Virginia Tech Reviews

Delicious

Virginia Tech has been nationally ranked several times for it's dining programs, and was ranked 1st in the nation for a while. The food is great. Lot's of options as well from quick and convenient to nicer more expensive and cheap buffets.

Architecture at VT!

Virginia Tech is top notch when it comes to Architecture. It is based on the same principle as the Baushaus. Basically, the school wants you to explore all aspects of design. Our first year was a basic design lab, so architecture majors were working with landscape architecture, interior design and industrial design students as well. It is definitely an open, enjoyable experience aimed at working both independently and as a team. The atmosphere encourages healthy competition, but is not cut-throat like other Architecture schools.

The workload itself varies from professor to professor but you WILL pull all-nighters. There is no avoiding it!

The curriculum is pretty set in stone when you start as a freshman. Your first year design professor is your advisor, but you are only given an open elective here or there. You have to follow what they have planned out already for you pretty strictly. The first year is fairly easy, but GPAs take a nose-dive the second year. The courses definitely get harder and require more and more work, but it is all in your major so it is fairly enjoyable and interesting. The highlights of the program is traveling abroad your fourth year and your fifth year thesis. There are a couple options regarding traveling abroad. There is a residency in Switzerland or you can choose to travel all across Europe.

As far as facilities, the school is located in two buildings next to each other. Cowgill Hall underwent a renovation and reopened in 2008. Burchard Hall is the other building with is actually located underground and houses the computer lab for all the design students. You are given a desk each year, and are able to access it 24/7. Most students tend to hang around studio most of their time. Like my first year professor said, "Studio should be your first home, your dorm or apartment is just a place to sleep."

As for internships and jobs, the School of Architecture and Design puts on a "fair" of students resumes. Firms from all over come to view them and can offer these students jobs and internships.

Not Very Diverse

It is hard to meet people that are different from you on campus. The majority are whites. There are clubs and such for many different religions and for those of a different sexual orientation.

Dorms Are Not Fun

All of the older dorms aren't air conditioned. My experience wasn't that great as I had really loud girls on my hall. I never really got to know any of them because there were no bonding times. Other friends of mine though said they loved their halls because their RA's got involved.

Thomas Hall A LOT better than what people assume

I lived in Thomas Hall Freshman year and I loved it here. The hall itself was really close and everyone knew everyone. I would also like to straighten out that living in the upper quad with the cadets is not bad at all. My only perk was the annoyance of being woken up at 6 in the morning for the first week of school because of their PT. Otherwise, the cadets are guys and girls just like everyone else on campus. My only other perk is that the food is far away. The closest food is Shultz, but it is only good for breakfast. However that problem is leveled out by the fact that class is extremely close to the dorm. Overall, my experience was great in Thomas Hall!!!!

Parties

Parties at Tech are great. People come from all over VA to party with us Hokies.

Enforcement

As a member of the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech, Alcohol and Drug charges are taken very seriously and are dealt with promptly and in an appropriate manner.

Tech Is One Big Frat!

Although there are many forms of greek life here on campus, just being at the school makes you a member of one big fraternity. No matter where you go in the U.S. and even the world you will run into fellow Hokies. If you wear Hokies apparel, you never know who will come up to you!

Biology Major Is Challenging

So far the professors I've had for the classes I've taken have been pretty decent. All of them really love to teach and it shows. The first year as a biology major is challenging if you haven't taken a lot of advancement placements in high school. I think for kids who are shocked my the transition from high school its a hard major. From the upperclassmen I've talked to it just gets harder as you get closer to graduation.

Diversity

There is a lot of diversity, although there are a larger amount of white students.

People Come from All Over to Party With the Hokies

Downtown is the place to be, any night of the week, if you are 21. Otherwise, there are always house parties or fraternity parties (which cost nothing for girls, and sometimes $3 for guys). Most places are within walking distance, but most greek organizations have DD's as well. There are also Hooptie cabs that cost about $5.

You can find all sorts of parties at Tech. People are always throwing themed dance parties, shows, keg races- there is always some place to go and something to do!

Always Something Going on and the Best Town to Be in During Football Season

Blacksburg isn't large, everything you need is really within walking distance, and the bus system gives you plenty of options. The stores and eateries are always delicious and even a college student can afford them for special occasions. Football season is when the town is at its best.

It's There, Nothing New.

It's not difficult to get weed or alcohol. It's not a huge scene, but it does exist.

Greeks Are Shortchanged

The campus doesn't love Greeks but everyone who is Greek loves it. Going Greek is a great way to get involved on campus and meet a whole variety of new friends. Greeks are given a bad stereotype but the Greek life is completely different from what people assume. It's a great community. There's always something to do and get involved with, but you're as involved as you want to be. Greeks don't rule the school by any means. It's just another positive thing to be doing in your spare time.

Down to Earth

Virginia Tech students are down to earth and awesome

The food here is amazing. Period.

It Doesn't Make a Huge Difference

There will always be people doing drugs at any school. At Tech it's pretty much divided. If you want to smoke there's a good number of people who would join you and if not, there's also many people who don't use drugs at all. I have never felt pressured to use drugs here and anyone who feels pressured by their friends probably shouldn't hang out with them anyway.

There is a zero-tolerance drug...

There is a zero-tolerance drug policy, so that can be a really big deal. I have found that the police aren't really out to bust students and can be fairly lax at times, at least compared to other schools like Radford University, where the police are just looking for people to bust for alcohol violations.

Greek life is pretty big at...

Greek life is pretty big at Virginia Tech, but if you don't go Greek, people don't care. I am a part of Greek life, and I think it is amazing. I have met people who I know are going to be lifelong friends and have had plenty of good times with my sorority. Fraternity parties are a lot of fun here, though some are a lot better than others. Most people tend to just go out to their friends' apartments on weekends and maybe every now and then go to a fraternity party.

There are many apartments...

There are many apartments available off-campus. I think it is convenient to live on campus because you are close to all the buildings, but living off campus seems to be more like a home. The buses run to almost every apartment complex, and they are all located close to campus allowing people to walk or ride their bikes. Most of the apartments are cheaper than on campus housing.

Apartments are the best. If you...

Apartments are the best. If you can get an apartment after your freshman year, it is worth it. The dorms are great to meet people, but it is a lot better to have some of your own space and a happy place to come back to. Tech can tend to get slightly depressing living on campus all the time, especially if it is a gray day on the Drillfield. So if you can, get an apartment, there are many that are close enough to walk or drive to campus from and they are easy to find.

The police are pretty strict on...

The police are pretty strict on drinking in the dorms. If you are discrete about it, you will probably be fine, but if you decide to have a large party in your room, you will most likely get caught. The thing to remember is that your roommate gets punished for it, too, even if they are not involved. So don't forget to consider others if you are going to try and get away with something.

Best facilities in the nation. We...

Best facilities in the nation. We have two huge student gyms that are each two stories. They each have full basketball courts, huge weight rooms, full swimming pools (open to students), racquetball, and much more. Also the library is gigantic. It is about seven or eight stories and has anything you would ever want. Also, most library material can be accessed online, as long as you are an enrolled student.

Public transportation has got to...

Public transportation has got to be the best in the nation. While talking to others who go to other schools, I found I am very lucky. They have free student buses running to every part of town, and a bus stop is located about every half block. Also, there is plenty of student parking if one does decide to drive.

We are known for having some of...

We are known for having some of the best technology nationwide. We have a math emporium that is open 24 hours a day and has more than 500 brand new Mac computers for students to use. Still, it's always a good idea to have your own computer. Students will find that at any college however.