VT - what is is like currently?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

All the talk here of high school cliques is a bit disconcerting. Is it hard for kids that didn’t go to a FCPS high school to make friends? Are the high school friend groups excited to expand their group of friends to include new people? It sounds sort of awful.

+1. My kid would be bummed.

it is a very large school so your kid will probably not have trouble meeting new people. I know a kid who is from OOS and he is absolutely thriving.

+2
Most of my kid’s friends are from OOS.

+1

I attended back in the late 80s/early 90s from a Fairfax Co HS. I didn't hang out with anyone from my high school and rarely saw them. My best college roommate was from NJ. My dorm mates were from VA Beach, Richmond, other parts of the state and some out of state. I also became very close with a few girls from other Fairfax Co high schools--not near mine. This was great because we would meet up in the summer or catch a ride back on holidays. Now as the only one still in the DC area, they come back to visit their parents on holidays and we always spend a night or day out together.

What I loved about Tech was that it was a big school so you had anonymity and choices. At that time, greek life wasn't a huge deal. You still hung out with your friends and went to parties whether you were part of the greek system or not.

I was ready for a new start in college and I got that.

+100
Now there are far more OOS kids as VT has become a national university. And the Greek system is still not overwhelming - less than 20% of the students go Greek. My daughter is so involved in other things that I doubt she’s going to rush. She’s having a blast - as well as working hard in classes.

+100

One of the things I absolutely loved was that the greek life didn't run the social scene like it does at many college campuses. It feels very inclusive and not snobby. A bunch of my friends did join a sorority (different ones in the group), but 99% of their social time was with the fantastic group of girls who became lifelong friends on freshmen dorm hall. We still went to frat parties, but the off-campus parties and block parties were more fun. I was a STEM major and my courses were hard and prepared me well, but I still had a very social time there as well.

It's completely off campus (the greek houses), just like at UVA. You can choose to be in it or not, which is a good thing

It's always a personal choice, no one forces someone to be greek.

DP. Obviously. I think the point the PP was making is that VT doesn’t have a huge Greek presence that might make someone feel pressure to join or else have no friends. It’s quite the opposite. There are so many clubs and organizations that many students don’t even consider rushing. No need to.

That is true at most schools so OK...

No, it’s actually not. A lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority. Simply stating this is not at all the case at VT. But you seem to just want to argue, so whatever.

Anecdotes are to be laughed at. You are obviously an unserious person. Define " a lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority." There are more than 2,800 4 year colleges. I'll wait for your data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s it like for a shy, less socially savvy student? My DS, junior, is introverted and not at all a partied and we’ve been really pushing him to focus on smaller schools and I think he’s come to agree, but - Tech really has a lot of programs that he might be interested in academically like their school of natural resources.

Wondering if being in the honors dorm (how hard is it to get in honors) or in the residential college or one of the LLCs would be a good way to kind of make it more like a smaller school. We weren’t even going to tour Tech but wondering if we should.

Going to a small school isn't always the best thing for an introverted kid. The schools can quickly become cliquey and cater to a specific type of kid, i.e., artsy or wealthy or liberal, etc. which may not fit your kid. Your kid might find better outcomes at a larger school with more likelihood of finding his people, but you know your kid best.

+1 and a small school doesn't necessarily mean not partying, let's be realistic it happens almost everywhere. Most well adjusted HS juniors aren't going out and drinking. Going to college with new found freedom and no parents around will change social construct and behavior and that's OK. Some of the most artsy people my kid hangs out with are the biggest dope smokers there are, constantly high. These were kids that were total nerds in HS. Honestly sometimes the small schools are the worst for this. Just saying look at everything and find the place your kid feels at home, the rest will fall into place.

My high school senior DC is kind of torn between bigger and smaller schools. He likes the multitude of course offerings at a school like VT and that the larger number of students means he will almost assuredly find "his" people. But he like the tighter sense of community at some smaller schools at which a large majority of students live on campus (versus 32% at VT) and where there are more small, discussion-friendly class sizes and no classes are taught by TAs. And while he likes meeting new people and not seeing the same faces all the time, he'd like to to see at least a few friends while walking across campus rather than recognizing almost no one on any given day. So, like some other kids, he's looking at mid-sized schools to find, for him, a sweet spot. But who knows, VT could end up his top choice.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone commented on the teaching process at VT? Particularly in math?

A few years ago there were articles about how kids go to gigantic rooms where they aren't really taught math???? They have to figure it out?

Is this still the case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone commented on the teaching process at VT? Particularly in math?

A few years ago there were articles about how kids go to gigantic rooms where they aren't really taught math???? They have to figure it out?

Is this still the case?

The math situation IMO is still a challenge for a lot of students. Yes, if you aren't an engineering or other math-heavy major, you will take your initial math classes (e.g. Calc 1) at the "Math Emporium", that is they are online self-paced math classes that students do on their own and go to the emporium for tests and to get help from tutors. VT says their data shows pass rates improved with the emporium model so it seems to be fine for a lot of kids but it definitely doesn't work for all students. In the VT Parent Facebook group, some parents report that their kids who had a hard time with the emporium were advised to take Calculus at the community college and transfer the credit (at added cost, of course).

My son is in a math-heavy major (not engineering) and has teachers for his math classes so, fortunately, didn't have to deal with the emporium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All the talk here of high school cliques is a bit disconcerting. Is it hard for kids that didn’t go to a FCPS high school to make friends? Are the high school friend groups excited to expand their group of friends to include new people? It sounds sort of awful.

+1. My kid would be bummed.

it is a very large school so your kid will probably not have trouble meeting new people. I know a kid who is from OOS and he is absolutely thriving.

+2
Most of my kid’s friends are from OOS.

+1

I attended back in the late 80s/early 90s from a Fairfax Co HS. I didn't hang out with anyone from my high school and rarely saw them. My best college roommate was from NJ. My dorm mates were from VA Beach, Richmond, other parts of the state and some out of state. I also became very close with a few girls from other Fairfax Co high schools--not near mine. This was great because we would meet up in the summer or catch a ride back on holidays. Now as the only one still in the DC area, they come back to visit their parents on holidays and we always spend a night or day out together.

What I loved about Tech was that it was a big school so you had anonymity and choices. At that time, greek life wasn't a huge deal. You still hung out with your friends and went to parties whether you were part of the greek system or not.

I was ready for a new start in college and I got that.

+100
Now there are far more OOS kids as VT has become a national university. And the Greek system is still not overwhelming - less than 20% of the students go Greek. My daughter is so involved in other things that I doubt she’s going to rush. She’s having a blast - as well as working hard in classes.

+100

One of the things I absolutely loved was that the greek life didn't run the social scene like it does at many college campuses. It feels very inclusive and not snobby. A bunch of my friends did join a sorority (different ones in the group), but 99% of their social time was with the fantastic group of girls who became lifelong friends on freshmen dorm hall. We still went to frat parties, but the off-campus parties and block parties were more fun. I was a STEM major and my courses were hard and prepared me well, but I still had a very social time there as well.

It's completely off campus (the greek houses), just like at UVA. You can choose to be in it or not, which is a good thing

It's always a personal choice, no one forces someone to be greek.

DP. Obviously. I think the point the PP was making is that VT doesn’t have a huge Greek presence that might make someone feel pressure to join or else have no friends. It’s quite the opposite. There are so many clubs and organizations that many students don’t even consider rushing. No need to.

That is true at most schools so OK...

No, it’s actually not. A lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority. Simply stating this is not at all the case at VT. But you seem to just want to argue, so whatever.

Anecdotes are to be laughed at. You are obviously an unserious person. Define " a lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority." There are more than 2,800 4 year colleges. I'll wait for your data.

Ah, I see I was correct - you do just want to argue. And I am very much laughing at your silly post(s). Bye, weirdo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone commented on the teaching process at VT? Particularly in math?

A few years ago there were articles about how kids go to gigantic rooms where they aren't really taught math???? They have to figure it out?

Is this still the case?

The math situation IMO is still a challenge for a lot of students. Yes, if you aren't an engineering or other math-heavy major, you will take your initial math classes (e.g. Calc 1) at the "Math Emporium", that is they are online self-paced math classes that students do on their own and go to the emporium for tests and to get help from tutors. VT says their data shows pass rates improved with the emporium model so it seems to be fine for a lot of kids but it definitely doesn't work for all students. In the VT Parent Facebook group, some parents report that their kids who had a hard time with the emporium were advised to take Calculus at the community college and transfer the credit (at added cost, of course).

My son is in a math-heavy major (not engineering) and has teachers for his math classes so, fortunately, didn't have to deal with the emporium.

My daughter is in a major that has almost no math related classes, but the few she's had have been in a traditional class with a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Find some VT instas to follow - parents dont know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All the talk here of high school cliques is a bit disconcerting. Is it hard for kids that didn’t go to a FCPS high school to make friends? Are the high school friend groups excited to expand their group of friends to include new people? It sounds sort of awful.

+1. My kid would be bummed.

it is a very large school so your kid will probably not have trouble meeting new people. I know a kid who is from OOS and he is absolutely thriving.

+2
Most of my kid’s friends are from OOS.

+1

I attended back in the late 80s/early 90s from a Fairfax Co HS. I didn't hang out with anyone from my high school and rarely saw them. My best college roommate was from NJ. My dorm mates were from VA Beach, Richmond, other parts of the state and some out of state. I also became very close with a few girls from other Fairfax Co high schools--not near mine. This was great because we would meet up in the summer or catch a ride back on holidays. Now as the only one still in the DC area, they come back to visit their parents on holidays and we always spend a night or day out together.

What I loved about Tech was that it was a big school so you had anonymity and choices. At that time, greek life wasn't a huge deal. You still hung out with your friends and went to parties whether you were part of the greek system or not.

I was ready for a new start in college and I got that.

+100
Now there are far more OOS kids as VT has become a national university. And the Greek system is still not overwhelming - less than 20% of the students go Greek. My daughter is so involved in other things that I doubt she’s going to rush. She’s having a blast - as well as working hard in classes.

+100

One of the things I absolutely loved was that the greek life didn't run the social scene like it does at many college campuses. It feels very inclusive and not snobby. A bunch of my friends did join a sorority (different ones in the group), but 99% of their social time was with the fantastic group of girls who became lifelong friends on freshmen dorm hall. We still went to frat parties, but the off-campus parties and block parties were more fun. I was a STEM major and my courses were hard and prepared me well, but I still had a very social time there as well.

It's completely off campus (the greek houses), just like at UVA. You can choose to be in it or not, which is a good thing

It's always a personal choice, no one forces someone to be greek.

DP. Obviously. I think the point the PP was making is that VT doesn’t have a huge Greek presence that might make someone feel pressure to join or else have no friends. It’s quite the opposite. There are so many clubs and organizations that many students don’t even consider rushing. No need to.

That is true at most schools so OK...

No, it’s actually not. A lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority. Simply stating this is not at all the case at VT. But you seem to just want to argue, so whatever.

Anecdotes are to be laughed at. You are obviously an unserious person. Define " a lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority." There are more than 2,800 4 year colleges. I'll wait for your data.

If you go to a school with a small percentage greek, it is difficult to join a frat/sorority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All the talk here of high school cliques is a bit disconcerting. Is it hard for kids that didn’t go to a FCPS high school to make friends? Are the high school friend groups excited to expand their group of friends to include new people? It sounds sort of awful.

+1. My kid would be bummed.

it is a very large school so your kid will probably not have trouble meeting new people. I know a kid who is from OOS and he is absolutely thriving.

+2
Most of my kid’s friends are from OOS.

+1

I attended back in the late 80s/early 90s from a Fairfax Co HS. I didn't hang out with anyone from my high school and rarely saw them. My best college roommate was from NJ. My dorm mates were from VA Beach, Richmond, other parts of the state and some out of state. I also became very close with a few girls from other Fairfax Co high schools--not near mine. This was great because we would meet up in the summer or catch a ride back on holidays. Now as the only one still in the DC area, they come back to visit their parents on holidays and we always spend a night or day out together.

What I loved about Tech was that it was a big school so you had anonymity and choices. At that time, greek life wasn't a huge deal. You still hung out with your friends and went to parties whether you were part of the greek system or not.

I was ready for a new start in college and I got that.

+100
Now there are far more OOS kids as VT has become a national university. And the Greek system is still not overwhelming - less than 20% of the students go Greek. My daughter is so involved in other things that I doubt she’s going to rush. She’s having a blast - as well as working hard in classes.

+100

One of the things I absolutely loved was that the greek life didn't run the social scene like it does at many college campuses. It feels very inclusive and not snobby. A bunch of my friends did join a sorority (different ones in the group), but 99% of their social time was with the fantastic group of girls who became lifelong friends on freshmen dorm hall. We still went to frat parties, but the off-campus parties and block parties were more fun. I was a STEM major and my courses were hard and prepared me well, but I still had a very social time there as well.

It's completely off campus (the greek houses), just like at UVA. You can choose to be in it or not, which is a good thing

It's always a personal choice, no one forces someone to be greek.

DP. Obviously. I think the point the PP was making is that VT doesn’t have a huge Greek presence that might make someone feel pressure to join or else have no friends. It’s quite the opposite. There are so many clubs and organizations that many students don’t even consider rushing. No need to.

That is true at most schools so OK...

No, it’s actually not. A lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority. Simply stating this is not at all the case at VT. But you seem to just want to argue, so whatever.

Anecdotes are to be laughed at. You are obviously an unserious person. Define " a lot of schools are majority Greek and if you decide not to rush, you are very much in the minority." There are more than 2,800 4 year colleges. I'll wait for your data.

OMG. What is your problem?
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Find some VT instas to follow - parents dont know

Parents with kids there know. Parents whose kids do not go there do not know, no matter how many “I heard” anecdotes they trot out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find some VT instas to follow - parents dont know

Parents with kids there know. Parents whose kids do not go there do not know, no matter how many “I heard” anecdotes they trot out.

Parents with kids there now know what their kids have experienced. An important data point to be sure, but it may not be reflective of what others have experienced. Some kids will love a school, while others might hate it and transfer. That's why I don't get too bogged down in individual opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone commented on the teaching process at VT? Particularly in math?

A few years ago there were articles about how kids go to gigantic rooms where they aren't really taught math???? They have to figure it out?

Is this still the case?

Per the parents group in Facebook, this is still absolutely a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All the talk here of high school cliques is a bit disconcerting. Is it hard for kids that didn’t go to a FCPS high school to make friends? Are the high school friend groups excited to expand their group of friends to include new people? It sounds sort of awful.

+1. My kid would be bummed.

it is a very large school so your kid will probably not have trouble meeting new people. I know a kid who is from OOS and he is absolutely thriving.

+2
Most of my kid’s friends are from OOS.

+1

I attended back in the late 80s/early 90s from a Fairfax Co HS. I didn't hang out with anyone from my high school and rarely saw them. My best college roommate was from NJ. My dorm mates were from VA Beach, Richmond, other parts of the state and some out of state. I also became very close with a few girls from other Fairfax Co high schools--not near mine. This was great because we would meet up in the summer or catch a ride back on holidays. Now as the only one still in the DC area, they come back to visit their parents on holidays and we always spend a night or day out together.

What I loved about Tech was that it was a big school so you had anonymity and choices. At that time, greek life wasn't a huge deal. You still hung out with your friends and went to parties whether you were part of the greek system or not.

I was ready for a new start in college and I got that.

+100
Now there are far more OOS kids as VT has become a national university. And the Greek system is still not overwhelming - less than 20% of the students go Greek. My daughter is so involved in other things that I doubt she’s going to rush. She’s having a blast - as well as working hard in classes.

+100

One of the things I absolutely loved was that the greek life didn't run the social scene like it does at many college campuses. It feels very inclusive and not snobby. A bunch of my friends did join a sorority (different ones in the group), but 99% of their social time was with the fantastic group of girls who became lifelong friends on freshmen dorm hall. We still went to frat parties, but the off-campus parties and block parties were more fun. I was a STEM major and my courses were hard and prepared me well, but I still had a very social time there as well.

It's completely off campus (the greek houses), just like at UVA. You can choose to be in it or not, which is a good thing

It's always a personal choice, no one forces someone to be greek.

DP. Obviously. I think the point the PP was making is that VT doesn’t have a huge Greek presence that might make someone feel pressure to join or else have no friends. It’s quite the opposite. There are so many clubs and organizations that many students don’t even consider rushing. No need to.

That is true at most schools so OK...

Not at a school like Wash & Lee which is 75% greek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tech is a really weird school right now. There is just no telling if kids are going to get in so it's hard to get excited about it. A place like UVA or W&M, you kind of know based on you stats if you will have a shot. With Tech, it a total crapshoot. I know kids who were WL there but got into UVA and i know kids who got into Tech who would never have been competitive for UVA (and they didn't even bother to apply). Just no telling really. That said, it's a good school. Alot of people do stick with their HS groups from what my kids say though.

+1. It’s not that it’s a harder admit, it’s that it is unpredictable based on traditional metrics of gpa and test scores. They have different priorities. It’s not the “top” kids from each high school that get admitted.

They certainly were the top kids at our school who were admitted last cycle.
DP

That’s a reflection on your high school.

[Anonymous]

There are some posters here who REFUSE to believe the VT admission got really tough.

Yes the admission rate is still relatively high. But getting in as a Virginia resident is difficult. Getting in from Nortern Virginia is even more difficult. Getting into VT engineering from Northern Virginia is really difficult especially if your DC is a white male.

VT used to be a safety school 30 years ago. JMU used to be its peer school. Things got changed but some posters just don’t want to accept the current trend.