VT / Blacksburg Vibes

[Anonymous]

We visited VT a few weeks back and while the campus was really nice, the city of Blacksburg and surrounding areas like Christianburg seemed to be very 'meh'.

Are there things for students to do around that area or are students mostly on campus and the isolated area doesnt really bother them as much as it seemed to stand out to us parents?

[Anonymous]

My son graduated from Virginia Tech. There is a ton to do on campus so why would the student be looking for things to do off campus? The student can live in the big city after graduation. Also, if your kid is doing their schoolwork properly, how much free time will they have to be doing things off-campus. Tech is a great place for students that like outdoor activities like hiking. Comparing Virginia Tech to going to college in say New York, at Tech a hamburger and rent off-campus is a lot cheaper.

[Anonymous]

VT might be the most “in the middle of nowhere” school in the T100. But it’s only four years.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people who live in the concrete jungle have a hard time with being suddenly in open space. They feel exposed, uncomfortable, etc. Blacksburg is a great little town. Our kid has loved it, kid's friends from NOVA have loved it. It's a change of pace from the big city life, for sure, but don't you want your kids to experience something new? Isn't that the whole point? You have the rest of your life to live in a big city. Try something different for a few years, you know? Rents are also cheaper. Our college kid is paying $500/month utilities and parking included in rent for a place with a full kitchen and washer and dryer in the apartment near campus. Not bad.

[Anonymous]

VT campus is better than most colleges and kids are quite content.

Plus, its not like they are holed up in Blacksburg for 12 months - between Thanksgiving, Christmas break, spring break, summer - it all works out.

My older went to UVa and younger at VT - they both seemed to find the campus/school life equally good.

[Anonymous]

I was shocked to learn housing is only for freshman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people who live in the concrete jungle have a hard time with being suddenly in open space. They feel exposed, uncomfortable, etc. Blacksburg is a great little town. Our kid has loved it, kid's friends from NOVA have loved it. It's a change of pace from the big city life, for sure, but don't you want your kids to experience something new? Isn't that the whole point? You have the rest of your life to live in a big city. Try something different for a few years, you know? Rents are also cheaper. Our college kid is paying $500/month utilities and parking included in rent for a place with a full kitchen and washer and dryer in the apartment near campus. Not bad.

Isn't it the other way around? When you live in the city, you are there amongst people. Exposed. At Blacksburg, you have space, peace, and nature, so maybe exposed to nature, yes.

[Anonymous]

Does this thread have more on vibe at VT?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1312784.page

[Anonymous]

VT campus, food, education, community and campus hiring is awesome.

So that makes up for Blacksburg and the surrounding areas.

[Anonymous]

Personal preference Op. But your observations were not wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT campus is better than most colleges and kids are quite content.

Plus, its not like they are holed up in Blacksburg for 12 months - between Thanksgiving, Christmas break, spring break, summer - it all works out.

My older went to UVa and younger at VT - they both seemed to find the campus/school life equally good.

Except this is 2026 not 1999 and kids these days don't want to go to school for 4 years in the middle of nowhere. Blacksburg just ain't it.

[Anonymous]

It's the same reason why my daughter wasn't excited about JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT campus is better than most colleges and kids are quite content.

Plus, its not like they are holed up in Blacksburg for 12 months - between Thanksgiving, Christmas break, spring break, summer - it all works out.

My older went to UVa and younger at VT - they both seemed to find the campus/school life equally good.

Except this is 2026 not 1999 and kids these days don't want to go to school for 4 years in the middle of nowhere. Blacksburg just ain't it.

Blacksburg is no worse than Charlottesville or Harrisonburg.

[Anonymous]

For 18 years a student lives where his/her parents are and goes to school nearby. Warm or cold weather, city or suburb or rural, big or small school, brick or stone buildings for HS, they are fine for 18 years.

Then for college, suddenly a student has specific preferences for each of the above + vibe....

This nonsense is widely accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT campus is better than most colleges and kids are quite content.

Plus, its not like they are holed up in Blacksburg for 12 months - between Thanksgiving, Christmas break, spring break, summer - it all works out.

My older went to UVa and younger at VT - they both seemed to find the campus/school life equally good.

Except this is 2026 not 1999 and kids these days don't want to go to school for 4 years in the middle of nowhere. Blacksburg just ain't it.

Blacksburg is no worse than Charlottesville or Harrisonburg.

Charlottesville is a sought-after, expensive town where people long to relocate. Certainly nobody unrelated to VT is getting near Blacksburg voluntarily.