Transfer Chance from WVU, Rejected Last Year

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
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<p>Hello CC!</p>

<p>This is my first post, I have referenced some CC threads in the past and I have always found good information, so please don’t let me down now!</p>

<p>Here are my high school stats:
GPA 3.2 weighted, I don’t know what it was unweighted, but I only took two weighted classes (my parents wouldn’t let me take AP courses)
AP Test Scores: BC Calc 4 Physics 1 (I’ll explain this)
SAT: Math 620 Reading 610 Writing 570
ACT: Around 27, I don’t remember exactly
I’m in-state.
Extracurricular:
4-h Camp Counselor of the year '07,'08, '09.
Passed the NOCTI Electronics Technology Exam
Vice President of the 4-H Club 09-10
Treasurer of the 4-H Club 06-09</p>

<p>I was one of those kids that never really found an main interest in highschool, but I truly have developed into a great student. My Freshman year I got involved in some things that definitely wouldn’t been appropriate for a future college student.(I have no criminal record or anything of that sort, but I was distracted greatly from my studies) </p>

<p>Soph. year my grades picked up, from a 2.7 to a 2.9, and then junior year I earned a 3.2. Senior year I earned about a 3.9 weighted, and I really busted my ass to get good grades. I barely convinced my father to let me take AP Calculus (It was really one of the only classes I really enjoyed, and it made me want to pursue engineering). I actually am thinking about going for a CS degree with a Math minor, but that’s definitely not going to be at WVU.</p>

<p>Now I am an engineering major at West Virginia, and I am finding myself in the minority. Everyone here seems to have studying as a secondary focus, with partying and socializing the primary one. I am earning a 4.0 this semester, and I intend to earn another 4.0 next semester. I am taking 19 credit hours and I might take more to make a few personal goals.</p>

<p>As for my physics AP Score, my AP Physics teacher was straight out of retirement, and he didn’t expect to teach an AP course. We had one student from my class go to MIT, and he got the highest score of the class, a 3 on the AP test.</p>

<p>Sorry if that was a lot of text, but I feel that I had to make my case =].</p>

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<p>Hi-
I came across your post when I did a search on ‘WVU’. My son is also a freshman engineering student at WVU. His HS stats are almost exactly the same as yours. He is not really a partier, nor are most of his friends. They have fun, but study hard during the week. What dorm are you in? My son is in Braxton (primarily engineering students), and has met many bright, focused students. Are you in a different dorm? I’ve heard it can be tough for engineering students to find like minded friends in other dorms. In any case, there is a poster here on CC who goes by TheAnalyst who has one son at UVA in engineering (I think he just graduated) and one son at WVU. If you look up her posts you can find alot of info on both schools. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I just thought of one more piece of advice for you: If you really are one of the only ones studying, and if you reach your goal of maintaining a 4.0 (keep up the good work, there’s only been one round of tests so far) that puts you at a great advantage – there are many, many amazing opportunities for the cream of the crop engineering students at WVU. Stay where you can really rise to the top, rather than transfer to a place you may be middle of the road.</p>

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<p>I graduated from WVU, and I won’t deny that there is a strong party element there.</p>

<p>However, it’s a big school with lots of different people, not all partiers. I believe Stahlnecker (SP?) was a quiet dorm, if I remember correctly it was the honors dorm or something like that. </p>

<p>What exactly do you want to do after graduation?</p>

<p>Right now, WVU students (specifically engineers) are being recruited to work in the BOOMING natural gas/Marcellus Shale industry that will be the life blood of the PA/WV economy for the next few decades.</p>

<p>I can assure you that WVU alumni are heavily involved in this industry, both on the WV and PA side. Also, for whatever reason, this Oil & Gas industry just “feels” more WVU than it does other competing schools in the area such as Pitt (not knocking Pitt at all) and even CMU. I’m not saying WVU is better than those schools, just that the culture in these companies is a bit WV…pick up trucks, open land, men in the field, ect.</p>

<p>You have the Texas oil man culture, and the WV/Rural PA natural gas culture…kinda similiar attitude.</p>

<p>To be fair, I must also mention PSU, who has really taken the lead in this Marcellus Shale development. But then again, WVU and PSU have a few things in common.</p>

<p>Remember…this is OIL AND GAS. Which means big money. In fact, it’s one of the last big money industries left around. So before you transfer to UVA, think twice. A WVU engineering student graduating in the next few years is in a very good position when it comes to landing a good paying job in a very good industry.</p>

<p>Futurecollegemom, if you think this is something your son would be interested in let me know and I can give you some information. I worked in the field, then left to “pursue my dream”, now I’m fighting to get back in.</p>

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<p>Interesting post, BigEast. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering is not even on son’s radar, maybe I’ll do a little research on this industry. (One plus --PNGE is in-state tuition through Academic Common Market). I’ll have to remind him to pay close attention during the PNGE departmental presentation next week.</p>

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<p>Other good ones are environmental engineering and safety management/engineering.</p>

<p>I must say, strongly encourage your son to at least look into it. These companies have deep pockets (oil money) and aren’t afraid to spend it.</p>