Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: Virginia Tech Written by Elyse Krantzon January 20th, 2020 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA While Virginia Tech is well-regarded for its phenomenal science and engineering departments, did you know the University also offers extensive programs in agriculture, architecture, business, liberal arts, and natural resources? Whether you’re interested in dairy science, art history, or wildlife conservation, VT will likely have a program to suit your needs. The school’s 29,000 undergraduates appreciate the University’s hands-on educational approach, where applying practical knowledge to research and discovery is seen on a daily basis. Through the Cooperative Education and Internship Program, for example, sophomores and juniors can combine internships with on-campus coursework, further enriching their résumés and academic experiences. For first year students eager to get a head start on developing their research skills, VT offers an “Introduction to Research Practices” course as well as advising through the Office of Undergraduate Research. Outside of the classroom, Hokies (HokieBird—an orange and maroon turkey—is VT’s official mascot) have hundreds of clubs, sports, and student organizations to keep them engaged and entertained. Good to know: VT currently only accepts applications from the Coalition Application (not the Common Application), and the essay questions they ask are designed to measure applicants’ “non-cognitive variables” such as creativity, self-awareness, and persistence. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of Virginia Tech Related Resources Read | Posted on March 26th, 2024 California Colleges and Universities: A Treasure Trove of Opportunities Read | Posted on March 5th, 2024 The Top 3 Campus Safety Myths Read | Posted on March 1st, 2024 Celebrating International Women’s Day: Is a Women’s College Right for You?
