VT and VCU - How to convince my parents of the right choice

College Search & Selection
1

So college decisions came out, and while CC posters initially told me I’d be denied by everything other than VCU (Lol) I did get acceptances and waitlists to a few colleges. I’ve narrowed it down to these 2 colleges for my freshman year. Unless I get off the waitlist of UVA and UIUC, I don’t think I’ll change from these two.

My only dilemma now is convincing my dad that VT may be the better choice. I got accepted to Engineering there and CS for VCU. While my mom wants me to go to VT, my dad is persistent on VCU.

My family is financially well-off; their income ensures that I can go to either of these colleges without any debt.

Obviously VT is strong for Engineering and the in-state price is decent, but I have to stay on campus. I’m totally willing to do this. My dad isn’t ready to let go of me. He wants me to go to VCU and stay at home (which I am completely against) because it saves money (again, we are not financially unstable). I also applied for a VCU scholarship and if I get it my dad will NOT let go of the VCU idea ever.

The plus side is that my dad will allow VT if he finds that it is better for job placements. Unfortunately, he wants me to pay for housing. Thankfully my mom is willing to step in and pay for VT housing. She believes

I know most of these issues are family based, but I don’t know how to convince my dad that VT is the college for me. It has a good campus (enclosed whereas VCU is essentially an open campus), strong Engineering program, and good employment placements. Their co-op program is also great.

I don’t know much about VCU. I heard the engineering program is decent, but job placements aren’t good. Also there is a lot of crime near the campus (not sure if this is there at VT). I like its location much better than Blacksburg.

If I don’t get off the waitlist at UVA, I will be applying as a transfer after my first year. I have heard VT Engineering students have a better chance at transfers than VCU Engineering students.

So I think I’ll list my main questions below:

  1. Is VT worth the extra price for the overall college experience?
  2. Is VCU almost as good as VT for engineering?
  3. Should I listen to my dad and go to VCU (which will make me unhappy)?
  4. If not, how do I convince my dad that I should be the only making my final college decision, not him?
  5. Is it easier to get in as a transfer from VT or VCU?

Thanks for the help.

2

I am an engineer and did not go to either VT or VCU so I really don’t have a bias either way. I know tons of engineers from VT and none from VCU, but then again, I am not involved in the field of engineering that VCU offers. VT is going to probably give you the best engineering career outcome of the schools. Last week, I was discussing college selection for my son with a person that is involved in the engineering program at UVA and they said they would send their kid to VT for engineering over UVA. (Son was accepted to UVA but is not interested in engineering).

As for your decision vs your dad’s decision, look at the career outcomes from both schools and discuss with your dad. Costs and career outcomes are a factor in making the decision and VT is going to probably cost at least $50K more for room and board over living at home and going to VCU. You have to ask yourself if the extra cost is worth the outcome. If your parents gave you the total cost of attending college in cash upfront, would you spend the $50K on room and board at VT, or would you put it toward the purchase of a home after graduation? Would you be willing to go in debt yourself for the extra cost to attend VT?

If you want to do CS, VCU may make the most sense. If you want engineering, I would recommend VT even with the additional costs.