Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VTech)
Virginia Tech (visited 3/27-28/22)
VTech is doing something right. Students love the place and alumni sing its praises well beyond graduation – and the fact that 93% of students return for sophomore year speaks volumes. “VTech is a life changer. It’s big enough to get the experience but small enough to let people find their place and their voice,” said an alum. A current student told me, “This is a competitive school in the best possible way. It isn’t cutthroat. Students help each other rather than trying to withhold information.” The school spirit isn’t just a vague thing, either: People get so enthusiastic during Enter Sandman (a major deal before football games) that it’s registered 3 times on the Richter scale!
Campus is stunning; for such a large institution with what seems like never-ending growth and construction, they’ve done an excellent job keeping a coherent feel. Most of their building are made from stones from a local quarry, and they’ve trademarked it as “Hokie Stone.” It’s also the only school whose colors are orange and maroon.
VTech is 1 of 6 Senior Military Colleges in the US; the others are Texas A&M and University of North Georgia in addition to more expected universities such as Norwich University, VMI, and The Citadel. To be considered an SMC, they must offer a Corps of Cadets beyond ROTC in which students live a constant military lifestyle and maintain standards similar to the Service Academies (including being subject to military discipline). VTech’s Corps has existed since the University’s founding, and their Parade Ground is front-and-center on campus. Currently, they have 1,400 Cadets in addition to a robust ROTC program.
In the early 2020s, the university saw a massive surge in applications: a single-year increase of 13,000 applications brought them to about 45K apps a year! However, they have to keep enrollment steady because they’re bound by State directives and town zoning laws. Enrollment must be comprised of at least 68% Virginia residents (but there’s some talk that they may be able to edge down to 65% in the future). They’re aiming to have at least 40% of their students from underrepresented/under-served communities. They have a First-Gen student success office, Generation One LLC (connecting students to first-gen grad students and faculty), and provide advocacy and support including for students with Food Insecurity, family issues, and housing.
Admissions recently changed their process to include a holistic review of applications. The personal review counts for about 30% of the decision. Part of this review includes the 4 short answer questions. Each answer gets rated on a 0-3 scale by 2 readers who have no information about the writer (no name, grades, etc). If the 2 readers differ by more than 4 points, a 3rd reader comes in. The scores are averaged.
As of early 2022, we were told that it’s highly likely that they’re going to extend the test-optional policy for at least 3 more admission cycles. “We’re feeling comfortable talking about it; the proposal is in front of the faculty senate at this point.”
Some scholarships (Premier, Honors) are granted through the admissions office. However, something we as counselors find frustrating on behalf of students/families is that many more are decentralized: students have to troll through a long list to figure out which they are eligible for and how to apply. These are listed by college here.
Students are admitted to majors (about half of which are restricted) which have different admissions criteria dictated by seats available, number of students wanting those seats, and enrollment goals broken down by residency. They expect rigor in high school classes but have no preference for AP, IB, or dual enrollment. In engineering (the most competitive major), they love to see the “trifecta” of AP Calc, Physics, and Chem. Once matriculated, everyone stays put for the first semester. After that, it’s not impossible to switch, although it can be difficult depending on the major and seats available. “Don’t try coming through the back door to a competitive major!” Architecture, for example, has a high retention rate so only about 5 seats open up a in a typical year. In other majors such as business, students can take many of the required classes the first year and then switch if they have the GPA (around a 3.0).
We had the opportunity to talk to representatives from most Colleges during our visit:
- University Studies: historically the university’s largest exploratory major. “We used to be the go-to but we’re not the only show in town anymore. Most colleges now have exploratory options.” However, they’re at least as competitive as engineering, despite there being more options. There’s an LLC dedicated to exploratory majors, and they offer Transitional Advising for student considering changing their minds, offering services as early as orientation. Last fall, they saw over 700 students in this situation.
- Architecture and Urban Studies: “This is a highly experiential school, learning by designing and doing, taking field trips and engaging with people. We’re makers, planners, artists, architects. We solve real world problems and issues.” This is the school that houses programs like performing and visual arts, creative technologies, industrial or interior design, and landscape architecture. No portfolios are accepted or reviewed in admission because of equity in access, and everyone starts at the same level regardless of talent or level. They offer an Undecided option (Explore CAUS) during which students take several classes before declaring a major. In order to graduate in 4 years, they often take the major-specific design studio over the summer.
- Business: This is a restricted college; students must be admitted to the college to take classes. Students can apply to transfer in once they matriculate at VTech, but it’s harder to get in. Some of their stand-out programs include Real Estate; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Business Information Technology; and Finance, Insurance, and Business Law.
- Engineering: although students must list a major on their application, all students are admitted into General Engineering. In the first year, they take typical core classes before applying into their major of choice. Computer Science (they have the highest number of seats available) and Mining/Minerals (far fewer students choose this) tend to be the most accessible. Aerospace and Ocean Engo is the most competitive because of the limited number of seats due to lab space needs.
- Liberal Arts and Sciences: with 42 majors, there’s plenty of flexibility to pursue multiple areas of interest. “They’re not studying something to be something. They’re developing skills to solve 21st century issues.” They’re adding 5 new education majors to prepare students for licensure (with a 5-year masters option). A couple unusual programs worth noting are: National Security and Foreign Affairs, Residential Environments and Design, and Humanities for Public Service.
- Natural Resources and Environment: This mostly STEM-focused college is VTech’s smallest with 950-1000 students. It’s also the only natural resources school in Virginia, consistently ranking in the Top 10. With class sizes averaging 25, students get hands-on, outdoor-based opportunities. Some more unusual majors include Sustainable Biomaterials, Environmental Data Science, and Fish Conservation.
- Sciences: “This is much more than the traditional sciences. It includes Economics, Systems Biology, psychology, geosciences, computational modeling and data analytics, and nanoscience/nanomedicine. Several of these line up with business or engineering.
- Agricultural and Life Sciences: “We focus on anything that lives, breaths, and grows on the planet” such as Dairy Sciences, Food Sci and Tech, and “a bunch of neat majors that they don’t expect” including Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science and Agricultural Technology, the only 2-year degree at VTech. More than 60% go onto grad school, many in health sciences (PA, PT, pharm, vet, medical).
VTech prides itself on being forward thinking and deliberate about student life and building community. For example, they’re moving to all-inclusive bathrooms in the dorms ahead of the rest of the university. Just over 10,000 students (1/3 of the undergrads) live on campus. This year, they’re upending the housing system because “the traditional model isn’t working with this generation. They’re incredibly connected and incredibly alone. We do a great job scooping them out of the river when they’re in distress, but we’re reacting. We’re now going upstream and keeping them out of the river. We’re making communities smaller. Research shows you can know 150 people in a community setting.”
Part of this initiative is expanding Living Learning Communities: “We’re working on an ‘opt-out’ rather than ‘opt-in’ mentality,” said the Director of Res Life. In 2022, 40% of residential students live in 1 of 20 LLCS; the goal 67%. They’re adding options each year including a Data Analytics community this fall. “We encourage students to opt in because we know it’s good for them. From the first day, they have things in common; they tend to have higher GPAs; they tend to make better decisions.” Retention is higher because they’re engaged and connected to each other, faculty, the university. “Thirty thousand students can be overwhelming. LLCs provide the best of both: a smaller community where they’re known AND all the perks of a larger university.” Most allow students to stay all 4 years if they want; three of them have students agree to a 2-year contract right off the bat.
If you just looked at the res halls, they’d be the 9th largest town in Virginia. All incoming students are required to live on campus unless they’re active military, 21, married, or living with a close relative in the Blacksburg area. Students fill out housing contracts as soon as they matriculate because room assignments are first come-first served. Most rooms are double occupancy; students can pick their own rooms using whichever roommate’s lottery number is better. There are some triples, particularly among Corp of Cadets (the commandant picks their rooms) but only 20 single rooms for undergrads: it’s important to submit documentation early if they need a single. There are 19 Greek houses off campus. (As a side note: about 20% students go Greek. “It’s there if they want it but not at all needed for a social life,” said a tour guide.”) Most upperclassmen who live on campus are athletes or Cadets, but this is changing as space is added.
They’re building an Innovation Campus (scheduled to open in 2024) which will be the most diverse tech campus in the country. Located in NoVA near National airport and the new Amazon HQ (and a new metro stop next door), they’ll offer a Master of Engineering – “sort of the MBA of Engineering” – with several admission pathways including direct-admit. It will provide strong project-based education. “Companies will pay $50K to have groups solve problems.”
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