Same here! Corps of Cadets for us…
Back to regularly scheduled programming. Glad there are more good experiences than the one bad one in the OP! We loved our time at VT. All three of our boys chose other schools though. We proudly support theirs too. Different schools for different people.
I think there’s a fair amount of disorganization and craziness everywhere because we’re still dealing with a PANDEMIC and things are still fluid. I have 3 kids at 3 different schools (all large schools). Virginia Tech is no different. In fact, the great thing about Virginia Tech is that something like 95% of students, faculty, and staff are vaccinated and so except for masks things are pretty normal. That’s not the case with my kids at other schools where a lot of their classes are still online. As for football, things were crazy for the first game at all three schools with staffing issues, internet issues (for scanning tickets and concessions), etc. And keep in mind you’ve got entire freshman and sophomore classes that have been cooped up for a year and a half and now they are acting a bit crazy. The bottle throwing, if true, is an isolated incident. Hokie fans are known to be a pretty friendly bunch compared to a lot of places, and Blacksburg is known for its hospitality.
It’s a little odd for someone to not realize that these kinds of issues are a sign of the times and not specific to one campus.
Wow you’re really not allowed to voice disappointment with a school without people questioning your motivations here?
Is it so hard to believe some kids may not be the right fit for VT and the school has had some issues starting? Could it be someone else’s experiences are different than your own? We have other kids in other large schools, (see previous poster trying to insinuate I’m lying after looking up my other posts which is bizarre…) We’ve personally never had any of these issues with other schools including during covid.
You all really make people regret posting their honest experiences here which could help someone else who is still looking. I have always heard great things about VT prior to this year that’s why we’re disappointed.
Deleted.
I think it’s a good thing to hear about the different experiences people have at the same school. My D’s close friend just transferred out of VT for a myriad of reasons, some of which are included in this post.
The things you listed:
may or may not be unique or isolated incidents at VT and regardless, it doesn’t render them less relevant.
I have a child who has finally returned to college for the first time in 18 months and her experiences so far are completely different, but every poster should feel comfortable sharing their own experiences.
When my kids were looking at schools I welcomed this kind of information because you’re never going to hear it from the schools, tour guides etc….
I googled and there are lots of specifics. A few sources.
There are a lot more articles and videos out there.
This game may well have been an outlier, but there was a lot in the news about it.
Thanks for your post. I found the information helpful.
Yes, agree there were major problems with the game last week which the university has acknowledged and has made adjustments. VT played at Lane Stadium yesterday and media reports indicate things were much improved.
Virginia Tech has a 93 per cent retention rate. It is of course not going to work for every student or family though. So, any family considering it will want to make their own evaluation before deciding whether to apply or not. Virginia Tech has no shortage of applications.
I like the balance I see on this thread. If it were all negative, I’d be really concerned. If it were all positive, it wouldn’t be realistic. People who post specific things help others trying to discern if a place is right for them or not. Specific things can be single data points or an overall feel, and that’s where multiple posters help. It’s good to hear about the good, bad, and ugly, in context and as specific as someone is willing to be. Readers can figure out how (or if) what is being relayed affects them.
No school (or restaurant or vacation place or _______) is going to be right for everyone. That’s ok.
When you post a thread in a Virginia Tech forum telling people not to got to VT of course you are going to get reactions. As you previously told someone else in this thread ‘Relax’. If it isn’t a good fit for your family members then absolutely they should find somewhere else to go. Generalizing their brief experience to everyone or everything is odd, and that’s why others with a lot more experience with the school are commenting. Each family should look at their options and visit, and talk to people they know and trust (not anonymous posters). I would also suggest that freshmen need to give a school more than a few weeks before deciding it’s not for them. It’s a good lesson in resilience for kids to adapt and learn and then make adult decisions.
No school is perfect, and of course if you’ve decided a particular school is terrible after a few weeks then that’s your prerogative. But not everyone is going to agree with you. That shouldn’t be a surprise.
For the record, OP was sharing their experience and didn’t tell anyone “not to go to VT.”
I am in the camp that it’s good to hear these experiences across the board.
“Think twice before applying to VT” is vernacular meant to discourage someone from even applying.
Like I said, it’s fine if in 3 weeks she and her family members have decided that they don’t like Virginia Tech (seems a bit premature, but hey it’s a free country). And of course it’s quite common to see complainers in various college forums. I just have never seen someone create an entire thread to convince people not to even apply to a school. And someone with such limited experience with the school! Very strange.
Describing a school as a ‘Walmart experience’ is just rude and uncalled for. And ironically she is accusing students of acting like middle schoolers.
Never said don’t go there lol and of course people have different experiences. Obviously we are hoping things get better. The culture that’s going on this year with the students may not be the best fit for all kids, especially more studious, quiet kids, minorities, not into Trump/politics, religious, etc. And the school may not offer all the support other kids might need in terms of getting started and the school’s organization. In our experience like I said two different kids struggling with totally different aspects.
I can agree to disagree but I feel it’s a different class/program/covid effect or whatever but it’s different than in past years. The previous retention stats and alumni experiences have nothing to do with what’s going on this year to me.
As a parent I’m disappointed, I hope it gets better but my son who’s a senior was going to apply there, now he’s thinking it’s probably not for him, as in thinking twice before applying 
I hope people can be kind about kids who are struggling and consider how you’d feel if it were your child far from home.
I am relaxed, having a lovely weekend hope you are too.
Thank you! Yes, I have a child 1200 miles away, so I understand wanting them to be happy.
I appreciate your response, and to me this is the kind of discourse that is appropriate for this forum. I took issue with the language used in the original post.
Of course it doesn’t hurt for your son to apply if he is unsure and then continue to gather information, visit, etc., especially now that Tech is using the Common app and the Coalition app. It’s always nice to have a lot of options to choose from. Good luck to him.
Might I remind members of the forum rules: “Our forum is expected to be a friendly and welcoming place, and one in which members can post without their motives, intelligence, or other personal characteristics being questioned by others."
This post has a much different tone than your first one, and allows us to better understand and empathize with what your son is going through vs. thinking that you’re just arbitrarily attacking the university.
I have no doubt that some kids struggle in a large university environment (most kids probably struggle at some point in their college careers). I hope your son will keep trying different experiences, and that you will consider reaching out to the university’s resources for additional support (the Dean of Students may be a good place to start).
Whatever he decides, I sincerely hope he finds a good fit.
Sorry to have offended you. I meant it as think twice things may be different this year than pre-covid. Lol trust me I won’t be posting any threads anywhere on these boards again and have learned a good amount about VT from these posts. Have a nice Sunday.
Thank you
Before you buy a product online, don’t you want to focus on the negative 1 or 2-star reviews to see if they raise some issues that may concern you, rather than all the glowing 5-star reviews?
I apologize if I offended you. Really that wasn’t my intent.
While it’s unfortunate your son won’t be considering VT, it sounds like he has good reasons for himself not to. That’s what the college search and selection process is all about. Some kids don’t like a place because of things they see or hear about. Some don’t like the buildings. Some don’t like something else…and that is OK.
There are likely many wonderful colleges out there that will make your son feel more at home, for whatever reason.
Enjoy the college search process. I do agree…the last year and a half have changed the landscape of looking for colleges…as well as the students who are looking.