VT - what is is like currently?

[Anonymous]

Ive read a ton on this board about the huge push for diversity at VT and the rejections of high stat kids (esp for engineering). Is this still a thing? It seems that fewer kids are excited about and applying to VT and choosing to apply to other schools for engineering instead (Pitt, UVA, W&M). My daughter has no desire to go to VT and/or apply but she seemed quite excited about the school when she was a Freshman. Any idea if the school environment has really changed?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ive read a ton on this board about the huge push for diversity at VT and the rejections of high stat kids (esp for engineering). Is this still a thing? It seems that fewer kids are excited about and applying to VT and choosing to apply to other schools for engineering instead (Pitt, UVA, W&M). My daughter has no desire to go to VT and/or apply but she seemed quite excited about the school when she was a Freshman. Any idea if the school environment has really changed?

There were more applications to VT from our FCPS high school last year than to any other college. And out of the 100+ students from our high school who were accepted to VT, 43 enrolled there - a very good yield rate. However, a majority of the very top students at our high school generally choose UVA or W&M for liberal arts or premiere OOS schools for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA. [/quote]

+1 it got the most apps of any other VA state school at my kids' HS. DS is a sophomore there and doing well academically. I do think he found the size a bit intimidating socially and has ended up mainly with a friend group from high school. But he's happy, glad he chose VT, and doing well in a challenging major. So can't ask for more than that!

[Anonymous]

VT is my child's top choice school, and not for engineering or STEM. As soon as we toured, DC knew this was the school for her. There is so much to offer there!

Only the top kids from our school got in last year, so it will be a nail-biter for sure this year - crossing our fingers for admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA.

A lot of that is probably self selection; many more kids have the stats for VT vs UVA or W&M

[Anonymous]

The DCUM bubble is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA.

A lot of that is probably self selection; many more kids have the stats for VT vs UVA or W&M

Correct. It’s safety for those who will get into UVA and W&M and there is a whole broad swath of people who apply for whom it will be a reach or a match. And it’s a much bigger school than the other two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA.

A lot of that is probably self selection; many more kids have the stats for VT vs UVA or W&M

Correct. It’s safety for those who will get into UVA and W&M and there is a whole broad swath of people who apply for whom it will be a reach or a match. And it’s a much bigger school than the other two.

Except that it’s not a safety at all. Plenty of high stats kids are rejected (and plenty accepted, as well). The point being, it’s a competitive school and anyone considering it a “safety” in any way clearly hasn’t done their homework. My own kid got into all three - VT, UVA, and WM. Chose VT (non-engineering).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT is my child's top choice school, and not for engineering or STEM. As soon as we toured, DC knew this was the school for her. There is so much to offer there!

Only the top kids from our school got in last year, so it will be a nail-biter for sure this year - crossing our fingers for admission.

+100
Same here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DCUM bubble is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this doesn’t sound anything like my child’s experience. He is currently a freshman there and VT was the most popular school for applicants from his high school last year. It’s become incredibly competitive to get in *because* so many high-stats kids are applying (and not just for engineering). The only kids from his school who were accepted last admission cycle were at the top of the class. It’s no wonder to me that some high-stats kids are being rejected - they’re competing with other, equally talented kids! VT can’t take them all.

My kid is having the time of his life there. Challenging academics plus tons of social activities is exactly what he was looking for. It’s my younger daughter’s top choice too.

If anything, VT seems to be the most popular university in VA.

A lot of that is probably self selection; many more kids have the stats for VT vs UVA or W&M

Correct. It’s safety for those who will get into UVA and W&M and there is a whole broad swath of people who apply for whom it will be a reach or a match. And it’s a much bigger school than the other two.

Lol no.
VT and WM are peer schools

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=College+of+William+and+Mary&with=Virginia+Tech

[Anonymous]

Correct. It’s safety for those who will get into UVA and W&M and there is a whole broad swath of people who apply for whom it will be a reach or a match. And it’s a much bigger school than the other two.


Lol no.
VT and WM are peer schools

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-...am+and+Mary&with=Virginia+Tech

W&M is NOT a peer school for students interested in engineering, since it does not have an engineering school.

[Anonymous]

Tech is a really weird school right now. There is just no telling if kids are going to get in so it's hard to get excited about it. A place like UVA or W&M, you kind of know based on you stats if you will have a shot. With Tech, it a total crapshoot. I know kids who were WL there but got into UVA and i know kids who got into Tech who would never have been competitive for UVA (and they didn't even bother to apply). Just no telling really. That said, it's a good school. Alot of people do stick with their HS groups from what my kids say though.

[Anonymous]

My DC is applying this year and I was surprised that the guidance counselor said it was a reach school. It has gotten really difficult to get into, even for non-engineering majors.