Youngest daughter is 3-3 in early action college acceptances. Just waiting
on VT now. Looks like if VT rejects her she will be heading to JMU where she was accepted yesterday. I would be 100% fine with that - really enjoyed it there on our visit this fall. Her first choice is VT but despite really good SAT scores and only one grade less than an 'A' in high school her chances of getting accepted at VT aren't great.
The irony is that so many people live in NoVa because of the 'great schools' but that makes it significantly more difficult to get into the college you want under the quota system.
** Edited by vt90 at 1/24/2024, 8:13:23 AM
49 Replies
2y
(In response to this post by vt90)
A couple of questions…..
1. Did she take a lot of Honors/AP classes?
2. Does she good extracurriculars/athletics?
3. Has she had a job?
4. Does she have any unique skill/experience?
Side note, our HS college counselor says that girls have an easier route than boys when it comes to STEM majors. Apparently, colleges are trying to balance gender imbalance in STEM majors.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
1. Yes - she didn't kill herself with AP classes but she took several all 4 years.
2. Yes - she is in National Honor Society, was very active in the Drama department, ran track and cross country for one year, and most importantly, she has been part of the National Charity League since 7th grade and literally has hundreds of volunteer hours which I know VT values.
3. Yes - she is currently working for the county parks and rec
4. Other than National Charity League I don't think she has anything else particularly unique though she had a poem published which is why she applied to the Creative Writing major.
Agree on the STEM comment.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
With a 57% acceptance rate, it is shocking she hasn’t gotten in to VT….
I get the NOVA thing, but still…..She has great qualifications. You want the smartest and best qualified kids studying together in college.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
they unexpectedly did in December. Hopefully she gets in with the next round ... whenever that gets announced. I think if VT defers her she may just tell them to kiss her ass and go to JMU.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
2y
He like JMU, but he doesn't go to their football games. He does enjoy H-burg.
(In response to this post by vt90)
I’m going to be dealing with this for next couple of years….
So I definitely feel you. Good/bad news is that VT does not appear to be on my son’s college radar.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
steered her elsewhere after everything I have seen the past 6-7 years. However, both my brothers went to VT. My wife and I went to VT. Multiple nieces and nephews went to VT. My son went to VT. It is pretty much part of the family at this point.
However, as I have posted here many times, the current administration makes it REALLY hard for it to feel like 'home' these days. I quit donating to the academic side after my son's orientation and until some things change I will never give them another nickel. And last spring one of my neighbor's son was denied acceptance to VT Engineering. He literally missed one question on his SAT and he had a ridiculous GPA with tons of AP and college-level courses. He got into both MIT and Rensselaer and ended up choosing Rensselaer. This was before the SCOTUS decision and that is absolutely 100% the only reason he wasn't accepted. That was tough to deal with - the family is good friends of mine and know my history with VT. They are originally from Philadelphia and still don't really understand how he didn't get in. But I do. :)
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
Yeah….
Being white and male is like swimming with an anchor when it comes to college admission. I keep telling my son that all the little things are important and that he needs to play the long game to get a resume that stands out. Simply having straight “A”s and good test scores isn’t good enough. Need to check all the boxes and create a box or 2 that other applicants won’t have. All part of the “life’s not fair” lesson I guess. Best of luck to your daughter. Sounds like she is amazing girl with a very bright future wherever she goes. Cheers!
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
I’m gathering that you don’t believe the plaintiffs in the SCOTUS case
(In response to this post by AbsolutVT03)
2y
in this country have traditionally had (and continue to have) advantages in almost every aspect of society. Even if I agreed with your premise (which I don’t) it would still be vastly outweighed by all the other ways they are favored. And citing a Supreme Court ruling where the majority was made up of mostly white, mostly male justices doesn’t exactly make the point you think it does.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
Frankly my point isn’t debatable….It’s a stone cold fact….
You are arguing something completely different. As for the Supreme Court, are you really saying that white judges (Thomas aside) aren’t competent to rule on this issue? This discussion is doomed to be nuked so I wish you luck with your outlook. And will leave it at that.
(In response to this post by AbsolutVT03)
2y
good luck to him throughout his process.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
2y
accepted everywhere else she has applied (she also got the JMU acceptance yesterday) but is waiting on VT to make her actual decision. We were very annoyed at losing early decision because that's the direction she was going until they cancelled it.
VT has not been impressive throughout this application cycle. My older daughter is already there and had no issues whatsoever when she applied 2 years ago.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
crazy because other peer school that he has applied to have either already given him an acceptance or have posted when a decision will be available. For VT, there's no indication as to when a student can expect to hear.
To me, this is a big mistake by VT admissions. The earlier decisions by peer schools, along with all the merch and attention they give to an accepted applicant creates a little momentum and excitement.
My son has been a VT sports fan since he was a toddler and has been to the campus numerous times. If VT still had Early Decision, he would have applied that way. However, if he is eventually accepted, I actually don't think he will now ultimately choose VT.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
** Edited by Stork at 1/24/2024, 10:24:42 AM
(In response to this post by goodbadugly)
2y
now applying to VT is just checking a box. It's happening at a lot of schools. It's like shotgunning resumes on a job board.
(In response to this post by Stork)
2y
Every single one.
The common app is definitely driving it.
(In response to this post by Vienna_Hokie)
2y
But at least this year applicants had to complete four additional short essays. Not to mention pay a fee of like $75. That’s enough to turn off at least a few potential applicants.
(In response to this post by Vienna_Hokie)
2y
By prospective students that never plan to head to VT
(In response to this post by North Main Hokie)
2y
taking away one that was right in my daughter's wheelhouse and adding some to help them select the demographics they prefer.
(In response to this post by North Main Hokie)
2y
this is the 3rd year, off course the trend is up
(In response to this post by Stork)
2y
before the common app.
(In response to this post by Vienna_Hokie)
2y
On a pure metrics basis...yeah, things are rosey. But there's a lot with VT admissions that is simply broken right now and have the potential to cause some long term harm if they aren't addressed sooner rather than later.
(In response to this post by Stork)
2y
and the fixes are not difficult but I'm not sure VT Administration has any desire to fix them right now. The folks I spoke to in Admissions this summer were very frustrated with those in charge in Burruss but didn't seem to think any improvements were coming any time soon.
(In response to this post by vthokieq)
2y
My understanding is the former head of Admissions wasn't even in Burrus (or the state for that matter) for a few years. I don't believe she's with VT anymore...but not sure on her replacement or the drive there to fix things.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
more motivated to fix some of these issues. However, the feeling I am getting is that they prefer the status quo as long as the number of applicants continues to grow.
(In response to this post by vthokieq)
2y
They announced that Early Decision was ending less than a week before those applications were due. They gave no 'real' reason as to why that decision was made but most people know exactly why they did it. Then on December 21st they randomly announced that they were going to offer admission to a 'limited number of applicants'. So all the kids got there hopes up before Christmas and most were left disappointed. Now, as you say, almost all other schools have come out with their early action offers and VT hasn't even given a hint as to when it will happen.
Between a really crappy campus visit and everything listed above, VT has been a disaster in this cycle.
(In response to this post by goodbadugly)
JMU gave me the 'shaft' - mid-80s, but I got into Tech {obviously} ...
(In response to this post by vt90)
Best thing 'ever happen to me, kept me from being a mommas boy dork...
(In response to this post by MEHOKIE)
2y
May be too late but I've known a few to apply and get accepted in a low demand major, then porta...eh...transfer to the major they want.
If it is a real high demand major, grades in first semester must be excellent and it is not guaranteed - but a possibility.
Many, many years ago I actually transferred into engineering from, at the time, General Arts and Sciences - by the skin of my teeth.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
but I'm not sure the quota system applies by major. I know high school and county are both quota variables but not sure if major is a third axis or not.
She wants to do advertising but she applied to creative writing with 100% intent to change majors after her freshman year. She did get accepted into the advertising program at JMU and that is in the business school there.
(In response to this post by RTFC)
2y
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
Several Super Bowl commercials are created by Brand Center alums every year.
(In response to this post by Stork)
2y
(In response to this post by KeithHokie89)
2y
vibe of the school. She has been going to VT since she was in utero - it truly feels like 'home' to her. Her brother also went to VT and we have season tickets so she has probably been on campus 100 times or more in her first 18 years. She does like JMU as well so I don't think she will be terribly disappointed if that is where she ends up but it was always pretty much VT and three backup schools.
(In response to this post by Stork)
Similar major as my younger daughter
who is applying to VT for grad school rn. She got into VT for undergrad, but went in state to save out-of-state megabucks.
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
liked the major he switched to so much he stayed in it and now is gainfully employed doing it.
(In response to this post by vt90)
P
PWR2LZ
2y
semester. She applied early to Tech also, but wasn't accepted. Her guidance counselor suggested that if she really wanted to attend VT, she could go the community college route- which she did, but changed schools (VCU). She's happy, which is all that matters.
You're spot on w/the NoVa student population: those kids would have a better chance of getting accepted if they moved to Virginia's Eastern Shore (for example), and then applied. Geographic diversity.
For comparison- I graduated Lake Braddock in '81, with average grades & and average SATs. My class of 800+ students had over 100 of us get accepted. That definitely wouldn't happen today. Wish your daughter good luck- I hope she gets in!
** Edited by PWR2LZ at 1/24/2024, 8:44:59 AM
** Edited by PWR2LZ at 1/24/2024, 8:46:50 AM
(In response to this post by vt90)
2y
well laundry day if she chooses another school- neither of mine went to VT... and ya know....
(In response to this post by vt90)
So Early Action isn't binding to accept, it seems
unlike Early Decision, which I was at VT
(In response to this post by vt90)
You only could apply to 1 school that way
But Princeton was my back-up, not Harvard
(In response to this post by RhinoVT)
2y
(In response to this post by statmanfromHCyrs)
N
No Clue
2y
(In response to this post by vt90)
Going through the same
My son is really frustrated Tech eliminated Early Decision … all his close friends got their ED results and are in, while he’s awaiting a response from VT and no idea when it might arrive
(In response to this post by vt90)