Does VT college of Engineering guaranteed spot in a major?

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

[Anonymous]

It just means they plan on doing computer engineering.

[Anonymous]

During freshman year in VT general engineering you select your top three types of engineering.

If you have a 3.0 freshman year you are guaranteed your number 1 choice. If you have between a 2.0 and 3.0 you are assigned one of your top 3 based on space availability. In recent years, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Computer Science did not take anyone between at 2.0-3.0.

Below a 2.0 and you are counseled out to another major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It’s a 3.0 at Tech. So let’s say you get a 5 on Calculus AB. You get 4 credits in Math 1225 and take 1226 fall semester and then differential equations spring semester.

Under this approach you have a “harder” math in your freshman GPA. But still need a 3.0 for guaranteed choice of major. Which is why some people say take an extra general elective if you free up space in your schedule with AP credits. E.g., Take the A in “Foods of India” instead of a possible C in differential equations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It’s a 3.0 at Tech. So let’s say you get a 5 on Calculus AB. You get 4 credits in Math 1225 and take 1226 fall semester and then differential equations spring semester.

Under this approach you have a “harder” math in your freshman GPA. But still need a 3.0 for guaranteed choice of major. Which is why some people say take an extra general elective if you free up space in your schedule with AP credits. E.g., Take the A in “Foods of India” instead of a possible C in differential equations.

Assuming maintaining at least 3.0 GPA isn’t a major hurdle, how do they manage demand when capacity is limited, especially for competitive majors like computer engineering? How many sophomores are admitted to this major each year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It’s a 3.0 at Tech. So let’s say you get a 5 on Calculus AB. You get 4 credits in Math 1225 and take 1226 fall semester and then differential equations spring semester.

Under this approach you have a “harder” math in your freshman GPA. But still need a 3.0 for guaranteed choice of major. Which is why some people say take an extra general elective if you free up space in your schedule with AP credits. E.g., Take the A in “Foods of India” instead of a possible C in differential equations.

Assuming maintaining at least 3.0 GPA isn’t a major hurdle, how do they manage demand when capacity is limited, especially for competitive majors like computer engineering? How many sophomores are admitted to this major each year?

Computer engineering is around 200 per year. Someless less and sometimes more. Enrollment can be managed by adding sections if needed but CpE enrollment has been relatively stable the last 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

NP. I feel as if you're talking about "weed out" classes in a negative way. Schools with rigorous, demanding weed out classes ensure that ONLY the best engineering students remain in the program and receive degrees. Schools which coddle all students are dumbing down the curriculum. They are not graduating the best students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

You are overanalyzing. PP is an existence proof that it is used by some at VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I feel as if you're talking about "weed out" classes in a negative way.

Not intentionally being negative. It is just a choice colleges make - in any field and not just in engineering.

VT and schools like it do a huge beneficial service to late bloomers by accepting more freshmen than they have room for in later years. They give those students a fair chance to show they can make it. Some highly qualified matriculants probably will drop out (meaning merely switch major in many cases) and some less qualified late bloomer matriculants probably will make it through to get their degree.

By contrast, late bloomers have a nearly impossible task to get accepted at MIT or other engineering schools with more restrictive admissions policies.

Again, engineering is merely an example, it can happen in any field of study. Which approach a college takes at admissions is just a choice by the college, neither good nor bad, merely different. It is something for students to be aware of when applying to various colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It’s a 3.0 at Tech. So let’s say you get a 5 on Calculus AB. You get 4 credits in Math 1225 and take 1226 fall semester and then differential equations spring semester.

Under this approach you have a “harder” math in your freshman GPA. But still need a 3.0 for guaranteed choice of major. Which is why some people say take an extra general elective if you free up space in your schedule with AP credits. E.g., Take the A in “Foods of India” instead of a possible C in differential equations.

Assuming maintaining at least 3.0 GPA isn’t a major hurdle, how do they manage demand when capacity is limited, especially for competitive majors like computer engineering? How many sophomores are admitted to this major each year?

Computer engineering is around 200 per year. Someless less and sometimes more. Enrollment can be managed by adding sections if needed but CpE enrollment has been relatively stable the last 5 years.

How many sophomores get admitted to computer science major? Unlike computer engineering, since computer science is a restricted major about how high should the freshman GPA be to ensure entry? Also do the HS AP exams and dual enrollment courses matter at all at that point of evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering doesn’t admit students directly into a specific major. Instead, students receive general admission into the College of Engineering, and after their first year, they are placed into a specific major—such as computer engineering—based on their GPA and other criteria.

So when a high school student says they’ve been admitted to Virginia Tech for computer engineering, is that a different type of admission? Does it mean they’ve received a guaranteed spot in that major?
What's the process for guaranteed major admission?

For most engineering majors, there is no direct admission to major at VT. VT deliberately has several mandatory "weed-out" classes (i.e., designed to force some % students out of the E School) in Freshman and Sophomore years, so the overall number of Juniors at VT in the E School is visibly lower than the number of Freshmen in the E School.

To get a popular major, such as ComputerE, one must both survive the weed-out classes AND have a high GPA afterwards.

Not all college E Schools have intentional "weed out" classes. Their existence (or not) at a particular college is one of the few meaningful differences between one E School and a different E School. ABET means all accredited E Schools have nearly identical curricula and that all are rigorous.

The use of “E School” suggests you are a booster of another school (and I won’t say which one). Nobody at VT uses that term.

And you don’t provide any citation for your claim of “weed out classes”. As I noted, you need a 3.0 to be guaranteed your choice of engineering major. Here is the policy: https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

3.0 is hardly a “high GPA” for the kind of student that gets admitted to VT Engineering. Particularly since that includes 6 credits of English and 3-6 credits of Easy electives (known as Pathways at VT).

To be sure, somewhere between 20-25% of freshman engineers switch to another non-Engineering major. Most of those realize they just aren’t cut out for it. Others don’t get a 2.0 (which means they partied way too hard).

By comparison, this is nothing like McIntire at UVA which has a 50% admission rate. Do your homework, go to class, turn in your labs and you will have a 3.0 and get your choice.

How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It’s a 3.0 at Tech. So let’s say you get a 5 on Calculus AB. You get 4 credits in Math 1225 and take 1226 fall semester and then differential equations spring semester.

Under this approach you have a “harder” math in your freshman GPA. But still need a 3.0 for guaranteed choice of major. Which is why some people say take an extra general elective if you free up space in your schedule with AP credits. E.g., Take the A in “Foods of India” instead of a possible C in differential equations.

Assuming maintaining at least 3.0 GPA isn’t a major hurdle, how do they manage demand when capacity is limited, especially for competitive majors like computer engineering? How many sophomores are admitted to this major each year?

Computer engineering is around 200 per year. Someless less and sometimes more. Enrollment can be managed by adding sections if needed but CpE enrollment has been relatively stable the last 5 years.

How many sophomores get admitted to computer science major? Unlike computer engineering, since computer science is a restricted major about how high should the freshman GPA be to ensure entry? Also do the HS AP exams and dual enrollment courses matter at all at that point of evaluation.

Sorry I don’t know the total CS number of enrollees, but 3.0 guarantees CS. See https://eng.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/resources-support/change-of-major/restricted.html

APs and dual enrollments don’t matter at that point. Just did you get a 3.0 at VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the "weed out classes" work in the context where students have already gained credits using equivalent AP exam scores or post-AP courses taken in HS. Do they have to show the 3.0 GPA using the next level of courses relevant to their targeted engineering major OR do they get confirmation of guaranteed major before hand?

It might be more advantageous for the student NOT to claim the DE credits or the AP credits in math/science. VT reportedly ONLY looks at coursework taken at VT for determining whether a student’s GPA is high enough. Instead, take the same courses at VT to get a high grade and help ensure a high GPA. I know several TJ grads who did exactly that at VT. They used their AP scores to boost admission chances, but then retook the equivalent courses at VT.

For APs in some non-STEM course (arbitrary example: US History), those are worth claiming as they create schedule openings in the student’s curriculum — either to take a different elective that student wants or to have a lighter academic load one quarter.