Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 08:11     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
DD has to choose between UVA and VT for engineering too. She is leaning towards VT but waiting on accepted student days too.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 07:33     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:VT is the choice, but we were planning on going to the admitted students day at UVA to at least check it out, but now we're having second thoughts. Are there benefits to confirming a college choice earlier? Better housing options I'd assume. Anything else?


Hey OP! We're in the same boat here, DC got accepted to both VT and UVA. Are you in the FB group for VT parents? So many in there suggest submitting a refundable enrollment deposit to VT to get your kid in line for the better housing should your kid decide on VT. GL!


Thanks I'll get to that today.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 22:17     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Tuition info:
https://sfs.virginia.edu/financial-aid-new-applicants/financial-aid-basics/estimated-undergraduate-cost-attendance-2025-2026

Actual payment for us less insurance was about 47k for uva COE.

https://finaid.vt.edu/content/dam/finaid_vt_edu/Cost_of_Attendance/2425/2425%20COA%20InState%20UG%20On%20Campus%20Freshman.pdf

Actual for VT for another kid for COE wa 34k.

Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 21:13     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


Yep. Successfully ignited a fire. Please do not feed the trolls folks.


The only trolls are the posters who feign shock when people say they chose VT over UVA.


Nah. Any post setting up a DCUM thread about any university X vs university Y is just intentionally lighting the DCUM dumpster. The troll initiated fire follows inevitably from any of those posts.

OP didn’t ask about university X vs university Y. They asked about the pros and cons of committing sooner rather than later.


They did. They explicitly setup UVa vs VT in the original post. Go reread it.


Those are our choices, I want to visit UVA before making the final decision. I assume that a lot of people are in the same boat right now, acceptances are coming in and the clock is ticking on making the choice. We haven't heard back from W&M yet, but that would be in the mix as well. (We did get the automatic acceptance at GMU, my old school, but that one isn't in consideration.)

I just saw an article about the traffic on 81, I'm thinking of passing that along to try to tip the scale to UVA.


95 has traffic too. I wouldn't insert yourself into tipping the scale either way. It's the kid's decision.


+1
I always feel like I’m taking my life in my hands on 95. At least 81 is beautiful and scenic.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 21:06     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:VT is the choice, but we were planning on going to the admitted students day at UVA to at least check it out, but now we're having second thoughts. Are there benefits to confirming a college choice earlier? Better housing options I'd assume. Anything else?


Hey OP! We're in the same boat here, DC got accepted to both VT and UVA. Are you in the FB group for VT parents? So many in there suggest submitting a refundable enrollment deposit to VT to get your kid in line for the better housing should your kid decide on VT. GL!
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 20:58     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:you are choosing VTech over UVA? May I ask why?


Not 100% sure, the kid hasn't even been to UVA for a visit, just wanted VT, going for engineering.


My child graduated from VT engineering.

She chose VT over UVA.

Engineering at VT is superb. She has had a great career and still has connections to her professors at VT.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 20:56     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One poster said VT would be more expensive than UVA? How is that?


I'm confused too. Seems like VT is cheaper, unless you get aid from UVA.


With aid, UVA is less expensive up to income of $110K+

https://tamingthehighcostofcollege.com/net-price-of-virginia-colleges-by-income/
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 20:35     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:One poster said VT would be more expensive than UVA? How is that?


I'm confused too. Seems like VT is cheaper, unless you get aid from UVA.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 11:20     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
One poster said VT would be more expensive than UVA? How is that?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 11:17     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


Yep. Successfully ignited a fire. Please do not feed the trolls folks.


The only trolls are the posters who feign shock when people say they chose VT over UVA.


Nah. Any post setting up a DCUM thread about any university X vs university Y is just intentionally lighting the DCUM dumpster. The troll initiated fire follows inevitably from any of those posts.

OP didn’t ask about university X vs university Y. They asked about the pros and cons of committing sooner rather than later.


They did. They explicitly setup UVa vs VT in the original post. Go reread it.


Those are our choices, I want to visit UVA before making the final decision. I assume that a lot of people are in the same boat right now, acceptances are coming in and the clock is ticking on making the choice. We haven't heard back from W&M yet, but that would be in the mix as well. (We did get the automatic acceptance at GMU, my old school, but that one isn't in consideration.)

I just saw an article about the traffic on 81, I'm thinking of passing that along to try to tip the scale to UVA.


95 has traffic too. I wouldn't insert yourself into tipping the scale either way. It's the kid's decision.


We use the train a lot for my older kid. I sent the train schedules between Charlottesville and Alexandria to my younger one. Fingers crossed, but I think the ship has sailed.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 10:23     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


Yep. Successfully ignited a fire. Please do not feed the trolls folks.


The only trolls are the posters who feign shock when people say they chose VT over UVA.


Nah. Any post setting up a DCUM thread about any university X vs university Y is just intentionally lighting the DCUM dumpster. The troll initiated fire follows inevitably from any of those posts.

OP didn’t ask about university X vs university Y. They asked about the pros and cons of committing sooner rather than later.


They did. They explicitly setup UVa vs VT in the original post. Go reread it.


Those are our choices, I want to visit UVA before making the final decision. I assume that a lot of people are in the same boat right now, acceptances are coming in and the clock is ticking on making the choice. We haven't heard back from W&M yet, but that would be in the mix as well. (We did get the automatic acceptance at GMU, my old school, but that one isn't in consideration.)

I just saw an article about the traffic on 81, I'm thinking of passing that along to try to tip the scale to UVA.


95 has traffic too. I wouldn't insert yourself into tipping the scale either way. It's the kid's decision.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 10:15     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


Yep. Successfully ignited a fire. Please do not feed the trolls folks.


The only trolls are the posters who feign shock when people say they chose VT over UVA.


Nah. Any post setting up a DCUM thread about any university X vs university Y is just intentionally lighting the DCUM dumpster. The troll initiated fire follows inevitably from any of those posts.

OP didn’t ask about university X vs university Y. They asked about the pros and cons of committing sooner rather than later.


They did. They explicitly setup UVa vs VT in the original post. Go reread it.


Those are our choices, I want to visit UVA before making the final decision. I assume that a lot of people are in the same boat right now, acceptances are coming in and the clock is ticking on making the choice. We haven't heard back from W&M yet, but that would be in the mix as well. (We did get the automatic acceptance at GMU, my old school, but that one isn't in consideration.)

I just saw an article about the traffic on 81, I'm thinking of passing that along to try to tip the scale to UVA.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 09:16     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


Yep. Successfully ignited a fire. Please do not feed the trolls folks.


The only trolls are the posters who feign shock when people say they chose VT over UVA.


Nah. Any post setting up a DCUM thread about any university X vs university Y is just intentionally lighting the DCUM dumpster. The troll initiated fire follows inevitably from any of those posts.

OP didn’t ask about university X vs university Y. They asked about the pros and cons of committing sooner rather than later.


They did. They explicitly setup UVa vs VT in the original post. Go reread it.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 08:03     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Troll


NP. For engineering, architecture, and probably a couple others, most kids would choose VT over UVA. Only if you think you might change your major or if you come from a low income household where UVA tuition is much cheaper than VT would you choose UVA over VT for these subjects.


I thought that VT was cheaper, not a factor for us, but isn't VT cheaper?


Nope. It’s more than UVA. UVA is slightly over $40k for in-state. VT us $33,458. https://finaid.vt.edu/content/dam/finaid_vt_edu/Cost_of_Attendance/2627/UGINON.pdf


For the majority of people, VT after aid will be more expensive than UVA after aid. If you are in the minority with no financial need, or if your kid gets good merit aid at VT that might be different.

Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 08:00     Subject: Benefits of confirming early (VT)
The only pro of committing sooner at vt is dorm choice, which isn't really that big of a deal. They have enough dorms for freshmen. All the dorms have pros and cons.