Is VT non-engineering a tougher admit than JMU from Fairfax County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is odd is that DS received a little merit money from VT but nothing from JMU

These two schools generally don't give merit aid. They do give need based financial aid.

OOS students at VT may get a bit more merit than in-state as a carrot, but still stingy! My OOS Biological Sciences major got $4800/year merit this year as a freshman. My Hokie engineering major got $3000/year, but once she moved out of general engineering and into her major, she got about $7K junior year and $10K senior year from her major department (and VT dropped that $3K). Comparatively, she was offered $23K/year from UConn, $18K/year from Ohio State, and $10/year from Pitt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is odd is that DS received a little merit money from VT but nothing from JMU

These two schools generally don't give merit aid. They do give need based financial aid.

OOS students at VT may get a bit more merit than in-state as a carrot, but still stingy! My OOS Biological Sciences major got $4800/year merit this year as a freshman. My Hokie engineering major got $3000/year, but once she moved out of general engineering and into her major, she got about $7K junior year and $10K senior year from her major department (and VT dropped that $3K). Comparatively, she was offered $23K/year from UConn, $18K/year from Ohio State, and $10/year from Pitt.

They are not stingy. They are public so are already significantly discounted. JMU does have the Second Century Scholarship and the Dingledine, as UVA has the Jefferson, but you don’t apply to publics thinking you’re going to get significant merit money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT has some of the most comprehensive data on admissions by major.

https://udc.vt.edu/irdata/data/students/admission/index#university

Warning, best viewed on a PC. (Not a phone or tablet)

I think VT engineering and the business school are both competitive. Naviance for your school is the best source of info though.

One anecdotal data point: my FCPS DC 2023, 4.1W gpa, 1380 sat (710 math), 8 APs, was waitlisted for business at VT and never got off the waitlist, but was admitted to JMU honors college.

Wow. This was almost exactly my kid. FCPS 2024, 1370 SAT, IB Diploma candidate, waitlisted for business at VT (never got off), and admitted to JMU honors college.

In my kids' Naviance, the average SAT and GPA for VT admission are significantly higher than those for JMU. This is partially due to students applying to the engineering school who tend to have higher test scores and GPAs overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is odd is that DS received a little merit money from VT but nothing from JMU

These two schools generally don't give merit aid. They do give need based financial aid.

OOS students at VT may get a bit more merit than in-state as a carrot, but still stingy! My OOS Biological Sciences major got $4800/year merit this year as a freshman. My Hokie engineering major got $3000/year, but once she moved out of general engineering and into her major, she got about $7K junior year and $10K senior year from her major department (and VT dropped that $3K). Comparatively, she was offered $23K/year from UConn, $18K/year from Ohio State, and $10/year from Pitt.

They are not stingy. They are public so are already significantly discounted. JMU does have the Second Century Scholarship and the Dingledine, as UVA has the Jefferson, but you don’t apply to publics thinking you’re going to get significant merit money

VT doesn't give more merit aid because they meet their enrollment goals without it. Enough people as are willing to pay the price. Other schools aren't generous just to be generous but because they need the discounts to meet their enrollment goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of a time when JMU admission was more difficult than Virginia Tech - maybe 30+ years ago?

Yes

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

Sorry, I see you said in order of difficulty, not preference. This is true at our school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is odd is that DS received a little merit money from VT but nothing from JMU

These two schools generally don't give merit aid. They do give need based financial aid.

OOS students at VT may get a bit more merit than in-state as a carrot, but still stingy! My OOS Biological Sciences major got $4800/year merit this year as a freshman. My Hokie engineering major got $3000/year, but once she moved out of general engineering and into her major, she got about $7K junior year and $10K senior year from her major department (and VT dropped that $3K). Comparatively, she was offered $23K/year from UConn, $18K/year from Ohio State, and $10/year from Pitt.

They are not stingy. They are public so are already significantly discounted. JMU does have the Second Century Scholarship and the Dingledine, as UVA has the Jefferson, but you don’t apply to publics thinking you’re going to get significant merit money

VT doesn't give more merit aid because they meet their enrollment goals without it. Enough people as are willing to pay the price. Other schools aren't generous just to be generous but because they need the discounts to meet their enrollment goals.

+1
Merit aid is a way to snag certain students. VT doesn’t need to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

Lots of students at our high school choose VT over both UVA and W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

Lots of students at our high school choose VT over both UVA and W&M.

Same at ours. Students are liking the vibe at VT over UVA and W&M. Not sure why, but it’s true.

[Anonymous]

One of my HS senior’s friends was accepted at VT EA but deferred at JMU this year. It is not cut and dried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

Lots of students at our high school choose VT over both UVA and W&M.

Same at ours. Students are liking the vibe at VT over UVA and W&M. Not sure why, but it’s true.

DP. I think it’s pretty evident why. It’s a school that has it all, to include smart, well-rounded students, excellent academics (not just STEM - their liberal arts college is fantastic too), a wide variety of activities and clubs, a beautiful campus and surrounding area, and fun social life.

[Anonymous]

I don't think our state schools should be giving any merit or FA to OOS students. Resources should go to Virginia kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this isn't a simple answer? OP- yes, it is absolutely harder to get into Virginia Tech than it is to get into JMU. My kids went to a public school in LCPS- and JMU was the fallback to Tech. (Both great schools, but in order of difficulty in getting in, it was definitely: UVA, William and Mary, Tech, and JMU. (Minus the Tech Engineering applicants)

I don't think our FCPS HS is so clear-cut. It's generally UVA at the top, but I know a few students who chose W&M over UVA. And I know quite a few students who chose VT over W&M. I agree that JMU is the fallback among the rest, though students love JMU when they end up there.

Lots of students at our high school choose VT over both UVA and W&M.

Same at ours. Students are liking the vibe at VT over UVA and W&M. Not sure why, but it’s true.

DP. I think it’s pretty evident why. It’s a school that has it all, to include smart, well-rounded students, excellent academics (not just STEM - their liberal arts college is fantastic too), a wide variety of activities and clubs, a beautiful campus and surrounding area, and fun social life.

The in-state yield rate for VT is 45%; the in-state yield rate for UVA is 60%.