I agree with VT as no. 1, especially if you are a Virginian. It will hurt that you are coming from FCPS, however, because they get too many applications from there. Look at your particular school's Naviance chart and talk to your counselor. We toured VT last spring. I had no idea how impressive it was. It is DC's first choice even over an Ivy where he went to summer school and other very good choices like UVA. DC is a junior right now. Here's what we learned about Engineering at VT that may be of value to you, OP. First there is an open house at VT coming up on Sat. Oct. 18. During that open house, the engineering department will have some special events (if you intend to go, immediatetly book a hotel room - they may be all gone). However, the big Engineering department event is in Spring. We plan to attend that one. I don't remember the date but will look it up and post back. We toured on a regular tour day, not Open House (food was fantastic btw; VT gets ranked no. 1 or 2 for best food in nation frequently). At the admissions Q & A after we learned that VT has an ED (binding) application due in Nov. but the admissions counselor seemed to be advising against it. I later learned (confirm??) that only 5% of ED applicants get in - many are waitlisted because the admissions office wants to "see more", especially how first term senior year grades go. Others are rejected outright. Our family is a huge fan of the EA system because other child wanted UVA and only UVA so by going EA we saved ourselves the horror of spending most of Dec. and Jan. doing multiple applications to a dozen colleges. However, I got a sense that the ED opportunity - particularly for VT - was discouraged. BTW, when applying, you apply to the Engineering College and a second choice of College. I have read here that if you do not get into Engineerinig and take the second choice of college (there's an undecided college), you may wind up taking five years to complete the engineering degree because you will not be able to get into the Engineering 101 class. A VT grad has posted that here. I don't know if it's true, personally. The most difficult college to get into is Engineering, followed by architecture, fashion design and something else I can't remember. The remaining four are much easier. VT wants students who really want VT, not the particular college, so if you want to keep your options open, I guess regular application in January is the way go go (although I really would like to avoid that . . . . . with EA or ED). Maybe some VT grads can comment further. Be sure to check on that when you call or tour. Good luck! And don't discount GMU - it has a fantastic Engineering Department and their students get paid internships before even graduating with the tech companies on the Dulles Corridor. The Computer Sciences program is very very strong, too. Finally, there's also the excellent community college program with guaranteed admissions which will save you a boatload of money if your DD is a self-starter, which it sounds like she is.

Anonymous wrote:If your DC gets National AP Scholar as a junior, that's pretty significant.

If that's the case then yes. The poster said "AP Scholar", which is just scores of 3 or more on 3 exams. Even the AP Scholar with Distinction is 3 or higher on 5 exams (avg of 3.5) so not that hard to do by junior year and as noted not a very high bar.

If your DC gets National AP Scholar as a junior, that's pretty significant.

Anonymous wrote:Does "AP Scholar" mean anything on college application forms? I mean they can already see that his scores and which ones he took.

I don't think so. Plus my DC didn't get his National AP Scholar award (which requires something like 8 APs with scores of 4 and 5) until after senior year was over. Getting the earlier one, with distinction or whatever it is, is a pretty low bar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does "AP Scholar" mean anything on college application forms? I mean they can already see that his scores and which ones he took.

You should like it as an honor but it won't help much.

Sorry, I meant to say you should "list" it...

Anonymous wrote:Does "AP Scholar" mean anything on college application forms? I mean they can already see that his scores and which ones he took.

You should like it as an honor but it won't help much.

Anonymous wrote:Does "AP Scholar" mean anything on college application forms? I mean they can already see that his scores and which ones he took.

I don't know what "AP Scholar" means (and my child went to Langley) but, yes, the colleges and universities will look first to GPA and the DEPTH of coursework done, meaning the more AP courses the better, and then test scores at the same time. Only if they make that cut will the college or university open the file and start reading. The average application gets a 6 min. read by maybe 3 admissions folks. Tops. Sad but true. Harvard and Yale can't possibly read 35,000 applications - most of which are already self-selected, meaning only the top apply there to begin with. Personally, I think they throw them down the stairs and the 3% that land on their edge get in. The other 3% are legacies, URMs, and athletes. It's a bruising system now compared to what most of us went through.

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Anonymous wrote:A "3.5ish" does not make her a "shoo in" for any of these colleges. Her other credentials make her competitive, but none of these schools are safeties for a kid from most Fairfax County Public High Schools.

C'mon. 2012 acceptance rate 70%.

You wouldn't believe the Naviance data. Kids from McLean high schools anyway average a 4.0 to get into Va Tech. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't lived through it twice in recent years.

This is correct. It's tough to get into any of the VA state schools coming from Langley or McLean. DS had a solid 3.5 and extraordinary activities and a 32 cum. ACT and squeezed into GMU. It's not what it used to be.

Maybe a 3.5 isn't what it used to be...I have no idea.

It isn't. I had a 4.0 when I applied to college and got in everywhere. Different age and different grade structure. Fairfax county has grades up to at least 4.6. Some school districts even go to 6.0. We've raised this issue with DS's private because his school only goes to 4.0. The school sends a cover letter with each student application explaining the student body, where your child places (if near top) and the fact that the GPA system stops at 4.0 or goes beyond it to accommodate AP courses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely not overlook Illinois and its excellent engineering program.

But zero financial aid.....

and if OP gets into a state school, tuition is @ $10,000 compared to $65,000 (all bells and whistles but not airfare included) for my stupid SLAC. - GMU dad

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A "3.5ish" does not make her a "shoo in" for any of these colleges. Her other credentials make her competitive, but none of these schools are safeties for a kid from most Fairfax County Public High Schools.

C'mon. 2012 acceptance rate 70%.

You wouldn't believe the Naviance data. Kids from McLean high schools anyway average a 4.0 to get into Va Tech. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't lived through it twice in recent years.

This is correct. It's tough to get into any of the VA state schools coming from Langley or McLean. DS had a solid 3.5 and extraordinary activities and a 32 cum. ACT and squeezed into GMU. It's not what it used to be.

Maybe a 3.5 isn't what it used to be...I have no idea.

Does "AP Scholar" mean anything on college application forms? I mean they can already see that his scores and which ones he took.

GMU is not safety, it is actually not that easy to get into anymore. Mary Washington or VCU would be a safety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A "3.5ish" does not make her a "shoo in" for any of these colleges. Her other credentials make her competitive, but none of these schools are safeties for a kid from most Fairfax County Public High Schools.

C'mon. 2012 acceptance rate 70%.

You wouldn't believe the Naviance data. Kids from McLean high schools anyway average a 4.0 to get into Va Tech. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't lived through it twice in recent years.

This is correct. It's tough to get into any of the VA state schools coming from Langley or McLean. DS had a solid 3.5 and extraordinary activities and a 32 cum. ACT and squeezed into GMU. It's not what it used to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A "3.5ish" does not make her a "shoo in" for any of these colleges. Her other credentials make her competitive, but none of these schools are safeties for a kid from most Fairfax County Public High Schools.

C'mon. 2012 acceptance rate 70%.

No, it's much lower. And MUCH lower for NoVA kids. You cannot compare school admittance scores for VA in-state schools and assume that those figures apply to NoVA kids. It's a very unfair system and means that many NoVA kids don't even bother applying to UVA because the competition is too stiff, even though they have all the Naviance grades and scores. The U of VA system wants state-wide, national and international diversity. The NoVA gets get screwed.

Anonymous wrote:For computer or electrical engineering, between GWU and VaTech, which one is better (not considering the cost)?

VT by a long shot. But she will have to apply directly to the school of engineer (you apply directly to one school and supply a second choice - engineering is the hardest to get into). At Langley a min. of 3.5 is needed to get into GMU, btw. Higher for VT. It's very difficult for NoVa gets to get into the U of VA system.