny coincidental comment. My dad just walked over to me and told me that the Clemson head football coach (the team the Bama plays in the championship this year) actually went to Alabama… Anyway, the reason I dismiss Alabama despite the disinterest in the location, is because of this: “Typically, students with 21 ACT or 1000 SAT (exclusive of Writing) and 3.0 GPA will be admitted.” That’s just very much below my level. Clemson, however, is a bit of a different story. But, again, I don’t have any interest in the location or school. I do realize I need to identify some safety schools and other ones I’m interested in. VT does double as my safety school though. I also can’t apply to more than like 4-5 colleges since my parents won’t allow me due to cost.

Ok. I thought you were referring to programs within the school. You were actually referring to the school as a program. Understand now.

Since you are checking out several schools in the region, you might as well look at NC state. My son is a junior there, and he chose it over VT, after getting accet