Why UVA Engineering for a female student

[Anonymous]

DD was accepted for mechanical engineering at UVA and several other schools. I know that UVA suffers by comparison against other engineering schools, but I am looking for reasons she should attend. Anyone or their daughter have experience with it and can comment positively? She is looking at a minor in business as of now, if possible.

[Anonymous]

UVA engineers are undeclared for the first year. They pick their majors at the end of the first year.

Engineering is going to be extremely rigorous no matter where she goes. Picking based on rankings or random's comments on DCUM over personal fit is setting her up to be miserable.

Go visit and let her decide if it feels like a place she'd be happy while working really, really hard.

[Anonymous]

I have two daughters. Both engineering at different schools. The one at UVA has had more opportunities for research as a 1st year. Shawdowing at uva hospital. There’s more competition at bigger programs. They are a year apart but that’s what I am seeing.

[Anonymous]

My son is a first year engineering student at UVA who is also interested in commerce. For him that was the draw - because the commerce programs are super strong at UVA as are the other schools outside of engineering. He has declared a 2nd major outside of engineering and is fully taking advantage of the other courses and networking groups/clubs within engineering as well as commerce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA engineers are undeclared for the first year. They pick their majors at the end of the first year.

Engineering is going to be extremely rigorous no matter where she goes. Picking based on rankings or random's comments on DCUM over personal fit is setting her up to be miserable.

Go visit and let her decide if it feels like a place she'd be happy while working really, really hard.

This. The real question is fit.

Want a big engineering program, then go elsewhere.

Want small "name not a number" program, then UVa Engineering is a good option.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in her second year but not mechanical.

If she had gotten into a reach school (Michigan engineering etc) she would have considered it, though. She’s happy and it’s close and in-state for us. She might be minoring in business or CS.

[Anonymous]

PP. can you attend the Days on the Lawn and/or Engineering Open House? We found that helpful.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, PP again. I should have said that she participates in the Society for Women Engineers. She is also studying abroad and there are a number of other female engineering majors there, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. Yes, we are attending Days on the Lawn, but that is 5 weeks away still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted for mechanical engineering at UVA and several other schools. I know that UVA suffers by comparison against other engineering schools, but I am looking for reasons she should attend. Anyone or their daughter have experience with it and can comment positively? She is looking at a minor in business as of now, if possible.

What other schools for Engineering?

[Anonymous]

Hopefully she gets into VA Tech. Much better engineering school!

[Anonymous]

Go to Hopkins or an Ivy or Stanford for Engineering instead