If we just want middle-ish instate VA, how hard do we have to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33



VT 4.04
JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

What a strange place to put the gap—see correction above

VT should get its own line with a gap on either side. You are going to need the WM/UVA scores to get into engineering /CS and other hardcore STEM. You will be fine with JMU/CNU scores for less popular humanities. So, it could really go one either tier. All depends on the major applying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid tests well and is an athlete and has A- avg in honors/IB.
He’s a sophomore and summers are traveling, swimming, lifeguard and technique coach.
Single mom here who has been hands off with school and with no time, energy, or money to make him do anything besides band and sport.
Will after school clubs or community service matter at all if he doesn’t do them?
We’re in NoVa at DCUM “bad” high school but with a sizable peer group.
Can kids like this get into JMU? Tech?

OP change nothing.
You have done great.

Apply to instate where ever you can afford. Believe me I have counseled a lot of kids for college. Your kid is doing great. No need to add anything. Ignore the overachieving DCUM forum.

If they don't get into Tech or JMU there are other fine instate schools.

The more important thing is for your kid to find a major that drops them into a job after the four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

Probably not an easy admit for biology and some other sciences. Lots of pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-vet and pre-physician’s assistant grade-focused students.

Can you not be undecided when applying? Or, once accepted, how hard is it to change majors to something more in demand?

You can apply undecided aka "university studies". You can also apply to an undecided major within a college, e.g. "Exploring Science" within the College of Science. But "University Studies" has a pretty low acceptance rate.

My DS applied to University Studies and was denied. In hindsight, I think he should have picked something like History or English and then switched majors if needed. I’ve heard several people say that University Studies has low acceptance. Does anyone have stats on this?

No stats, sorry. One of the hardest majors to switch into is engineering bc you have to have the intro courses, like the calc for engineering. Once admitted, I think it’s easier to switch to other majors if you take the classes someone in that major would be taking. You’ll take the same physics, bio, chem, etc.

While most non-engineering students take the required two semesters of basic calc,there are some who take a lower level math to start. These students would not have an easy switch to science without a summer or extra semester and hood grades.

[Anonymous]

Good*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

Ugh you were the one hijacking and going on and on and on about supplemental essays at Tech on the other thread. TLDR. Tighten it up!

Do females have an easier time getting into Tech (non-engineering?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

Ugh you were the one hijacking and going on and on and on about supplemental essays at Tech on the other thread. TLDR. Tighten it up!

Do females have an easier time getting into Tech (non-engineering?)

No.

[Anonymous]

Your son sounds like he's got his stuff together, and is very competitive to get into VT. W&M may be a reach but if he's genuinely interested in the smaller classes I'd apply and try to show demonstrated interest, as they are one of the few schools that track this. UVA get so many apps now that you're probably gonna need a semester of very close to straight A's to have a shot. But for a kid who has already held an A- average without over reliance on parental help as you said, I think this is a very realistic goal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

m

Both of my kids got in and both had below 3.5 and 1250

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33



VT 4.04
JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

What a strange place to put the gap—see correction above

VT should get its own line with a gap on either side. You are going to need the WM/UVA scores to get into engineering /CS and other hardcore STEM. You will be fine with JMU/CNU scores for less popular humanities. So, it could really go one either tier. All depends on the major applying for.

Not really. Look at their own website/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

m

Both of my kids got in and both had below 3.5 and 1250

What year were they admitted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33



VT 4.04
JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

What a strange place to put the gap—see correction above

VT should get its own line with a gap on either side. You are going to need the WM/UVA scores to get into engineering /CS and other hardcore STEM. You will be fine with JMU/CNU scores for less popular humanities. So, it could really go one either tier. All depends on the major applying for.

Not really. Look at their own website/

VT has become much more competitive in the past few years. They switched to the Common App last year, and this (combined with the test optional) has led to a deluge of applications. But VT don't look at teacher recommendations or the common app personal statement. They have four questions, each needing a 150-200 word answer. The process is at odds with other schools (W&M) that look at recommendations, common app essays and additional essays (around 500-1000 words). All in all, hard to tell how VT is evaluating applications now.

Our experience this year as VA instate:

UVA Denied (30% acceptance for instate), VT Waitlist (45% acceptance for instate), full ride at a Top 20 Liberal Arts College (less than 10% acceptance for Honors program), and UNC Accepted as Out of State (around 6% acceptance for Out of state) -- Go figure!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

Well said.

+2
Some people seem unwilling to acknowledge reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

I think you're going to be another very disappointed and shocked parent if this is what you actually believe.

m

Both of my kids got in and both had below 3.5 and 1250

Troll.