I would guess that the VT data models know that kids with very high stats don’t yield - they have VT as a safety but end up enrolling somewhere else so they are trying to protect selectivity. All these schools have sophisticated data models to carve out their highest yield probabilities. Big data. (Especially if you use Common App - I’m still convinced they know where else you applied, even though they deny that.)
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I know VT is very involved with FRC and advises a couple of high school teams in the VA area. We see them at FRC competitions. We are in Maryland. On Collegevine, FRC is a recognized Extracurricular when chancing the applicant. My daughter also did a 2 week robotics camp in 9th grade at a company using Princeton University’s campus, a WPI’s 2 week camp in 10th and last year she took a virtual 3 credit course in Biomedical Engineering at John Hopkin’s University summer for high school students. She is in an IB program with limited STEM activities, so she needed to get her engineering experience outside of her high school program. The robotics’ team is a club rather than a class for credit. She and several other students on her robotics’ team also got jobs last year teaching robotics, AI and coding to elementary kids an I-code franchise.
Highly doubt having robotics experience is the reason kids are getting in or not getting in.
Kids get into top engineering schools regularly with zero robotics or engineering relevant experience.
Does VT give much merit money to OOS or is it the usual $5k-$10k that every school does?
My student got accepted but decisions have to be made and a lot of the schools in VT’s range are so similar that it comes down to price in the end.
We toured 15 schools over the last year that are in VTs size and scope. After a while I couldn’t remember which was which. They all feel the same to me but I’m not the one going so might be just my viewpoint.
I believe that is the range. my child25 was given $3k/yr
I just know what their stats show. Only 1/8 will get The average of $3283. Does that mean some get $1k and others $10k, I don’t know.
To me, the most like school to VT is Penn State - talking the campus etc.
if you are seeking low/lower cost, stat depending, there are definitely lower cost schools, even still taking apps.
Good luck
Where do you see that in the portal? Maybe we received zero.
Oh sorry… it came at a later date, separate email/letter
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Probably sometime in February? Because I know we were able to compare all the options + merit and make decision.
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I don’t know about VT. I just know that we have received between $5k and $10k of merit money from just about everywhere in VT’s range except PSU as they don’t give hardly anything to freshman. I look at it like buying a car. The price listed is never the price you pay.
I also think that is why PSU’s yield is so high vs other schools. OOS just balk at the price which is why they are closing 7 satellite campuses next year.
Ok, thank you.
Merit in general is the wrong thing to look at. For example, Florida, full cost, is likely less expensive than VT with merit. Alabama, for engineering, with strong stats (think 1420 SAT or 32 ACT - is gonna be $20-21kish for engineering, due to automerit.
Many publics - whether WVU, U Kansas, etc and more -you know the price in advance while others take a chance on schools with variable merit. With 7/8 kids not getting merit at all, one should assume VT will be full price and should have known that going in.
In general, expected costs are relatively easy to figure out before one applies.And in most cases, engineering programs, even those lesser known, are substitutional with others, assuming ABET accreditation. In other words, in the real world, Nochigan grads sit next to W Michigan grads. My son learned at trivia night at a bar in Utah that he made more than a Columbia grad.
So if you have a desired budget, you start there and ensure you have schools to meet that cost. That way you save from applying to schools you ultimately won’t consider. I’d assume the reason Va Tech’s yield is so low is that families don’t do their homework up front in regards to likely cost. And they choose to attend lower cost schools.
Problem is the system is idiotic. No one knows what is going to happen until after admissions decision. Everyone thinks their kid is great and might get a lot of merit money. It’s a dice roll at best so for $50 why not try. I can say I’m sick and tired of trying to navigate how dumb the college scam is but here I am plunking money down against my better judgement.
It’s supply and demand and as long as people are lined up to throw money around they are more than happy to keep raising prices. It appears we are at the cliffs edge however. Too late for this group but maybe younger siblings will have lower prices.
4 years of college was never meant to cost more than the price of a new car but then someone idiot in 2007 said everyone should be able to go to college and unfettered loans were handed out like water. Supply and demand always sets the price.
Additionally, people apply to several safety schools and VT might be it for them. Bottom line price, as you state, is unknown for safety school candidates. My student got a full ride at a few schools but not others. There was no way to know that until after admissions. People do their homework but no one can tell the future.
Apologize for the rant but when someone says I didn’t do homework for a school that isn’t worth half they charge, it tees me off.
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I think you missed the point - and it’s not to lecture you but for others who may be future applicants.
Whether or not the system is idiotic - and I don’t think it is, it’s quite easy to build a list. It has to start with budget.
The information is all there. Virginia Tech estimates out of state direct costs at $57,914 - plus they add fees for business ($2,550), engineering ($2K), construction ($2K), architecture ($1500) and Ag and Biochem ($750).
The CDS tells you merit will be slim to none (most likely none) - and the school doesn’t show any amounts, other than to say they don’t promise to meet need.
So sure, spend $50 - but if your budget is - let’s say $40K - you know up front, you have wasted $50 and time. James Madison, if you wanted to be in a major Virginia public - might be a better bet - or there’s 10, 20 other flagships or major regionals - where you could get there.
That’s why knowing your budget is #1, #2, and #3. For someone with a $40K budget and I don’t know yours - Virginia Tech should not have been applied to. So the system isn’t idiotic - the system has told you this up front.
Four years of college doesn’t cost more than a new car (which is right at $50K). One year of college does - in many cases.
I don’t know if you did your homework or not - because I don’t know your situation. But for families saying it’s too much and they’ll have to choose another - I would argue that yes, they didn’t do their homework.
As long as someone has an affordable and easy to get into school, then none of it matters - they can only go to one.
But when I read people say, I got in but it’s way over budget - then I wonder why they applied to begin with.
I hope people reading this for the future build a list based on budget. And if anyone is out there, and no schools have achieved their budget, they should create a match me. Those schools are likely out there.
Congrats on your kid’s full ride - and there was no shot intended at you specifically - as I don’t know your situation.
But for those expecting a big scholarship at Va Tech, the #s were there that it was never coming - and I’m not even sure if people know they are going to pay an extra fee for their major (not get a discount).
Good luck to all.
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Telling people they can’t do math to determine a bottom line price to make the apples to apple comparison is insulting.
Some kids are exceptional and receive merit money that far exceeds the norm. Additionally, VT spams everyone to apply for the various scholarships they offer.
Fact is no one knows what the bottom line is until after admissions is complete and that is why people apply.
I wrote to your original message that you just shortened.
I didn’t say they can’t do math. I said they can do the math up front - if they choose to - so they wouldn’t be in a position of getting an acceptance that never had a chance of achieving budget. It’s a guide for future folks reading this.
You said schools should state a fixed price. They do state the price. Then there’s merit aid.
For example, at Alabama, if you have a 3.5 and 32 ACT, you know you’re getting $28K. In engineering $30,500.
With a 28 ACT, you are getting $10,000.
So you know it’s the cost of attendance minus merit - many schools are similar with Mizzou, KU, WVU, Miss State, and more. You know exactly what your cost will be. Others do them through their NPCs.
A school like Va Tech is full pay + more for the major. They are not transparent with scholarship $$ so they are variable - but they provide info that says, few will get.
While I don’t disagree that a fixed price should be there, some schools are “buying” kids based on stats, to help improve their profile.
Many schools post merit - so you don’t need to dig into the CDS. But in the end, if someone wants to save time, they can take 5 minutes and determine if a school is realistic to their budget. Then they wouldn’t be in a situation like this. Yes, merit is often variable but it’s pretty clear that Va Tech gives to few and gives very little.
But again, as long as they have one affordable - well that’s all your are going to.
Anyway, best of luck to all.
Out-of-State Freshman Scholarships | Afford
First-time Freshman Scholarships | West Virginia University
KU Scholarships | Renewable Merit Awards for Freshmen & Transfers
You are absolutely correct. VT might and I emphasize might give OOS maybe 3k, that’s it. They are not known for merit, especially to freshman, people say it’s more likely in later years, I have yet to see that. I agree that I wish people who apply would look at the price and history of merit given. All these OOS kids get offers, the parents scream about cost (yes I see it, especially in the FB groups) then they don’t go and our in state kids don’t stand a chance. As an alumni, I am thankful my oldest currently attends and my daughter just got in, I have one more son who is younger but it gets harder and harder every year with the Common App existence.
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I wouldn’t be shocked that people don’t know how much school costs but every school is different and VT isn’t the top of everyone’s list. To spend the time having to dig through the website when it’s a safety school just isn’t happening for many people. People fixate on their favorites.
Unless they are attending an instate school it’s $60k per year no matter what you do. Obviously ivys and privates are higher. If people budget too low then simple things like traveling home, buying stuff for the dorm, etc become an issue when it should not be stressful.
VT’s yield is very high so I have a hard time believing VA students don’t stand a chance. FL, TX, GA all prioritize their kids. High achievers get free tuition and good students are guaranteed admission. People in VA should lobby their state electors to prioritize in state kids as they have in other states.
First of all, VT is not a safety school. It’s a top 20 public college in the nation. Sadly, our state doesn’t prioritize our kids, you can see it in the percent admitted. NC caps out of state at 18%, we don’t have that luxury in VA.
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It’s a fine school but for some kids it is a safety school.
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