Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 07:59     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.


Actually, they make a very good point. Statistically, they are two different peer groups. UVA’s 75th percentile scores are a 1510 SAT, a 35 ACT and a 4.5 GPA. VT’s are 1430/32/4.33. The discrepancies are much larger at the 25th percentile where UVA is 1420/32/4.2 but VT’s are 1270/28/3.89.


+1.
If my kid were a 1420 or under and admitted to both, we would push VT for this reason. No way sending a student into a tough major where you know they are likely to be bottom quarter, unless kid had shown they thrive best in underdog conditions.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 07:33     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
UVA mom here. My DS is graduating this year in engineering and has had 3 job offers by the end of January. Not just interviews, actual offers with one of them trying to beat the offer of the other.

It doesn’t matter where you go, it matters what you do when you get there. Both are terrific schools but my advice is to use your time there wisely no matter where you decide to land.


Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 07:24     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.


Actually, they make a very good point. Statistically, they are two different peer groups. UVA’s 75th percentile scores are a 1510 SAT, a 35 ACT and a 4.5 GPA. VT’s are 1430/32/4.33. The discrepancies are much larger at the 25th percentile where UVA is 1420/32/4.2 but VT’s are 1270/28/3.89.


Got it. This is for the schools of engineering? Or for the entire freshman classes?
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 00:04     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.


Actually, they make a very good point. Statistically, they are two different peer groups. UVA’s 75th percentile scores are a 1510 SAT, a 35 ACT and a 4.5 GPA. VT’s are 1430/32/4.33. The discrepancies are much larger at the 25th percentile where UVA is 1420/32/4.2 but VT’s are 1270/28/3.89.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 21:17     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
DD is having to make this decision too between VT and UVA for mechanical engineering. She is not sure what to do. We'll attend accepted students days and hope it will be obvious.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 21:12     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Which would you choose and why? Interested in Civil, but that might change.


ABET is ABET.

I would go to UVA in case you decide engineering is not for you. UVA has a lot of outs, VT does not.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 21:03     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.


PP has been busy plugging UVA even though it's widely known not to be a top engineering school.


I’m the one that said it was a stretch and my kid is at UVA for engineering haha! It just seems silly and so self-important to say that VT engineering peers wouldn’t be as strong as UVAs. Come on.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 20:57     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Have you posted this before? There is absolutely no reason a student can’t switch out of engineering at VT. I have a DC who started at VT engineering and decided to switch to their liberal arts college. Having a wonderful time and involved in many activities. The liberal arts college is fantastic and has so many majors to choose from. Our younger DC is going to apply to VT for a LA major next year.


DP here. Yes, of course you can switch out of engineering at VA Tech. But if you're not going to go into engineering, UVA is far better regarded across the state and the country than VA Tech. So it would kind of suck to give up UVA because Tech is ranked higher in engineering, and then wind up not majoring in engineering.


Who cares if it is better regarded? I went to a lowly regarded college (still up and coming after all these years) and now make more than most of my peers, many of whom went to VT and UVA. My kid got into both and will be majoring in engineering. Can't go wrong either way. But I'm the one pushing for the shorter drive.



School clout to get internships and a job.


DP. UVA's "clout" is no better than VT's - and certainly not nearly as good if we're talking about engineering.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 20:56     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.


PP has been busy plugging UVA even though it's widely known not to be a top engineering school.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 20:10     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Have you posted this before? There is absolutely no reason a student can’t switch out of engineering at VT. I have a DC who started at VT engineering and decided to switch to their liberal arts college. Having a wonderful time and involved in many activities. The liberal arts college is fantastic and has so many majors to choose from. Our younger DC is going to apply to VT for a LA major next year.


DP here. Yes, of course you can switch out of engineering at VA Tech. But if you're not going to go into engineering, UVA is far better regarded across the state and the country than VA Tech. So it would kind of suck to give up UVA because Tech is ranked higher in engineering, and then wind up not majoring in engineering.


Who cares if it is better regarded? I went to a lowly regarded college (still up and coming after all these years) and now make more than most of my peers, many of whom went to VT and UVA. My kid got into both and will be majoring in engineering. Can't go wrong either way. But I'm the one pushing for the shorter drive.


School clout to get internships and a job.


As a hiring manager, I view VT, UVa, UMCP, UMBC, GMU, and several other nearby engineering programs as being equally solid. This is both for internships and to hire.

I have heard anecdotes that VT has a strong engineering coop program. I do not have first-hand knowledge either way. My organization does not happen to have a coop arrangement with any university.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 19:07     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Have you posted this before? There is absolutely no reason a student can’t switch out of engineering at VT. I have a DC who started at VT engineering and decided to switch to their liberal arts college. Having a wonderful time and involved in many activities. The liberal arts college is fantastic and has so many majors to choose from. Our younger DC is going to apply to VT for a LA major next year.


DP here. Yes, of course you can switch out of engineering at VA Tech. But if you're not going to go into engineering, UVA is far better regarded across the state and the country than VA Tech. So it would kind of suck to give up UVA because Tech is ranked higher in engineering, and then wind up not majoring in engineering.


Who cares if it is better regarded? I went to a lowly regarded college (still up and coming after all these years) and now make more than most of my peers, many of whom went to VT and UVA. My kid got into both and will be majoring in engineering. Can't go wrong either way. But I'm the one pushing for the shorter drive.



School clout to get internships and a job.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 16:16     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Have you posted this before? There is absolutely no reason a student can’t switch out of engineering at VT. I have a DC who started at VT engineering and decided to switch to their liberal arts college. Having a wonderful time and involved in many activities. The liberal arts college is fantastic and has so many majors to choose from. Our younger DC is going to apply to VT for a LA major next year.


DP here. Yes, of course you can switch out of engineering at VA Tech. But if you're not going to go into engineering, UVA is far better regarded across the state and the country than VA Tech. So it would kind of suck to give up UVA because Tech is ranked higher in engineering, and then wind up not majoring in engineering.


Who cares if it is better regarded? I went to a lowly regarded college (still up and coming after all these years) and now make more than most of my peers, many of whom went to VT and UVA. My kid got into both and will be majoring in engineering. Can't go wrong either way. But I'm the one pushing for the shorter drive.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 16:13     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.


That seems a bit of a stretch.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 16:00     Subject: UVA or VT Engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Have you posted this before? There is absolutely no reason a student can’t switch out of engineering at VT. I have a DC who started at VT engineering and decided to switch to their liberal arts college. Having a wonderful time and involved in many activities. The liberal arts college is fantastic and has so many majors to choose from. Our younger DC is going to apply to VT for a LA major next year.


DP here. Yes, of course you can switch out of engineering at VA Tech. But if you're not going to go into engineering, UVA is far better regarded across the state and the country than VA Tech. So it would kind of suck to give up UVA because Tech is ranked higher in engineering, and then wind up not majoring in engineering.


This.
UVA.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 15:58     Subject: Re:UVA or VT Engineering?
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


UVA.
The scores of the UVA engineering students are much higher than those of the average VT engineers. The peer group is not strong enough to push the 1450+ kids at VT. That being said, UCB, CMU, or ivies/Stanford/MIT would be even better than UVA, for the 1530+, for the same reason: not enough peer match at UVA.