If admission is uncertain, which appears to be the case even for high stats kids, then it cannot be a safety, at least by my definition. I’d put it as a target for kids with stats at or above range.
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I think for VA kids it’s not a safety school. Perhaps for out of state in certain majors willing to pay the full cost it is. Pretty sure the balance is supposed to be at least 65% in state so nowhere near NC. Unfortunately for certain areas of VA especially for engineering and business majors, there are many more very qualified kids than spaces available because VT has to admit throughout the entire state. If you look at the schev data, accepted percentages are similar throughout the state so top stat kids in some areas will be waitlisted.
We’ve been fortunate to receive scholarships around $4-5,000 a year starting in sophomore year after receiving $0 as a freshman and are in state. Think the key is to complete the yearly scholarship application and any other listed ones with separate applications. Apply to everything you qualify for. Also complete the FAFSA even if you don’t qualify for need-based aid. Jobs on campus pay well and have been relatively easy to get including major related positions like the maker spaces and TA and research positions (paid and for credit). Have been pleasantly surprised given the size of the school.
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Guess I need to change my username to VTByTuitionx2. Lol. Younger DD admitted into Engineering. In state. 3.8uw/4.3w. 1460 SAT. NMSF. Usual 4 year varsity sport athlete, part time job, NHS, etc. ECs. She did attend the C-TECH^2 engineering camp this past summer and her team won 2nd place in the design contest. I do believe attending this camp helped. We are thrilled! She has a number of options, but unless she is accepted to GT or UMD this coming week (very unlikely for both) she will probably join her older sister in Blacksburg. Let’s go!
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Sounds like the individual’s problem, not the school’s problem.
College is a commodity. But too many think otherwise. A Target purse and Coach purse all carry things.
Colleges are businesses. Usually when people shop, they research - a car, television - even where to eat. Those who can’t afford Flemings know to go to Outback.
College is often a 6 figure expense. Shame on the families, not the schools, if you want to look at it from the perspective you provided.
Hmmm - beyond incorrect and that includes full pay OOS schools. This is what happens when you pick the flavor of the month.
Only for in state - near half. Out of state (14%) and international (12%) are quite low.
This is why my son did not apply to UMD, Penn State, UNC-CH, etc, and instead, he applied to our in-state schools (VA) in addition to some private OOS schools within our budget.
Best advice we got in this order - 1) Determine a budget); 2) Run those NPCs!; 3) Look at each school’s CDS; 4) Create a healthy list of likely safeties, safeties, targets, low-reach, reach based on academics AND financial affordability!!
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I was waitlisted aerospace out of state. 4.4 gpa, over a 1400 sat. Co founder of engineering non profit with grants and impact, founder of coding event for local community, 100 hrs volunteering at science center planetarium and space exhibit, president of programming club, vp of swe chapter, All-State musician for flute, drum major, internationally ranked dancer, ap scholar, so much more. Do we think I was waitlisted because of yield or are most applicants just better? VT was my number one
I think that question is best for your counselor. Review your essays with them.
Yield. It’s a business and I believe they all do it.
Maybe I’m missing something but I just don’t think yield protection is an issue at VT. I think it’s that there are unfortunately more high stat/EC etc students than they can admit based on dorms and not increasing the school size beyond what Blacksburg town really wants. There are plenty of NMF, valedictorian, multiple athletes, NASA interns and super volunteers walking around campus. There also needs to be a mix of kids that aren’t that and from all over the state of Virginia. If it was purely a formula, the entire class could probably be filled by NOVA alone. I think they do admit more out of state and international students than VA residents would like but that’s a financial and diversity of campus issue.
VT does not have ED and from what I’ve seen admits off the waitlist after 5/1 based on major space. They seem to waitlist a lot because they never know who will say yes before 5/1 and have in the past over admitted causing dorm issues.
There are many schools that have ED1 and 2 and then also offer from the waitlist before 5/1 confirming with the student before the offer is made to assure it will be accepted (Case Western and similar). That to me is yield protection.
Unfortunately many very deserving students won’t be accepted but as great as I think VT is, there are so many amazing colleges that will accept those that VT doesn’t.
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If it was, far more than 1/7 out of state admits would be enrolling.
That’s simply folks who didn’t get in not believing it - so coming up with a justification.
btw - while they found a reason not to admit someone, it doesn’t mean said student isn’t wonderful, with plenty of opportunities out there to be had and @Ash_c would get into many schools - and with great merit.
Obviously, engineering will have more apps - so a lower acceptance rate - and many also say that the Personal statements submitted through the Ut Prosim Profile carries significant weight.
Good luck to all - but yield management - clearly not.
Every school has to have yield management. Though I think the idea that they don’t admit a student because they are “too good” just isn’t true. There are no definitive statistics to support the idea despite it’s thrown around all the forums as a coping mechanism.
Admissions aren’t objective despite we all feel they should be. The essays play a major role. One only has to look at the order of importance of the CDS to see VT values the essays as much as GPA and more so than SAT. Other schools have their priorities which is why focusing the application ECs in order of importance before submitting is individual to the university. We reordered the ECs and made sure to concentrate on essays for schools who had them at “very important” vs considered or important.
Far too often I see on here and other socials a GPA and SAT with hands in the air from a deferral or rejection. As annoying as it is for some of the parents in here VT isn’t a number one choice for many in our HS but all apply as a target or safety. One national merit scholar was rejected as their only safety school. I’m am quite certain it was due to the essays as I’ve known the kid and parents since kindergarten.
There is a reason there are 5 essays with similar themes. Eventually the true personality will show through for better or worse. All the great stats in the world aren’t going to make up for a poor essay(s) in the mind of a admission officer or the AI reader if the applicant used AI to help write the essay or even polish it. If there is the smallest instance of AI in the essays I guarantee the entire app is rejected. Lastly, VT says they do not even read the CA essay. Think of the reasoning behind it.
Son accepted and put down the deposit on Friday. Got e-mail for creating username a few hours ago, and just signed the housing agreement.
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Did it ask your son to select top 3 housing preferences?
Top3 LLC, but we skipped that for now.
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Thanks for the heads up on the housing email. Completing today
My son is still deciding but I’m curious about the steps because I heard that it’s important to get in line for housing ASAP! Did your student sign a housing contract and is that contract binding?
Not a lawyer, but I think it is cancelable. From the contract:
Cancellation Before Occupancy Begins for First-Year Students and Transfer Students Students who accept the offer of admission and subsequently decide to withdraw should notify the Office of Admissions in writing by emailing appchange@vt.edu. Please refer to Admissions’ Application Policies, found at Application Policies | Virginia Tech , for refund policies. Transfer students who return a housing/dining contract cannot cancel their contract to move off campus.
Thank you! I just followed a trail and saw the housing contract and yes, it can be cancelled as well.
If I understand your correctly, the process is that you can select your Top 3 LLC and/or Residential College at the time of the housing application or you can return and select them at a later date?
Agree with all of your thinking, especially on the variety to make up a class, 1000%. And at every level, I think they have to consider yield to some degree protect themselves. Most all college counselors I have spoken to would agree (maybe that’s why I think it). VT definitely has the data to make smart decisions as they build out their classes. Last year, they began taking kids off WL in April. I have two friend’s sons this happened to, two different majors, very different academic profile. Glad they did this as one jumped on the opportunity before committing somewhere else (which he was very close to doing). I don’t believe VT makes sure they will accept before offer as you described CW doing… but I am sure there is a timeline. And I have heard the stories of the over enrollment in past years, and definitely need to avoid that! In the end, VT needs to admit a quality group of students, across all majors, have a good idea of the % that will enroll/major, and adjust from there by major if need be (a la - waitlist)! And they still have RD to analyze too, right? VT is a wonderful school, and students come out with a great degree and often more than one! (Love how VT is so very generous with AP credit too!).
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