One of the weekend's big football rivalries sees Georgia facing off against #7 Georgia Tech. Both are well-respected public universities. Georgia competes in the NCAA Southeastern Conference while Georgia Tech is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The data below shows how the schools measure up on the admissions front:

University of Georgia:

• Percentage of applicants accepted: 55%
• Middle 50% SAT Reading: 560 / 650
• Middle 50% SAT Math: 560 / 660
• Middle 50% ACT Composite: 25 / 29
• Total Cost (In-State): $16,758
• Total Cost (Out-of-State): $33,070

Georgia Tech:

• Percentage of applicants accepted: 63%
• Middle 50% SAT Reading: 590 / 690
• Middle 50% SAT Math: 650 / 730
• Middle 50% ACT Composite: 27 / 31
• Total Cost (In-State): $16,234
• Total Cost (Out-of-State): $35,376

Both universities are strong academically, although Georgia Tech will probably require a slightly strong high school record to win admission. Both schools are also excellent values, especially for in-state applicants. The University of Georgia made my list of recommended public universities, and Georgia Tech appears on my list of top engineering schools and top public universities. The University of Georgia was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences.

Related Links:

• University of Georgia admissions profile
• Georgia Tech admissions profile
• ACC, Atlantic Coast Conference
• SEC, Southeastern Conference
• SAT comparison chart for the ACC
• SAT comparison chart for the SEC

It's a great weekend for college football rivalries. On Saturday #14 ranked Virginia Tech is favored over the University of Virginia. Both universities compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. Both are also large public universities whose strong liberal arts and sciences programs earned them chapters of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. The data below shows how the schools measure up on the admissions front:

University of Virginia:

• Percentage of applicants accepted: 37%
• Middle 50% SAT Reading: 600 / 710
• Middle 50% SAT Math: 620 / 730
• Middle 50% ACT Composite: 27 / 32
• Total Cost (In-State): $20,409
• Total Cost (Out-of-State): $40,709

Virginia Tech:

• Percentage of applicants accepted: 65%
• Middle 50% SAT Reading: 540 / 630
• Middle 50% SAT Math: 570 / 670
• Total Cost (In-State): $18,213
• Total Cost (Out-of-State): $30,591

Both universities are strong academically. The University of Virginia made my list of the top public universities, and Virginia Tech is one of my top picks for engineering. Prospective students will find that the out-of-state cost at UVA is as high as many quality private colleges, especially once financial aid is factored in.

Related Links:

• University of Virginia admissions profile
• Virginia Tech admissions profile
• ACC, Atlantic Coast Conference
• SAT comparison chart for the ACC
• ACT comparison chart for the ACC

This week's spotlight takes us to central Massachusetts where we find WPI, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Founded in 1865, WPI has the distinction of being one of the country's first technological universities.

WPI is well regarded for its programs in engineering and the applied sciences, but prospective students should realize that the school is a comprehensive university with programs in business, social sciences, arts and humanities.

WPI places well in national rankings of student engagement and career prospects, and the school also does well with financial aid (the great majority of students receive grant aid). Admissions are selective, but applicants don't need to worry about a low SAT score sabotaging their applications -- WPI is one of the country's test-optional colleges.

If you'd like to learn more about the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and what it takes to get accepted, visit my WPI Admissions Profile and the college's official website. If you have visited or attended the WPI, please share your experiences below.

Every week I spotlight a great college that might be off the radar of college applicants. If there's a college you'd like to see featured here, please post your ideas in the College Admissions Forum.

When I asked Jeremy Spencer, Director of Admissions at Alfred University, to identify the biggest blunders made by college applicants, "failing to limit parents' involvement" made his list of top mistakes.

Today we get some great advice for parents from Mike Sexton, the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Santa Clara University. When asked what he thinks every applicant's parent should know, Mike offered these five tips:

• Take out the "we" and let YOUR child choose and apply to the college he/she wants to attend. This is not a do-over for you; you're not going to your dream college through your child.
• Take the coach role rather than the agent. Ultimately, it's the student that goes out on the floor, so give them advice when they ask for it.
• Know your child's organizational skills. If your teen has trouble managing time, be there to remind him/her of deadlines.
• Don't let the college application process consume your teen's attention span. But at the same time let him/her know that you care and that you're there.
• Never assume the process is the same today as it was when you and/or your older child applied to college.