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Virginia Tech (@students, alumns)

timosyy

timosyy

Golden Member
I was accepted to BIT (Business Information Technology) as a transfer for fall at Virginia Tech. I'm also applying to UVA, however, I don't believe my chances are that great for McIntire, which would leave it to BIT at VT vs. Economics at UVA.

Why should I go to Virginia Tech? Anyone have any stories about BIT (personal or from friends?)? I feel like it'd be fine (more practical than "Economics" anyways) and I'd be happy there, but my parents (I'm asian, parents have a big say no matter how old you are) are strongly pushing for UVA, largely because of the name.

Also, if I went to BIT at VT, I'd probably be looking at Darden (UVA) as one of my choices for eventual MBA.
 
I work up in NoVA and a good number of the people we hire out of college are from the VT BIT program. Along with the JMU CIS program (pretty similar curriculum).
 
Originally posted by: kstu
I work up in NoVA and a good number of the people we hire out of college are from the VT BIT program. Along with the JMU CIS program (pretty similar curriculum).
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What kind of work, consulting? I just feel that BIT has more real-world application than "Economics", but I'm not sure where that lands me as far as job prospects or eventual path to MBA.
 
Don't let your parents influence your decision too heavily man. You've gotta grow up sometime, it's not like they'll be telling you what job to take. I understand it could be hard though if you're depending on them for financial help.
 
Originally posted by: aplefka
Don't let your parents influence your decision too heavily man. You've gotta grow up sometime, it's not like they'll be telling you what job to take. I understand it could be hard though if you're depending on them for financial help.
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I am (depending on them for financial support), but its also an asian cultural thing... we have a pretty deeply entrenched social hierarchy.
 
Originally posted by: timosyy
I was accepted to BIT (Business Information Technology) as a transfer for fall at Virginia Tech. I'm also applying to UVA, however, I don't believe my chances are that great for McIntire, which would leave it to BIT at VT vs. Economics at UVA.

Why should I go to Virginia Tech? Anyone have any stories about BIT (personal or from friends?)? I feel like it'd be fine (more practical than "Economics" anyways) and I'd be happy there, but my parents (I'm asian, parents have a big say no matter how old you are) are strongly pushing for UVA, largely because of the name.

Also, if I went to BIT at VT, I'd probably be looking at Darden (UVA) as one of my choices for eventual MBA.
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Economics at UVA is a big deal. I'd do that.

Full Disclosure: I did Economics at James Madison.

EDIT: If BIT @ VT is similar to CIS @ JMU, realize that you're going to come out heavy on the business side (CIS is a BBA degree at JMU). I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I was a BBA, but it's going to put you on a consulting path where you'll have to pick up at least the high level IT knowledge on the job. It's a solid path, though. I switched out of CIS due to boredom, but my friends who graduated from that program are all seemingly happy and doing well enough.
 
Originally posted by: aplefka
Don't let your parents influence your decision too heavily man. You've gotta grow up sometime, it's not like they'll be telling you what job to take. I understand it could be hard though if you're depending on them for financial help.
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They probably will tell him what job to take.
 
Originally posted by: AliasX
Originally posted by: aplefka
Don't let your parents influence your decision too heavily man. You've gotta grow up sometime, it's not like they'll be telling you what job to take. I understand it could be hard though if you're depending on them for financial help.
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They probably will tell him what job to take.
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I know a few Asian kids in college right now that are doing bio because their parents told them to and they are completely miserable. One of them is even suicidal. But they said that defying their parent's would make them even more miserable. It's kind of sad.
 
I go to VT but as a Building Construction student. From what I've heard from people who currently are in BIT, it's some hard work but the program itself is really good (I think there are rankings out there to support that). I have no idea about the UVA program. As a college pick however I would definitely recommend VT since the experience in general is great. Beautiful country, football games are awesome, campus is great, and of course the girls on the vast majority are two thumbs up.
 
Originally posted by: timosyy
Originally posted by: aplefka
Don't let your parents influence your decision too heavily man. You've gotta grow up sometime, it's not like they'll be telling you what job to take. I understand it could be hard though if you're depending on them for financial help.
Click to expand...

I am (depending on them for financial support), but its also an asian cultural thing... we have a pretty deeply entrenched social hierarchy.
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I'm aware and empathetic of that, but statements like

Originally posted by: AliasX
They probably will tell him what job to take.
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make me say that this is the United States, not China, and there's probably multiple reasons for that, at least one of which involves more choices/freedoms.
 
In the end, I will be the one deciding where to go. I'm leaning toward BIT @ VT though, and wondering if people (thought we had quite a few VT people here) could chime in on whether that was a good or bad idea vs. Economics at UVA.
 
I had a grad student buddy that went to VT for undergrad... My understanding is that Blacksburg is one hell of a college town...

don't know if that helps...
 
Originally posted by: timosyy
In the end, I will be the one deciding where to go. I'm leaning toward BIT @ VT though, and wondering if people (thought we had quite a few VT people here) could chime in on whether that was a good or bad idea vs. Economics at UVA.
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What do you want to be after graduation?

BIT will probably lead towards a technical consulting role if your grades are good. The pay is good, but VT has less" prestige" in the name than UVA.

Economics will be a degree from UVA, which never hurts, and will lead towards a career in financial services and data analytics (quantitative roles in other disciplines like marketing too). In Economics, there are really two paths you can go, the social theory side or the quantitative side. If you take econometrics and the pure maths behind it and do well, you will be sought after to crunch numbers (and those jobs pay well).

In the end, take the one that will lead to a career you think you'll be happy doing. I have an econ BBA, almost to a law degree, and a whole lot of professional IT experience. I'm marketable in all 3 areas, but I've chosen consulting for the time being. I guess what I'm saying is, if you already have a decent tech background, you could always do economics to diversify.

EDIT: Are you in high school right now or a first year transfer?
 
2nd year transfer (have all of the first & second year prereqs/classes done though). Used to be in engineering (computer), transferred back in-state to get an associates in business at local community college and now transferring back to an in-state school.
 
i am 2005 grad and i was a BIT major at VT when I first started. I switched out of the major becuase i could not handle the programing aspect of the course. i switch into the buisness managment major. and graduated with that and minor in buisness econ.

if you like that field and course work take that. it is the prolly the best buisness major at VT or at least was when i was there. but you also have to look at the experiance you will have at VT vs UVA. i cant really speak for the UVA experiance but going to VT and being there for 4 years was a great time. Best 4 years I have had and would recommend the school to anyone. both schools have great programs. but the atmophere at vt is top notch. everyone is nice the teachers are awesome for the most part. sorry i cant say anything about UVA never been there. but as far as my experiance at VT is was great. plus if you like football you will LOVE it.

 
I'm mainly just worried I'd be making some kind of huge mistake picking BIT & VT over Econ @ UVA. Need some reassurance that its a solid major with solid job prospects and relevant real-world skills. Wonder if this is something I'll look back at and regret later or not.

Then again, college is college, and I'm probably just overthinking it. UVA is just so hard to ignore with the name recognition.
 
Originally posted by: timosyy
I'm mainly just worried I'd be making some kind of huge mistake picking BIT & VT over Econ @ UVA. Need some reassurance that its a solid major with solid job prospects and relevant real-world skills. Wonder if this is something I'll look back at and regret later or not.

Then again, college is college, and I'm probably just overthinking it. UVA is just so hard to ignore with the name recognition.
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i dont think youll regret either major. jobs are about who you know 🙂
 
a quick search found this from aug 2007


Among undergraduate business programs, Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business is ranked 41st overall, along with six other schools, and 24th among those at public universities.

The Pamplin College's overall ranking keeps it among the top 10 percent of the 400-plus U.S. undergraduate programs accredited by AACSB International ? the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.


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its just going to come down to which school fits your personallity better. visit each and see which one you like better. thats all both are great schools and you will get a great education going to either. for me i fell in love with the campus at VT the first time i went there and made my mind up.
 
Originally posted by: timosyy
I'm mainly just worried I'd be making some kind of huge mistake picking BIT & VT over Econ @ UVA. Need some reassurance that its a solid major with solid job prospects and relevant real-world skills. Wonder if this is something I'll look back at and regret later or not.

Then again, college is college, and I'm probably just overthinking it. UVA is just so hard to ignore with the name recognition.
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Seriously man, which do you like being lectured on better? Econ and BIT are going to give you similar job prospects salary- and career-wise, but on vastly different paths. I'll ask again, what do you want/like to do?

Neither is a bad choice. Are you good at math? Then an econometrics/applied stats focus in the Econ major will give you great prospects. Are you technically-minded? Then BIT might be better for you.

But if you're accepted to both and money isn't an issue, UVA is a seriously great school and it looks good on a resume, if you hung w/ a good GPA there. If you're one of the folks whose GPA won't matter in terms of getting a job coming out, then go w/ your passion (and I don't mean connections, per se, I mean if you have a lot of experience doing something nobody's really going to care about the school/grades nearly as much).

Start with evaluating what you want to do. Then factor in the idea that you've gotten in to a prestigious school. Then think again about what you really want to do w/ your life, because that's all that matters. If you don't know, then take UVA, its one of the best schools out there, period.

Or transfer to JMU (where I went), have an awesome time, and if you got some good experience, no problem finding a career either 🙂

Seriously, if I were in your shoes, I'd never turn down the opportunity to study Economics at Virginia, but I love that field. If you don't, take the other program.
 
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