Transfer Bound

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Thursday, December 10, 2009

VT helps prepare you for that next step after college

By Tyler Murphy

2009 Graduate

2009 Admissions Advisor

With Virginia Tech being one of the few universities that has a free standing career services building, the amount of options and opportunities the service allows are endless. I used career services to help tailor my resume so it would be presentable in not only applying to grad school, but also for the professional world as well.

An individual from career services sat down with me to discuss and go over what I should keep or get rid of to make my resume look more professional. After multiple visits to the center, I learned of an array of other services they provide. Offering everything from mock interviews to

career fairs, the career service center has everything you will need to prepare for that next step after college.

More Info:

Career Services

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Friday, December 4, 2009

College of Science Insights

If you are interested in preparing for professional school in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, or veterinary medicine, or if you are interested in advancing the boundaries of research in science or technology, then Virginia Tech's College of Science may be a good fit for you.

The College of Science offers nine majors which include:

The career opportunities for those who major in programs within the College of Science are endless. From biostatistician to space physicist an exciting career in the field of science is waiting for you. Virginia Tech's Career Services works with undergraduates to help prepare resumes and hone interview skills. In addition, you can participate in career fairs that are held on campus each year.

While you are an undergraduate here at Virginia Tech, you can get involved in student organizations specific to the College of Science. There are more than a dozen student organizations from which to choose.

If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the education abroad information on Virginia Tech's website. If research is your deal, then you are in the right place. The College of Science focuses on producing the next generation of scientific leaders through advancing discovery and solving real-world problems.

More Info:

College of Science

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Transferring into CLAHS, a recent graduate's story

By Tyler Murphy

2009 Graduate

2009 Admissions Advisor

Transferring into the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences was a smooth transition, just like transferring to Virginia Tech was overall. I was given one of the coolest advisors to work with me throughout my time at VT that helped me plan my course load up through my last semester before graduation.

Since I did not declare a communications major until transferring to the university I still needed some freshman level classes. After having to jump through a few small hoops, I was admitted into those classes. In order to graduate in the time I wanted to, I did have to take a few summer classes to get on track. But as many people will tell you, there is nothing like summers in Blacksburg!

Working alongside some of the most educated people in their fields, the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences has some of the nicest professors I ever had and in turn allowed me to form relationships and contacts for networking in the future.

More Info:

Erika's Story

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Erika's Story: College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

By Erika, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

Major: sociology

Minor: psychology

I am a sociology major with a concentration in inequality, and also a minor in psychology. Sociology is a wonderful field to study because it allows one to get a greater experience of diversity; this is also a huge part of what the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences does. The faculty and staff within the college and department do a wonderful job at getting this experience across. I have enjoyed every sociology class I have had, especially Dr. Ellington Graves as I think he is an amazing professor.

The faculty are a huge part of the department but we would be nowhere without the hard working staff that keeps everything running smoothly. The academic advisors do an outstanding job of keeping the students and faculty on track. I also have had the opportunity of getting close with a lot of these individuals because I am the president of SAV, the Sociological Association at Virginia Tech. SAV is just one of the many opportunities students have to gain outside knowledge and networks through the sociology department.

More Info:

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Monday, November 16, 2009

College of Natural Resources Insights

Invent the Earth's future with an exciting career in the field of natural resources. The world's population uses and consumes products and food every day that come from the Earth's forests, waters, and land. We all depend on these resources and we must sustain them for the future.

If you want to learn more about transferring to Virginia Tech and you're interested in the field of natural resources, don't miss our Transfer Visit Day on Friday, November 20. This free event will help you unlock the transfer process and learn more about the College of Natural Resources. Register online today!

The programs within Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources are ranked among the best in the country.

Programs of study include:

There are several curricular organizations for natural resources students. Also, students are eligible for Alpha Zeta, the national agriculture honor and service fraternity. Be sure you check out the many scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students.

If you're interested in study abroad opportunities, know that there are several courses taught in a variety of countries. Learn more. To learn more about career opportunities, visit the College of Natural Resources Career Services page.

If research is your thing, be sure to check out the research opportunities within the College of Natural Resources. The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences features the Virginia Tech Center for Bear Research, which is one of only two facilities in North America. Check out Gabriela's story regarding her work at the research facility.

More Info:

Gabriela's Story

Check out our student testimonials

Pamplin College of Business

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Pamplin College of Business Insights

Virginia Tech is a university that consists of seven colleges for transfer and freshman students. New students can choose from 70 programs of study within these seven colleges.

Pamplin College of Business is one of the seven colleges that offers majors for freshman and transfer students at VT. U.S. News and World Report's annual survey of undergraduate programs, "America's Best Colleges" ranked the Pamplin College of Business No. 42 among the top 50 business schools.

This college has 8 majors:

The Pamplin College of Business offers 5 of the 7 most recruited majors at VT. And, the college has its own career services director to assist students with career development. There are study abroad and internship opportunities for students in the Pamplin College of Business. Also, there are more than 20 student organizations specific to the Pamplin College of Business.

More info:

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Last chance to participate in Transfer Visit Days!

Friday, November 20, marks the third and final Transfer Visit Day. Don't miss it! Register today for this free event and learn more about transferring into majors in the following two colleges:

What are Transfer Visit Days?

Transfer Visit Days were designed for potential Hokies to come and see what they need to do to transfer to Virginia Tech. Here's the deal: each college will hold an information session on a specific Transfer Visit Day. Therefore, you need to determine which college your intended major is in and pick the Transfer Visit Day when that college is holding its information session.

In order to participate in this free event on November 20, simply register online.

Transfer Visit Days:

November 20

What to expect:

1:30 p.m. - Admissions Information Session
2:30 p.m. - Student-led Campus Tour
3:30 p.m. - College Information Session

Questions? E-mail transfervisit@vt.edu

More info

The School of Architecture + Design

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Thursday, November 5, 2009

CAUS Insights: 10 majors in 4 schools

Transfer students can choose their major from seven colleges - more than 70 programs of study at Virginia Tech.

With that said, some of the seven colleges have schools. The College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) contains four schools:

The School of Architecture + Design

The Myers-Lawson School of Construction

The School of Public and International Affairs

The School of Visual Arts

The College of Architecture and Urban Studies is highly competitive. The most competitive majors within this college include those within the School of Architecture + Design (architecture, interior design, industrial design, and landscape architecture). Students who have a high A average and have a combined SAT score of 1200 (critical reading + math) will find that they are most competitive for these degree programs.

There are 11 student organizations specific to the CAUS. Check out the education abroad opportunities.

The School of Architecture + Design contains four majors:

Architecture - This is a five-year, studio-based bachelor degree program that is accredited by the National Architectural Accreditation Board. Design Intelligence ranks this program #2 in the nation. Learn more

Interior Design - This is a four-year bachelor degree program accredited by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Interior design is not about learning how to pick the right paint color to go with the furniture in a room. Interior design is about designing the construction and finishing of buildings. Design Intelligence ranks this program #9 in the nation. Learn more

Industrial Design - This four-year degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Design Intelligence ranks this program #13 in the nation. Learn more

Landscape Architecture - This five-year bachelor's degree program engages students in planning and designing sustainable landscapes across a wide range of projects and scales - from gardens to regional landscapes. Design Intelligence ranks this program #15 in the nation Learn more

The Myers-Lawson School of Construction

The Myers-Lawson School of Construction currently provides undergraduate students with a bachelor's degree in building construction. This degree program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education. The program is designed to prepare graduates with both the technical and managerial aspects of the construction industry. Learn more

The School of Public and International Affairs

The School of Public and International Affairs offers two degree programs:

Environmental Policy and Planning - This Bachelor of Science degree is a university-wide interdisciplinary degree that focuses on one critical challenge faced by society. To learn more about this unique program, visit http://www.uap.vt.edu/

Public and Urban Affairs - This Bachelor of Arts degree is an interdisciplinary social science degree with a professional focus. Learn more

The School of Visual Arts

The School of Visual Arts offers three degree programs: art history, studio arts, and visual communication and graphic design. From ceramics to 3D animation, your creative juices are sure to flow in this school.

More info:

College of Architecture and Urban Studies

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Don't miss the next Transfer Visit Day - Nov. 6

We are offering the second of three Transfer Visit Days on November 6. On Friday, the following two colleges will be meeting with students to discuss transferring into the majors they offer:

What are Transfer Visit Days?

In order to participate in this free event, simply register online. Make sure you register for the date when the college that offers your intended major is holding its information session.

Transfer Visit Days:

November 6

College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

November 20

What to expect:

1:30 p.m. - Admissions Information Session
2:30 p.m. - Student-led Campus Tour
3:30 p.m. - College Information Session

Questions? E-mail transfervisit@vt.edu

More info

College of Architecture & Urban Studies

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Meeting a great Hokie

By Erika, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

Major: sociology

Minor: psychology

I have had many outstanding experiences here at Virginia Tech. So far the most memorable is when I got Frank Beamer's autograph.

This summer my family came down to help me move into my new apartment (of course they came down early to spend extra time with me!). The morning of the move we went to grab some breakfast at Famous Anthony’s, which is amazing by the way. While waiting for our food, my mom says, “Is that the coach for VT?” I was in complete shock that she even knew VT's football coach and I preceded to say, “Oh my god, yes it is!”

After contemplating if we should go over and talk to him, or leave him be because he is a normal person and probably just wants to eat his breakfast in peace, my grandmother got up and walked over to his table. She introduced herself and told Coach Beamer that I was a student at VT. By the end of it all, my entire family was at his table talking to him. He and his wife are wonderful people. Coach Beamer gave us all personal autographs. It was so awesome. I now have his autograph framed on my desk to remind me of the day I met one of the greatest HOKIES ever.

More info:

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Monday, October 26, 2009

Unlock the transfer process on October 30

We are offering our first-ever Transfer Visit Days in October and November. Don't miss the first of three on Friday (Oct. 30). On Friday, the following three colleges will be meeting with students to discuss transferring into the majors they offer:

What are Transfer Visit Days?

In order to participate in this free event, simply register online. Make sure you register for the date when the college that offers your intended major is holding its information session.

Transfer Visit Days:

October 30

Pamplin College of Business

College of Science

November 6

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

November 20

What to expect:

1:30 p.m. - Admissions Information Session
2:30 p.m. - Student-led Campus Tour
3:30 p.m. - College Information Session

Questions? E-mail transfervisit@vt.edu

More info

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Monday, October 19, 2009

Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines

The application deadline for transfer students is February 15. Remember to submit your transcripts from all previous colleges. We can accept unofficial transcripts during the application review process, but you still need to send us official transcripts as soon as possible. The University Registrar must have official transcripts in order to give you credit for the coursework you have completed.

You will be notified by May 1 of our admission decision. However, we try to get offers out as soon as possible. We do what we call a modified rolling admission. So, if you get your application to us (with your transcripts) in January, there's a good chance you will hear from us before May 1. We do this because we realize that you have to make plans and we want to let you know our decision as soon as possible so you can make the appropriate plans to continue your education.

Each year we receive about 3,000 applications for approximately 1,000 spots. The most important factors we look at for admission are:

Substantial progress toward prerequisite courses - especially English and math and the science for your intended major.
GPA - we consider applicants with a 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or better, but the most competitive applicants have a 3.0 or better. Check out our articulation agreements with the Virginia Community College System.
Applicants are in good standing with the colleges and universities they have attended.

If you are interested in scholarships and financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA (be sure to have it sent to Virginia Tech - code: 003754). The deadline for the FAFSA and General Scholarship Application is March 1. A lot of our scholarships at VT require the FAFSA. So, you will need to fill it out even if you think you won't qualify for aid.

Good luck with your application!

More info:

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences consists of 12 undergraduate majors:

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Overview

Virginia Tech consists of seven colleges for undergraduate students. Transfer students can pick and choose from more than 70 programs of study from these seven colleges.

If you are interested in biotechnology, communities, the economy, the environment, food, or health, then the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) may be a good fit for you. Learn more

On November 6, CALS is participating in our first-ever Transfer Visit Days. If you are planning on transferring to VT and majoring in one of the programs offered by the CALS, then consider registering for this free event. Learn more

Agriculture and Applied Economics
Agriculture Sciences
Agriculture Technology
Animal and Poultry Sciences
Biochemistry
Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Dairy Science
Environmental Sciences
Food Science and Technology
Horticulture
Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
Life Sciences Undecided

At Virginia Tech, undergraduate students have access to research opportunities. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences features the Virginia Agriculture Experiment Station. Learn more

More info

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Friday, October 16, 2009

Get the skinny on the transfer process for your major

Do you want to learn about the transfer process for your intended major? If so, you should come to one of our first-ever Transfer Visit Days in October or November.

Here's the deal: each college will hold an information session on a specific Transfer Visit Day. Therefore, you need to determine which college your intended major is in and pick the Transfer Visit Day when that college is holding its information session.

In order to participate in this free event, simply register online. Make sure you register for the date when the college that offers your intended major is holding its information session.

Transfer Visit Days:

October 30

College of Architecture & Urban Studies

Pamplin College of Business

College of Science

November 6

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

November 20

College of Engineering

What to expect:

1:30 p.m. - Admissions Information Session
2:30 p.m. - Student-led Campus Tour
3:30 p.m. - College Information Session

Questions? E-mail transfervisit@vt.edu

More info

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Transfer Musings

By Jonathan Schramm

Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions

There's no denying that the bulk of the work we assistant directors do in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions centers around recruiting high school seniors, and reviewing their applications once they arrive. But we get applications from lots of other students too: non-degree students, international students, and transfer students.

It's this last group I'd like to discuss today, as they represent a pretty large chunk of our student body. You probably didn't know that each year 15 to 20 percent of incoming students enter Virginia Tech as transfers. While some of them hail from other four-year universities, many of them come to us from the Virginia Community College System (check out our articulation agreements). Now, we don't like to say that there's a back door into Virginia Tech, but if there were one, transferring from one of Virginia's many community colleges would be it.

When it comes to transfers, we typically have fewer applicants and we don't take SAT or ACT scores into consideration, nor do we heavily weight the high school transcript, grades, courses, etc. All we consider is a student's current college grade point average and the transferability of their college curriculum. With proper advising, students can be competitive to transfer to VT with even one year of college course work under their belts.

So, keep that in mind when you're thinking of ways to become a Hokie! We've got tons of majors to choose from, and some have different transfer qualifications than others, so make sure to talk to one of us assistant directors before you apply.

Here's some more information about transferring to VT www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/transfer/.

More info

www.inventyourfuture.vt.edu

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Become a Hokie, transfer to VT

We hope you will consider transferring to Virginia Tech. Those who do transfer are instant Hokies and have access to the same undergraduate programs and experiences as students who started at VT straight out of high school.

Virginia Tech has more than 70 majors and minors within seven colleges. From biology to interior design, we have a program for you. Seriously, if you can’t find the perfect fit, create one with interdisciplinary studies. To see more our undergraduate majors, visit www.admiss.vt.edu/majors. Below is more information regarding each of our colleges.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: A place where you can study biotechnology, the environment, food production and product development, business, animal or human health, or community development, just to mention a few of the options.

College of Architecture and Urban Studies: In its 2008 report, DesignIntelligence, the only national college-ranking survey focused exclusively on design-related programs, ranked the School of Architecture + Design undergraduate architecture program #1.

Pamplin College of Business: It is ranked in the top 50 undergraduate business schools by U.S. News and World Report and in the top 10 percent of accredited business programs.

College of Engineering: It is the state’s largest engineering college, and sixth largest nationally for undergraduate degrees awarded. America’s Best Colleges 2008 survey released by U.S. News & World Report ranked the Virginia Tech College of Engineering’s undergraduate program 14th in the nation among all accredited engineering schools that offer doctorates, and eighth among those at public universities. Six of the college’s undergraduate engineering programs were ranked among the top 20 of their peer programs.

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences: Our alumni are making their marks in the worlds of business, industry, entertainment, education, government, and research.

College of Natural Resources: Our programs are ranked among the best in the country and address both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics.

College of Science: The progress being made in the sciences today was only a dream a short while ago, and the departments within the College of Science are on the cutting edge of research and scholarship.

More information regarding Virginia Tech:

www.thisisthefuture.com

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Come one, come all! Visit us during our October Open House

Want to learn more about Virginia Tech and what we have to offer? Join us for our October Open House on October 17. This one-day event is a chance for all you students out there who are thinking about transferring to Virginia Tech to tour our beautiful campus, and to learn more about our majors, financial aid and scholarships, university honors, and much more.

Consider this program a one-stop shop to see if Virginia Tech is right for you. You can register online for this free, one-day event. Once you register, just show up with your ticket. It's that simple. We believe that if you can visit our campus and see for yourself how great it is, you will want to be a Hokie!

At Open House you can expect to:

get academic information, including a university overview and individual department specifics
find out about our amazing array of dining options (from vegetarian to steak to lobster, we have excellent food!)
hear more about financial aid and scholarship opportunities
enjoy a student-led tour of our beautiful campus
discover university honors, study abroad programs, co-op and internship opportunities and more

View the tentative schedule

More info:

Fall Open House

This is the Future

Become a fan! www.facebook.com/vtadmissions

Friday, October 2, 2009

Unlocking the transfer guide

If you want to transfer to Virginia Tech, it is best to visit a course guide. This will help you determine which classes you should take at the college in which you are currently enrolled.

Transferring from the Virginia Community College System?

If you are transferring from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), you can check out 2009-2010 Transfer Guide. This guide contains the recommended courses for each Virginia Tech undergraduate degree program.

What do do:

Visit the transfer guid e, click on "Entering VCCS 2009-2010 Virginia Tech Transferable Courses"
Then, click on the major that interests you.
Once you select the major that interests you, you can see the VCCS course number and the corresponding VT course number for each major.

Transferring from a 4-year institution or non-Virginia 2-year college?

If you have graduated from high school and are attempting, or have attempted more than 12 credit hours at another college or university (including a community college that is not in the Commonwealth of Virginia), please take the following steps to ensure that the classes you are taking will count towards your intended major at Virginia Tech.

Visit the transfer equivalency database,
Select the state in which your college is located and then the college you are attending from the drop down menus.
Then, select "Find Courses"
Now you can select the courses are enrolled in at your current college and see what the transfer equivalents are at Virginia Tech.

Articulation Agreements:

Articulation agreements have been created with Richard Bland College and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). In short, this means that if you take certain courses and maintain a high GPA at Richard Bland College or at a Virginia Community College, you have guaranteed admission at Virginia Tech. To learn more and view the checklists, visit http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/transfer/articulation.php.

More info: