CS at UVA

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if it is easier to get into arts and sciences vs. Engineering school at UVA? Kid wants to study computer science, so it looks like both schools are an option. Kid is hard core into CS, but seems would enjoy either college.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think there’s really a back door into UVA.

I have asked questions on the dean’s blog and always gotten an answer.

[Anonymous]

Harder to get into Engineering. At least it used to be. When I was there - I had friends who applied to Engineering and were only admitted into the college. They had to take classes to get in later.

Good point to ask as things might have changed.

More advice for you - I was a CS major in the Engineering school at UVa. And again...check on all this to see if still the same - 20 years now But, all majors took the same set of core classes for two years - Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, Thermondynamics, Electrical Science. It was hard!! In hindsight - I am a great programmer but not a great Thermo/Material Science girl. I had friends who minored in CS - had to take all the CS classes I did but got to take some other fun classes too. We only got 1 elective a semester and we had to take some required tough advanced math classes too - Differential Equations. Those I liked but not sure what your kid likes.

Also, I minored in MIS at the Comm School there...I found what I learned there - databases, how to do requirements and create a real ap - to be more useful when I got out of college then a lot of my CS classes. Something else to look into. Comm school is very solid there as well.

[Anonymous]

The in-state admissions rate for 39% for A&S and 39% for Engineering according to their website.

Out of state was 21% for A&S and 24% for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The in-state admissions rate for 39% for A&S and 39% for Engineering according to their website.

Out of state was 21% for A&S and 24% for engineering.

But kids applying to Engineering would be self-selecting. So I would assume the Engineering kids had higher stats, no?

[Anonymous]

Why not go to VTech instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The in-state admissions rate for 39% for A&S and 39% for Engineering according to their website.

Out of state was 21% for A&S and 24% for engineering.

But kids applying to Engineering would be self-selecting. So I would assume the Engineering kids had higher stats, no?

There’s no way to know what their math/science backgrounds are, so it would be silly to assume anything. Probably safe to say a lot of students don’t bother applying to UVA at all if they aren’t in APs and have good grades.

We know the admissions rates are the same.

[Anonymous]

UVA has a gift of 120 million for a new data science school being built. I would call them and ask. https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-plans-new-school-data-science-120-million-gift-largest-university-history

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harder to get into Engineering. At least it used to be. When I was there - I had friends who applied to Engineering and were only admitted into the college. They had to take classes to get in later.

Good point to ask as things might have changed.

More advice for you - I was a CS major in the Engineering school at UVa. And again...check on all this to see if still the same - 20 years now But, all majors took the same set of core classes for two years - Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, Thermondynamics, Electrical Science. It was hard!! In hindsight - I am a great programmer but not a great Thermo/Material Science girl. I had friends who minored in CS - had to take all the CS classes I did but got to take some other fun classes too. We only got 1 elective a semester and we had to take some required tough advanced math classes too - Differential Equations. Those I liked but not sure what your kid likes.

Also, I minored in MIS at the Comm School there...I found what I learned there - databases, how to do requirements and create a real ap - to be more useful when I got out of college then a lot of my CS classes. Something else to look into. Comm school is very solid there as well.

New poster. Great info. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not looking for a back door really. Just doubt a 17 year old really knows what he wants. Seems the A and S school would give a well rounded education, and the engineering school would give him a chance to be an engineer. They teach CS in high school, but not much engineering, so kid not familiar with it.


At VT, CS is only in engineer school, and if he is weeded out (which I hear so much about), what major would he switch to at VT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there’s really a back door into UVA.

I have asked questions on the dean’s blog and always gotten an answer.

The Virginia Community College route is a back door. Not too many want to do it, but it could be great for the right type of person.

[Anonymous]

Waiting list applicants offered option to UVA-Wise is another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not looking for a back door really. Just doubt a 17 year old really knows what he wants. Seems the A and S school would give a well rounded education, and the engineering school would give him a chance to be an engineer. They teach CS in high school, but not much engineering, so kid not familiar with it.


At VT, CS is only in engineer school, and if he is weeded out (which I hear so much about), what major would he switch to at VT?

I'm the PP who has a CS degree from UVa. CS is in the Engineering school there as well. Again - when I went there - you had to have a 2.0 to transfer OUT - so if you really washed up you were out of luck. Again check.

My one friend who did the CS minor while still in the Arts & Science school - did just as much programming as I did. I have other friends who were in MIS in the Commerce school who are still techies today. CS is very different then other Engineering majors. When I hire programmers - I don't really care that much about the exact program - I want to see if they can code! My point being - I don't think your child needs to apply to the E-School at Virginia - could still get a great education and all the programming knowledge without. Unless he wants to be hard core programmer - like the folks who create operating systems

Also...you apply for the Comm School (undergrad business) there for 3rd year so they would have some time to ponder different options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not looking for a back door really. Just doubt a 17 year old really knows what he wants. Seems the A and S school would give a well rounded education, and the engineering school would give him a chance to be an engineer. They teach CS in high school, but not much engineering, so kid not familiar with it.


At VT, CS is only in engineer school, and if he is weeded out (which I hear so much about), what major would he switch to at VT?

I'm the PP who has a CS degree from UVa. CS is in the Engineering school there as well. Again - when I went there - you had to have a 2.0 to transfer OUT - so if you really washed up you were out of luck. Again check.

My one friend who did the CS minor while still in the Arts & Science school - did just as much programming as I did. I have other friends who were in MIS in the Commerce school who are still techies today. CS is very different then other Engineering majors. When I hire programmers - I don't really care that much about the exact program - I want to see if they can code! My point being - I don't think your child needs to apply to the E-School at Virginia - could still get a great education and all the programming knowledge without. Unless he wants to be hard core programmer - like the folks who create operating systems

Also...you apply for the Comm School (undergrad business) there for 3rd year so they would have some time to ponder different options.

This is interesting stuff. Thank you very much for posting this. It's nice to know that there are a few good routes to take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not looking for a back door really. Just doubt a 17 year old really knows what he wants. Seems the A and S school would give a well rounded education, and the engineering school would give him a chance to be an engineer. They teach CS in high school, but not much engineering, so kid not familiar with it.


At VT, CS is only in engineer school, and if he is weeded out (which I hear so much about), what major would he switch to at VT?

I would also check out CS at W&M as well then as long as there isn't some other reason for not being interested. W&M has a very highly regarded CS program.