Educate me on Virginia Tech's Early Decision

[Anonymous]

The language on their website is lawyer gobbledgook. "We do consider Early Decision to be a binding agreement......", but it doesn't say what will happen if a person ends up not going to Tech. Last fall, at the presentation on Campus, the presenter seemed to poopoo that language and said it basically means you have to make a $400 deposit in January and if you do't come, you lose that deposit. He did not mention any other ramifications- like forget about graduate school or transferring in at a later date or we have agreements with other Universities that will not accept you if you violate the agreement...........

When applying as prospective student must apply to two programs (only one of which can be the harder ones to gain access).

Here is the scenario I was asked (we know the karma issues), number one choice is engineering at Tech. Loves Tech really wants to go to Tech above all other schools investigated. Turns out he loves engineering more.

What would happen if student applied ED and was turned down for engineering but gets in with chemistry/physics, sends in the deposit with the intent to go. Then decides that engineering is really the place to be and goes to Purdue instead. What are the real ramifications?

[Anonymous]

I mean, what ramifications could there really be? The language is pretty clear to me. They consider it binding, but they're not going to track you down and ruin your future prospects if you wind up not attending.

I'm sure it happens where students bail out but their hope is that people take the program seriously and act accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, what ramifications could there really be? The language is pretty clear to me. They consider it binding, but they're not going to track you down and ruin your future prospects if you wind up not attending.

I'm sure it happens where students bail out but their hope is that people take the program seriously and act accordingly.

Not sure about VPI, but ED often also entails a commitment by the DC school. So, if you back out the school may not cooperate on further applications.

[Anonymous]

I would just have your son call and ask.

[Anonymous]

If you apply for engineering and don't get it, how could ED apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you apply for engineering and don't get it, how could ED apply?

You have to apply to two programs. For example, Engineering and physics- you can be not accepted for engineering and get in for physics.

[Anonymous]

VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

Can you provide me a link to the policy for this? I looked and could not find one. I say this especially because the Va Tech spokesperson at the on campus presentation only mentioned the forfeiture of the deposit and kind of shrugged when he said it- indicating to me that he didn't take it very seriously. I would think they would want all the ramifications out in the open and transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

Can you provide me a link to the policy for this? I looked and could not find one. I say this especially because the Va Tech spokesperson at the on campus presentation only mentioned the forfeiture of the deposit and kind of shrugged when he said it- indicating to me that he didn't take it very seriously. I would think they would want all the ramifications out in the open and transparent.

PP here. There is no policy on this. This is knowledge that I gained in the 4 years I worked in a university administration office. They are not going to tell the public this, sorry. The spokesperson who gave you the presentation likely doesn't know about this. The campus tours are done by students and likely won't know either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

Can you provide me a link to the policy for this? I looked and could not find one. I say this especially because the Va Tech spokesperson at the on campus presentation only mentioned the forfeiture of the deposit and kind of shrugged when he said it- indicating to me that he didn't take it very seriously. I would think they would want all the ramifications out in the open and transparent.

PP here. There is no policy on this. This is knowledge that I gained in the 4 years I worked in a university administration office. They are not going to tell the public this, sorry. The spokesperson who gave you the presentation likely doesn't know about this. The campus tours are done by students and likely won't know either.

I guess I am cooling to Va Tech if they will not be transparent about their policies.

[Anonymous]

^^^Great. More space for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Transparency? Why shouldn't a school keep track of kids who accept ED and then change their mind?

It's a good lesson for kids to learn that they shouldn't try to buck the system.

[Anonymous]

I just wish Tech would allow students to have the option to apply to one program instead of requiring two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

Can you provide me a link to the policy for this? I looked and could not find one. I say this especially because the Va Tech spokesperson at the on campus presentation only mentioned the forfeiture of the deposit and kind of shrugged when he said it- indicating to me that he didn't take it very seriously. I would think they would want all the ramifications out in the open and transparent.

PP here. There is no policy on this. This is knowledge that I gained in the 4 years I worked in a university administration office. They are not going to tell the public this, sorry. The spokesperson who gave you the presentation likely doesn't know about this. The campus tours are done by students and likely won't know either.

I guess I am cooling to Va Tech if they will not be transparent about their policies.

PP for the last time. Great! More space for kids who actually want to go to Tech.

Also, I would appreciate it if you would stop referring to the university as "Va Tech." Appropriate abbreviations are VT, VPI, VPI&SU, Tech, or Virginia Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT alum here. You can pick a second-choice major. I would advise applying under university studies ("undecided") and transferring into engineering (looking up the required eng'g curriculum and drop/adding appropriate courses during freshman year) if your DC is not admitted into the Engineering school right off the bat. Science majors such as chemistry and physics like you proposed are also highly competitive at VT and the College of Science is not a cake walk to get admitted into either.

If you apply Early Decision, yes, you must fork over the deposit, but if DC decides not to go to VT, you forfeit that deposit. However, I caution you from doing this. Every Early Decision admit takes away a spot from a Regular Decision applicant because VT assumes ED admits will enroll. It's not like VT is going to come after you if you forgo the deposit and DC enrolls elsewhere, but that will absolutely be a factor if DC tries to transfer into VT.

A little insight - it's not just undergraduate admissions that keeps applicants' records, but the entire university. Each applicant is assigned a 9-digit ID number when they apply, and that number carries over if they enroll as their student ID number. Even if they don't enroll, that 9-digit identifier is linked with that applicant in a university database. If DC applies ED (i.e. makes a commitment to attend VT) and does not enroll, this will absolutely be taken into account in future graduate admissions as well. The university will look up that applicant, find their existing ID number, and read up in the details of their profile.

-worked in a university administration office during all 4 years of undergrad

Can you provide me a link to the policy for this? I looked and could not find one. I say this especially because the Va Tech spokesperson at the on campus presentation only mentioned the forfeiture of the deposit and kind of shrugged when he said it- indicating to me that he didn't take it very seriously. I would think they would want all the ramifications out in the open and transparent.

PP here. There is no policy on this. This is knowledge that I gained in the 4 years I worked in a university administration office. They are not going to tell the public this, sorry. The spokesperson who gave you the presentation likely doesn't know about this. The campus tours are done by students and likely won't know either.

I guess I am cooling to Va Tech if they will not be transparent about their policies.

PP for the last time. Great! More space for kids who actually want to go to Tech.

Also, I would appreciate it if you would stop referring to the university as "Va Tech." Appropriate abbreviations are VT, VPI, VPI&SU, Tech, or Virginia Tech.

Fellow alum here. Who cares how PP abbreviates it? Now you're just being ridiculous.