Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Describe the students at your school.

Taylor

Very friendly and welcoming

Ryan

When one travels to Virginia Tech, it's always a fantastic experience. The students and professors are always willing to help others find their way around campus, or to just simply talk about the school. I feel confident enough about the people at Tech to walk up to any student on campus and strike up a conversation. Never have I encounered such a fantastic student body.

Jacqueline

My classmates are thirsty for knowledge and experiences that will help them become better contributers to world around them.

Maury

My classmates are spirited, passionate and dedicated to service.

Emily

The student body at Virginia Tech may be one of the most friendly and helpful communities I've ever encountered.

Sakura

The people are all friendly and full of school spirit.

Andrew

My classmates are a diverse and intelligent group who seem focused on their future.

Sara

Accomidating to everyone, no matter what social or economical differences that they may have.

Jonathan

Though quite motivated, Virginia Tech is not incredibly diverse. The school is predominantly white, and most of the students come from either the metropolitan DC area or Virginia Beach area. There are many churches and chapels for Christians but the other religious groups have a limited choice of one or two temples, mosques, or other places of worship. When forming groups of friends, I feel like many of the ethnic backgrounds tend to stick together. Although somewhat segregated with the groups of friends, I have never witnessed a case of racism at Virginia Tech. There seems to be a general tolerance of people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and income brackets. Since many of the students come from the wealthy northern Virginia area, the students are generally upper middle class. If there were four tables of students in the dining hall, three of those tables would contain all people in the upper middle class. The other table would likely be the jocks who came to Virginia Tech from somewhere other than northern Virginia on a scholarship. They will surely have a VT sports shirt on. The three tables would consist of a table of white engineers, a table of asian engineers, and a table of white cadets, sporting their colors. There are a fair number of cadets, Virginia Tech being one of only two universities with a full Corps of Cadets. These cadets tend to be Republicans, with the rest of the school mainly democrats or ideologically minded libertarians. The only people who really wouldn’t fit in Blacksburg are those who can’t do without big city amenities as Blacksburg is far away from anything resembling a big city.

Lucas

The students at Virginia Tech cannot be described in one fell swoop because of the immense diversity. The students do tend to stay comfortable and stay with the people they’re most familiar with. The main groups of students are the jocks, fraternities, sororities, engineers, Virginia students, international, architecture, and religious groups. Although there are many groups and within those, types of people, there are plenty of clubs, organizations, and activities to go to where students can feel comfortable and become associated with other students. Being renowned for its engineering, Virginia Tech is ironically stuffed with engineering students. These students periodically see broad daylight as they are consumed with their studies and spend much of their time staring at their computer and calculator in wonder. It is a coined joke to assume that any person who is socially awkward is most likely an engineer because they hardly have to opportunity to talk to others. The international students tend to stick together, spending time alongside those who understand their culture and speak their primary language. Most international students are very focused on doing well on their academics. Of any group of students that may feel place at this school it would be them, not because of Virginia Tech itself, but simply because of the different culture. That is not to say that aren't ways of integrating the international students with others. I have gotten involved with a group called "Bridges" in which English speaking students receive an international student as a "language partner" and they meet periodically for lunch to practice their English and have any questions they have answered, getting them further integrated with a different culture. There is a very active student body at Virginia Tech as students pursue their passions inside and outside their classes. With the abundant clubs and organizations students can easily become involved with groups that support what they are passionate about. Whether it is for sports, academics, literally any sort of hobby there is most likely a club. With a desire to be able to leave college and earn money students are regularly interested in finding a "good" job. It is emphasized that students should pursue internships and companies frequently visit to propose working for their company during job expos. As for most students being at Virginia Tech it is their first time on their own much of the student body is willing to pursue all sorts of activities to see what they are passionate about. I have been able to take a class in which I worked with refugees in Roanoke (whom I still visit) and tutor kids at a local high school. I frequently hike the beautiful trails that are only a few minutes from campus. I also am affiliated campus ministries such as Cru and Intervarsity, which are groups in which I learn more about my faith.

Lucas

Being the large school that it is, Virginia Tech houses a melting pot of students, which therefore can lead to many stereotypes of groups and types of people. Of course there are the jocks, geeks, frat kids and so on; however to focus on those "sects" of people would be to only scratch the surface. Virginia Tech has a bond and pride that is unlike any college elsewhere and it derives from a far deeper connection. Students at Virginia Tech have faced many difficult and trying events that have left scars and caused deep wounds. The April 14 shootings, and most recently the killing of Officer Crouse have given Virginia Tech a dark mark that leaves upcoming students to think twice about entering into the "violent" school. In light of all these events there has not been a rift in the student body, but quite the opposite, a deep sense of unity. These events have brought the school closer together in a way that can be felt it immediately as a person steps onto campus. This unity has given our large campus an incredible "homey" feeling. Fueled by a generally welcoming student body that is caring towards one another. When a fellow Hokie walks by with their maroon and orange, whether on campus or off, it is commonplace to yell, "Let's Go!" and hear, "HOKIES" echoed back in response. I've never been to a place so proud for what they stand for, even in the midst of incredible adversity.

Lucas

Being the large school that it is, Virginia Tech houses a melting pot of students, which therefore can lead to many stereotypes of groups and types of people. Of course there are the jocks, geeks, frat kids and so on; however to focus on those "sects" of people would be to only scratch the surface. Virginia Tech has a bond and pride that is unlike any college elsewhere and it derives from a far deeper connection. Students at Virginia Tech have faced many difficult and trying events that have left scars and caused deep wounds. The April 14 shootings, and most recently the killing of Officer Crouse have given Virginia Tech a dark mark that leaves upcoming students to think twice about entering into the "violent" school. In light of all these events there has not been a rift in the student body, but quite the oppostie, a deep sense of unity. These events have brought the school closer together in a way that can be felt it immediately as a person steps onto campus. This unity has given our large campus an incredible "homey" feeling. Fueled by a generally welcoming student body that is caring towards one another. When a fellow hokie walks by with their marron and orange, whether on campus or off, it is commonplace to yell, "Let's Go!" and hear the, "HOKIES" echoed back in response. I've never been to a place so proud for what they stand for, even in the midst of incredible adversity.

George

My classmates are lively, enthusiastic, adventurous, and the kind of people I wanted to meet and spend my college years experiencing life with.

Sarah

Most of the students at Virginia Tech are white, middle class students from Virginia or surrounding states such as North Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey. There is not a lot of racial diversity at Virginia Tech. There are Asian/Asian American students at Virginia Tech but a very few number of African American and Latino students. There is a small proportion of politically active students at Virginia Tech. There are Young Democrats as well as Young Republican groups on campus but they do not have a huge presence on campus. Most students dress pretty casually. Because of the large amount of school-spirit at Virginia Tech, most students wear Tech t-shirts, sweatpants, or hoodies and call it a day. Because the weather is cold during most of the academic year, comfort as well as warmth is ALWAYS important when dressing for class at Virginia Tech. You will need rain boots, you will need a heavy-duty winter coat, you will need gloves and you will need a hat.

Kristin

I'm Catholic so I'm part of the Newman Catholic Campus community at Tech, and I love it. It's a great way to hang out with people who share my same faith. We do a lot of service projects, have community dinners, play volleyball, watch football games at the house, and just hang out and have fun. There are many other religious and otherwise groups on campus as well. There are over 600 clubs on campus, so there's really a niche for everybody. Also, you only need 2 people and $5 to start a club, so it's really easy to create your own. A lot of students are from Virginia, but there are also quite a few from New Jersey, North Carolina, and all over the US. The students are pretty conservative politically, as compared to other schools.

Laura

I absolutely love how diverse Tech is. My best friend in the English department was Persian, and several of the guys I worked with at the Inn at Virginia Tech were as flamboyantly gay as they come. Of course you'll find prejudice, but not much of it. Generally speaking, the students at Tech are pretty accepting of one another, and supportive of groups like Cru and the LGBTA. I honestly can't think of anyone who would feel out of place. It's such a huge school with so many different types of people that just about anybody could easily find friends and feel at home. Different groups do interact, and it's not like high school - one group doesn't pick on or harass another group. Everyone kind of does their own thing and, for the most part, leaves each other alone. Most of the students are from the Northern Virginia / Washington DC area ("Nova"). There is a surprising number of out-of-state students (myself included) though, and even international students, particularly from Asian countries. Some people are really focused on how much money they'll make, but not everybody. Engineering and architecture students were the ones I mostly heard about it from.

Jay

Students at Virginia Tech are spirited, up-beat, and intelligent; one could argue that you could find this particular kind of student at almost every college, and I would agree with that. However, there is something that sets apart Virginia Tech from any other college I know; and that is respect for one another. "Hokie Respect" is a phrase you will almost always hear around campus, and it couldn't be more true. Wherever you go, you are greeted by smiling and kind students, often sporting maroon and orange to support the Hokie Nation. I can honestly say that Virginia Tech students are incredibly nice; students always are gracious and thoughtful of those around them. For a school that has gone through much in recent years, you will not find a tighter bond among the student body. Virginia Tech students are all apart of the Hokie Nation and always will be. Students are extremely diverse at Virginia Tech, and there is no predominant stereotype to label our university. I can promise you that at Virginia Tech, you will find people similar to you. It's impossible not too.

Jimmy

Virginia Tech has quite a diverse group of individuals. One of my favorite things to do each morning after getting on the bus 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 sample of Hokies by noting the appearance of said 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. Personality-wise: you name it, we have it. Virginia Tech has 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.

Megan

Students at Virginia Tech are warm, friendly, and ambitious. Although there is diversity throughout campus, students are seen walking around campus happily in groups of similar friends. Despite race, gender, religion, or socio-economic status, every student seems to give others a chance at friendship. Competition is irrelevant, for at Virginia Tech a Hokie is a Hokie. Every student is treated equally, yet finds comfort in their group of close friends. The attire students where ranges from comfort to class and everything in between. This is the greatest part of attending classes, for one will never look out of place. Students are seen on campus wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts, to leggings with boots and a nice pea coat. This allows each student to fit in and allows for individuals to understand others based on personality as well.

Megan

Students at Virginia Tech are warm, friendly, and ambitious. Although there is diversity throughout campus, students are seen walking around campus happily in groups of similar friends. Despite race, gender, religion, or socio-economic status, every student seems to give others a chance at friendship. Competition is irrelevant, for at Virginia Tech a Hokie is a Hokie. Every student is treated equally, yet finds comfort in their group of close friends. The attire students where ranges from comfort to class and everything in between. This is the greatest part of attending classes, for one will never look out of place. Students are seen on campus wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts, to leggings with boots and a nice pea coat. This allows each student to fit in and allows for individuals to understand others based on personality as well.

Jimmy

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.

Emma

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.

Jenny

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.

Amanda

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.

Chase

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?

Ryan

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.

Barbara

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.

Kelly

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.

Allison

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

Janel

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.

Kyryl

Classmates are diverse, amidable, and very helpful in many cases.

Rachel

The range of students at Virginia Tech is probably one of the most widely-varied and diverse in the area. Although a majority of the students are from different areas of Virginia, there is also a large portion of people from almost every other state in the United States, as well as countless international students from all over the world. This allows students to meet more people more like themselves, but also lets them experience different cultures and viewpoints that they may not get to see at other universities in America.

Kelsey

My classmates are very social and friendly people but not the kind of people you want to necessarily hang around outside of class.

Jessica

My peers are generally very studious, considerate, and dedicated to their studies and work and are always pleasant and welcoming.

Natalie

My classmates can be described as diverse, insightful, and spirited, because every person in Virginia Tech's student population has his or her own story to tell, but we all come together to cheer on our football team or to support a cause on campus.

Hannah

My classmates are energetic and excited to learn. They are actively involved in class discussions and not afraid to share their opinion. They are hard workers and dedicated to their major.

Catherine

Diverse, friendly, school-spirited, always very willing to help, focuses, hard-working, kind.

Samantha

Nica nad willing to help if you ever need anything

Marliese

My classmates are brainy, loud, spirited, bros, academically and socially oriented, independent, interested in getting the most out of college, and also football fans.

Tonya

My classmates are all unique individuals who have mastered balancing their passion to learn everything they can with their need to be a kid and have fun while in college.

John

My classmates are, for the most part, intellegent well rounded people, easy to get along with.

Jeynalynn

Most of my classmates are all hardworking, and focused on their academics.

Hailey

Very diverse and mostly friendly, though occasionally a bit shallow.

Le'Toya

Most are helpful, but some are very competitive.

Tyrell

My classmates are exciting, energetic people who possess the ability to make a difference in the lives of others as they make a name of their own.

Deepika

In one sentence- plain and simple- the students at Virginia Tech are very ambitious as everyone I have met strives toward their own unique and personal aspiration, while whole-heartedly expressing their love for their school; they are hard working, committed to their Virginia Tech community, and supportive of their fellow hokies.

Eric

A good word to way to describe my classmates would be motivated to succeed, I have never seen anything like it; it is a place where people have a real desire to learn and meet their potential in education as well as life.

Ryan

My classmates are hard-working, dedicated students, striving to achieve their goals in life through studying at Virginia Tech.

BUNMI

My classmates are careing and hard working set of people.

Sarah

My classmates are very helpful, non-judgemental, and have become some of my greatest friends.