<p>I’ll put in my two cents.</p>
<p>The UVA and VT engineering have very different program and it is hard to say which is better, but rather which one fits you better. UVA has more options and more flexible, allowing engineering students to branch out and become more rounded. The VT program is more technical like Gray said.</p>
<p>Having gone to a engineering school similar to VT and being in the industry for over 30 years, here is what I see: My school required a minimum of 148 credit to graduate (avg >18 credit per semester) leaves very little room for anything else. Unless you are into research and development, most people end up using less than 5% of what they learn (so why the intensive eng discipline?). Most of our skills are learn on the job. Many of the engineers move to different projects and cross disciplines after the first few years. I am a ME and did work in EE, controls, failure analysis; did design, project eng, construction, testing; now into financing. Within 10 -15 years, most are moved into leadership, supervisory or management positions. Therefore good communication skills are important. If you graduate with a good gps in engineering, if will not have problems with any entry level eng job. </p>
<p>Another issue is global competition. What industry/manufacturing is in the US today vs 20 years ago? Lots of routine design work has been farmed overseas. I talked to a professor at UVA in one of the open houses regarding this issue and how does UVA prepare their eng students. His response was something like: You have to be either the leader of the technology or you are in the position to manage overseas works from the US. I agree.</p>
<p>Mr. A I do not have an answer for comp eng either. But Carnegie Mellon is very strong.</p>
<p>BTW S is in 3rd year. Was originally interested in bme. Was accepted to both bme and systems. Decided on system and economics (either double major or minor in econ).</p>