How is VMI in terms of academics

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bluedog

USMA 2028
Joined
Oct 9, 2022
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I want to major in engineering probably mechanical.

I want to start by saying I am not talking as much about how rigorous it is (as it can be rigorous but still not great) but instead about how good the academics are in terms of how much I will learn and be prepared. I know other SMCs rank above it in terms of engineering but their class sizes are way bigger. I want a school where there are small classes but still solid academics.

My number one choice by far is west point. Although, I would only shoot myself in the foot though if I did not find a solid backup.

What does everyone think?
 
VMI was on my son’s shortlist, but he ultimately chose a different SMC. In the process of his consideration of his options, I spoke with a work colleague who is a Washington and Lee alumnus. In case you don’t know, W&L is the prestigious liberal arts school right across the street from VMI. Anyway, my colleague spoke very highly of VMI which frankly surprised me at the time. He threw out a stat that their are more CEOs per capita from VMI than from any other school. So I don’t know anything specific , but that endorsement from that colleague answered any concerns I had as a parent about VMI.
 
bluedog said:
I want to major in engineering probably mechanical.

I want to start by saying I am not talking as much about how rigorous it is (as it can be rigorous but still not great) but instead about how good the academics are in terms of how much I will learn and be prepared. I know other SMCs rank above it in terms of engineering but their class sizes are way bigger. I want a school where there are small classes but still solid academics.

My number one choice by far is west point. Although, I would only shoot myself in the foot though if I did not find a solid backup.

What does everyone think?
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So I would agree that selecting a school where you feel most comfortable and that you believe enables you to do your best, is key to your success. In my opinion small is usually best for undergraduate education if you intend to study a hard major like engineering. Large universities may offer a larger selection of majors, but focusing on too narrow a major at the undergraduate level is not your best course of action at 18 years of age.

I can speak to The Citadel, which has a nationally ranked Engineering School - in the same US News classification as the federal service academies (#20 in the nation in 2022/23 rankings). https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-overall

The Citadel offers small classes taught by professors - not teaching assistants as at many large universities. You can choose from among Civil, Construction, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering majors.

The Mechanical Engineering major is the most popular engineering major at The Citadel and offers 5 different concentrations from aerospace to composites:
go.citadel.edu

Mechanical Engineering, B.S. - Mechanical Engineering

What is Mechanical Engineering? Mechanical Engineering is a broad discipline that applies the principles of science, mathematics, and engineering to design, create, and maintain mechanical systems. For those who are creative problem solvers, a degree in Mechanical Engineering can provide you...
go.citadel.edu go.citadel.edu

Best of luck to you - engineering is a great choice of major!
 
If you want to major in engineering, I don't see how your could possibly do better than Virginia Tech? They have the #16 ranked Undergrad Engineering program in the country, let alone SAs and SMCs. US News VT Rankings.jpg
 
Note that the SA's (and VMI and the Citadel I believe) do not offer doctorate degrees in engineering and thus are not included in the same ranking referenced above. That is not to say that Va. Tech is not a great school, just not ranked in comparison to the SA's and VMI and the Citadel.

I would note that both VMI and the Citadel are well respected schools with small class sizes, and I do not think you could go wrong provided you want the military life-style of the undergraduate experience.
 
PaigeMasto said:
If you want to major in engineering, I don't see how your could possibly do better than Virginia Tech? They have the #16 ranked Undergrad Engineering program in the country, let alone SAs and SMCs.
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Comes back to the same problem of large class sizes. I would much rather have small class sizes.
 
My non-ROTC son went to VMI on an unofficial visit for football. We were very impressed with the academic portion of the visit, small class sizes with lots of opportunity for one on one interactions between students and professors. Since he was being looked at as a preferred walk-on, the out of state (TN resident) tuition was way too much to make it a realistic option. In the end, he decided to forget about playing football in college and is now a senior in computer engineering at the University of Tennessee. He also just qualified for the USA Powerlifting 2023 Collegiate Nationals and set a Tennessee state deadlift record for his age and weight class.
 
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My son is a recent graduate from VMI. He got a Civil Engineering degree, and although it was difficult, it was well worth the effort. VMI is well respected and gave him a lot of support and opportunities. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.
 
An engineering degree from VMI will serve you well both in and out of the military, BUT so will the other SMC's.

Small class size? Check, BUT so do some of the other SMC's.

It really depends on where do YOU want to be? Being where you're happy will go a long way in determining the best fit for you.

Go visit each of the schools that you're interested in. Go see which one feels right. Find the one that you can see yourself at.
 
I own a large engineering company (Civil) and have quite a few VMI grads employed. They are top notch! I agree with all the posts above, you get a really good education at a school like VMI due to the classroom size AND the fact that it is not a research university/college. The professors are dedicated to teaching as opposed to doing research, which is a big plus in my book. For reference, my DS is a junior Civil Engineering student at The Citadel and I have been extremely pleased with his education so far. My guess is VMI is very similar. Good luck - VMI is a top notch engineering school - you can't go wrong there.
 
Another thing to consider is internship opportunities. My son had a paid internship with the Army Corps of Engineers for most of a summer. He made a pretty good buck and learned a lot. He became personal friends with many of his professors and they've gone above and beyond in helping him reach his goals. The cadets end up running VMI, it becomes their campus. I have a son at Rice and a daughter at UVM, they're both great schools but very different experiences.
 
EEBTTF said:
I own a large engineering company (Civil) and have quite a few VMI grads employed. They are top notch! I agree with all the posts above, you get a really good education at a school like VMI due to the classroom size AND the fact that it is not a research university/college. The professors are dedicated to teaching as opposed to doing research, which is a big plus in my book. For reference, my DS is a junior Civil Engineering student at The Citadel and I have been extremely pleased with his education so far. My guess is VMI is very similar. Good luck - VMI is a top notch engineering school - you can't go wrong there.
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EEBTTF - Thanks. Both VMI and The Citadel offer students interested in small classes and internship opportunities a variety of options. Both are ranked #21 by US News in the same classification as the federal service academies. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-overall

At The Citadel internships are considered an essential part of the Junior and Senior year. Boeing has its largest East Coast manufacturing facilities in Charleston, the Port of Charleston is a major East Coast port and numerous engineering firms are located in Charleston. The Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District has its HQ located on The Citadel campus. Only one restriction….lol…cannot use internships to skip Friday Parade…😉
go.citadel.edu

The Citadel Internship Process - The Career Center

Learn more about The Citadel internship process, necessary documents, the Internship Scholarship Fund, requirements, where to apply and more.
go.citadel.edu go.citadel.edu
 
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