NVCC transfer to V-Tech or UVA SEAS + Special circumstance

Selkhan
Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:45:35 +0000

Hello everyone.

I’d like to tell you about my concern that I have had for a long time.
This might sound stupid but I just wish to hear some advice from many other people.

I’m currently studying at Northern Virginia Community College and I’ll be transferring to a 4-year University by end of this Spring semester (2011).


I spent 2 years in Northern Virginia Community College and I will be earning Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering by May 2011.
I’ve completed 46 units and am currently taking rest of the units required for the degree (21 hour)
My current GPA is 3.19 (For 46 units): I have straight A for all my engineering courses.
I’ve applied for Virginia Tech and UVA SEAS.
I’m eligible to transfer to Virginia Tech under the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. (As long as I don’t bomb my last semester)
I’m NOT eligible to transfer to UVA under the agreement. (I know original students hate this agreement… I read a thread about the issue…)
Anyway, I applied UVA for competitive admission but my chance is very slim.
I expect my cumulative GPA to increase up to 3.4~3.5 by the completion of Spring Semester but I don’t think this is going to help me get admitted to UVA because I’ll hear from them BEFORE the grade for Spring semester is posted.
My younger brother is in UVA SEAS as a freshman and he really wishes I could come UVA SEAS. Also, my parents strongly want me to attend UVA if possoble.
I absolutely like Virginia Tech and I think Virginia Tech students are so much better than what I am now.
But I would choose UVA over V-Tech if I ever can (#8 is definitely one of the reasons why)


And let’s assume that I am admitted to V-Tech but NOT admitted to UVA.

Option1.

1. Transfer to V-Tech and Earn Bachelor’s degree in EE (maybe minor in Computer Engineering)


Go straight to work force or start studying for Master’s degree in Engineering.


Option2.


Choose to stay in CC for 1 more year and wait for next year’s admission season.
Boost up my GPA by retaking some low grade courses and some additional math courses like Differential Equation and Linear Algebra.
Next year, apply for UVA or maybe even better schools like UIUC (My very best friend is in UIUC for Computer Engineering)
See all my same-aged friends graduating University EVEN BEFORE I first get into University as a junior (this is the killer part)…
They’ll graduate in May 2012 and I’ll be a junior in September 2012…. I’m now 21 years old and I flunked out for a year at high school because I immigrated to U.S. when I was 18….


How much difference does one make just by going to one of the top undergrad schools?

Is ONE full year going to be worth if I spend that time to choose UVA or UIUC over Virginia Tech?

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Don’t get me wrong if I ever sound like throwing mud at VT. Virginia Tech’s engineering school rank is actually a little bit higher than UVA but I just have a special circumstance.

And I do understand the difference between V-Tech and UVA because I’ve searched over and over about it.
(http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/25193-engineering-uva-vs-virginia-tech.html)

Thanks for reading. Any comment would be appreciated.