UVA systems is in the engineering department(as is Virginia Tech 's Industrial and Systems). You have to take the same initial math, science type courses the first year as anybody else in engineering. Another son is an Industrial and Systems Engineering grad at Virginia Tech. Also a great program and he is doing very well. Lots of opportunities with these majors. Research online, visit schools you are interested in. And pick a school, engineering program that is within budget. And you also may find you may be more interested in another type of engineering or another major altogether once you get to college. So, look at schools that seem like a good fit.