Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Virginia Tech has quite a diverse group of individuals. One of my favorite things to do each morning after getting on is to pretend to be engaged with my smartphone while actually listening to students around me. The episode varies; one day I'll hear people rave about a party they attended the night before, another I'll overhear two Kuwaiti friends discussing calculus equations. I feel I also get a good cross-section of the population by noticing the appearance of the bus-takers. There's the sorority girl wearing way too much makeup, the unshaven guy whose last shower is anyone's guess, and the typecast model boyfriend and girlfriend. We have a very large population, and, speaking from experience, an individual coming from a rural high school setting might have a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle. Coming from such an environment, I did very poorly my first year before figuring things out. There's no one to hold your hand, so if you don't stay on top of things you can easily be lost in the shuffle.

The students at my school are first and foremost well-rounded. As students, they are smart and hard-working. I enjoy coming to class and hearing what people have to say because everyone here is intelligent and wants to go somewhere in the world. Hokies are extremely committed to community service and live by our motto "Ut Prosim," which means "That I May Serve." People are always fundraising and helping out those who are less fortunate. I have been involved in so many philanthropic events I can't even count. Among a few are, Dog Walk benefitting service for sight, packaging food for Haitian victims, attending an all-night dance marathon helping out young children with cancer, hosting ad organizing a talent show raising $22,000 for the blind. Hokies love to have fun. We are extremey spontaneous and there's always something going on. There are over 600 clubs and cater to all interests. The greek organizations are always recruiting new members to join. There is never a dull night in Blacksburg, even on the week nights. Hokies will always hold the door for you. They will always turn in a lost wallet (has happened to me 3 times) or a lost phone (twice.) I have never felt safer in a city then I have here. We all look out for each other and share a mutual respect and love for Tech.

Virginia Tech is home to so many different kinds of students. Conservative Christians, atheists, agnostics, LGBT students, liberals, students from wealthy families, students from low-income families... a lot of students attend VT. Racially, the school is predominantly white, and people of Asian descent form the largest minority on campus. However, students of many different races attend Virginia Tech. Religious student organizations have a substantial presence around the perimeter of campus, but non-religious students (such as myself) needn't feel alienated. Religious organizations advertise their meetings, but for the most part, they keep to themselves.

Hokie students are the best in the world! We are an eclectic mix of backgrounds, personalities, and ambitions. We do all share one thing--Hokie pride! We respect each other and the community and join together in our athletics, moments of loss, and in everyday moments. There are a wide range of clubs to involved with. You can go Greek or go to the creek with the bass fishing team. You can join any religious group or create your own intramural team to compete in sports. The only thing I would tell students is to come out of your shell. Don't be shy! Join the groups that interest you--its a great way to meet people! Students are, overall, pretty casual about what they were to class. While some girls like to primp more than others, no one is looked down upon that is "slumming it" in sweat pants. We all get along. When it comes to finances, no one really brags about what they are have or will make. I find us Hokies to all be respectful and not showy, though the range is wide on our economic statuses. We are also respectful of all political feelings, though, we tend to be more liberal--especially compared to our where we are located in Virginia.

A lot of people are hesitant about attending Tech because of its size; it intimidates them; they feel as though they’ll be lost in the crowd. Tech’s size can’t be disputed. It is a big school. However, that works to its advantage. Yes, some of the core/lower level classes are large. But once you get into major-specific courses or upper level courses, the classroom size becomes smaller and the teaching becomes student-specific. For example: the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (CLAHS). Within the college, each major forms around the student’s needs because—though Virginia Tech as a university is large—each major is small and tight-knit. The students have wonderful opportunities to work with Professors on research outside or inside the classroom. In this way, students get the feel of a small college within the setting of a large university—that’s Tech’s biggest advantage. As far as complaints, I believe most students would agree that parking is pretty bad on campus. Not that there’s a lack of it; quite the opposite: there’s an abundance of parking it’s just spread throughout the campus. This sometimes makes for quite a walk. Of course, a little exercise never hurt anyone, right?

There is no one way to describe students at Virginia Tech because our student population is so diverse. Walking into any given class room you will see students from the corps. of cadets, students wearing religious symbols from all manner of beliefs, tattooed students. Just walking across the Drill Field you may meet students with southern accents, students with northern accents, students with German accents, students wearing suits and ties, or students wearing ripped jeans and t-shirts. There is no trend to students political beliefs or socio-economic background. If you want to only hang out with people like you, that is fine and many people do that. But if you want to get out there and explore what other people have to teach you, you can do that too, and I would say many more students choose that route. There is a niche for everyone.

As an English major who has taken a wide variety of liberal arts courses, I have been exposed to many different groups on campus. I have had classes with all kinds of students including Christians, Muslims, homosexuals, and international students. I truly believe that there is an enclave and a place for every kind of student if they choose to find it. Most students wear casual clothes to class. Being in Blacksburg, the weather gets very cold and there are a lot of coats and boots being worn. Make sure you have a good pair of rain boots! Students at Virginia Tech are from all over. I have friends from all over the country and even some from outside of the United States. There are, however, a large portion of students from Northern Virginia. There are students from all kinds of financial backgrounds. There are several political clubs/ organizations on campus so that students of all political preferences can exercise their beliefs. I do not hear students talk about how much they'll earn one day.

This campus is full of people of all backgrounds. There are people who celebrate their faith, enlist in the corps of cadets, apply for work-study programs, express their political views and/or sexuality, and some go to class! Ultimately, there is nothing you cannot do here. And no one will stop you from doing what you love. From what I can see, people are happy here. We work hard and we play hard.

My classmates are smart, fun, motivated people that are down to earth and have a real desire to better themselves.

My classmates consist of middle eastern, asian, and white men of which are most times willing to help someone in need and are very intelligent and serious about their work.