Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

The press releases and statements show them trying to spin this as excitement over Amazon, but I really don't think that's a factor.

Anonymous wrote:The only kids at VT or JMU that had a 3.2 got in for some other compelling reason (ie athletics). No regular applicant is getting in with anything close to that. So, the other students worked hard and excelled at something (or overcame difficulties) that the “settling” student did not.

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

Yes, the Alexandria campus is (right now) supposed to be graduate studies. I hadn't thought about the surge of interest being related to Amazon, particularly because of the distance to Alexandria but I suppose it's possible. I thought it was due to parents having sticker shock and realizing what a great deal the in-state Va schools are.

As a parent of a graduating senior in northern va, it seems that the issue is simply that kids didn’t get into where they expected to. Kids that expected a top 20 had to settle for UVA, kids that wanted UVA had to settle for VT, and even some kids who wanted VT had to settle for JMU. Most of the kids we know that wanted WM got in. In addition, even in the last weeks of April, we knew some who let out of state hope go and chose VT specifically; some for rejection reasons and others when the merit and financial aid didn’t come through.

What a bummer to have to "settle" for schools like UVA, VT, and JMU.

Please don't say this out loud. There are students who are thrilled with schools that you probably deem inferior (GMU, VCU, CNU, etc) and they don't need to hear it. We have some pretty amazing options in Virginia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, great opportunity for some kids. Good for VT for coming up with a creative way of handling the situation.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

Yes, the Alexandria campus is (right now) supposed to be graduate studies. I hadn't thought about the surge of interest being related to Amazon, particularly because of the distance to Alexandria but I suppose it's possible. I thought it was due to parents having sticker shock and realizing what a great deal the in-state Va schools are.

As a parent of a graduating senior in northern va, it seems that the issue is simply that kids didn’t get into where they expected to. Kids that expected a top 20 had to settle for UVA, kids that wanted UVA had to settle for VT, and even some kids who wanted VT had to settle for JMU. Most of the kids we know that wanted WM got in. In addition, even in the last weeks of April, we knew some who let out of state hope go and chose VT specifically; some for rejection reasons and others when the merit and financial aid didn’t come through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

Yes, the Alexandria campus is (right now) supposed to be graduate studies. I hadn't thought about the surge of interest being related to Amazon, particularly because of the distance to Alexandria but I suppose it's possible. I thought it was due to parents having sticker shock and realizing what a great deal the in-state Va schools are.

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. I keep thinking this is what wait lists are for. Perhaps this is related to Amazon, but that campus is supposed to be for graduates, right? Amazon is looking to hire from all Virginia schools with the encouragement that they step up the number of graduates in relevant fields like CS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ I'm back. Here's the GMU recommended high school load. You can see it clearly states four years of math and indicates through calculus. That was the first question asked of DS when on tour for Game Design there: "Have you had calculus". The science, math, engineering and game design programs don't want to spend time reteaching students the fundamentals so they try to be clear about expectations. I think you'll find most elite colleges want to see "the most rigorous" courses taken in high school. https://catalog.gmu.edu/archives/2017-2018/admissions/undergraduate-policies/undergraduate-policies.pdf

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. My question is whether DS should push to get calculus done by Junior year (as another PP said that VT admissions told them they want to see it by junior year for engineering majors). DS will take calculus by senior year if he stays on his current track. But, he could jump forward by taking geometry in the summer and then be ready for calculus as a Junior. The question is how important is it for com sci majors.

If possible, try to get the calculus done with an A by end of junior year. That way the fact that he finished it and with an A will allow your son to apply EA, ED, SCEA to top schools early. He'll have the summer to prepare his essays and applications. Also consider doing it as a summer non-degree student at a community college or George Mason. One of our children did a summer course between junior and senior year to prove he could handle college science courses and to help prep for the Chem II subject matter test. If a college sees that your son has taken a college course and succeeded then they will feel confident that he can handle college life.

For comp. sci., most departments will want to see calculus completed with an A. If your child is planning on applying RD then the course will be done with a grade at the time of application but the entire game of college applications is moving to fall of senior year (UVA just added ED with applications due on Oct. 15th of senior year). Having now been through the college admissions cycle three times, I agree with the posters who say the real game of admissions is played out in SCEA, ED, EA. For my students, they generally got into their EA, ED, SCEA school choices but not in their RD schools. By the time your son is in the game, I think you'll see that you want him prepared to send in applications immediately beginning in fall. Also, some schools have rolling admissions. It's nice to get one acceptance very early on just to give your child a sense of peace that they have at least one school in hand.

That being said, and having been told by the heads of the computer science schools, game design programs and engineering that they really want to see it completed, your best bet for success at top programs is to get that calculus done by the end of junior year. We were told that at VT for engineering (not applicable if not engineering, hard math, science or computer-related fields), GMU and UVA. I don't see the college admissions process getting easier. I see it getting only more competitive as more full-pay internationals are brought in to keep the schools afloat. Also, if you are looking in-state, that is going to only get more competitive as well. Post back if you have further questions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's screw over the students we are suppose to be supporting via this tax-payer subsidized university....
VT is encouraging IN_STATE students to defer attendance yet welcomes nearly 4,000 international students (total across the years) with open arms.

How about the university gets its priorities in order and defers the admission of the international students?

Shame on you VT -

Anyone else see misplaced priorities?

Yes.

The international students are paying more and supporting Virginia students. From the last CDS 1703/5921 first-year students received need-based financial aid.

If you want VT to behave like an institution with a mission to serve primarily Virginia students, then tuition and/or tax dollars will need to be increased and go to higher education. The state is spending 30% less on higher education than it was in the 90s, adjusted for inflation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ I'm back. Here's the GMU recommended high school load. You can see it clearly states four years of math and indicates through calculus. That was the first question asked of DS when on tour for Game Design there: "Have you had calculus". The science, math, engineering and game design programs don't want to spend time reteaching students the fundamentals so they try to be clear about expectations. I think you'll find most elite colleges want to see "the most rigorous" courses taken in high school. https://catalog.gmu.edu/archives/2017-2018/admissions/undergraduate-policies/undergraduate-policies.pdf

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. My question is whether DS should push to get calculus done by Junior year (as another PP said that VT admissions told them they want to see it by junior year for engineering majors). DS will take calculus by senior year if he stays on his current track. But, he could jump forward by taking geometry in the summer and then be ready for calculus as a Junior. The question is how important is it for com sci majors.