Virginia Tech parents...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tech is at 35,000.

Another reason to avoid. You're just a number in a 700 seat auditorium being "taught" by a TA with bad english.

This has not been my DC's experience at all. I think his largest class has been 30-40. I think he would agree that the "Empo" is less than ideal, but he wasn't a fan of online classes in HS either. But, it's only a couple of introductory math classes and there is a ton of fact-to-face help and tutoring available. I think Tech is actually out in front in this area and you will see more of it at other schools in the future.

I can confirm that it’s really not a big deal. And yes, there is plenty of face to face help available. Plus, the Emporium serves as a general 24 hour study hall. People gather to collaborate, work on homework. It’s actually a pretty cool concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The math emporium brings Tech’s prestige down a peg, IMO. Not the way to learn calculus.

Can you elaborate? What’s the better model and where is it employed?

How about a classroom, like how most professors are teaching math?


This is not normal.

Personally I learn a lot better through Computer Based Education than being taught by a professor.

It you can acknowledge that you are unusual, yes? Most people would prefer a classroom to a giant computer lab at a mall.

I don't know. I can't speak for this particular set up at VT, but from what I have seen most CBE programs offer much more individualization to the student then what you would get from a classroom teacher, and I believe that in the Tech Math Emporium they have tutors who go around helping people who need help with individual problems.

[Anonymous]

They also have on campus tutoring available in some of the Residence Halls outside of the Emporium. I would agree that there is much more individual attention available than my introductory Calc class back in the dark ages. While there is, I think, a weekly quiz to keep students on task, it does require some self discipline as the class does not "meet" on a regular basis. This is not a bad skill to learn, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Still scratching my head over how well DC responded to calc 1 at “empo”. To be fair, I think DC had some of the content in HS, so it wasn’t all new. DC could alwAys get help when needed, developed a work routine I never saw In HS, and said the material was better organized than in HS. I thought it was going to be a disaster, and it was the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Who has to get math emporium math? Everyone but math and engineering majors?

[Anonymous]

From what I can tell, engineering students and perhaps some hard sciences like chem majors get actual professors.

DD has math empo for calc and her issue is that whoever wrote the online manual or whatever it is did a terrible job of it.

She much preferred the ALEK intuitive chemistry review program (I think it's from Stanford) that she did for Chem 1 than whatever horribly written online stuff that VT developed for the empo. If ALEK is available for higher level math then VT should be using that and having the tutors at the math empo.

Basically everyone has to find a tutor on the side to help them pass. DD luckily has a fellow dorm mate who loves math and is good at teaching it to others - and willing.

[Anonymous]

At empo, you do the work yourself and if you have a question, you use a plastic solo cup (seriously, you can see them in the pictures) to signal that you need assistance.

It's a far cry from one-on-one tutoring.

[Anonymous]

"At empo, you do the work yourself and if you have a question, you use a plastic solo cup (seriously, you can see them in the pictures) to signal that you need assistance.

It's a far cry from one-on-one tutoring."

Is it impossible to get one-on-one tutoring for the regular price or just not what you get day-in day out without paying extra?

Someone above suggested there was one-on-one tutoring at the residence halls.

A friend's DC is getting one-on-one tutoring but I don't know if they are paying extra...

[Anonymous]

I can confirm that there is separate one-on-one tutoring available at no charge. (You can also probably find it for a fee as well.) My DC, a current freshman and Empo student, typically has a friend who is an engineering student help him out as he's most comfortable with that.

[Anonymous]

I think amazon will help VA Tech reach new heights. And the sheer number of folks whose kids who will be competing for UVA slots means that gaining admission to UVA from nova will be even more ferociously competitive than it is now. As for William and Mary, that’s really a self selected nerd cohort.

[Anonymous]

The Tech campus near the new Amazon is for grad students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Tech campus near the new Amazon is for grad students.

And isn't built yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think amazon will help VA Tech reach new heights. And the sheer number of folks whose kids who will be competing for UVA slots means that gaining admission to UVA from nova will be even more ferociously competitive than it is now. As for William and Mary, that’s really a self selected nerd cohort.

Yep. People like Jon Stewart.

[Anonymous]

To be completely honest, but oldest DD did settle. She didn't get into UVA or W&M, and it was a huge shock to both us and her teachers at school. However, she ended up LOVING VT and had the best possible college experience. We are a definite "Tech family" now - younger DD, after being exposed to VT through her sister, fell in love with the school and didn't even bother applying to UVA/W&M. VT was it for her. She's there now too.