Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Being from out of state, I have noticed that there are a lot of in state students at VT. There are also a lot of international students. Coming from the South, Virginia Tech seems diverse to me, but I know that compared to other schools it may not be perceived that way by others standards. In addition, I think that VT embraces all students from all walks of life. We are a very accepting school, and the students are interested in engaging and learning more about people different from themselves.

the students are generally middle to upper middle class students dress fairly casual to classes, sorority girls tend to dress up a bit more

I studied abroad and became good friends with a Turkish VT student. He informed me that VT is very "clique"ish and it is difficult for people from other cultures to integrate into those groups.

I think that the virignia tech student body needs to be humbled. We can be very cocky and down right disrespectful to the people who helped us out the most after last year. I think that we should have learned something and most people didnt.

Virginia Tech has a very diverse student body. My experiences here have made me a much more open-minded individual. I have not experienced tension among different racial, gender, or socio-economic groups. I think our climate is very tolerant and accepting. You can come to VT as you are and expect to do well and make great friends. I can't really think of a certain "kind" of student that would feel out of place here, because we offer so many diverse programs. Virginia Tech students are from all over the nation, even the world. In one class I have this semester, I have classmates from Virginia, California, Texas, Maryland, Bolivia, Australia, and Romania. I suppose everyone, no matter how far away they grew up, wants to be a hokie! Financial backgrounds vary at Virginia Tech much like I assume they do at any other public university. Obviously some students come from wealthier families than others, but VT offers great scholarship opportunities and financial aid programs in order to allow every student and opportunity to acheive their goals. Many students here are politically active and aware, and there are many student organizations, both left, right, and moderate, that reflect this.

Accepting of all cultures. Most are from VA obviously, but a lot are from Maryland and other states as well!

I find that most students are from these general areas: Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Richmond, and some Jersey kids. I don't think anyone would really feel left out here because there are all types of personalities, but it is definately important to be somewhat outgoing and eager to meet new people, or else you might feel overwhelmed at the number of students. Not many people talk about how much they will earn on day... it's more of a general understanding that the engineers are going to make bank.

Most students wear sweatshirts and jeans to class. Although many also wear polos and khakis. I feel like anyone can fit in here because there is such a diverse group of people that come through here.

We have over 300 different clubs, and the experience I have had with them is all positive. Students that can't make friends fast and are not use to large groups. Students usually wear jeans, T-shirts, pajamas, things appropriate fo rthe ever-changing weather. Yes, different type of students interact. Most students are from Richmond or Northern Va. Yes, students are politically aware and active. People say we are right but I dont know; Im in a sorority and very southern, so my opinion may be bias but I know more left. I dont really hear people talkign baout how much they'll earn, just exactly what they wanna do.

Diversity is a current issue on our campus that they are trying to improve. It is a white-dominate campus & they are trying to change that or make it more comfortable for different racial, religious & etc groups.

My freshmon year roommate was Hindu/Indian and my best friend was Muslim. So I spend alot of time with the Indian students. And they are very clicky - at least as a non-Indian that was my feeling. The students I have met are from many different countries but there does seem to be alot of them from Virginia.

This is in no way an urban campus and the urban 'So-Cal' style will be drowned amongst VT sweatshirts, jeans and sneakers. Regardless of this there are many different types of students around campus, duh. I hear students talking a different language at least once a day, and if diversity is something that you thrive in, then you'll find it here. If you feel most comfortable around those of your own cultural background that's cool too. All I'm saying is that if there are four tables in the dining hall one could be with all Asians, another will all Caucasians, another with all Middle-Eastern students, and one mixing bowl table of them all. As far as interaction, there is no hesitation amongst the student body to talk to someone 'different' than themselves. We're not unworldly or ignorant to the world...so we're accepting and generally open-minded. The future, even if it screams and waves it's arms in our face everyday, isn't talked about in a snotty or stuck up way. Kids here aren't relying on their parent's corporation or some family rubies to support them. Your average student is from a middle-class/suburban background and are at this point financially independent or at least partially independent. Everyone wants to be successful, but they're not going to shove you down in the process.

I don't think any student would feel out of place at VT. There's such a diversity of students that everyone finds their place. Most students, for girls at least, wear jeans and a casual top. Different types of students don't really seem to interact. Most VT students are from northern virginia, even though some places shouldn't be really considered nova, williamsburg, or richmond. My friends are politically active but I don't really know about others.

Our drillfield is the center of campus and all groups are allowed to advertise, pass out fliers, and just talk to students. I feel like I've come across every type of person on campus. Everyone goes here! We're not just a school of a certain color. I don't see how anyone could really feel out of place here--except people who hate football on game day. Most students wear what they are comfortable in to class. Me, I'm a jeans, hoodie and flip flops kind of girl. Sorority girls wear their letters and the frat boys do the same. You'll see cammoflauge, baseball caps, baggy jeans, skirts with leggings, tye-dye, native dress, khaki, plenty of maroon and orange and a lot of my least favorite item ever--Ugg boots. In a dining hall you'll see four tables. Table one are the guys who live on the same hall on campus. They're comfortable around each other despite knowing each other for only a few months and they laugh very loudly. At the second table you'd see sorority girls with side salads and water in their letters and north face jackets. They spout greek letters and say "like" so much that is sounds like a foreign language. Note-this table us usually surrounded by Vera Bradley tote bags: watch your step. The third table is covered in engineering textbooks and male engineering students are scratching their heads as they help each other with their problem sets. Usually one of them is on his cell phone to his friend who knows what he's doing but never has time to go to lunch. He's probably been studying instead of eating. The fourth table has a mixture of guys and girls--they're all trying to impress each other but they're laughing and having a good time picking food off of each other's plates. I've found that a lot of people are from Virginia here--and oddly enough there's a lot of Jersey kids too. It is very evident that every economic class is represented here---but you can definitely see more of the upper-middle class. Students are very politically aware! People pass out fliers, wear buttons and t-shirts all the time. I think our campus has a really good mixture when it comes to political ideology. You have the local conservatives, the townie hippies, the northern liberals, and the unsure moderates.

They are all tolerated but latinos are very underreprsented at tech. Anyone who is not white will feel a bit out of place. Most students dont dress up to much for class, very casual. In class everyone interacts regardless of demographics. Divided by kids in there major, engineering, poly sci, etc. Middle class is most prevalent at tech. More left and there is alot of political event going on more than most campuses. No one talks about there life after college.

At VT, there are ALLLL kinds of students. I wouldn't say there are any problems with interaction between different religions or races or anything like that. If you're a hokie, you're a hokie! And that's all that matters. We're all on the same page here.

There are a fair amout of groups on campus. Out of Place: Not sure Clothes: Jeans and Hoodies Interaction: Everyone is nice I never noticed a seperation of people at the dining halls. Most VT Students: American Financial Background: Upperclass Politics: somewhat active Liberal

Coming from Liberty, which was incredibly diverse, I must say that coming to Tech was a disappointment in that regard. I fortunately live on Newman hall, which is the international hall. I have a South Korean roommate and so many friends from all over the place. I love to hear the accents and languages, to taste the food and learn about their cultures. I do feel as if many of my classes are predominantly white, but I believe that perhaps Tech is growing more diverse every semester. It was something that really bothered me at first, but there is actually a lot of diversity around if you look for it. As for religious groups, I am Christian and it was not hard at all to find multitudes of groups to join! I tried out a lot and was involved in about three Bible studies at the same time, before I finally picked one that fit me the best. There is something here for everyone! I really meshed with my group (Chi Alpha), and am so thankful to have found them.

Most students are middle class and white. There are a few minorities, but they do avoid interaction with whites. Students are very casual in class. It is a moderate school heavily focused on getting jobs and making money.

The majority of Tech students are of course from Virginia. From the people whom I've meet, even though Virginia Tech is a southern Virginian school, most of them happen to be from the NOVA (Northern VA) area. I know from my area Tech is a big school and a lot of students try to apply and get in.