Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Unless your greek, your out! The most eventful social events are held by the greek community and if you aren't a part of the greek community then you are mostly out of the loop.

There are SO MANY ways to get involved and expand your social network at Virginia Tech. Greek life is great here. We have an amazing sports programs, for both Varsity, club, and recreational levels. There are hundreds of student organizations for interests ranging from dance to music to art to religion to various hobbies and interests... the list goes on. I am invovled with several groups. I'm a sister in a great sorority, Kappa Delta. I am also the director of Sensations, an all-female a cappella group here at VT that sings at events all over campus. I am also in Student Alumni Associates, "SAA," a group that works with the alumni association to host events like reunions, faculty appreciation day, hokie spirit picnics, etc. Students in dorms and other on-campus housing such as greek houses are very open and social. It is common to walk through a dorm and see all the doors open. Everyone makes great friends as a freshman living in teh dorms because you meet so many people. Athletic events are obviously huge here. I don't think I really need to go into that further! The dating scene is great here! As I said before, there are so many people here that you are constantly getting the chance to meet new people! I met my closest friends through a wide variety of things. Some I met during my orientation to Virginia Tech the summer before we began our freshman year. Some I've met through my singing group or SAA. Obviously Greek life has led me to a huge number of close friends, both in my chapter and others. Virginia Tech is a very fun campus, but there is a healthy balance between hard work and fun. We work hard and play hard! Fraternities and Sororities in my opinon are a great way to get involved and meet people, but they certain are not the only thing to get invovled with on campus. There are hundreds of other groups and activies for those that chose to not be part of a Greek organization. There is SO MUCH to do here that does not invovle drinking. There is always something going on, whether it's an a cappella concert, ring dance, a dance company performance, movies at the lyric theatre, bowling in the student center, movies on the drillfield, sporting events, etc. The list goes on and on.

Joining a sorority has definitely showed me a great social life at tech. whether it is going downtown or to a party its always a good time!

Greek life is huge at Tech. There are always fundraisers, philanthropies, events, and parties that are being hosted by sororities and fraternities. Athletic events are also huge-- especially football and more recently basketball. It is always fun to go to these events and the entire town basically shuts down on gamedays. To have a saturday night of not drinking there are the options of-- going to the new movie theatres in Christiansburg, Christiansburg in general, drive-in Sonic, many great restaurants, and there are organizations that have planned dry events.

People party three days a week. The weekend starts on Thursday and continues till Saturday. If you are 21 then you probably go downtown on Tuesday night for karoke.

Sports teams and greek life. I am in a sorority and love it. I came here not knowing anyone and I have made my best friends. I leave my door open, but I know everyone in the house and it is always locked. I wouldn't do the same thing in a reg. dorm. Athletic, guest speakers, and theater are all popular, to me. It is easy to date if you go ut or go to class. Well I am probably drunk on Tuesday at 2am, but any other semester I would probably be studying. Homecoming and football season are the two traditions that come to mind. People probably party twice a week. I think grekk life is important but I think only 18{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the campus is greek. Last weekend I went to bars every night except Satuday where I watched a movie with some friends. On saturdays, I have camped out, gone to movies, gone out to eat, shopped, watched movies with friends instead of drinking. I eat off campus one a week, go to bars and movies.

Greek groups are very popular. So is the SGA. Sport teams get a lot of attention. Depending on dorm & hall if students leave their doors open.

Not sure what the "popular" groups on campus are but I did TKD for many years. When I lives on campus that one year we left our door open for the most part. I met one of my closest friends through the women's engineering groups and the others were through her and one was my next door neighbor in the dorm. We did not go to athletic events but some guest speakers and plays and movies. I was usually awake at 2am, either going to eat at Joe's dinner, watching TV or playing a video game. People seem to party alot. I always thought fraternities/sororities were stupid. You can watch movies, hang out with friends, go bowling instead of drinking.

GET INVOLVED. go to the river, go to the cascades, go downtown to eat sometimes. make friends on your hall and stay in, watch movies, go bowling/play pool on campus, catch a movie. The key is to keep your door open the first two weeks of school. COMPLETELY TRUE. benefit of a large school, if you want to go out there are people to do that if you want to stay in there are people to do that too!

My closest friends live with me in the dorm. Hall style dorms are definitely the way to go as an incoming freshmen. As most any other school, living in a suite can make it difficult to meet other people. We have an amazing time in the dorms, watching movies, having random dance parties for no good reason, silly pranks...life in the dorm is a good life. There are also always people to complain to, to ask for scissors from, and to get to know you better than most friends you grew up with (not to mention plenty of girls who share your love for Nathan on One Tree Hill). I have made the best memories from just a lazy, rainy Wednesday afternoon with my hall mates. I am a part of CRU (Campus Crusades) at Tech and it has been an amazing way to meet people and learn about religion. I haven't fully proclaimed myself as a Christian but this group of people shows me a good time regardless. They have the 'Five-dollar prom', 80's skating parties, formals, tubing on the New River, and Karaoke nights that draw hundreds of students. That is one thing that I think stands out apart form other schools, at Tech, if an event is planned and advertised, people will go. In fact, usually LOTS of people go. There is a general enthusiasm amongst the students to be a part of the school. We love being Hokies! That reminds me of the Corp of Cadet vs. Civilian snowball fight. It is not officially sponsored by VT but somehow the word spread and at least 2,000 brave souls gathered on the drill field after the first snow ball to engage in a brutal battle of the ice balls. It was a quite a sight. Yes, there are parties here...really? Is that a question? Alcohol flows like a creek through the middle of campus, but although Saturday night can be easily stumbled home from a frat house or giddily ridden home on the BT Drunk Bus, it can also be spent plenty of other ways. Bowling at BreakZone, movies in Squires, concerts (O.A.R. and Dave Matthews Band this year were AMAZING!), and game nights are just a few options for a sober night. My roommate tried to get me to go to a Salsa class last week and I've seen break dancers graze the lobbies of Squires on Thursday nights. In the summer I suggest staying sober though, because the nights when we take blankets, guitars, frisbees, and soccer balls to the drill field and act like hippies under the stars have been nights I will never forget. Football and basketball games stay going until 2 a.m., and last semester the school put a huge projector up on the drill field and played a movie. If smoking is your thing it seems that year-round Hookah is set up by students throughout campus and many go downtown to the Hookah bar to diligently practice their smoke-rings. People aren't horny rabbits at Tech. Parties=sex, SOMETIMES, but overall there are a few serious couples and a few testing the waters but if you're single it's not as if you'll be jumped right as you step on campus. As far as I have observed, kids here take is slow and find someone they really care about...and with 27,000 students there is always somewhere to look. The goths and hardcore rocker punks are a little harder to come by, but chances are there is someone on campus that is just like you, and that wants to date you!

the most popular team on campus is obviously football! I unfortunately got placed in an upperclassmen dorm so most students keep their doors closed but in all the freshmen dorms most keep their doors open. Athletic events are definitely popular, especially football and basketball. I met my closest friends through Campus Crusade for Christ. I am doing homework at 2 am on a Tuesday. People party a lot. Last weekend I went to the baseball game, worked, etc. there are so many things you can do on a saturday night: bonfires, watch a movie,...just hanging out with your friends should be fun enough if you have good chemistry. Off campus I watch movies, go shopping, bonfires, hiking, caving, etc.

If you do it, used to do it, have thought about trying it, or scared shitless by it, chances are there is a group on campus completely devoted to it. There's spalunking (very fun I might say--but please wear a helmet. I learned that the hard way), religious groups, biking clubs, innertube water polo, hiking club, business organizations, alcohol awareness groups, future medical students groups, and anything else you can imagine. There is a greatly popular Christian group on campus that I've been a part of since I came to Tech. Campus Crusade for Christ, more commonly known as Cru, has about 600 members of the student body that meet once a week for worship and just to have a good time. (It's on Thursdays at 8:30 in squires if you're interested.) Athletic events are huge here--football being the biggest of course. On Saturdays you might as well forget your plans because the whole town is at the game. Basketball is another big sport but there are also a TON of intermurals and club sports here. The theatres on campus are great--I've seen a lot of plays and they are all done so well by our fellow students. I met my closest friends in Lee Hall last year when I lived on campus--everyone always had their doors open and we sat in the hallway at night talking or doing homework together. I also met good friends at Cru during weekly meetings, game nights, bible studies, and weekend retreats. If I'm awake on a Tuesday at 2am I'm either putting the finishing touches on a paper, coming back from a late night trip to Wal-Mart, or watching the third season of sex and the city with my roommates. People party as often here as they do anywhere else. I think it's just typical of college, but not all college students party. Fraternities and sororities are a big part of campus here. I have no desire to ever be part of one but their presence on campus is huge. Last weekend was St. Patrick's Day weekend---so I went to a party some of my friends were having in honor of the day. (Why do we celebrate that day again?) I also went hiking since it was warm, went for a late night drive through town with a friend, and saw a movie another night. There's always something to do. ALWAYS! What do you do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking? This one's easy--I do this all the time! Sometimes there are movies playing on campus for $2, you can go for coffee or ice create at Deets, take a walk around campus (because it is very well lit and safe), play pool or bowl in Squires, just hang out with friends and watch movies, or have a bonfire down by the river in McCoy. And believe it or not--college isn't like the movies where everyone is trying to get you to drink all the time. They don't really care--if you aren't drinking that means more for them and believe it or not--people do have alcohol free parties and you can go to a party to dance and have a good time watching people stumble.

Different ethnicity organizations. Last weekend I went fishing and went to easter service. Off campus I hang out with friends. Go to the movies around town if there is no drinking involved. Dating scene is ok, movies, parties, people liek to date others here.

I'd say greek life and intramural sports are very popular at VT. I played intramural co-ed soccer for a few years, and it was awesome! In most dorm halls, the doors are left open. People are very friendly and sociable here.

1. greek life 2XDA- community service sorority 3. doors are usually open 4. everyone goes to football games 5. Met my friends in HS 6. Doing hw 7. Football is the biggesttradition 8. Every weekend 9. Greek life depends on the persopn 10. Went out 11. Hang out with friends/movies/sports 12. Work :(

If you're a guy and want to meet girls, look elsewhere, theres a bad ratio. Athletics dominate. Alcohol is around, but it is relatively tame. Lots of outdoor activities off campus, some nightlife in town.

In some hallways doors are always open when of course there are some people that do seclude themselves to their own room. Of course when you're a freshman on campus, having the doors left open is a great way to meet people especially if you don't have that many friends coming from high school. Either way you need to branch out. At 2 AM on Tuesday morning a lot of kids are either studying, lounging around in the hall, or watching TV. Its not uncommon for students to be up that late - I know I did it in high school and with some classes not starting till 10-11 AM there really isn't a need to be heading off to bed at 10-11 at night. People tend to party a lot at points at Tech. There is never a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night that you can't find something going on. And of course there are still people who will party Sunday-Wednesday night as well.

If you're into marching band, you must try out for the Marching Virginians; this may be the only time you will ever have a director who has his own bobble-head doll.

-Football and Basketball, the German Club -I am involved with soccer and various media organizations -Yes -Very popular -I guess it's good... -Through my soccer team and my dorm -I'm not awake -The football games, the snowball fight -Every night of the week, you can find a party -Not that prevalent -I went out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so yeah. -There's always something going on around campus. You can hang out with friends at home, go downtown to eat, see a movie at the Lyric, hang out in Christiansburg. -Go downtown, go to C-burg, go to the parks, visit the Cascades, have barbecues in our apartment complex, hang out with friends

There are so many groups, no one would be able to find "the most popular". Personally, I've been a member of Hokie Ambassadors (awesome Admissions tour guides!), Student Alumni Associates, and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. They all offer wonderful opportunities to serve the school and community, while making the large campus seem much smaller! If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, it's either because I'm watching a movie with my sorority sisters, I'm studying for a test or finishing a paper, or downtown for karaoke night at TOTS. There are so many wonderful traditions that it would be impossible to list them all. There are tons of opportunities to have fun on campus on a Saturday without drinking. The student center shows recent movies for $2 (a really good deal for us poor college kids!)

Most popular--rec sports clubs and greek life. I played club volleyball for 5 semesters--it's definitely it's own sorority. We practiced 4 days a week, had 3 or 4 tournaments a semester, ate together, drank together, and had our own drama. My roommate and I kept our door open all the time, but it depends on your hall/pod. Athletic events are crucial, especially football games--everyone goes. Basketball games are really popular too, but not everyone goes (aren't enough places to sit). Guest speakers aren't as popular, depending on who it is, and I know theater isn't as popular--the only reason I've ever gone is because I had to. We aren't a liberal arts school, though. I met my closest friends in my dorm my freshman year, and I met another one of my best friends out my first night in college through mutual friends. You're either downtown or studying. A lot of people don't party, but there are some that go out everyday. Greek life is much more involved in partying, but a lot of students don't drink at all. Although I rarely go out anymore, on average I went out two nights a week. I feel like my life is run by sororities, because all but one of my best friends are in one--they've ruined my social life, because I'm NOT in one and everyone else I know is. I studied Thursday night, I hung out and watched movies with my roommates Friday night, and I came home Saturday. You can go to movies, hang out with friends, go to athletic events, go to campus events.... I live off campus, go to the gym off campus, etc

Popular groups at VT include sports teams (varsity and club), Greek organizations, academic organizations and political organizations... Sporting events, mainly football, are huge here at VT. Meeting people occurs through old friend networks, classes and organizations... If I'm awake on a Tuesday at 2am it's because I'm at TOTs Tuesday...(a popular bar with Karaoke) Students party as much as they'd like to, but yes, I'd say it's pretty prevalent. There are a lot of things to do to occupy your weekends if you're not too keen on partying though. There are a ton of scenic places to go hiking, swimming/rafting, fishing and other outdoorsy things and there are movie theaters, malls etc not too far off either.

Organizations and teams are a huge part of the VA Tech community. Fraternity and sororitity members are spotted all over campus in their letters on a normal basis. Sport team members also have a big acknowledgement on campus because of our overwhelming support for Hokie sports. Athletic events are an exciting past time for the majority of Va Tech students. In fact, football season is probably one of the things students look forward to the most each year. I have met my closest friends through my sorority, as well has having friends from high school here at Tech and the friends I met freshman year that I still have remained close with. If I am awake at 2 am on a Tuesday it is because I am just getting home for the night. Tuesday at Tech means TOTS Tuesday karoake-a known favorite among the seniors. How much you party depends on YOU. Any day of the week, there is definitely someone willing to go out with you. However, there are a lot of things around Blacksburg that you can do if you don't want to party. On a Saturday night, you could hit up the lyric or New River Valley Cinemas for a movie, go out to eat in Christiansburg, or simply just hang out at a friends apartment.

If I'm up at 2 am on a Tuesday its probably because I have a test on Wednesday morning. I live in a dorm and keep my door open all the time. Kids can get kind of rowdy so I close it when sleeping or studying. Athletic events are a huge deal and everyone wants to go. Football games are the best as long as you have season tickets or good luck in the lottery. Fraternities and sororities are a great part of Virginia Tech. They make campus a lot smaller and let you get close with a great group of people a lot like yourself. They also give you an outlet to give back to Blacksburg and further. On a Saturday not drinking you can go see a movie at the lyric, go to the mall in Christiansburg, go to the Cascades, go tubing in the New River, or even see where dirty dancing was filmed. Last weekend I went to a dinner at the Inn for the 35th tridelta reunion.

I love greek life, I would recommend it to anybody and I'm pretty sure everybody gets a bid if they rush. I always have something fun to do if i want to go out and people to stay in with if thats what im looking for.

-football, greek organizations -Student Alumni Associates, it is the most outgoing organization and so much fun, we are liasons between the school and alumni -some -athletic events are the most popular -college students don't really "date" anymore ...this is the same at every school though -I'm not really sure, we just all kind of found each other -at Jimmy Johns eating because I just left TOTS -too many to name!! Maroon and Orange Effect, Ring Dance, Big Event, etc. -about 3 or 4 nights a week -important - they support so many good causes and raise money for so many groups in need -I was home for spring break -go to dinner and a movie -go downtown, run errands

I am involved in the class system which deals with the class ring tradition which is very big here, students leave doors open, athletics are huge here, guest speakers draw crowds based on popularity, theater not really, dating scene is very good, i met my closest friends in class, if i am up at 2 am I am usually partying, traditions include football, pep rallys. people party often, frat and sorority life is prevelent but not necessary at all, not drinking you can go to the restaurants downtown, a movie in christiansburg, a show at the lyric theater, concerts in burruss hall

Greek life reins as the most popular social groups. I played on the club mens lacrosse team for a fall season and really enjoyed it. I would still be playing if I hadn't gotten injured. the difference between the traveling club sports team and a greek sorority or fraternity is people join a greek organization for many different reasons. Popularity, networking, social status, friends in the org., leadership experience, business experience, etc. These differences in maintaining ties to the organization as I have witnessed makes it difficult and a constant effort to keep a unified group. Everyone on the Lacrosse team shared a very important common interest, a love for the sport. Unity was never an issue. Not difficult to make friends. People are friendly just looking to have fun. I don't believe in prerequisites for a social scene, other than compatible personalities. Mine is fairly compatible with most. I don't have trouble socially. Many social circles drink often, many others do not ever. Anyone can decide to surround themselves with a variety of settings to feel comfortable.

Women's Center (S.A.V.E.S)

So are the activities.

The annual snowball fight is the coolest thing that happens all year. It's civilians vs corp and you are guaranteed to get powder shoved in your face.

Athletics are a big deal a VT its second only to academics....if you don't like sports of some kind, your gonna feel wierd. But please keep in mind that sports range from football to fencing to dance to hockey, so even though we're really into our athletics its varying

The most popular organizations would have to be VTU and BSA, solely because they put on the events that students look forward to coming out to such as concerts that they're favorite bands will be taking part in. Depending on the floor, class and type of person, doors can be found open or closed. Athletic events, primarily football is number one here at VT. The dating scene is not something that I observe because I have been happily taken before I became a student here. I met my closest friends in classes and on my hall at the first hall meeting. If I am awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I must be up doing work and studying. Traditions that happen each year are the step shows, balls that they sororities and fraternities put on and the concerts in fall and spring. People can party any day of the week if there are no classes. I feel as if sororities and fraternities are important because although they do not broadcast it, they do a tremendous amount of community service and outreach. Last weekend, I attended the BOC Culture show and Winterfest. I go to sleep on Saturday nights because the weekend is the only time that I get to relax. Off campus, I usually walk around Walmart or go out to IHOP with a group of friends.

Students often leave their doors open, and it makes it easy for people to make friendships or meet people freshmen year. Guest speakers tend to only be popular if it is someone relatively famous. I wish more students would go to the lesser known speakers - and that departments and teachers were more active in encouraging and informing students of such events around campus. I met my closest friends through clubs, as well as those who lived on my hall freshmen year. I wish I met more people through class, however it is often hard in giant lectures when people don't interact. If I'm up that late on a Tuesday, it is because I'm doing homework. The only tradition that really comes to mind is a giant snowball fight each year. Some people party every weekend, others a few times a month, others never. There are even those that party multiple times a week, from Weds-Sun. I guess to some Greek life is important, however almost all of my friends have not been involved in it. Last weekend I was at Hunter College for a fencing tournament. Sober weekends include going to the movies, or going to Squires for pool/bowling. The fencing club has socials, usually potlucks, but those are rare since tournaments take up so much time. Honestly, there's not much that is catered towards a sober crowd, though.

Virginia Tech has a plethora of activities that have a way of finding you no matter how hard you try to avoid school involvement. Any given night, there is something to do, whether it's a guest speaker, a concert, a lecture series, career training, movie premier or club activity. The clubs and groups at Virginia Tech are countless. I can guarantee you will find more than five clubs that fit your most unique interest, and if you can't, make it! Social lives revolve around being part of activities. There is a great cross over between the two. For example, nothing is more common that spending your afternoon in a club meeting and your evening at a club get together downtown. That is just how things around here transpire.

Greek life is something like 13 percent of campus, but it seems to me to be more than that. That might be because my 3 roommates are all in different sororities, and most people I know are Greek. It's a great way to broaden your horizons, but it's not for everyone. You can rush freshman or sophomore year. So if you're not sure, just hold off a year and feel it out. As far as dorm life, I didn't have a great experience. The dorms are dirty! The bathrooms are one each floor, and they don't get cleaned on the weekends. Freshman year, it was so nice to go home to a real shower. As far as people leaving their doors open and being friendly, it really depends who's on your hall. My hall wasn't close, but I have many friends who made their very best friends on their hall, and who consider their dorm experience among the best of all of college. Personally, the day I moved into my apartment sophomore year that wonderful. Quality of life skyrocketed. And this year, being 21, I moved to an apartment downtown. I can't recommend that enough. I get to walk everywhere: class, bars, bars, class, restaurants. Coming from Northern Virginia I've never gotten to walk anywhere really. It's such a great experience to be able to live downtown and walk everywhere. Weekend life is great, there's never a dull moment. There are people who drink all the time, and people who don't. There are bars and parties and groups of people who do other things. Campus Crusade for Christ is a Christian organization that plans social events that don't involve drinking. Anyone can have fun here. Athletic events, such as FOOTBALL, as huge here. People look forward to them year round. They are so much fun, and they bring the community closer. I've heard that many people made their decision to come here based solely on the energy they felt from attending one football game. And some of those people don't even particularly like football. It's an event on such a huge scale that goes beyond the actual game itself. VT is fun for pretty much anyone. I haven't met many people in my 4 year career here that have difficulty enjoying social life here.

The groups are nice because they are usually small and only involve the motivated students. A lot of people come to college just to drink and get laid and it's nice to know that some people are here to expand their mind.

The biggest thing to do in the fall is FOOTBALL!!! Tailgates are where it's at. Greek life is prevalent but definitely not necessary in order to enjoy your college years. However, Greeks definitly do have more fun. Dining halls on campus are ammmazing. Hokie girll, or Ho grill as we call it is my favorite. D2 is an all you can eat dinning hall and has everything you could ever want. West end is also pretty amazing. Anytime you're feeling classy you can head to west end and order up some lobster and steak. The student body at Virginia Tech is Blacksburg's main population. When the weather is nice outside many kids go the River to have cookouts or go tubing. The Cascades is a beautiful place that a lot of students like to go hiking. It has a beautiful waterfall and a place to go swimming. For the majority, there isn't really too much to do in Blacksburg apart from hanging out with friends. You create your own fun.