Sam's story: "At Virginia Tech you are not a transfer student, you are a Hokie"

By Samantha, a student in the Pamplin College of Business

Major: Hospitality and Tourism Management

I became a Hokie in the fall of 2009 after spending two years at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Va.

The whole idea of starting at community college and then transferring to a four-year school was not what I had in mind as a high school senior. But as I know now and am constantly reminded, things do not always go as planned.

Staying home for the first two years of my college education turned out to be a blessing in disguise. During that time I grew up, and I came to realize that I was not as ready to leave home as I thought I was. In fact, after I had finished with my associates at TCC, I started to second-guess my decision to go away for my remaining two years. I was comfortable at home, I had friends and family and a continuous support system whenever I needed. I felt like I was leaving everything I had worked so hard to build over the past two years just to have to start again.

All it took was one last visit to Virginia Tech's campus before I was scheduled to start in the fall to reassure me that Tech was the right fit. I learned very quickly that at Virginia Tech you are not a transfer student, you are a Hokie. Everyone is a Hokie and we are all a part of the Hokie Nation. Orange and Maroon constantly flood the campus and the sense of community that takes place in Blacksburg is unlike anywhere else.

Virginia Tech has taught me more than the lessons learned inside the classroom. I have learned how important it is to be opened minded to all opportunities you are presented with.

To all you potential and new Hokies out there, I'd like to share a few things that I have learned since becoming a Hokie. Whether you chose to become a Hokie as well by transferring to Virginia Tech, I hope you will take these small pieces of advice with you:

• Be proactive; take the time to introduce yourself and meet with your professors and advisors. It will help so much in the long run.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions. Ask as many as you'd like and ask them more than once if you have to.
• And finally, don't blink. Wherever you decide to transfer, know your time as a student is going to fly by. Make sure you take the time to make the experiences all your own. Fill your time with memories, whether good or bad, and get involved.

Remember, you are the only person responsible for your transfer experience.

Related blogs:

When you transfer to VT, you're a Hokie

My transfer story: Brianne shares her transfer experience

My transfer story: Erika shares her transfer experience

Pamplin College of Business Insights

Pamplin College of Business Insights: Josh's story

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Virginia Tech: Think outside of the classroom

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

Major: sociology

Minor: psychology

Virginia Tech has an extensive selection of clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities, and service opportunities to choose from.

In my career at Virginia Tech, I have been very active with the university as well as the community. I am President of the Sociological Association at Virginia Tech (SAV) and a Transfer Orientation Guide Leader (TOGL). Both of these positions allow me to hone my leadership and communications skills while having a good time! I have also gained great networks but best of all friends.

Although leadership positions and memberships to organizations are important, service learning and volunteerism is as well. Service learning and volunteerism are amazing learning experiences that everyone should have. I take part in the annual BIG EVENT, which is a community wide service project, which involves the students of Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg and surrounding communities.

Community outreach is significant at Virginia Tech but so is Virginia Tech's global initiatives. With all the options Virginia Tech has there should be no problem for anyone to find their place in the Hokie Family, while making great impacts in others lives as well as their own.

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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.

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Personal reflections from a recent graduate

By Tyler Murphy

2009 Graduate

Admissions Advisor

Transferring to Virginia Tech was an easy transition for me. I understand that experiences are different for each individual, but if sharing my experiences helps you decide, then my decision to come to VT was one of the best decisions I made during my college career.

As a transfer student coming in from the Virginia Community College System, I was given the opportunity to take part in an on-site review option VT does throughout the state. When I found out that a VT admissions director was visiting my community college, I made an appointment with them and was told right then whether or not I was accepted. All I had to do was bring a transcript, my completed application, and non-refundable $50 application fee to the appointment.

Once I was offered admission, I participated in the summer transfer orientation day where an advisor sat down with me and helped me understand what classes would/would not transfer and what courses I still needed to take in order to graduate.

I loved the feeling I got being on campus and knowing I was a HOKIE. Regardless of the fact that I did not have the dorm experience here as a freshman, I was still able to create lifelong friendships by participating in the many different clubs and intramural sports offered to the student body. Even though my time here was shorter than those who come in as freshman, I found a home and a family here at VT.