Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 15:04     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mary Washington?


Agree. VT isn’t strong on social sciences or humanities. And the personality type you described might be a better fit at a smaller school like Mary Washington. Also second looking at CNU.


DP. This is simply false. Their College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is excellent. And my introverted DC completely blossomed there. Highly recommend.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 15:00     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:It's not like VT isn't a party school for many of its students. So's UVA for that matter.

JMU and VT are on par when it comes to partying. They're on the fun side of the ledger. If you don't want to have any fun, go to W&M, Mary Washington, or CNU.


+1
Many kids prefer the schools that offer both excellent academics AND social life. VT and JMU both fit the bill.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 14:19     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:VT has been wild on admissions this year… definitely not a safety school.
Kid had above 1500 SAT and was waitlisted.


Our kid got into W&M and Tulane(not ED) but was waitlisted at VT. Finally accepted a couple days before May 1. So second this.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 14:17     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:Do you mind sharing stats OP? Why is W&M a long shot?

Because: NOVA public school
system and competition against peers from school then region &
how W&M (all VA public unis) allocate space. I have seen kids with very high stats from DC's school not get in W&M. My DC is not the highest, not the lowest overall but in the scatterplot from school is not competitive on paper. It is insane. Will definitely thrive in seminar style courses but has a couple of B grades in math/ science.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 13:15     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.


CNU is light years behind both VT and JMU. I'd send a kid to GMU or VCU over it as well.


OP here. DC toured CNU, and I had really hoped DC would like it. It has a lot of the elements DC desires in a school, but the campus feel and tour guides' "vibe" felt "off" to DC. Unfortunately, for better or worse from a parent's view, this closed the door for consideration for DC. How I wish this wasn't the case because affordability and the various honors tracks PP mentioned were really attractive and could fast track kid to graduate school, meaning DC with all the AP credits could finish in 3 years and begin major coursework earlier.


I get it. Kids have a hard and fast idea of what is "cool" and "not cool."
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:38     Subject: VT for Humanities
Why do all Virginia public college responders tend to put down other options in the state?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:29     Subject: VT for Humanities
Do you mind sharing stats OP? Why is W&M a long shot?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:11     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:VT & UMW are good options if JMU is off the table

Has he looked into the Honor Tutorial College (not honors program) at Ohio U? I feel like it could lead to opportunities that would look great on law school app. The OOS price is on par with VT in-state (and likely get merit at OU if in VT range) & it’s not super duper far (5.5hrs vs 4 NoVA to VT).


JMU might be an option if VT is off the table. VT is the better school.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:08     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:My DS is heading to VT in the fall for Political Science. Overall we've been impressed so far with the department communications.


They will receive a great academic experience. I enjoyed every LASC class I took - 30 years ago! I still remember most of them and the salient nuggets I learned.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:07     Subject: VT for Humanities
VT & UMW are good options if JMU is off the table

Has he looked into the Honor Tutorial College (not honors program) at Ohio U? I feel like it could lead to opportunities that would look great on law school app. The OOS price is on par with VT in-state (and likely get merit at OU if in VT range) & it’s not super duper far (5.5hrs vs 4 NoVA to VT).
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 12:04     Subject: VT for Humanities
My DS is heading to VT in the fall for Political Science. Overall we've been impressed so far with the department communications.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 11:44     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:I have a liberal arts and humanities student (double major) at VT and she is having a fantastic time. The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences attracts a lot of incredibly talented students. She's double majoring in International Relations and Russian and one of her roommates is an Art History and PPE double major. The other roommate is a National Security and Foreign Affairs major with a language minor.

There are so many majors within this college to choose from, and the School of Visual Arts is fabulous too.

I always find it kind of funny when people assume VT is simply engineering or business - it's so much more than that. Everyone socializes together, there is no "segregation" based on major or college. My DD has attended lots of theater productions, art exhibits, Hume Center lectures, sports events, trivia nights, etc. It just really is what I consider the quintessential college experience, regardless of major.


Agree with this poster. My son is a rising senior at VT, majoring in English/creative writing. He's currently in London for VT's London Calling study abroad program and is having a fantastic experience. https://liberalarts.vt.edu/beyond-the-classroom/study-abroad/english-study-abroad.html

Virginia Tech is an excellent school - it's not just for STEM kids!
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 11:00     Subject: VT for Humanities
I wouldn't worry about sending a humanities kid to VT. Lots of large state schools are known for engineering and business but still have lots of kids that major in a liberal arts major.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 09:05     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:NOVA family with DC interested in humanities: possibly the philosophy, politics and economics major at VT seems like a good fit with a minor in art. DC, at the moment, thinks possibly law school but who knows. What is VT like for non- science kids? Culturally is it a place where they can feel connected? What is the vibe at VT? We are looking at in-state options, not going to qualify for UVA, W&M is a long shot, my DC thinks JMU is only a party school without serious academics and is resistant to considering it. DC studious, shy and a bit panicky about going away for school.


Look at Mary Wash! It's a gem, lovely supportive place
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:38     Subject: VT for Humanities
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's not like VT isn't a party school for many of its students. So's UVA for that matter.

JMU and VT are on par when it comes to partying. They're on the fun side of the ledger. If you don't want to have any fun, go to W&M, Mary Washington, or CNU.


Just had to get a dig in still.


I'm not wrong.


How are you so certain of your impressions of so many schools? Do your kids go to all of those schools? I have kids at W&M who have lots of fun.