Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

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Tech is located in the middle of nowhere! This is a huge hassle because there's never anything to do, and doing the same thing over and over again gets old. The best thing about this school would be the food and school spirit! The first thing I would change is making the campus more diverse! I think Tech is just the right size, I see someone new everyday, which I like. I like how the dorms are on one side and academics are on the other, I feel that makes the most sense for a campus set up. The biggest issue that Tech is facing is the amount of shootings that occur and not being about the keep the publicity out. Yes, it's good to be informed but I think we need a new PR person to get things under lock.

Virginia Tech is a wonderful university. I was only five hours from my hometown but felt like I was world's away. Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg community create a feeling of 'family' that is indescribable until you spend a good amount of time there. I had a wide range of WONDERFUL professors and met friends that I know I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life. Blacksburg is most definitely a college town, and while it is in the middle of nowhere Virginia, there is so much to do both on Virginia Tech's campus and in the town of Blacksburg that I was rarely bored or looking for things to do. Whether it be seeing movies at the local Lyric Theater, going out with friends at the many restaurants and bars downtown, or walking around campus, there is never a dull moment at Virginia Tech.

I love Virginia Tech. The best part of being a Hokie is the community- Hokie Nation. Hokies are all over and all supportive of our school, and each other. We help not only one another, but our community, nation, and world. Virginia Tech is an extremely close-knit group of people who carry and live out our motto Ut Prosim- That I May Serve- both on campus and everywhere in the world. This is the most supportive group of people I have encountered and I am proud and blessed to be able to be a Hokie. The only thing I'd change about Virginia Tech is how the school handles lower-level math courses. There is a separate, easy-to-get-to off-campus building called the math Emporium, pr the "Empo." The Empo is filled with 537 Mac computers, and that's where students go to do their self-taught calculus courses. For those who are mathematically inclined, it's a piece of cake. For others- like me- it just really sucks having to go off campus and try to teach yourself business calculus. Not fun, But, it's really easy to find help, so it isn't always as terrible as some make it to be. Virginia Tech has around 28,000 undergrads- which seems like an incredibly large number- but it has never felt like that to me at all. It's the perfect size. Lane Stadium fills up quickly with thousands of Hokie fans, there are always new people to meet, but you'll get involved and start meeting everybody and then campus will feel like the perfect size. When I tell people I go to Virginia Tech, they're usually impressed- unless they have anything to do with the University of Virginia. Then I'm just a lowly rival. Otherwise, Virginia Tech has an excellent reputation for being a great school full of good, smart people. Personally, most of my time spent on campus is in my room, but that's just because I live in a really nice upperclassmen dorm. Otherwise, I can be found in the student center hanging out or doing homework, the gym having fun in fitness classes, or in the dining halls eating Tech's award-winning food. Unlike many other schools, Virginia Tech's dining hall food is in the top 5 in the nation. Yes- it is good. Blacksburg, VA is very much a college town. Aside from Tech and a couple surrounding neighborhoods, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. But no fear- downtown Blacksburg is practically attached to campus, Christiansburg with shopping and lots of restaurants is 10 minutes away, and Roanoke is a mere 50 minutes away. All of these places are accessible through the Blacksburg bus system. You can also bring your own car-even as a freshman- if you'd like. Blacksburg itself is made up of primarily Virginia Tech students. There is a lot to do; restaurants and unique shopping on the downtown mall, the Lyric movie theater, a Farmer's market for fresh fruit, and lots of hiking and amazing outdoor activities. The biggest controversy on campus was the shooting of a Tech police officer. This event, unfortunately, gained a lot of unwanted publicity for Tech, especially after the April 16, 2007 shootings. Again though, all Hokies rallied together- both at school in Blacksburg and around the nation- to heal and respect our fallen officer and Hokies. In spite of all this, Virginia Tech has the most school pride of any school I have ever experienced. Orange and Maroon- a ghastly color combination to some but beloved to us- is what you'll see nearly every Hokie dressed in every day. I have never experienced a lack of school spirit at Tech. Virginia Tech was founded as a military school back in 1872. Throughout the years, Tech has kept its military background and it continues to be a big part of who we are. The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is the main military presence on campus. Cadets wear uniforms everyday and live a strict military lifestyle, while getting a top-notch education. They attend the same courses as civilians and everything and are always around. This is a really unique aspect of Tech. Plus, it's always nice to see men in uniform on a daily basis. The most frequent student complaints are about the difficulty of finding a parking spot on campus (true but not impossible) and of Blacksburg's cold, windy weather. It is fondly called "Bleaksburg" during the winter months, but that has never distracted from campus's beauty or the students' love for Tech.

I went to Virginia Tech because I fell in love with the school when I was twelve years old. The campus is absolutely beautiful, and the entire town of Blacksburg revolves around it. Blacksburg, though small, is a cute, fun little college town where there's always something going on. Even though the student body is huge (32,000 including grad students), it's easy to feel at home. I loved the feel of being at a huge school, with the busy, bustling dining halls and jam-packed football games, but as an English major, I was in a relatively small department, where everybody knew everybody, so I didn't feel like I was just a number to my professors. I'm from North Carolina, so I didn't know many people from home who went to Tech. Every time I came home decked out in orange and maroon, my friends always gave me a hard time because it was all I wore. When a friend of mine visited me at Tech, as we were walking around campus, she looked around and said "Whoa...EVERYONE is wearing Tech sweatshirts!" The school pride at Tech is absolutely indescribable, especially during football season. The most frequent complaints I hear are about how crowded the dining halls are, and how horrible parking is. Parking on campus is impossible, and they love to ticket and tow around there. If you live on campus you have to keep your car in the Cage, a parking lot half a mile from the dorms, and when you live off campus, you're better off just taking the bus or riding your bike.

I can't speak highly enough about the spirit of Virginia Tech. Most people are aware of the difficulties the students body and rest of the Hokie Nation have been through. What many don't know or understand is how resilient our community is, and just how close the Hokies are. Even though Tech has such a large student population, it still doesn't feel too big. The campus is concentrated, so you still get the close knit feeling you would at a small school. Blacksburg is a complete college town, which makes game days awesome! Seeing an entire town supporting your school only strengthens our Hokie Pride. I spend most of my time when on campus in Torg Bridge, where students go to study, or read in a quiet place. It is also connected to the library so you can grab research books and go straight to the Bridge to get started on work, papers, and exams! Something unusual about Tech? The spirit. There's nothing like it, and it becomes clear soon after moving into Freshman dorms; especially with all the student athletes carrying your stuff from your car into your new dorm room! To get a taste of the Hokie Spirit, just go watch the Enter Sandman entrance at any Hokie Football game, and then imagine jumping right along with us!

What's the best thing about this school? School pride, sense of community. Name one thing you'd change. The weather. Is your school too large, too small, or just right? We are a growing school, but I haven’t felt any negative effects of a growing population. Tech is big enough to have a successful division I football program, but small enough to see the same people on campus day in and day out. Where do you spend most of your time on campus? While I was a student here, I spent most of my time in the Innovation Space in Torgerson. The Innovation Space is a very high tech computer lab that students can work in when they have projects that require fancy computer equipment that they do not necessarily want to pay for. I did a lot of website and document design in college, so I spent a lot of time in the lab working with the Adobe Creative Suite. College town, or "what college town?" Total college town. The college is the town. We don’t have a lot of chain restaurants or shopping centers, and you have to drive 15 minutes to get to Wal-Mart but that’s all a part of the Blacksburg experience. Tech is the only thing in this town, but we have a blast with what we have. It’s nice knowing that you are supporting local industry everywhere you go. What's your opinion of this school's administration? The administration does a good job. Like every large university, there will be complaints about tuition costs and spending money, but they are doing a great job to expand the school and bring in world class professors to teach students in all areas. What was the biggest recent controversy on campus? Unfortunately, Virginia Tech has been marked with the tragedy of violence again and again. While these events are completely unrelated, uncontrollable acts of random violence, some people try to villionize the VT population by saying that we are cursed or other mean things. This is just not true. Every one of these unfortunate campus events have made the Hokie Nation stronger as we stand together as a community. Campus security is HUGE here, and policies and procedures are followed perfectly to ensure student and staff safety. While we cannot control these events, we stand strong together through them and prove what it means to be a Hokie through action. Is there a lot of school pride? So much school pride. Is there anything unusual about this school? Tech was originally founded as a military school, so we still have the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. The Corps students receive full scholarships to study in exchange for years of service, and live on campus as they would on a military base. They run PT at 4 in the morning, practice drills and formations all over campus, and wear their full uniforms to class. What's one experience you'll always remember? I'm an employee of Virginia Tech Athletics now, so sporting events will always be at the top of my list of memorable moments. Other than athletics, the first big snowball fight against the cadets every year is awesome, too. What are the most frequent student complaints? The weather.

Virginia Tech has something for everyone. Physically active individuals will enjoy one of the most active intramural sports programs in the nation. The campus boasts two fully-equipped gymnasiums which also offer numerous fitness classes ranging from yoga to zumba. Prudent students will enjoy Newman Library's five floors, whereupon they can study alone or among colleagues. Creative minds can roam freely at InnovationSpace, which boasts an audio studio, professional video cameras, and a computer lab equipped with the latest editing programs and technology. The campus is also within walking distance of an array of restaurants, bars and shops. Blacksburg nightlife offers an excellent way to unwind after a long week. I'll never forget the countless Friday nights spent watching games with good friends at Sharky's and Big Al's.

Virginia Tech is a large school with a small feel. The 27,000 students become one student's 26,999 friends. Each student brings a warm, welcoming smile and attitude to campus every day, for a Hokie would do anything for a fellow Hokie. The astounding school spirit unites the student body, especially every Saturday of fall semester, when the entire campus excitedly stampedes into Lane Stadium together to watch our football team conquer a new team, as one big family affair. The surrounding town is filled with orange and maroon students, parents, adults, alumni, and friends. Each restaurant, store, and shopping center supports Virginia Tech and thrives on the students and the community they create. In return, these venues and owners happily support students year-round. The bright smile and positive feedback I receive from others each time I mention I attend Virginia Tech is intriguing. I am constantly praised for my attendance at Virginia Tech, for merely anyone would enjoy such a positive environment, prestigious academia, and intelligent network of professors and peers. If I could do it again, I would do it the same.

Even if for some reason I had to sit in a corner, alone for the remaining two and a half years I have left at Tech, I'd still call these the best four years of my life. I have never been more happy or at peace with myself, my friends, and my life as I am here in Blacksburg. As soon as I go home for breaks I begin to miss Tech. I honestly feel as though I did something right in my life to be able to have ended up here as an undergraduate. My friends envy how much fun I'm having at school.

Virginia Tech has something for everyone. Physically active individuals will enjoy one of the most active intramural sports programs in the nation. The also boasts two fully-equipped gymnasiums which also offer fitness classes ranging from yoga to zumba. Prudent students can enjoy Newman Library's five floors, whereupon they can study alone or among colleagues. Creative minds can roam at InnovationSpace, which boasts an audio studio, professional video cameras, and a computer lab equipped with the latest editing programs and technology. The campus is also within walking distance to an array of restaurants, bars and shops. I'll never forget the countless Friday nights spent watching games with good friends at Sharky's and Big Al's.

The best thing about this school is the support and love you get from fellow Hokies anywhere you go. Everyone who goes here has such love and support for the campus, peers, and faculty. We are like one unit, sort of like a family. There is more school pride than you can imagine! -Although VT is considered a big campus, it doesn't feel TOO big. I remember this was a concern at first for me, but now that I am here it feels just right. The campus is a good size and it is easy to get to classes from wherever you are. The dining halls are EXCELLENT! It is something you hear about often on campus. We have dining halls that offer anything from lobster, to sushi, to steak, to sandwiches, soups, and salads. NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR FOOD! YUM! There are a lot of students but this isn't reflected in class sizes once you get into your major/minor field. Most of my classes are around 20 people which allows for interaction with other students and the professor which I like. At first, in my general classes, I had up to 550 students in my class, which I didn't like, but it gets better once you select a certain field of study. --The only complaint I really hear from students is about how cold it is during the winter. I would definitely suggest purchasing some warm clothing for the winter months! It does get pretty cold in the mountains. It is definitely worth it thought to go to such a beautiful and well liked campus! -- another thing I love about VT is the concern professors have for students to do well. It is apparent that professors know what they are talking about and want you to do well. They are there to help you and teach you. That is one thing I love. It is apparent that most professors have a passion for teaching and enjoy teaching you. In high school, a lot of the time I wondered why teachers were even there, because they seemed miserable teaching us; however, that is NOT the case at VT. Every professor I have had has appeared to love what they are teaching, and the teaching itself.

Because Virginia Tech is a large state school, it offers many different opportunities for its students. With so many different academic departments and student organizations, you can choose from a diverse selection of courses and meet people who share common interests. And most of the classes outside of introductory-level courses have about 30 students or fewer. Most of the student body is enthusiastic about Hokie football and basketball, but being a sports fan isn't a requirement. When you share a campus with thousands of students from all walks of life, you're bound to find people you can connect with--whether it's over sports, music, chess, dance, academics, food... you name it.

This school is the BEST. Hokie pride is everywhere. You can be across the country sporting your Hokie tshirt and from across the way you will here "Go Hokies!" This is the most friendly campus you will find. We hold doors open and smile at others. We have outstanding athletics and superior academics. The scenery is breathtaking. The only thing I would change is the chilly, windy winters. Our school is large in numbers; however, has a small town feel--we are a college town and a small town in one. Though you do not recognize everyone on campus, you feel at ease with them. Most of my time spent on campus is at our exemplar gym. My favorite thing to do is attend group exercise classes, specifically Zumba. Our gym has enthusiastic instructors and classes going all day. The cardio machines even have personal televisions so I can workout while catching up on my favorite shows. Though I may choose the gym, alot of people would select a dining hall--we are ranked in the top of the country. From all you care to eat D2 to dining on lobster at West End, we have all you could imagine.

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?

I think the main complaint from people who have not attended Virginia Tech is that the school is too big. In my opinion, that is its biggest strength. No matter what school you go to, it is only as big or small as you make it. If you sit in the back of a 200 person class and sleep through class, you will receive no less attention than if you sat in the back of a 20 person class. However, if you go see your teachers and get to know them, school might as well be a private tutoring session in which you get all of the attention you need. Sure your freshman classes will be big, but once you declare a major you will notice that class sizes get significantly smaller, and that by the end of the first week, teachers will know you by name. I came from a high school where my graduating class was only 100 people. I thought coming from that to Virginia Tech would require a significant adjustment, but it really didn't. Every single teacher at this school wants you to succeed and, if you take advantage of the many resources they put at your disposal, you can't fail.

The best thing about Virginia Tech is its school spirit. There is a real sense of pride at the university and students are happy to be here. There truly is a Hokie Nation and its effects can be felt far beyond campus. I do not feel that my school is too large. Although there are tens of thousands of students, I still run into friends and classmates daily. If I could change one thing about Virginia Tech, it would be how rural it is. I like that Virginia Tech is the center of the town, but I would like to have more commercial life, restaurants, shops, and theaters. However, Virginia Tech manages to bring a great deal of life to the small town of Blacksburg, Virginia, making it a wonderful place to live.

Upon first arriving at Virginia Tech, I was unsure if this was truly the place for me. Sure, it was academically revered, affordable, and close to home, but was this really the school I belonged at? However, after only my first month on the beautiful campus, I soon fell head-over-heels with the school. Upon arriving in Blacksburg, your greeted by a beautiful campus nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, fully decked out in "hokie-stone", a beautiful stone used on almost all academic buildings. But the university is much, much more than aesthetics. Professors are extremely knowledgeable, and if a student is ever confused, they will graciously answer your question or point you towards help. Speaking of help, VT offers more help academically than you could imagine; almost all classes have help sessions offered every week, along with departments offering help sessions and tutoring at no cost. No matter your subject of choice, there will be someone to assist you if you don't fully understand. But once academics are done, what's next you ask? Perhaps food? Virginia Tech has been nationally ranked within the top 5 Dining Halls in the entire United States. We have 5 main dining halls, with a few smaller food shops in between. I can promise you that no matter what kind of food you are looking for, you will find it here, and it will be absolutely delicious. Just ask the students eating fresh lobster at the "West End" dining hall. VT also hosts an incredible amount of clubs. Virginia Tech offers more clubs than you could imagine, ranging from various sport clubs, to distinct hobbies and interests, to even a real Harry Potter Quidditch Club. How cool is that? And if clubs aren't enough, there is always something to do if you plan on going out on the town. Downtown Blacksburg has many bars and esteemed restaurants that older students frequent. Virginia Tech is a school that has everything, and there is no reason.

Choosing to come to Virginia Tech is the best decision I've ever made. Although I was rather hesitant at first -- partly because of its size, once you're here, it doesn't seem so big. Sure, it was somewhat difficult at first, so far from home, knowing only a few people, but I got out there and needless to say, I've met some amazing people, had some invaluable experiences, and learned a few things along the way..! Though my impending graduation this spring is exciting and well-earned -- it's going to be hard to leave this place.

Tech is a huge school but it never felt too big. I came from Northern Virginia and people there weren't very nice--always in a hurry, not friendly. The biggest thing I noticed about Tech right away was that people were always so friendly and waved at each other and said hello while passing on the drill field --even people from NoVa turned nice at Tech! The weather in the spring and summer is beautiful, though the winters are pretty chilly which surprised me (I figured it was the south!).