Virginia Tech | Alexa Flash Briefing

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, including this week’s School Spotlight, Virginia Tech. 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.