Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Holistic Review

By Jonathan Schramm
Assistant Director
Undergraduate Admissions

discussed the application process – what is needed to have a completed
application at Virginia Tech. Now let's talk a little about how we review
applications once we receive them.

One word that comes to mind is holistic. Holistic Review means that we take all
aspects of a student's application into consideration: both their academic
qualities and personal qualities. You can rest assured that we review every
application, sometimes multiple times. Even though we receive upwards of
21,000 applications, we do not run them through a machine and say here's the
highest SAT, here's the highest GPA and that's our class. No, definitely not.

Additionally, we evaluate students within the context of their high schools,
meaning we do not rank high schools – no matter what US News and World
Report would have us do – across the board. We discern course offerings,
grading scales, weighting scales and the like, to gain the clearest picture
of how a student has performed within their respective academic environments.

There's a lot more that goes into the review process, which I will share
with you over the next month or so. Each topic – 1) Curriculum 2) Grades 3)
Standardized Test Scores 4) Personal Qualities – merits its own blog entry.
So check back in a few weeks to learn more.

And remember, the deadline for applications is a only days away!
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Early Decision Notification: December 15

To all of you who applied Early Decision - decision letters should arrive today, December 15! Be on the lookout.

If you applied Early Decision and successfully completed the steps to create your Virginia Tech Guest Account, then you can also check your application status online.

If you did not complete the steps to create your Virginia Tech Guest Account, then you can request to set up your guest account after December 20 by e-mailing admiss@vt.edu with your full name and date of birth.

PLEASE NOTE: If you think you may have already created a guest account, please check before requesting a reset of the invitation process. You may be able to establish your access to the online status page through a simple password reset.

To see if you have already created a Guest Account, go to:

If your Guest Account has been created, you can request a password reset. If you get a message that your Guest Account is unknown, wait for a new guest invitation in order to create your account. Look at the bottom of your invitation email and if it was the third invitation then contact the admissions office at admiss@vt.edu.

To reset your Guest Account password go to:

A password reset ticket will be sent to the third party email address associated with your guest account (the e-mail address you provided to us on your application).

Best wishes to all of you! We look forward to seeing new Hokies on campus in 2010!

More info:


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Thursday, December 10, 2009

VT Corps of Cadets Insights: Christopher's Story

By Christopher, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Major: History

When I started looking at schools, the military began to appeal to me. I had no experience with the military (my dad had detached from the Navy long before I was born and my high school lacked a JROTC program), so I was nervous to commit to anything I wouldn't enjoy doing for the next decade of my life.

I started reading about the corps of cadets at Virginia Tech, already high on my list for its engineering program and location in the mountains. I read that they had a civilian leadership option that allowed students to participate without incurring a commitment upon graduation. I was blown away! Military training without mandatory service? What a deal!

Three and a half years later, I'm still a civilian-track cadet after being medically disqualified from military service, but because of the opportunities provided to me by the corps and Tech, I'm just as prepared as any of my military-track classmates to organize and lead. It's also allowed me to get the superb training almost exclusive to military schools in a big, state school environment. I'm very grateful for what I've found in myself through the corps and I intend to use it to bring out the best in everyone I work with in the future.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

College of Science Insights: Meg's Story

By Meg, a senior in the College of Science
Major: Biochemistry
President, Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Health Professional Society)

The best decision I EVER made was to attend Virginia Tech (GO HOKIES)! The second best decision was to study biochemistry in the College of Science.

As a pre-medical student, the College of Science was a great fit for me from the start. It has prepared me for the medical college admission test (MCAT) as well as afforded me the opportunity to explore the many diverse areas of science. Not only was I prepared in the classroom, but many courses within my major were supplemented with a hands-on laboratory course. It was in these courses where I learned how to apply the material from lecture and to understand and appreciate its relevance in science and medicine today.

Outside of the normal course work, there are countless extracurricular opportunities associated with the college, including pre-professional organizations, study abroad programs and undergraduate research positions just to name a few. It was through these opportunities that I was able to meet other students who shared my similar interests. Throughout the past few years, we have motivated one another to explore our passions and achieve our dreams.

Whether you intend on pursuing a career in medicine, research, or any other field, the teamwork and problem-solving skills you will learn in the College of Science will more than adequately prepare you for whatever your future may hold; the opportunities are endless!

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Final Deadline for Applications Approacheth

By Jonathan Schramm
Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions

Hear ye, Hear ye, prospective students one and all! The 15th day of January – in the year of our Lord and all that jazz – marks the last day to turn in your applications for Fall 2010 admission at Virginia Tech! Don't be one of those applicants who's up till the wee hours of the morning editing their essay to make it just knock-your-socks-off right or filling in that last activity to make sure the admissions officers know that they barely had time to put on their socks in high school. Start now! Start slow if you have to, but give yourself enough time to get all the material together. Applying to college should not be stressful, and managing your time can ensure that it isn't. I wish I had taken my own advice way back when...

I digress... Here at Virginia Tech, applying is pretty simple.

All you need is:
  1. A completed application with non-refundable $50.00 application fee
  2. Your transcripts sent to us via your guidance office (have your guidance office send any letters of recommendation with your transcripts)
  3. Standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT) sent to us via your testing agency (send us all of your scores - we will combine your highest scores)
Keep in mind that the January 15 deadline really only applies to the application. All the other stuff (transcripts and test scores) can come in after the deadline - but not too long after mind you. There are optional personal statements and other things to fill out on the application, but all we require are the three things listed above.

As always, give us a call if you've got questions. We don't bite, I promise!

More info:




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