FAQs
Below is a list of our most frequently asked questions. With each answer, we have provided a link to a Web page that will give you even more information. If after reading this information, you have more questions, feel free to contact us at askengineering@vcu.edu.
Q. What is the enrollment at VCU School of Engineering?
A. Approximately 1,000 undergraduates are enrolled and about 100 full-time graduate students. Refer to our Facts and Figures page for more information.
Q. How many students comprise the freshman class each fall?
A. Approximately 300 new students arrive at the VCU School of Engineering each fall.
Q. How many students are in each discipline?
A. Approximate numbers for each discipline are as follows — Computer Science 225, Chemical Engineering 100, Biomedical Engineering 160, Electrical and Computer Engineering 200, Mechanical Engineering 280.
Q. What is the ethnic makeup of the School of Engineering?
A. The student body is quite diverse. The student body resembles that of society in general and is a strong point as mentioned frequently by hiring managers and human resource professionals recruiting for engineers and computer scientists. The student body is 48 percent non-white, and approximately 18 percent female.
Q. What degrees are offered at the VCU School of Engineering?
A. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering; Master of Science in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering; Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Engineering. Refer to our Programs page for links to the individual program sites.
Q. What is the history of the school?
A. The first classes offered at the VCU School of Engineering occurred in the fall of 1996. The founding class of undergraduates (approximately 97) graduated in May of 2000. Refer to our History page for more details.
Q. How do I apply?
A. All applicants must complete an application package as requested. Be sure to request one of the engineering majors or computer science. Once reviewed by the university admissions office, your application will come to the VCU School of Engineering for review and discussion by engineering staff and faculty. Refer to the university’s Prospective Students page for links to the undergraduate, graduate and international admission offices’ pages.
Q. I am a foreign student and completed my preparatory classes overseas.
A. Am I able to apply to the School of Engineering? Certainly. Apply as an international student on the VCU application. You should submit your application through the Office of International Admissions. We will then work with that office to review your preparatory course work overseas for applicability and relevance to the college course work at the School of Engineering.
Q. I am a transfer student from another college-level institution. How do I apply to the School of Engineering?
A. Apply via the standard university process. See the Transfer Guide online for details. Be sure to apply as a transfer student and provide all transcripts, including grades and dates completed. For all courses required by your computer science or engineering major for which you expect transfer credit, provide a course description and syllabus for each course.
Q. What is the deadline for application?
A. For general undergraduate admission to the School of Engineering, applicants should submit materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by Feb. 1. For scholarship consideration, all materials should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by Jan. 1. For admission to one of the graduate programs, applicants should refer to the Graduate School Web page.
Q. How do I apply for university scholarships?
A. Applicants to the School of Engineering are required to submit an essay. This essay doubles as the essay required for scholarship eligibility. Therefore, you are automatically eligible for university-sponsored merit scholarships upon acceptance into the university and the School of Engineering. No further application or effort is required for these merit-based scholarships. You must, however, follow the deadlines requested by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Q. What academic parameters and scores are viewed favorably for admission to the School of Engineering?
A. A strong high school regiment of college preparatory courses is required for success in engineering and computer science at the college level. These classes would include advanced mathematics (trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus), physics, computer programming, chemistry and biology. Honors classes, advanced placement courses, dual enrollment or IB courses in English, government, science, history, and engineering are viewed favorably. High school GPAs of 3.3 or higher are expected; 3.7 or higher are preferred. SAT scores above 1140 are expected; scores above 1260 would be considered outstanding. The average SAT for incoming freshmen is approximately 1230 and is increasing yearly. Students finishing in the top 10 to 20 percent of their high school class are reviewed favorably. Those graduating in the top 5 percent of class would be considered outstanding. Extracurricular activities, especially those centered on science, computers, engineering and technology are viewed favorably. Typical clubs or activities of special interest include Science Clubs, FIRST Robotics Competition, computer programming contests, Virginia Academy of Science, etc.
Q. What opportunities exist to tour and visit the VCU School of Engineering?
A. Two Open Houses are offered in each fall and an Open House in the springtime. A Block Party for all accepted students is held in April of each year. Refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for specific dates of these events. If you are unable to attend one of these events, look for us in your area.
Q. May I call and request a tour and visit outside the events listed above?
A. We are honored for potential students and their family/parents to visit with us. Please call Rodney Hall, coordinator of student recruiting for the VCU School of Engineering, at (804) 827-7028 to schedule a tour and visit. Possible activities for your visit include a review of the degree programs, visit an actual college classroom in session, tour an instructional laboratory, meet with faculty, and meet with current students.
Q. What are some of my options after earning my bachelor’s degree?
A. Graduates are in high demand in a wide range of post-baccalaureate activities, whether it be work or further education. Graduates go on to graduate schools in engineering, computer science, dental school, medical school, business and law. Graduates choosing to go to work immediately find challenging, high-paying jobs in the fields of computer programming, network development, engineering design, manufacturing, technical sales and marketing, chip design and manufacturing, technical business development, etc. Companies such as Infineon, Philip Morris USA, Dominion Virginia Power, Alstom Power, Motorola, Capital One, Circuit City, IBM, McDonnell Douglas, Medtronics, Northrop Grumman-Newport News, Dupont, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell actively recruit our graduates. Graduates also find challenging employment in a variety of state and federal organizations, including NASA, CIA, DEQ, Naval Surface Weapons Center, VDOT, etc.
Q. What is the tuition and fee rate?
A. VCU and, thus, the School of Engineering is a state-supported institution. Rates vary for resident and non-resident students. Please refer to the Student Accounting Department’s Web site.
Q. How can I contact the University Admissions Office?
A. The admissions office is located at 821 West Franklin Street. The telephone number is (800) 841-3638.
Q. How can I contact the School of Engineering?
A. Feel free to call Ms. Pricilla Wallace, undergraduate counselor, at (804) 828-3647 or (800) 863-0349.
Q. Explain the general education program for engineering and computer science majors.
A. VCU supports a university-wide general education program for all of its majors. The School of Engineering enthusiastically supports this initiative and has an approved general education program in place. It is explained in detail in the School of Engineering chapter in the Undergraduate Bulletin and covers areas such as science, quantity and form, interdependence, social sciences, ethics, etc. The general education requirements for computer scientists are slightly different than those for engineering majors. Again, these differences are described in detail in the Undergraduate Bulletin under the Computer Science section of the School of Engineering chapter.
