Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia, there are several public universities with solid engineering programs (at least CNU, GMU, ODU, UVA, VCU, & VPI). These vary in “prestige”.

In Maryland, at least UMCP and UMBC both have solid engineering programs. Cybersecurity is a particular strength at both of those E schools.

Both sets above have E Schools with different “rank” and different “prestige”. As a hiring manager, I do not care at all about prestige, but DCUM is obsessed with prestige.

Where?
Are you saying "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?" I have never seen it referred to as VPI before. "Virginia Tech" "Tech" (if you are clear you are referring to Virginia schools) or "VT" are common names for it.

It has also been called VPI for 70+ years. In fact, its formal name begins "Virginia Polytechnic Institute...".

I gather you did not grow up in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Yes, I know the formal name is "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University," just like I wrote in the post you quoted.
Nope, I sure did not grow up in Virginia.
All four of my kids did, though. The youngest is a current college freshman so I've seen all of them go through the college application process, and all of their friends, my friends' kids, and literally hundreds of their classmates and neighbors.
Your post is the first time I have ever seen it referred to as VPI.

NP, who has never lived in Virginia and has only the slightest notion of your higher ed options.

Internal branding/style guide:

https://brand.vt.edu/communications/university-style-guide.html

About Our Name
Our official name is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University but "Virginia Tech" is used in all but formal occasions. Virginia Tech is used in news releases, feature articles, academic journals, and publications and on the Web.

When using the full name of the university, never use an ampersand instead of "and." Never use VPI&SU, VPI and SU, VA Tech, Va. Tech, or Virginia Tech University. "Tech" is acceptable after a first reference to "Virginia Tech," but it should not be used repeatedly or solely. "VT" is acceptable only in limited, informal situations, such as a news headline or email subject line, where space is tight. Do not use "VT" in body copy, in titles of publications, on signs (if space permits), or in any "formal" publication.

"VPI," which was the university's acronym/nickname from 1896 to 1970, should be used only in historical contexts. The same is true for "VAMC," the university's acronym/nickname before 1896.

(emphasis added)

PP you quoted here.

Thanks! Yeah, I wasn't even born yet in 1970. I assume that most of the posters here also were not even born, or still fairly young children, and therefore have little- no memory of it being called VPI.

If he's trending toward 7s in HL physics and AA, then his 700 on the SAT math section is fluke-low. Since it sounds like you have the means, he should do a few individual prep sessions with a tutor from Prep Matters or the like and get that math score closer to 800. (A 750 verbal score for an engineering applicant already is great; don't worry about prepping the verbal side, focus on math.) At that point, he'll be a credible engineering candidate anywhere.

Note, though, that there's a significant difference between being "credible" and being "admitted." Many engineering programs are brutally selective, and there's no guarantee that the numbers will break in your favor no matter how great you look on paper. So he should be sure to find a few schools with less daunting odds that he'd still be psyched to attend. UMN, for instance, offers strong AE (along with most other disciplines), a cool (some might even say cold) urban location, and rolling admissions that can turn it into a true safety and give you a great option in hand by September.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia, there are several public universities with solid engineering programs (at least CNU, GMU, ODU, UVA, VCU, & VPI). These vary in “prestige”.

In Maryland, at least UMCP and UMBC both have solid engineering programs. Cybersecurity is a particular strength at both of those E schools.

Both sets above have E Schools with different “rank” and different “prestige”. As a hiring manager, I do not care at all about prestige, but DCUM is obsessed with prestige.

Where?
Are you saying "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?" I have never seen it referred to as VPI before. "Virginia Tech" "Tech" (if you are clear you are referring to Virginia schools) or "VT" are common names for it.

It has also been called VPI for 70+ years. In fact, its formal name begins "Virginia Polytechnic Institute...".

I gather you did not grow up in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Yes, I know the formal name is "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University," just like I wrote in the post you quoted.
Nope, I sure did not grow up in Virginia.
All four of my kids did, though. The youngest is a current college freshman so I've seen all of them go through the college application process, and all of their friends, my friends' kids, and literally hundreds of their classmates and neighbors.
Your post is the first time I have ever seen it referred to as VPI.

NP, who has never lived in Virginia and has only the slightest notion of your higher ed options.

Internal branding/style guide:

https://brand.vt.edu/communications/university-style-guide.html

About Our Name
Our official name is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University but "Virginia Tech" is used in all but formal occasions. Virginia Tech is used in news releases, feature articles, academic journals, and publications and on the Web.

When using the full name of the university, never use an ampersand instead of "and." Never use VPI&SU, VPI and SU, VA Tech, Va. Tech, or Virginia Tech University. "Tech" is acceptable after a first reference to "Virginia Tech," but it should not be used repeatedly or solely. "VT" is acceptable only in limited, informal situations, such as a news headline or email subject line, where space is tight. Do not use "VT" in body copy, in titles of publications, on signs (if space permits), or in any "formal" publication.

"VPI," which was the university's acronym/nickname from 1896 to 1970, should be used only in historical contexts. The same is true for "VAMC," the university's acronym/nickname before 1896.

(emphasis added)

Admission Summary, 2023-24 First-Time in College
Domicile Applied Accepted Acceptance Rate Enrolled Yield Rate Rejected Rejection Rate
In-State 19,183 9,073 47% 4,416 49% 10,110 53%
OOS 28,118 17,931 64% 2,817 16% 10,187 36%

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCHEV test scores look similar but the GPA is higher on the engineering website. I'm also betting that engineering students are much less likely to go test optional but I don't have any data to back that up.

I thought it would be at least 1400

I'm super happy that I looked at the SCHEV data and was again reminded of Virginia Tech's 17% percentage point higher acceptance rate for OOS applicants. Even money grubbing Penn State doesn't have the nerve to accept OOS students at a higher rate than in-state.

Omg. Did not know this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCHEV test scores look similar but the GPA is higher on the engineering website. I'm also betting that engineering students are much less likely to go test optional but I don't have any data to back that up.

I thought it would be at least 1400

I'm super happy that I looked at the SCHEV data and was again reminded of Virginia Tech's 17% percentage point higher acceptance rate for OOS applicants. Even money grubbing Penn State doesn't have the nerve to accept OOS students at a higher rate than in-state.

Anonymous wrote:My son has a 1450 SAT (though will retake) and weak ECs. Good grades and will take rigorous courses in the IB.

What sort of colleges should we be looking at? I am a foreigner so don’t understand the system here well. Thanks for any advice!

RPI, RTI, WPI, and VT are all polytech colleges rather than liberal arts that suit your son's profile and they are great engineering programs and fewer liberal arts classes required for graduation (and most have school sponsored internship/externship programs which helps a lot).

Apply to UVA. They appreciate the rigor of IB. Anticipated 7 in HL Physics is impressive. Try again on the SAT, maybe with some tutoring on using online prep tools. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:The SCHEV test scores look similar but the GPA is higher on the engineering website. I'm also betting that engineering students are much less likely to go test optional but I don't have any data to back that up.

I thought it would be at least 1400

The SCHEV test scores look similar but the GPA is higher on the engineering website. I'm also betting that engineering students are much less likely to go test optional but I don't have any data to back that up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what was the math score?

I would also look beyond admission to getting through the major, to completion of the degree. Engineering is hard everywhere and may be harder to get through at top schools. Attending a top school is not necessary for success in engineering as a field of work.

Have some reaches on the list, but I would suggest focusing on not super-selective schools. Many of the suggestions above are good - if your kid wants a large public, there are many at various levels of selectivity that offer engineering. Same for mid-size privates - several lower-ranked ones offer engineering are a bit easier for admission than top schools - I'd look to these if the particular kid wants small class sizes.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

700 math. We were surprised as we thought he would do better.

I am not worried about him completing the degree. He has always had straight As in school and is completely self-motivated, we have never pushed him at all.





He is doing HL physics too and is predicted 7s in math and physics.

We can afford full pay if necessary (though merit aid would be nice).

He would prefer to be in a town or city rather than the middle of nowhere.

He has talked about doing aeronautical engineering- no idea why though. I haven’t noticed any particular interest in airplanes otherwise.

That 700 math is low. VT and UMD will be reachy. Aim lower. The lower the engineering program the slower paced the classes. If he has had no problem getting As in math with a 700 then his high school has significant grade inflation. Many engineering schools give Cs to almost half of the kids in first year engineering (calc physics chem ); go to a college where the 700 math puts him in the top 1/4 or at least top half.

According to the VT website:

Fall 2023 first-year student profile:

Average high school GPA is 4.26
Average SAT Math score is 689
Average SAT Reading score is 669
Total SAT average is 1358

So I am not sure why you would consider a score above the average as reachy, nor how you have any basis to claim his school suffers from grade inflation- he is doing the IB which is an international standardized test.

But thanks for your input.

Engineering students at VA Tech have higher scores than the rest of the school.

True, but the google machine is your friend. This looks pretty accurate according to VT. https://eng.vt.edu/about.html

Here is the link to Virginia Tech's engineering stats. This isn't that hard.

If these really are the engineering statistics, they are literally identical to the university wide VT statistics on SCHEV.

(and therefore the engineering students have higher scores idea would be false)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what was the math score?

I would also look beyond admission to getting through the major, to completion of the degree. Engineering is hard everywhere and may be harder to get through at top schools. Attending a top school is not necessary for success in engineering as a field of work.

Have some reaches on the list, but I would suggest focusing on not super-selective schools. Many of the suggestions above are good - if your kid wants a large public, there are many at various levels of selectivity that offer engineering. Same for mid-size privates - several lower-ranked ones offer engineering are a bit easier for admission than top schools - I'd look to these if the particular kid wants small class sizes.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

700 math. We were surprised as we thought he would do better.

I am not worried about him completing the degree. He has always had straight As in school and is completely self-motivated, we have never pushed him at all.





He is doing HL physics too and is predicted 7s in math and physics.

We can afford full pay if necessary (though merit aid would be nice).

He would prefer to be in a town or city rather than the middle of nowhere.

He has talked about doing aeronautical engineering- no idea why though. I haven’t noticed any particular interest in airplanes otherwise.

That 700 math is low. VT and UMD will be reachy. Aim lower. The lower the engineering program the slower paced the classes. If he has had no problem getting As in math with a 700 then his high school has significant grade inflation. Many engineering schools give Cs to almost half of the kids in first year engineering (calc physics chem ); go to a college where the 700 math puts him in the top 1/4 or at least top half.

According to the VT website:

Fall 2023 first-year student profile:

Average high school GPA is 4.26
Average SAT Math score is 689
Average SAT Reading score is 669
Total SAT average is 1358

So I am not sure why you would consider a score above the average as reachy, nor how you have any basis to claim his school suffers from grade inflation- he is doing the IB which is an international standardized test.

But thanks for your input.

Engineering students at VA Tech have higher scores than the rest of the school.

True, but the google machine is your friend. This looks pretty accurate according to VT. https://eng.vt.edu/about.html

Here is the link to Virginia Tech's engineering stats. This isn't that hard.

If these really are the engineering statistics, they are literally identical to the university wide VT statistics on SCHEV.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what was the math score?

I would also look beyond admission to getting through the major, to completion of the degree. Engineering is hard everywhere and may be harder to get through at top schools. Attending a top school is not necessary for success in engineering as a field of work.

Have some reaches on the list, but I would suggest focusing on not super-selective schools. Many of the suggestions above are good - if your kid wants a large public, there are many at various levels of selectivity that offer engineering. Same for mid-size privates - several lower-ranked ones offer engineering are a bit easier for admission than top schools - I'd look to these if the particular kid wants small class sizes.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

700 math. We were surprised as we thought he would do better.

I am not worried about him completing the degree. He has always had straight As in school and is completely self-motivated, we have never pushed him at all.





He is doing HL physics too and is predicted 7s in math and physics.

We can afford full pay if necessary (though merit aid would be nice).

He would prefer to be in a town or city rather than the middle of nowhere.

He has talked about doing aeronautical engineering- no idea why though. I haven’t noticed any particular interest in airplanes otherwise.

That 700 math is low. VT and UMD will be reachy. Aim lower. The lower the engineering program the slower paced the classes. If he has had no problem getting As in math with a 700 then his high school has significant grade inflation. Many engineering schools give Cs to almost half of the kids in first year engineering (calc physics chem ); go to a college where the 700 math puts him in the top 1/4 or at least top half.

According to the VT website:

Fall 2023 first-year student profile:

Average high school GPA is 4.26
Average SAT Math score is 689
Average SAT Reading score is 669
Total SAT average is 1358

So I am not sure why you would consider a score above the average as reachy, nor how you have any basis to claim his school suffers from grade inflation- he is doing the IB which is an international standardized test.

But thanks for your input.

Engineering students at VA Tech have higher scores than the rest of the school.

True, but the google machine is your friend. This looks pretty accurate according to VT. https://eng.vt.edu/about.html

Here is the link to Virginia Tech's engineering stats. This isn't that hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what was the math score?

I would also look beyond admission to getting through the major, to completion of the degree. Engineering is hard everywhere and may be harder to get through at top schools. Attending a top school is not necessary for success in engineering as a field of work.

Have some reaches on the list, but I would suggest focusing on not super-selective schools. Many of the suggestions above are good - if your kid wants a large public, there are many at various levels of selectivity that offer engineering. Same for mid-size privates - several lower-ranked ones offer engineering are a bit easier for admission than top schools - I'd look to these if the particular kid wants small class sizes.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

700 math. We were surprised as we thought he would do better.

I am not worried about him completing the degree. He has always had straight As in school and is completely self-motivated, we have never pushed him at all.

He is doing HL physics too and is predicted 7s in math and physics.

We can afford full pay if necessary (though merit aid would be nice).

He would prefer to be in a town or city rather than the middle of nowhere.

He has talked about doing aeronautical engineering- no idea why though. I haven’t noticed any particular interest in airplanes otherwise.

That 700 math is low. VT and UMD will be reachy. Aim lower. The lower the engineering program the slower paced the classes. If he has had no problem getting As in math with a 700 then his high school has significant grade inflation. Many engineering schools give Cs to almost half of the kids in first year engineering (calc physics chem ); go to a college where the 700 math puts him in the top 1/4 or at least top half.

According to the VT website:

Fall 2023 first-year student profile:

Average high school GPA is 4.26
Average SAT Math score is 689
Average SAT Reading score is 669
Total SAT average is 1358

So I am not sure why you would consider a score above the average as reachy, nor how you have any basis to claim his school suffers from grade inflation- he is doing the IB which is an international standardized test.

But thanks for your input.

That is VA Tech Overall. Go find the Engineering scores and it's much more competitive (and much higher scores).

No, I quoted the scores for engineering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what was the math score?

I would also look beyond admission to getting through the major, to completion of the degree. Engineering is hard everywhere and may be harder to get through at top schools. Attending a top school is not necessary for success in engineering as a field of work.

Have some reaches on the list, but I would suggest focusing on not super-selective schools. Many of the suggestions above are good - if your kid wants a large public, there are many at various levels of selectivity that offer engineering. Same for mid-size privates - several lower-ranked ones offer engineering are a bit easier for admission than top schools - I'd look to these if the particular kid wants small class sizes.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

700 math. We were surprised as we thought he would do better.

I am not worried about him completing the degree. He has always had straight As in school and is completely self-motivated, we have never pushed him at all.

He is doing HL physics too and is predicted 7s in math and physics.

We can afford full pay if necessary (though merit aid would be nice).

He would prefer to be in a town or city rather than the middle of nowhere.

He has talked about doing aeronautical engineering- no idea why though. I haven’t noticed any particular interest in airplanes otherwise.

That 700 math is low. VT and UMD will be reachy. Aim lower. The lower the engineering program the slower paced the classes. If he has had no problem getting As in math with a 700 then his high school has significant grade inflation. Many engineering schools give Cs to almost half of the kids in first year engineering (calc physics chem ); go to a college where the 700 math puts him in the top 1/4 or at least top half.

According to the VT website:

Fall 2023 first-year student profile:

Average high school GPA is 4.26
Average SAT Math score is 689
Average SAT Reading score is 669
Total SAT average is 1358

So I am not sure why you would consider a score above the average as reachy, nor how you have any basis to claim his school suffers from grade inflation- he is doing the IB which is an international standardized test.

But thanks for your input.

That is VA Tech Overall. Go find the Engineering scores and it's much more competitive (and much higher scores).

Where is this data?