Electrical/Mechanical Engineering at UVA & VT – How Are the Job Prospects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been at VT Engineering and GMU; have friends from UVA.

If you are looking at: Job Prospects neither VT or UVA will give you a leg up. Interviewed kids from both and VT/UVA gets them in the door but other things take over after that. Never said no because the person went to XYZ. Only time I looked up the ranking was if it's from a school I haven't heard about. Those LACs - I needed to look those up. In this area who looks: UVA or VT? Who says no to UVA because VT is #13?

If you want a job before you graduate (and ignore rankings and long-term opportunities) then GMU is your best bet. 4 years of Co-Op/Internship at the firms surrounding Fairfax beats 4 years at a cafeteria/bookstore.

Trust me 2 years of CoOp (as a part-time Sys/DBA Admin) landed me a whole bunch of offers after graduation. Even had one that would've made me move to NY to work at a Wall Street Data Center. Govt contracting (it is the DMV) being the other offers. My friends at the other schools finally got offers but they went through the wait game.

You think the VT and UVA kids are getting jobs at bookstores? What about the post where someone listed the top firms where UVA students did internships? I'm sure VT's looks similar because the majority of students are in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

I am an engineer but that's just not true. I am not VT/UVa alum.

PhD in engineering at T5.

And? What's your point?

[Anonymous]

You can't really make a bad decision if you get into VT and UVA. Let fit guide you.

Virginia Tech top employers for engineers (37.6% employed 6 months after graduation, 12% grad school, $82K starting salary):
The Boeing Company
HII - Newport News Shipbuilding division
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Northrop Grumman Corporation
CACI
Lockheed Martin
Kimley-Horn
Peraton
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD
Collins Aerospace


UVA top employers for engineers (76% employed, 14% grad school, $97k average starting salary):
Amazon
Capital One
UVA (guessing this means grad school)
Deloitte
Microsoft
Booz Allen
Accenture
Bain
EY
Accenture Federal Services

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't really make a bad decision if you get into VT and UVA. Let fit guide you.

Virginia Tech top employers for engineers (37.6% employed 6 months after graduation, 12% grad school, $82K starting salary):
The Boeing Company
HII - Newport News Shipbuilding division
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Northrop Grumman Corporation
CACI
Lockheed Martin
Kimley-Horn
Peraton
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD
Collins Aerospace


UVA top employers for engineers (76% employed, 14% grad school, $97k average starting salary):
Amazon
Capital One
UVA (guessing this means grad school)
Deloitte
Microsoft
Booz Allen
Accenture
Bain
EY
Accenture Federal Services

PP. This list shows the point I mentioned above. Looks like lots of UVA engineers are going into consulting. And that consulting may not require engineering per se. Quant ability, process and systems thinking yes, maybe ability to do some coding. But not pure engineering.

Consulting is a far different profession than F500 applied engineering.

Because these industries are impacted differently by economic conditions, and have different pay scales, you wouldn't expect "% employed after 6 mos" to be similar at two schools if they send different proportions to different industries.

For example, aerospace and petroleum engineering-heavy programs experience boom/bust cycles along with the industries they serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't really make a bad decision if you get into VT and UVA. Let fit guide you.

Virginia Tech top employers for engineers (37.6% employed 6 months after graduation, 12% grad school, $82K starting salary):
The Boeing Company
HII - Newport News Shipbuilding division
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Northrop Grumman Corporation
CACI
Lockheed Martin
Kimley-Horn
Peraton
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD
Collins Aerospace


UVA top employers for engineers (76% employed, 14% grad school, $97k average starting salary):
Amazon
Capital One
UVA (guessing this means grad school)
Deloitte
Microsoft
Booz Allen
Accenture
Bain
EY
Accenture Federal Services

PP. This list shows the point I mentioned above. Looks like lots of UVA engineers are going into consulting. And that consulting may not require engineering per se. Quant ability, process and systems thinking yes, maybe ability to do some coding. But not pure engineering.

Consulting is a far different profession than F500 applied engineering.

Because these industries are impacted differently by economic conditions, and have different pay scales, you wouldn't expect "% employed after 6 mos" to be similar at two schools if they send different proportions to different industries.

For example, aerospace and petroleum engineering-heavy programs experience boom/bust cycles along with the industries they serve.

It's hard to know the actual jobs, though. All companies hire software engineers/programmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

No. Folks in the engineering world know VT better. It's a better school for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

No. Folks in the engineering world know VT better. It's a better school for engineering.

The poster didn't write that UVA has better engineering, just that UVA is the better choice because if one decides engineering isn't their jam, the school offers stronger academics in other programs. I would add that some might also consider direct admit to major to be an advantage UVA's favor as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been at VT Engineering and GMU; have friends from UVA.

If you are looking at: Job Prospects neither VT or UVA will give you a leg up. Interviewed kids from both and VT/UVA gets them in the door but other things take over after that. Never said no because the person went to XYZ. Only time I looked up the ranking was if it's from a school I haven't heard about. Those LACs - I needed to look those up. In this area who looks: UVA or VT? Who says no to UVA because VT is #13?

If you want a job before you graduate (and ignore rankings and long-term opportunities) then GMU is your best bet. 4 years of Co-Op/Internship at the firms surrounding Fairfax beats 4 years at a cafeteria/bookstore.

Trust me 2 years of CoOp (as a part-time Sys/DBA Admin) landed me a whole bunch of offers after graduation. Even had one that would've made me move to NY to work at a Wall Street Data Center. Govt contracting (it is the DMV) being the other offers. My friends at the other schools finally got offers but they went through the wait game.

You think the VT and UVA kids are getting jobs at bookstores? What about the post where someone listed the top firms where UVA students did internships? I'm sure VT's looks similar because the majority of students are in Virginia.

Nope - Internships are not through out the year unless you take time off. They are not real jobs - they are internships. During the year - UVA/VA Tech work on-campus which is limited;

GMU students have the opportunity to hold real jobs that are part-time or full-time throughout the year.

So - when you are referred to as the "intern from ..." vs "he's completing his degree at ..."; huge difference. You are pretty much have a guaranteed job from that company. Like I said are you happy with a little fish or going after a whale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

No. Folks in the engineering world know VT better. It's a better school for engineering.

The poster didn't write that UVA has better engineering, just that UVA is the better choice because if one decides engineering isn't their jam, the school offers stronger academics in other programs. I would add that some might also consider direct admit to major to be an advantage UVA's favor as well.

That’s part of why our kid chose UVA over VT—they weren’t positive that engineering was for them. We knew VT was a stronger engineering school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

If the choice is between UVA and VT for engineering, then fit should definitely be the deciding factor. Even though VT is a better engineering school, the difference probably isn't significant enough to make a difference in the long run. UVA is the better option if the student isn't completely locked in on engineering and might switch majors. VT's strengths and reputation are built on engineering, whereas UVA is a much better all around school. My kid's high school is a top feeder to both schools, and I don't know anyone who chooses VT over UVA, but according to DCUM it does happen.

You could also look at Georgia Tech and Purdue as stronger engineering options than either VT or UVA. Purdue's OOS tuition will likely be cheaper than UVA's in-state tuition, and GT will be competitive. Of course, out of state brings its own challenges, and these schools lean into STEM even more than VT.

Don’t be obtuse, of course some kids prefer VT over UVA. It’s really not that big of a deal.

I agree that many kids might prefer VT over UVA for engineering. But it's highly doubtful that there is a meaningful number of kids who choose VT over UVA for business or liberal arts.

Guess what? It’s not just engineering kids. Some kids prefer VT, period. You don’t know how many kids opt out of applying to uva altogether because it’s not the right fit for everyone. Just like some kids don’t bother applying to VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

If the choice is between UVA and VT for engineering, then fit should definitely be the deciding factor. Even though VT is a better engineering school, the difference probably isn't significant enough to make a difference in the long run. UVA is the better option if the student isn't completely locked in on engineering and might switch majors. VT's strengths and reputation are built on engineering, whereas UVA is a much better all around school. My kid's high school is a top feeder to both schools, and I don't know anyone who chooses VT over UVA, but according to DCUM it does happen.

You could also look at Georgia Tech and Purdue as stronger engineering options than either VT or UVA. Purdue's OOS tuition will likely be cheaper than UVA's in-state tuition, and GT will be competitive. Of course, out of state brings its own challenges, and these schools lean into STEM even more than VT.

Don’t be obtuse, of course some kids prefer VT over UVA. It’s really not that big of a deal.

I agree that many kids might prefer VT over UVA for engineering. But it's highly doubtful that there is a meaningful number of kids who choose VT over UVA for business or liberal arts.

Guess what? It’s not just engineering kids. Some kids prefer VT, period. You don’t know how many kids opt out of applying to uva altogether because it’s not the right fit for everyone. Just like some kids don’t bother applying to VT.

Academic focused kids choose UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been at VT Engineering and GMU; have friends from UVA.

If you are looking at: Job Prospects neither VT or UVA will give you a leg up. Interviewed kids from both and VT/UVA gets them in the door but other things take over after that. Never said no because the person went to XYZ. Only time I looked up the ranking was if it's from a school I haven't heard about. Those LACs - I needed to look those up. In this area who looks: UVA or VT? Who says no to UVA because VT is #13?

If you want a job before you graduate (and ignore rankings and long-term opportunities) then GMU is your best bet. 4 years of Co-Op/Internship at the firms surrounding Fairfax beats 4 years at a cafeteria/bookstore.

Trust me 2 years of CoOp (as a part-time Sys/DBA Admin) landed me a whole bunch of offers after graduation. Even had one that would've made me move to NY to work at a Wall Street Data Center. Govt contracting (it is the DMV) being the other offers. My friends at the other schools finally got offers but they went through the wait game.

You think the VT and UVA kids are getting jobs at bookstores? What about the post where someone listed the top firms where UVA students did internships? I'm sure VT's looks similar because the majority of students are in Virginia.

Nope - Internships are not through out the year unless you take time off. They are not real jobs - they are internships. During the year - UVA/VA Tech work on-campus which is limited;

GMU students have the opportunity to hold real jobs that are part-time or full-time throughout the year.

So - when you are referred to as the "intern from ..." vs "he's completing his degree at ..."; huge difference. You are pretty much have a guaranteed job from that company. Like I said are you happy with a little fish or going after a whale?

That's incorrect. I don't think you have a student at VT or UVA if you think this. Students aren't limited to work study type jobs. They can definitely get tech and research jobs during the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

If the choice is between UVA and VT for engineering, then fit should definitely be the deciding factor. Even though VT is a better engineering school, the difference probably isn't significant enough to make a difference in the long run. UVA is the better option if the student isn't completely locked in on engineering and might switch majors. VT's strengths and reputation are built on engineering, whereas UVA is a much better all around school. My kid's high school is a top feeder to both schools, and I don't know anyone who chooses VT over UVA, but according to DCUM it does happen.

You could also look at Georgia Tech and Purdue as stronger engineering options than either VT or UVA. Purdue's OOS tuition will likely be cheaper than UVA's in-state tuition, and GT will be competitive. Of course, out of state brings its own challenges, and these schools lean into STEM even more than VT.

Don’t be obtuse, of course some kids prefer VT over UVA. It’s really not that big of a deal.

I agree that many kids might prefer VT over UVA for engineering. But it's highly doubtful that there is a meaningful number of kids who choose VT over UVA for business or liberal arts.

Guess what? It’s not just engineering kids. Some kids prefer VT, period. You don’t know how many kids opt out of applying to uva altogether because it’s not the right fit for everyone. Just like some kids don’t bother applying to VT.

Academic focused kids choose UVA.

Wow, you really are obtuse. If you were academically inclined you would know some academic kids prefer VT. It’s okay, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

If the choice is between UVA and VT for engineering, then fit should definitely be the deciding factor. Even though VT is a better engineering school, the difference probably isn't significant enough to make a difference in the long run. UVA is the better option if the student isn't completely locked in on engineering and might switch majors. VT's strengths and reputation are built on engineering, whereas UVA is a much better all around school. My kid's high school is a top feeder to both schools, and I don't know anyone who chooses VT over UVA, but according to DCUM it does happen.

You could also look at Georgia Tech and Purdue as stronger engineering options than either VT or UVA. Purdue's OOS tuition will likely be cheaper than UVA's in-state tuition, and GT will be competitive. Of course, out of state brings its own challenges, and these schools lean into STEM even more than VT.

Don’t be obtuse, of course some kids prefer VT over UVA. It’s really not that big of a deal.

I agree that many kids might prefer VT over UVA for engineering. But it's highly doubtful that there is a meaningful number of kids who choose VT over UVA for business or liberal arts.

Guess what? It’s not just engineering kids. Some kids prefer VT, period. You don’t know how many kids opt out of applying to uva altogether because it’s not the right fit for everyone. Just like some kids don’t bother applying to VT.

Academic focused kids choose UVA.

Wow, you really are obtuse. If you were academically inclined you would know some academic kids prefer VT. It’s okay, really.

Your response essentially agrees with me - do you realize that? The fact that "some" academic students might choose VT for specific programs doesn't negate the fact that UVA is the preferred destination for high-achieving students overall. Calling me obtuse for stating the obvious, that UVA is superior to VT, was unwarranted, especially when this conclusion is supported by objective measures like admission statistics, test scores, and academic rankings across most disciplines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is the better choice. Many kids change major and some get weeded out from engineering. Plus kids can get a minor or two in other subject areas that will complement the engineering degree (Econ/finance)

I am an engineer but that's just not true. I am not VT/UVa alum.

PhD in engineering at T5.

And? What's your point?

Point is UVA is the better choice!