@KDEGKDEG - I’ve posted it elsewhere, but want to repeat our VT story here for anyone reading. It can be surprisingly challenging for even in-state residents depending on, as you noted, major. My older son (current college sophomore) was one of those sort of surprising denials at VT, well, technically, waitlisted. Over 4.0 GPA (he only ever got A’s, took multiple APs in a fully rigorous HS course load), 1560 SAT, Eagle Scout, Co-Captain Varsity Crew Team, solid essays etc. He was applying to the engineering school, which I imagine was part of the problem, but for an in-state student, those credentials should’ve been enough. He got into every school he applied to except VT - WPI, RPI, Case Western, Lehigh, Pitt/Engineering. And good merit aid money from all but one of them, yet waitlisted at our in-state engineering school. He had plenty of STEM experience (three years of HS engineering classes including a capstone project, all honors and AP science classes, all honors and AP math classes) and was also well rounded (5 years Latin - including AP, full complement of English including two years of AP offerings, full complement of “social studies” incl three APs in history/gov’t/human geography) and fives on every AP exam but one. We did demonstrated interest - he toured as soon as the pandemic hold on tours was lifted, he did multiple online info sessions, including more than one for his Department and major. And he still got waitlisted. Kids from his school with lower stats got in. I’m going to assume that it was the selectivity of engineering, and the fact that the engineering department is the easiest way for VT to lure in out of state higher paying students. Still, it was a shocker for our family. He loves WPI and is really happy there, but even with the merit aid that WPI gave it’s a little more than $25k a year above what we would have paid for VT.
1 Like