We hire from both schools, they’re both fine and appeal to different types of students.

The person who thinks there’s a discernible difference between a #14 and a #35 ranking doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Anonymous wrote:Op - so ur kid got into both VT and UVA engineering? Congrats!

Visit the schools.

For a field like Civil, VTs close connection with ROTC is a game changer.

But can’t go wrong with either.

Congrats!

Both UVa and VT have a full range of ROTC on campus. VT has a distinct “Corps of Cadets” military program, which is more rigid than a typical ROTC program. UVa ROTC is more typical and does not have that separation from the regular student body. From that perspective, pick the approach that is the best fit for DC. One student might prefer the Corps of Cadets approach, while another student might prefer a more usual ROTC experience. This aspect really is about “best fit” for the specific DC.

For all engineering programs, look at graduation rates *with an engineering degree* of students who started out in engineering.

Look at “fit” very carefully for any university being considered. Some students will be a better fit at one university, while other students will be a better fit for a different university. Small program vs. large program. Rural vs urban. Other non-academic factors as well.

As a hiring manager, those “rankings” are irrelevant. They are noise, not signal. ABET means that all engineering programs will be rigorous and that the curricula are largely the same (with minor variations, of course) from one program to another.

For Civil specifically, try to find out the pass rate for the EIT exam taken in the last school term or the exam date that immediately follows graduation. Passing the EIT is an essential first step towards a PE license. Most Civil Engineers (and many Mechanical Engineers) will need to get their PE license. This is unlike most AeroE, SystemsE, or EE graduates, who less commonly need a PE license. For a CivilE, the key is getting that PE license. Pick a program with a high EIT pass rate.

Last, the choices of upper-level in-major electives will matter a great deal. Any engineering field will have specialties and concentrations. Some concentrations have more demand than others. A student might have more interest in A than in B. Choose those upper-level in-major electives carefully.

I have 1 at Tech COE and 1 at UVA COE-in state

Cost: 34k v 47k

If civil, Ae, CS, ME- VT
If BME, ChemE, Systems-UVA

Kid at UVA has been able to get research and shadow opportunity via UVA medical. Research ops seem harder for VT kid. May be pure volume of competition or diff kid and diff approach.

VT- everyone is general Engineering year 1. Your GPA is above 3.0 your 1st choice major is approved. UVA admits by major you selected. Both kids has had to self teach difficult math due to teachers accents being hard to understand at both.

Can’t go wrong with either. Both have great but diff vibes.

Anonymous wrote:Which would you choose and why? Interested in Civil, but that might change.

difficult to say

Visit both. If your kid doesn’t want to be somewhere, they aren’t going to do their work. It’ll be a waste.

Go to their admitted student days and see what feels like a better fit.

The only major I would choose over UVA for Tech is engineering. But:

You have to be sure you would STAY in engineering. Many people I know started in engineering and switched majors.

They are different schools and “fits” and therefore different college experiences. You have to ask yourself where you’d rather spend 4 years.

They both have good reputations, you really can’t go wrong with either.

Op - so ur kid got into both VT and UVA engineering? Congrats!

Visit the schools.

For a field like Civil, VTs close connection with ROTC is a game changer.

But can’t go wrong with either.


Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:Tech has a different vibe than uva so where would dc thrive? UVA has a better overall reputation so that dininshes the tech engineering ranking

Not at all. Anyone who knows engineering schools knows VT is a top 20.

Anonymous wrote:Tech has a different vibe than uva so where would dc thrive? UVA has a better overall reputation so that dininshes the tech engineering ranking

We have no idea what your DC is like so how would we know where they would thrive?

Tech has a different vibe than uva so where would dc thrive? UVA has a better overall reputation so that dininshes the tech engineering ranking

VT, it’s a top ranked engineering school.

UVA varies a little more prestige but not for engineering.

Anonymous wrote:Which would you choose and why? Interested in Civil, but that might change.

VT. It's ranked #14 for undergrad engineering and #9 for Civil.
UVA is ranked #35.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/uva-6968
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/virginia-tech-3754

Which would you choose and why? Interested in Civil, but that might change.