Citadel Vs. VMI

J

JohnPaulJones

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Why is the acceptance rate at The Citadel 77% and the acceptance rate at VMI 44%. Is VMI just a more selective school? It seems to me that this suggests that VMI is the academically stronger school (with SAT's, GPA, class rank). Does anybody have any insight?
 
Hold off for a bit with the insights. I need to microwave some popcorn first.
 
I'll preface this with the fact that I absolutely hate when people are snarky and/or rude on this forum.

That being said, you seem like a really smart boy yet this is the third time you have posted a question regarding the merits of VMI over The Citadel. The last time your thread was locked due to the drama. I can only assume that you are completely bored today and that is the reason for your disingenuous "question."
 
It's probably just a numbers thing--The Citadel's freshman class is larger than VMI's, so it makes sense that VMI has to be more selective. There might be a little more that goes into it than that, but that's probably the basic reason. Colleges have to also take into account what the yield rate will be and all that. It's like that at all colleges. Acceptance rate doesn't necessarily= better school...college acceptance rates are based off of a lot of things.

(Basing this answer off of this: http://www.citadel.edu/root/class-2017-arrives-sat and this: http://www.vmi.edu/uploadedFiles/Admissions/Class_of_2015 Sheet1.pdf, so things have probably changed slightly for VMI since it's a couple years old.)
 
Thank you Melitzank. And no, I was not asking a stupid question. That was a completely logical question about military SMC's. I simply am gathering as much information as I can to make an informed decision. Is that not the purpose of this forum?
 
+1 Melitzank, agree that acceptance % is one stat along with matriculation % should be reviewed together. My DS has been working on some comparisons and so far has come up with incoming class profiles of:
VMI Citadel
Top 25% of H.S. Class: 45% 34%
GPA*: 3.5 3.5
SAT Verbal-Math 50%: 570-580 530-550
 
Citadel vs VMI

If your question is a serious one and interested in knowing where you would stand in applying to The Citadel, it is easy to keep track of incoming first year credentials at The Citadel as this information is public - and on its website Statistics are updated just about monthly. The current averages for the in-coming class GPA and SAT are: SAT: 1109 and GPA: 3.59. These are averages of course and scholarship award levels would be much higher.

Difficult to compare with VMI because VMI's Corps is much smaller than The Citadel Corps of Cadets. The Citadel Corps of Cadets is over 2,200 vs 1,500 for VMI. The Citadel also offers evening programs for non-Cadets, and has an evening program for the local community college students wishing to complete their degrees at night. It also admits a number of active duty military students who are selected for commissioning programs in the Navy and Marine Corps, and a few veteran students, including Cadets returning from active duty who do not wish to rejoin the Corps. Don't know if these applicants are also included in the averages. So the mix of undergraduates is a bit different.
 
Melitzank said:
It's probably just a numbers thing--The Citadel's freshman class is larger than VMI's, so it makes sense that VMI has to be more selective. There might be a little more that goes into it than that, but that's probably the basic reason. Colleges have to also take into account what the yield rate will be and all that. It's like that at all colleges. Acceptance rate doesn't necessarily= better school...college acceptance rates are based off of a lot of things.
Click to expand...

Excellent answer- this is one of those statistics that literally means almost nothing to the individual. If you need these kind of numbers to validate your decision then you are making your choices based on superficial information. Bottom line- IT DOESN'T MATTER what the acceptance % is at the place you choose - what matters is what your strengths are going in - and how you do when you get there. If you really want to know the difference between these schools- get yours rear in gear and go visit them on an overnight and then make your own comparison. there are plenty of differences in them and plenty of similarities as well- you need to make your own comparisons and decision matrix based on what's important to you and come to your own decision- not look to others for validation.
 
+ 1 Bruno and Melitzank

"Right Fit" is more important for YOU than class stats

While rivals - we are so because of how much we have in common vs how different we are.

Yes, we rib each other.

But some of my best friends at OCS/Basic were from Citadel and A&M - we had walked such a similar path.

Now I suspect VPI is in that equation with their revitalized Corps
(my entire family was VPI before me. My father was 1st KIA in Vietnam from VPI and Virginia as a whole)

Back to your question: as Bruno says - get your tail in gear and go visit each school and pay attention to what truly matters.

My suggestion of criteria are:

- ask current 4th classmen at each school about their experience.
- then poll 1st class, alumni, professors - each about their perspectives of each school.

This is ALL about fitting in with the school you feel best fits you based on the people you meet, your desired majors, needs, athletics, etc.

Either of the schools will advance your career - be it in the Military or Civ-Div.

Your future will be based on what you do, not where you graduate.
 
I can also point out that The Citadel accepts more applicants because the matriculation rate of acceptees if pretty low, about 40%. This is doubtless because it tends to be a second or third choice for many, particularly those seeking an SA appointment. The acceptance rate has spiked from a low of 57%in part because the incoming class size has also jumped significantly, from 685in 2008 to this years class of 783.
 
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