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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My transfer story: Brianne shares her transfer experience

By Brianne, a senior in the College of Architecture + Design
Major: Interior Design

I have had an overall positive experience as a transfer student at Virginia Tech. I found the first semester to be the most difficult -- making friends, finding opportunities to get involved on campus, balancing school work, and adjusting to the Hokie lifestyle.

VT is significantly larger than the school that I transferred from, which was quite the adjustment not only socially but also academically. I quickly learned that this was a place that I had to work for myself -- I had to make the most of my time here. I found several activities to get involved with including club sports, organizations within my major, and transfer orientation. These activities helped me to quickly make friends with similar interests as well as helped me to learn what it means to be a Hokie. I was able to find my niche at the university through getting involved in these organizations.


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My transfer story: Erika shares her transfer experience

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

Major: sociology

Minor: psychology

I transferred from Richard Bland College of William and Mary, which is a junior college designed to prepare one for a four-year university. My time spent at Richard Bland College was extremely helpful in my transition from high school to a university setting/curriculum, as well as on my pocket!

I definitely do not regret attending junior college after high school, nor do I regret transferring to Virginia Tech. I decided to apply to Virginia Tech as well as many other in state universities because Richard Bland College had a partnership for guaranteed admission if one graduated with and associates degree and had a 3.0 GPA.

I had always dreamed of coming to Virginia Tech but did not have the grades right out of high school, so this was the perfect opportunity for me. I knew I wanted to attend Virginia Tech because I had heard so many great things about their friendliness and school-spirited atmosphere, along with their educational opportunities at hand.