Vibe at VT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The vibes are immaculate

Hope this helped!

What is this supposed to mean?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is at VT and really likes it.

Her experience though is there were a lot of pre-existing cliques when she got there and so therefore it was harder to make friends than she wanted in the beginning. She has worked through it. There aren't many NoVa kids who don't go there knowing MANY kids and as a junior, she hasn't branched out quite as much as I would have thought. The friends and roommates are pretty local including one who was a good friend in high school. I'm sure someone else will post and say their child never saw anyone from high school ever again and all their friends are from Colorado. Just one person's experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My older Hokie is living her best life. She says her friends had great options for colleges, but they all - including her - picked VT as a first choice and were happy to be there. That's a good way to start out. They weren't bitter that they didn't get into their #1 school and felt like they were settling. They were super psyched to be there.

The campus is easy to navigate. For a school with ~30K undergrads, it's very compact. Kids can hop a bus to other side of campus if needed, but for those living on campus, it's not necessary & is super walkable. Dorms vary by age/amenities, but they're all on one side of campus and not split like some schools (e.g. Michigan, UNC) or where first years are far from the campus core (e.g. Duke). Both my Hokies really like how campus separated by the Drillfield into the "residential side" and the "academic side".

Food is good and there are a ton of different choices. Campus is pretty and in a pretty setting with gorgeous sunsets.

There are lots of smart kids, but it doesn't have the reputation for attracting strivers, so the students tend to be down-to-Earth types. Trying to do well and happy for others to be doing well.

School spirit is huge. Being in a college town like Blacksburg means everything is centered around VT. Very heavy wearing of VT gear on campus and off. Despite a struggling team, football game days are huge, and basketball is well attended too.

Lots of clubs and events happening. Great outdoor options if you have an outdoorsy kid.

+100
Well said. Your description of the campus is spot on - it’s not sprawling like many large schools, is walkable, and actually feels relatively compact.

I also concur with your assessment of VT being the first choice school for so many. No chips on shoulders here - the students are very smart, nice, and fun. A great combination.

My DC has been having the best four years and will be very sad to leave in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The vibes are immaculate

Hope this helped!

What is this supposed to mean?

DP. It means it’s a great place to be. We feel so fortunate that our DC is attending.

[Anonymous]

DD is a sophomore at VT and loves it! She's involved in several clubs and organizations related to her major, and has made a good group of core friends. She's not a big party girl, but does go to the football games, and enjoys the campus. She lives off campus now, and the bus system is reliable and she's on campus every weekday. She knows lots of kids from home that also attend, but she doesn't hang out with any of them. Most friends were made in the dorm and in clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Because those are patently the two best public universities in the state, duh.

VT is huge. That attribute means you can find large numbers of all kinds of kids, so whatever your child would like to find in the way of peers can likely be found there. That's potentially a big plus, if "vibe" is of central importance to the educational experience and outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Both W&M and UVA were founded at a time when only an extremely small percentage of the population (and restricted to landed white males) were able to go to college. These grads were probably expected to become some sort of leaders in society (e.g. Jefferson, Monroe) because of that privilege. But that is in the distant path, and I don't see the snobbery you are referring to in the vast majority of grads.

[Anonymous]

My JMU kid hated VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Classifying all people at Virginia Tech as nice and friendly and all kids at William and Mary as "snobby" is weird. I've heard tales about Virginia Tech sorority recruitment that don't sound "friendly"... there are mean girls and popular cliques at all colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Classifying all people at Virginia Tech as nice and friendly and all kids at William and Mary as "snobby" is weird. I've heard tales about Virginia Tech sorority recruitment that don't sound "friendly"... there are mean girls and popular cliques at all colleges

Oh please, anecdotes are not helpful when discussing the overall dominant cultures, most of which are informed by an institution’s founding principles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Classifying all people at Virginia Tech as nice and friendly and all kids at William and Mary as "snobby" is weird. I've heard tales about Virginia Tech sorority recruitment that don't sound "friendly"... there are mean girls and popular cliques at all colleges

Oh please, anecdotes are not helpful when discussing the overall dominant cultures, most of which are informed by an institution’s founding principles.

NP. Nor are sweeping generalizations. That’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Both W&M and UVA were founded at a time when only an extremely small percentage of the population (and restricted to landed white males) were able to go to college. These grads were probably expected to become some sort of leaders in society (e.g. Jefferson, Monroe) because of that privilege. But that is in the distant path, and [b]I don't see the snobbery you are referring to in the vast majority of grads.

+1. PP has lost her mind, is bigoted, or doesn’t know her history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Classifying all people at Virginia Tech as nice and friendly and all kids at William and Mary as "snobby" is weird. I've heard tales about Virginia Tech sorority recruitment that don't sound "friendly"... there are mean girls and popular cliques at all colleges

Oh please, anecdotes are not helpful when discussing the overall dominant cultures, most of which are informed by an institution’s founding principles.

NP. Nor are sweeping generalizations. That’s ridiculous.

Not to mention bigoted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny because the snobs that bash VT and choose to not enroll elsewhere are helping VT preserve its character. VT’s historically has always catered to students that are hard workers looking for practical solutions. They are genuine and being able to be yourself makes most people happy.

That is very different from W&M and UVA that were founded to essentially produce a new aristocracy.

I had a daughter at each VT and William and Mary.. what are you even talking about?

Not the pp, but anyone who has studied Virginia history and is a native knows what they are talking about. There is a certain amount of snobbery that still exists at UVA and W&M that you don't find elsewhere in VA..

Classifying all people at Virginia Tech as nice and friendly and all kids at William and Mary as "snobby" is weird. I've heard tales about Virginia Tech sorority recruitment that don't sound "friendly"... there are mean girls and popular cliques at all colleges

Oh please, anecdotes are not helpful when discussing the overall dominant cultures, most of which are informed by an institution’s founding principles.

NP. Nor are sweeping generalizations. That’s ridiculous.

Historically accurate arguments are different from generalizations.