VT - what is is like currently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.

It has gotten tough. I just looked up the acceptance rates for a white, male, in-state student for the college of engineering from last year. The acceptance rate was 35%, which is at least better than the 27% acceptance rate from 2021. This is compared to 65% acceptance rate for the same student criteria in 2017.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.

+1 My kid in 2021 with a 4.83/4.0 from a Governor's School, #4 of 600+, 35/1560, 3 varsity letters with a captainship and state championship, state and regional chemistry awards, senior internship with an orthopedic surgeon and all of the other bells and whistles (NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Special Olympics). Accepted to Duke, Vandy, UVA (Echols Scholar), W&M (Monroe Scholar), Pepperdine Presidents Scholarship and Pitt Honors was waitlisted at VT for the College of Science (Chemistry). The 3 ahead of them are all at a HYPSM and the one after is OOS at a coveted UC. Of the total top 5, 3 were waitlisted the other two accepted to engineering but as I said are at a HYPSM. I would say admissions are unpredictable at VT and don't take it for granted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.

+1 My kid in 2021 with a 4.83/4.0 from a Governor's School, #4 of 600+, 35/1560, 3 varsity letters with a captainship and state championship, state and regional chemistry awards, senior internship with an orthopedic surgeon and all of the other bells and whistles (NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Special Olympics). Accepted to Duke, Vandy, UVA (Echols Scholar), W&M (Monroe Scholar), Pepperdine Presidents Scholarship and Pitt Honors was waitlisted at VT for the College of Science (Chemistry). The 3 ahead of them are all at a HYPSM and the one after is OOS at a coveted UC. Of the total top 5, 3 were waitlisted the other two accepted to engineering but as I said are at a HYPSM. I would say admissions are unpredictable at VT and don't take it for granted.

Yield protection, pure and simple. VT knows that applicants like your child with the bona fides for the most selective schools will very likely choose to study elsewhere. If your child really wanted to attend VT (I assume it was their safety), they should have clearly indicated in their essay or elsewhere that VT was their first choice.

[Anonymous]

The admissions info from the last 5 years certainly support the changing landscape for VT, esp compared to JMU which looks pretty stable. Aside from the VT stated goals for more diversity in students, which has been debated in other threads, why has VT become so competitive? Also wondering if the landscape at JMU follow in VT footsteps in the coming years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The admissions info from the last 5 years certainly support the changing landscape for VT, esp compared to JMU which looks pretty stable. Aside from the VT stated goals for more diversity in students, which has been debated in other threads, why has VT become so competitive? Also wondering if the landscape at JMU follow in VT footsteps in the coming years?

Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

[Anonymous]

Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

[Anonymous]

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

I suspect the increased focus on STEM majors and yield protection have been important factors. And to the PP with the DD in the top 5-6 of their class who was wait listed, VT admissions made the right call. Your DD was unlikely to attend VT and would have negatively impacted yield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

VT was also a couple years ahead of JMU in joining the Common App. Last year was JMU's first year on the CA and it did seem to be more competitive than before so they are likely to join VT's trajectory in becoming a more challenging admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

I would think the strong rise in interest in STEM careers, especially different types of engineering, accounts for a lot of the divergence. JMU and the like never really focused in these areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

Thirty years ago, the State of Virginia was not that developed. VT was a cow college. GMU was a commuter school with bunch of foreign stduents and no school spirit (I am a foreigner myself).

Then the IT industry in Northern Virigina started to boom. The state’s most technology oriented college, Virginia Tech, benefitted the most. GMU got a boost thanks to its location. UVa at least has a decent engineering school. But WM and JMU didn’t and don’t have an engineering school and didn’t get much boost.

Then there was some strange pecking order effect. VT became popular even for business and non STEM major. As JMU falling out, more kids who would have appled for JMU 30 years ago now apply to VT instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both schools are more competitive than they were when the parents of today's HS students were applying. Hence a lot of the dated impressions in this thread, I think.

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

The answer: Engineering became more important, and then Computer Science degrees TOOK OVER THE WORLD. Literally. 15-20 yrs ago, most of the top students were pursuing engineering, medicine and maybe law. Now, if you look at TJ seniors, almost all are going for computer science.

Since VT has bigger offerings in computer science...it's star has risen. Liberal Arts and Science Schools are suffering and those that offer more computer science, IT degrees will survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP - yes but VT has certainly moved into a different status re: reputation and competitiveness for entry. I'm asking why has VT pulled so far away from its former peers, esp JMU.

I suspect the increased focus on STEM majors and yield protection have been important factors. And to the PP with the DD in the top 5-6 of their class who was wait listed, VT admissions made the right call. Your DD was unlikely to attend VT and would have negatively impacted yield.

It used to be STEM, now it's all about computer science degrees. When's the last time you heard of a HS senior wanting to major in civil engineering? Or mechanical engineering? Or industrial engineering? It's all computers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.

+1 My kid in 2021 with a 4.83/4.0 from a Governor's School, #4 of 600+, 35/1560, 3 varsity letters with a captainship and state championship, state and regional chemistry awards, senior internship with an orthopedic surgeon and all of the other bells and whistles (NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Special Olympics). Accepted to Duke, Vandy, UVA (Echols Scholar), W&M (Monroe Scholar), Pepperdine Presidents Scholarship and Pitt Honors was waitlisted at VT for the College of Science (Chemistry). The 3 ahead of them are all at a HYPSM and the one after is OOS at a coveted UC. Of the total top 5, 3 were waitlisted the other two accepted to engineering but as I said are at a HYPSM. I would say admissions are unpredictable at VT and don't take it for granted.

Yield protection, pure and simple. VT knows that applicants like your child with the bona fides for the most selective schools will very likely choose to study elsewhere. If your child really wanted to attend VT (I assume it was their safety), they should have clearly indicated in their essay or elsewhere that VT was their first choice.

Yes, they understand the Tufts Syndrome or "yield protection" and yes it was a safety but would have been a high consideration for reasons not germane to this discussion. The point of my post was to highlight that VT admissions are indeed a conundrum for the high stats and for lack of a better term borderline high stats students...you simply cannot consider it a safety anymore as many of the PPs have stated. JMU is now the premier safety school that meets that criteria in VA, all of the students mentioned above got in. So as PP said if you really want to go there than ED VT otherwise don't count on it for non-engineering if you are a high stats kid.

The majority of students that were accepted to VT from my kids class ranged in the 10-30%. Personally, I think all of our VA schools getting more selective is a good thing. As a UCLA grad raised in CA now living in VA, I would like to see VA move towards a great collegiate system like they have there with multiple selective universities in both the UC and CS systems, no other state can compete with CA when it comes to the breadth and quality of it's college education. I will say this though, turning down high stats students because you think they won't attend is short sighted especially if you want to increase your already outstanding educational experience. If a school is that confident they won't attend than what is the point of not accepting them? Who knows they might go? A lot of high stats students don't ED, they don't need to and no student should have to beg an institution for acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.

+1 My kid in 2021 with a 4.83/4.0 from a Governor's School, #4 of 600+, 35/1560, 3 varsity letters with a captainship and state championship, state and regional chemistry awards, senior internship with an orthopedic surgeon and all of the other bells and whistles (NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Special Olympics). Accepted to Duke, Vandy, UVA (Echols Scholar), W&M (Monroe Scholar), Pepperdine Presidents Scholarship and Pitt Honors was waitlisted at VT for the College of Science (Chemistry). The 3 ahead of them are all at a HYPSM and the one after is OOS at a coveted UC. Of the total top 5, 3 were waitlisted the other two accepted to engineering but as I said are at a HYPSM. I would say admissions are unpredictable at VT and don't take it for granted.

Yield protection, pure and simple. VT knows that applicants like your child with the bona fides for the most selective schools will very likely choose to study elsewhere. If your child really wanted to attend VT (I assume it was their safety), they should have clearly indicated in their essay or elsewhere that VT was their first choice.

Yes, they understand the Tufts Syndrome or "yield protection" and yes it was a safety but would have been a high consideration for reasons not germane to this discussion. The point of my post was to highlight that VT admissions are indeed a conundrum for the high stats and for lack of a better term borderline high stats students...you simply cannot consider it a safety anymore as many of the PPs have stated. JMU is now the premier safety school that meets that criteria in VA, all of the students mentioned above got in. So as PP said if you really want to go there than ED VT otherwise don't count on it for non-engineering if you are a high stats kid.

The majority of students that were accepted to VT from my kids class ranged in the 10-30%. Personally, I think all of our VA schools getting more selective is a good thing. As a UCLA grad raised in CA now living in VA, I would like to see VA move towards a great collegiate system like they have there with multiple selective universities in both the UC and CS systems, no other state can compete with CA when it comes to the breadth and quality of it's college education. I will say this though, turning down high stats students because you think they won't attend is short sighted especially if you want to increase your already outstanding educational experience. If a school is that confident they won't attend than what is the point of not accepting them? Who knows they might go? A lot of high stats students don't ED, they don't need to and no student should have to beg an institution for acceptance.

You make good points. And here's one more thing -- despite practicing yield protection more than some other Virginia schools, the Common Data Set for VT says that an applicant's level of interest isn't even considered. Yeah, right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tech is a really weird school right now. There is just no telling if kids are going to get in so it's hard to get excited about it. A place like UVA or W&M, you kind of know based on you stats if you will have a shot. With Tech, it a total crapshoot. I know kids who were WL there but got into UVA and i know kids who got into Tech who would never have been competitive for UVA (and they didn't even bother to apply). Just no telling really. That said, it's a good school. Alot of people do stick with their HS groups from what my kids say though.

+1. It’s not that it’s a harder admit, it’s that it is unpredictable based on traditional metrics of gpa and test scores. They have different priorities. It’s not the “top” kids from each high school that get admitted.

They certainly were the top kids at our school who were admitted last cycle.
DP

That’s a reflection on your high school.

Not sure what you’re getting at here. My kids’ go to one of the top ranked high schools within FCPS. VT is not an easy admit - for anyone.