Let’s just talk VA public colleges

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP who said consider that kids will usually change majors, but something like this in no order:

Prelaw: W&M and UVA
Art and Design: VCU
Business: UVA, W&M, JMU (remember you have to get accepted)
Pre-Med: VCU if you can get accepted to guaranteed program and are OK with VCU, W&M and UVA
Engineering: VT generally, UVA if it is one of its strong areas (e.g. biomedical engineering), GMU
Science (non-engineering): W&M, UVA, VT
Need some discipline to get you going?: VMI, VT Corps
Want an urban experience: VCU, ODU
Want a big sports experience?: VT and UVA
Want to be an academic? W&M, UVA
Best Food: VT and JMU
Big Party: VT, JMU, Radford, UVA
Need to stay close to home for one reason or another? Any obviously, but will be GMU, VCU, ODU for most.
Like somewhat smaller schools? Longwood, MWU, CNU, MWU, W&M, Radford

[Anonymous]

For my kid, a good, but not great, student, he is applying to the following for CompSci:

GMU
CNU
VCU

Didn’t like JMU at all. Tech would be a reach for him and he’s not really interested, especially after the over-enrollment this year.

I’m totally fine with his choices and know he’ll do well wherever he goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes to the spelling error on the JMU site’s blurb about the SAT, of all things!

where is the error?

“percepnt”

[Anonymous]

I love Mary Washington. I really think it is a hidden gem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Try getting in to one of these places these days.

Why wouldn’t a very good student get in?

Have you looked at the admissions stats? And being in Nova doesn't help, despite what their admissions people say about there not being any quotas.

In plain English, who is getting in, then?

I don’t know, but my DC with a 3.8 gpa (lots of rigor/APs), a 34 ACT & 1500 SAT, and great extracurriculars did not get into UVA last year (and did get into arguably “better” schools than UVA out of state). DC’s friend with similar stats from same HS was also rejected by UVA . ????

But would they have attended if the were accepted? Maybe that affects admissions?

UVA does not take interest in attending into account in the admissions process

[Anonymous]

Neighbor's kid got accepted into UVA with 2.1 GPA and 850 SAT score on a football scholarship. What is the chance of that kid will graduate from UVA with a meaningful degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neighbor's kid got accepted into UVA with 2.1 GPA and 850 SAT score on a football scholarship. What is the chance of that kid will graduate from UVA with a meaningful degree?

No he didn't but nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP who said consider that kids will usually change majors, but something like this in no order:

Prelaw: W&M and UVA
Art and Design: VCU
Business: UVA, W&M, JMU (remember you have to get accepted)
Pre-Med: VCU if you can get accepted to guaranteed program and are OK with VCU, W&M and UVA
Engineering: VT generally, UVA if it is one of its strong areas (e.g. biomedical engineering), GMU
Science (non-engineering): W&M, UVA, VT
Need some discipline to get you going?: VMI, VT Corps
Want an urban experience: VCU, ODU
Want a big sports experience?: VT and UVA
Want to be an academic? W&M, UVA
Best Food: VT and JMU
Big Party: VT, JMU, Radford, UVA
Need to stay close to home for one reason or another? Any obviously, but will be GMU, VCU, ODU for most.
Like somewhat smaller schools? Longwood, MWU, CNU, MWU, W&M, Radford

This has some merit.
Add: VT for pre-vet, pre-med/dental etc., for the focused and goal oriented
Question: best bets for nursing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends....

STEM major. (Non-bio)
VA Tech
UVA
W & M

Bio/Med
UVA
VA Tech
W & M

Social Sciences/Humanities/Pre Law
introverted student:
W & M
UVA
(VT or JMU)

EXTROVERT:
UVA
W & M
VT or JMU

Partier
JMU
UVA
Radford

But even that depends. My kid is looking at Geoscience. Washington and Lee is #1 in VA. In Publics, VT and WM are neck and neck. Most rankings put them within 2-3 spots of each other, and give one or the other edge based on specific criteria.

AND VCU has a great art school

UVA goes by offer a geoscience major. You have to get your degree in environmental science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends....

STEM major. (Non-bio)
VA Tech
UVA
W & M

Bio/Med
UVA
VA Tech
W & M

Social Sciences/Humanities/Pre Law
introverted student:
W & M
UVA
(VT or JMU)

EXTROVERT:
UVA
W & M
VT or JMU

Partier
JMU
UVA
Radford

But even that depends. My kid is looking at Geoscience. Washington and Lee is #1 in VA. In Publics, VT and WM are neck and neck. Most rankings put them within 2-3 spots of each other, and give one or the other edge based on specific criteria.

AND VCU has a great art school

UVA goes by offer a geoscience major. You have to get your degree in environmental science.

Sorry - did that wrong - VCU has a great art school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP who said consider that kids will usually change majors, but something like this in no order:

Prelaw: W&M and UVA
Art and Design: VCU
Business: UVA, W&M, JMU (remember you have to get accepted)
Pre-Med: VCU if you can get accepted to guaranteed program and are OK with VCU, W&M and UVA
Engineering: VT generally, UVA if it is one of its strong areas (e.g. biomedical engineering), GMU
Science (non-engineering): W&M, UVA, VT
Need some discipline to get you going?: VMI, VT Corps
Want an urban experience: VCU, ODU
Want a big sports experience?: VT and UVA
Want to be an academic? W&M, UVA
Best Food: VT and JMU
Big Party: VT, JMU, Radford, UVA
Need to stay close to home for one reason or another? Any obviously, but will be GMU, VCU, ODU for most.
Like somewhat smaller schools? Longwood, MWU, CNU, MWU, W&M, Radford

Funny you didn't mention various types of IT, comp sci, data science. Seems like ALOT of kids are and will be looking for those types of degrees given the future of our economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Try getting in to one of these places these days.

Which places? There a lot of colleges in the VA system, and only UVA, VT and W&M are "elite" level (whatever that means).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Try getting in to one of these places these days.

Why wouldn’t a very good student get in?

Have you looked at the admissions stats? And being in Nova doesn't help, despite what their admissions people say about there not being any quotas.

In plain English, who is getting in, then?

I don’t know, but my DC with a 3.8 gpa (lots of rigor/APs), a 34 ACT & 1500 SAT, and great extracurriculars did not get into UVA last year (and did get into arguably “better” schools than UVA out of state). DC’s friend with similar stats from same HS was also rejected by UVA . ????

That's because in addition to being an excellent school, UVA is also a cult, at least among a certain set of VA parents and students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT, W&M and UVA in varying orders depending on the major.

This for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget VCU for their art school and their guaranteed medical school program.

What gpa and major is needed for that?