Anonymous wrote:The Question has nothing to do with "service". It asks about a Community that is important to you. Answer the question. Admissions are looking for specifics on the question they ask do not go off topic.

I wouldn't go so far to say it has nothing to do with service. Here is the entire question:

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

What if your kid is the independent loner type (with excellent grades) and doesn't really have a community beyond her close-knit family? I mean, they're kind of forcing you to make up something, aren't they?

Surely she contributes in *some* way to the world outside her own family? And I say that as a parent of two very introverted kids who managed to contribute to the community through volunteering. If you have to make something up, there is a problem.
DP

I know they don't want the essay and teacher recs but does VT get to see the list of activities from the common app? If so, wouldn't that cover the extent of service activities?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

What if your kid is the independent loner type (with excellent grades) and doesn't really have a community beyond her close-knit family? I mean, they're kind of forcing you to make up something, aren't they?

Then write about being a member of the family and contributing to that community.

+1

Anonymous wrote:The Question has nothing to do with "service". It asks about a Community that is important to you. Answer the question. Admissions are looking for specifics on the question they ask do not go off topic.

DS is a junior at VT. When he applied we attended an online info session and the admissions rep specifically said they are interested in how you serve your community. Service should be covered somewhere in the four "ut prosim" questions (ut prosim= "that I may serve"). It is clearly an important value at VT.

They rep also suggested that they like to see students tie the "goal" question to what they want to do at VT. DS talked about his career goal, things he had done to settle on that goal, and why the VT major was a good fit. Yes, plenty of kids are accepted without talking about VT in that question but it's something to keep in mind if your kid is having trouble answering that with an already-completed goal.

The Question has nothing to do with "service". It asks about a Community that is important to you. Answer the question. Admissions are looking for specifics on the question they ask do not go off topic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

What if your kid is the independent loner type (with excellent grades) and doesn't really have a community beyond her close-knit family? I mean, they're kind of forcing you to make up something, aren't they?

Most college essays require some creativity and stretching the student’s reality to fit the question. This one is no different.

[A loner with zero community connection whatsoever might also be a red flag.]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

What if your kid is the independent loner type (with excellent grades) and doesn't really have a community beyond her close-knit family? I mean, they're kind of forcing you to make up something, aren't they?

Then write about being a member of the family and contributing to that community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

What if your kid is the independent loner type (with excellent grades) and doesn't really have a community beyond her close-knit family? I mean, they're kind of forcing you to make up something, aren't they?

Anonymous wrote:“Contribute to a community that is important to you” is entirely different than “community service”, ie volunteering. Write about band.

Don't make up a community just to pretend it's "community service". Your essay writer is right. But you are right that Virginia Tech values service. But faking it is worse than not having tons of it.

Anonymous wrote:Are essays or reference letters required for VT?

Virginia Tech does not consider the common app essay or letters of recommendation. It has 4 of its own short (120 word limit each) essays.

Are essays or reference letters required for VT?