My son was waitlisted at VT and just heard that he got accepted. They need answer in 6 days. He would like to visit but cannot do it this week as he has two more AP exams. So here I am asking for some help,
My kid just graduated as CS Engineering so I canāt say specifically about the Mech engineering lab.
With respect to food, VT on campus dining is rated very highly and thereās a ton of different choices (including chain stuff). Thereās a good amount of off campus choices too.
My kid was pretty busy doing school stuff or clubs most of the time, but thereās lots of outdoor stuff to do. Great hiking and tubing on the New River when itās warmer. Blacksburg is a small college town, but Christiansburg is close and Roanoke is ~20 minutes away. Still not the big city, but more options.
HTH!
what is the alternative? (ie, where has he already deposited)
Is $ an issue?
When you ask ādo they have more equipment for multiple studentsā, more than who?
We have already given deposit to UMass Amherst (In state for us).
Price is not the issue for us (at least not the first issue!), we are ready to pay for his college as long as he wants to go there.
I meant that can multiple students work on the same type of equipment at the same time, or do they wait for their turn which may take hours or days in some instance? Main question here is, how much does university pour in mechanical engineering program?
Everyone I know that has visited Virginia Tech, says it is beautiful. I visited in the summer and I thought the same.
@sevmom can probably answer your questions.
Iād put little to no emphasis on food. Itās bad at a lot of campuses. It certainly was at my sonās school. It was a great ME program though. Most students adapt after first year and eat whatever and where ever they like.
My son is finishing up his freshman year in engineering at Virginia Tech and has been really happy! The food is amazing, and there are tons of dining options. There is a lot to do on campus, and off. He often walks off campus to run an errand, go to a restaurant or visit off campus friends. Heās also spent time hiking and swimming at one of the state parks nearby. I donāt think my son has taken advantage of a quarter of what is there for him to experience.
Join the VT parents FB page - someone will be able to answer your specific questions about mechanical engineering. Good luck with the decision!
ETA:
Best college food 2022, according to Niche - #1 UCLA, #2 Virginia Tech, #3 UMass Amherst
Thank you @flyawayx2. My invitation to join that FB page is pending. State Park is a great amenity close by.
Has your son visited other campuses, or has he committed to another school already? Personally speaking, committing to a university without having visited seems like a risky choice. Are his sensibilities more in line with an urban environment? Suburban? Rural? I could see city-minded kids having a pretty big adjustment. That said:
@ShenVal18 The OP said they have already deposited at instate UMass Amherst.
Virginia Tech has a beautiful campus, great food, and a great well regarded engineering program. Good luck with the decision!
@ShenVal18 ,He has committed to UMass Amherst, but now he is excited about VT. We visited VT 6 years ago when we were looking for my older son, but he was young enough not to look at it the way a college bound student should. He does remember though. Also, he only applied to those university they are in suburban/rural environment, so he is good with āMiddle of no whereā places.
Thank you for all suggestions.
It sounds like a good fit then! And Venture Out does appear to still be a thing. Their Spring 2022 schedule is on the page below:
We are from MA and my friendās D is a freshman at VT. I asked her your questions.
Her momās biggest complaint is that itās very hard to get to from MA. They have tried flying, taking the train and driving and they all have their pros and cons. They are doing a 4 day road trip this weekend to go pick her up. Other than that they love the school. Campus and area are beautiful. Classes have been challenging.
Good luck with the decision!
Transportation is one of the issues we have to think about. my older son went to Pittsburgh, which is 10 hoursā drive, so I know how hard it is, but it is still one flight away. VT is a flight and a drive away or 11 hoursā drive.
Thank you for letting me know about housing situation. We have to be vigilant from early on.
Some of the āmust find your off campus housing in October of freshman yearā is a little manufactured, but you will be wise to start reviewing VTās off campus housing resources early. If you can add an extra day when you come for orientation you can take a couple hours and pretty much see everything thatās available. There are several new student housing developments coming online as well, so the crunch might not be as bad as in prior years. Be prepared for sticker shock for some of the developments.
So I think the food is a non-issue - to echo @eyemgh .
I actually think food is quite important - because how many kids donāt eat because itās bad and get low blood sugar. Or you read about a school like Gtown that kids are spending thousands extra eating outside because itās so bad.
But - you are considering two schools - and these two rate amongst the highest in the country. I verified UMASS with an colleague who said sheād choose it over eating at any restaurant where she lives now (in Phoenix) - and another class of 26 dad Iāve been talking to visited and said it was very good.
Va Tech I was at - nicest large campus Iāve ever been to - like really really nice - but we couldnāt eat there due to covid. It wonāt let me show it - but google niche + food and youāll find the best college food in America link.
Va Tech is 2 and UMASS is 3.
So to me, itās of vital importance - but in this case would not be an issue as itās going to be great at both schools.
I forgot to mention one last thing. If your family is in a position to, I strongly recommend attending Summer Academy. Itās a 6 week summer program for freshman and transfers. The students take classes (you get a choice of tracks I think) and live in the dorm. At the end of the program, the kids go up to a retreat at a lake kind of like summer camp. My kid made lots of friends and learned all about how things work at Tech (how to eat at the dining hall, where everything is, how to do his laundry on campus, etc.). Added bonus, you get to move into your dorm a day or two earlier than everyone else (hope they havenāt changed this!).
A little late but my D just finished her freshman year at VT. She is not an engineering major so I canāt comment on that. Some of the other thingsā¦
Food does matter to a lot of people. My daughter is always raving about the food there and sending me pics of poke bowls and other interesting things that sheās eating. The dining halls do a great job of changing things up and having lots of theme & cultural nights. My D likes to eat healthy and she finds many offerings. Conversely, her boyfriend goes to UTK and both of them contend that the dining hall food there is absolutely terrible with limited variety & healthy offerings. Many of their friends there live on Chic fil A and other fast food chains. Her bf canāt wait to get off campus and cook his own food.
Blacksburg is small, but mighty. I believe it is a quintessential college town that has a tremendous amount of VT spirit and is walkable from campus. The farmerās market is great (they also have a vintage market with cool thrift finds) and there is a good variety of local restaurants, some bars & breweries & VT-themed shops. If youāre looking for chain & big-box stores, Christiansburg is an easy bus or car ride away. Outside of campus there are endless outdoor activities that many students take part in, either through the university clubs or on their own. On campus, VT has a vibrant sports program and with the athletic facilities conveniently located on the residential side of campus, itās easy for students to attend games (they also have a very active club & intramural sports program).
Off campus housing - there is plenty and they are building new complexes. You donāt have to sign a lease in October/November, BUT if your kid wants the popular, nicest, closest to campus complexes OR needs a 4-5bdrm unit, those go first. My kid signed in November because she wanted a specific complex and needed a 4bdrm. FWIW, my older kid also signed this early at another university, so itās not VT-specific. The roommate thing is always a gamble because a lot can change between November & the following August.
Having to fly in to get VT can be a challenge but people seem to work it out and the parents on the FB page are really helpful with suggestions. Travel doesnāt seem to override anyoneās love of VT.