I have a liberal arts and humanities student (double major) at VT and she is having a fantastic time. The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences attracts a lot of incredibly talented students. She's double majoring in International Relations and Russian and one of her roommates is an Art History and PPE double major. The other roommate is a National Security and Foreign Affairs major with a language minor.

There are so many majors within this college to choose from, and the School of Visual Arts is fabulous too.

I always find it kind of funny when people assume VT is simply engineering or business - it's so much more than that. Everyone socializes together, there is no "segregation" based on major or college. My DD has attended lots of theater productions, art exhibits, Hume Center lectures, sports events, trivia nights, etc. It just really is what I consider the quintessential college experience, regardless of major.

Anonymous wrote:Jmu has a great honors program.

GMU also has a great honors program and preference for Scalia Law, which ranks 32 in the nation.

Anonymous wrote:Mary Washington?

Seems like a great suggestion for this student!

I think VT is also a strong possibility, but the kid must feel comfortable attending a very large university. That said, I know students that have had good experiences there in humanities and non-science majors.

Mary Washington?

Jmu has a great honors program.

Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.

Anonymous wrote:Poli sci and econ are social sciences, not humanities.

Correct, and as another poster confirmed DC not yet certain as to the major, but leans towards humanities. But the same question applies: how is VT for social sciences? Do those students feel in the minority or somehow "lesser" than the engineering and CS students?

Anonymous wrote:VT has been wild on admissions this year… definitely not a safety school.
Kid had above 1500 SAT and was waitlisted.

I definitely don't view it as a safety. Coming from NOVA I feel like no in-state schools are, honestly. DC hasn't yet looked at VT because the perception was that it's "only" for engineering/ STEM etc. I'd like to plant a seed and have DC look at the school and then decide.

What major was the kid who was waitlisted?

Anonymous wrote:Poli sci and econ are social sciences, not humanities.

The OP didn't say that major for sure. And philosophy is most definitely humanities.

Poli sci and econ are social sciences, not humanities.

Anonymous wrote:NOVA family with DC interested in humanities: possibly the philosophy, politics and economics major at VT seems like a good fit with a minor in art. DC, at the moment, thinks possibly law school but who knows. What is VT like for non- science kids? Culturally is it a place where they can feel connected? What is the vibe at VT? We are looking at in-state options, not going to qualify for UVA, W&M is a long shot, my DC thinks JMU is only a party school without serious academics and is resistant to considering it. DC studious, shy and a bit panicky about going away for school.

Absolutely VT.

Of course it is a great option. Do not let the idiots chime in and change your thought process. Go Hokies!

We have a family friend whose son (also NOVA) took that route at VaTech. He had a great experience there, socially and academically, and after working for a year in something politically-related is in law school.

VT has been wild on admissions this year… definitely not a safety school.
Kid had above 1500 SAT and was waitlisted.

I don’t have actual first hand experience but it was an option my son considered doing. I think it would be fine. It’s a big school. Although not in state you might consider Elon or Loyola MD.

NOVA family with DC interested in humanities: possibly the philosophy, politics and economics major at VT seems like a good fit with a minor in art. DC, at the moment, thinks possibly law school but who knows. What is VT like for non- science kids? Culturally is it a place where they can feel connected? What is the vibe at VT? We are looking at in-state options, not going to qualify for UVA, W&M is a long shot, my DC thinks JMU is only a party school without serious academics and is resistant to considering it. DC studious, shy and a bit panicky about going away for school.