virginia tech personal statement

Admission Requirements

• Prior research experience
• GPA > 3.2*
• Personal statement, 1 – 2 pages
• Diversity statement, 1/2 – 1 page**
• 3 letters of reference (at least one from research faculty with whom you have worked)
• TOEFL/IELTS for international students***

*We utilize a holistic approach to application review, which takes particular life circumstances into account. You may apply with a lower GPA, but we ask you to please explain reasons for the lower GPA in your personal statement.

**Virginia Tech and the MCB program strongly believe that everyone needs to work together to minimize inequalities and discrimination. One of Virginia Tech’s guiding principles is  InclusiveVT , which is the commitment to increase diversity among students, faculty and staff and to ensure a welcoming, affirming and safe climate for everyone. We are curious to learn from you if and how you think you can support these goals.

***TOEFL/IELTS score can be waived if you have a degree from a university where courses were held in English. More information  here . For the MCB program, specifically, your TOEFL score needs to be higher than 100; speaking subtest needs to be 25 or higher, all other subtests need to be 20 or higher. Your IELTS score needs to be 6.5 or higher and no subtest can be lower than 6.0.

All applications need to be  submitted  through the  Virginia Tech Graduate School . Please see  here  for instructions on how to direct your application to the MCB program committee.

Your questions

Information on our webpages may not be sufficient to answer your questions, in particular if your circumstances differ from those of most applicants. We are always happy to answer questions.  Send us a message , and we’ll get back to you.

How to Apply?

Application Checklist

Eligibility

General Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with minimum of 3.0 GPA
• TOEFL/ IELTS  (For all non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents).  Learn more about testing requirements.

Because the M.F.A. program does holistic admissions, we look at your writing sample first and foremost, in addition to your personal statement, recommendation letters, CV or resume, and everything else that’s sent to us. If your cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 in your most recent degree program, please contact the M.F.A. program director for additional information.

What You'll Need to Apply

Transcripts

Scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required for Creative Writing (M.F.A.). You can include references/recommedations email addresses in your online application, or have them send paper copies directly to department. M.F.A. applicants should include recommendations from professors, published writers, or others who can credibly assess their potential as creative writers. Applicants have also used letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, and colleagues. Please note that our system accepts recommendation letters via Interfolio. See the detailed instructions provided by Interfolio for this purpose.

Writing Sample

Attach your writing sample directly to the Graduate School application.

Please select the genre in which you plan to specialize, and upload either:

• A 25-page portfolio of original fiction (stories or novel excerpts), double-spaced
• A 15-page portfolio of original poems, single-spaced, with no more than one poem per page.

Writing samples under 15 pages for poetry, and 25 pages for fiction are acceptable; please do not exceed the specified page maximums

Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae

A  personal statement  (250-500 words) is required by the M.F.A. Program along with your latest Curriculum Vitae.

Please address the following questions in the personal statement:

• Why do you want to undertake graduate work?
• Why do you qualify to pursue a graduate degree at Virginia Tech?
• What do you expect to derive from your program of study?
• If you have a concentration or area of interest in mind, briefly outline your interests in this area.
• What do you expect to contribute as a student and subsequently as a member of the profession?
• If you have not previously indicated in your application the names of faculty members you are interested in working with, please include that information in this statement

Evidence of English Proficiency 

The Graduate School  requires  that  all non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents  demonstrate English proficiency to ensure they enter the university with sufficient English skills necessary to function in a graduate program. A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test score is the most common way international applicants demonstrate English proficiency. We require a minimum TOEFL score of 90 (IBT) or IELTS score of 8 for admission. Test scores should be sent to us using ETS institution code 5859. See this  page  if you qualify for a English language proficiency test waiver. 

Applying as an International Student

• Blacksburg Campus:  Prospective  residential on-campus  international students might be required to  submit  immigration documents, and other additional materials with their application.   Please consult with  Graduate Student Immigration Services .

Additional Information/Supporting Material

Applicants are welcome to submit any additional information with application material that would be useful in evaluation of your application.

Application Fees

Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though veterans and some other applicants are eligible for  waivers of the application fee . All application fees are non-refundable.

Complete the Online Application

To apply to the graduate program, students must submit the Virginia Tech Graduate School online application. 

Domestic Application

•  Fall Deadline:  Jan. 15, 2024. 

International Application

Blacksburg Campus Application Type:

• Please select an Application Type: First Time Graduate Study or Readmission
• Please select a Program:  Creative Writing
• Please select a Program Option: Poetry or Fiction
• Please select a Degree Type: M.F.A.
• Please select a Campus: Blacksburg (Main Campus)
• Please select a Term:  Fall

Submit Transcripts

Include a scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

The official transcripts showing degree conferral should be sent directly from your institution(s) to Graduate Admissions: Virginia Tech Graduate Admissions 120 Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown (Mail Code 0325) 155 Otey Street NW Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

Submit Test Scores

 Send official scores to Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859.

Apply for Scholarships/Funding

The Department of English has a limited number of  graduate assistantships and fellowships  available for students applying for full time study on the Blacksburg Campus. Entering students can apply for such funding as part of their admissions application.  No separate application  required.

• All students equally and fully funded through Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• GTA-ships include tuition remission, health insurance, and stipends of more than $20,000 per year for all three years of the program

Find out what loans are available as a graduate student and other opportunities.

Interviews with Members of the Program Faculty

Our faculty try to phone or Skype interview all of our finalists for admissions to the program, but, the program has also made offers to applicants who have not been interviewed by our poetry and fiction committees. The program director is in regular touch with all wait-list applicants during the admissions process about their admissions status.

Offers of Admission and Funding

The Graduate School sends an official offer of admission to applicants upon the recommendation of the department faculty. Admitted applicants who are offered graduate assistantships at Virginia Tech are not required to make a decision to commit to the assistantship offer until April 15. See the  assistantships page  for more details.

Graduate Admissions

Matthew Vollmer Director, M.F.A. in Creative Writing 431 Shanks Hall  540-231-8322 [email protected]

Application Questions

Marie Trimmer Graduate Programs Coodinator 310 Shanks Hall 540-231-4659  [email protected]

Program Inquiries

Application Guidelines

The Online MBA program welcomes a new cohort in May of each year. Applications are reviewed in three rounds, though early application is encouraged.

Admissions criteria for the Online MBA program are based on a comprehensive review of the applicant's professional work experience, academic performance, and personal goals. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis. For more information please contact Rebecca McGill, Associate Director of MBA Recruiting, at  [email protected]  or (703) 538-8497.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

To complete and submit your application, the following application materials are required:

• Completed online application form
• Current resume
• Virginia Tech alumni do not need to submit official transcripts
• Students with degrees from universities outside the U.S. will need to submit a report from a credential evaluation service and a translation into English if necessary.   See additional details on the Apply Now page .
• Two letters of recommendation sent electronically
•  Many students are drawn to our Online MBA program because of its accelerated completion timeline. Members of our OMBA cohorts are able to complete their degree in just 24 months. However, the accelerated nature of the program is consistently reflected in the time commitment required by our program. In addition to spending approximately 11 hours in synchronous classes two weekends per month, students can expect to spend approximately 15-20 hours weekly on assignments outside of classes. How do you plan to successfully juggle your personal, professional, and academic commitments? What habits do you have in place that will allow you to be successful in our rigorous, accelerated program?
• Please feel free to submit a statement that includes any additional information you believe would be helpful to the committee regarding your academic or professional history. This may include an explanation of academic issues, employment gaps, or to highlight academic, personal, or professional accomplishments that will strengthen your application.
•  We find that one of the most important factors our students must consider when beginning their MBA is timing. Please submit a two-minute video telling us why you have chosen to begin your MBA at this time. What makes it so that this feels like the right time to take on graduate coursework and the commitment necessitated by a graduate program? Please note that we encourage you to record this video with your cell phone. We do not expect this video to be highly produced.
• Applicants are asked to provide a 1 - 2 page, double-spaced personal statement that adresses why you are pursuing a graduate degree, why at Virginia Tech, and why now.
• TOEFL,  if necessary
• A non-refundable $75 application fee

After an initial review of your completed application, you may be invited to a 30-minute interview via Zoom with the Director of MBA Programs and two other Online MBA applicants.

Please note that GMAT/GRE test scores are not required to apply to the Online MBA program.

Visit our Apply Now page when you are ready to begin your application.

TARGET GPA AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• GPA: 3.0 or better
• Minimum two years of professional work experience completed post-undergraduate degree, with five years of experience preferred.
• GMAT/GRE test scores not required to apply to the Online MBA

If you have questions about these guidelines, please contact Rebecca McGill, Associate Director of MBA Recruiting, at  [email protected]  or 703-538-8497.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Completed Online MBA applications will be reviewed in three rounds. Our application deadlines for the May 2024 cohort are as follows:

• Round 1: December 1, 2023
• Round 2: February 15, 2024
• Round 3: April 1, 2024

The summer 2024 application is now open and students may submit their application. Review of applications will begin after the Round 1 deadline.

Please note that your application must be completed  by the stated deadline for each round. After each round, an admission decision (i.e. accept, reject, or move to next round) will be made on all completed applications. Applications that are missing materials (including copies of official transcripts and letters of recommendation) will be reviewed in the following round.

Please note that we encourage early application as scholarship availability is greatest at the beginning of the review cycle. All applications are automatically considered for a scholarship. We encourage you to review the scholarship information found  here  for more information regarding scholarship awards. 

All admissions decisions will be final at the conclusion of Round 3.

View  Virginia Tech's academic calendar  to see the date classes start for current and future academic years. Please note that the Online MBA program starts with the first Virginia Tech Summer session.

Application Guidelines

The Executive Ph.D. Program welcomes new students in August of each academic year, with a required summer intensive in June-August prior to the official start of the program. Applications are due in March in the year of entry. Early application is encouraged through a priority deadline in January. 

The admissions committee makes a holistic review of an applicant's academic and professional experience, as well as their supplemental statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and in-depth interviews to determine a candidate's readiness to take on doctoral level work.

PRIOR TO YOUR APPLICATION

It is expected that prospective students will connect with our team prior to application so that we may better understand your goals and assess your suitability for the program before you invest the time to apply. This also allows us the opportunity to connect you with faculty in your discipline of interest and schedule a time for you to join us for an in-person residential session to experience the program firsthand.

Once you are invited to apply, detailed application instructions can be found on our Apply Now page.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

To complete and submit your Executive Ph.D. application, the following application materials are required:

• Completed online application form
• Unofficial web transcripts downloaded through a university's online portal will not be accepted, except for Virginia Tech alumni.
• Students with degrees from universities outside the U.S. will need to submit a report from a credential evaluation service. TOEFL/IELTS scores may also be required.  See Additional Materials for International Students section below.
• A copy of your resume
• Three letters of recommendation sent electronically through the application portal
• Applicants are asked by the Graduate School to provide a 1-2 page double-spaced personal statement that addresses why you are pursuing this degree, why at Virginia Tech, and why now.
• In-depth interviews
• A $75 non-refundable application fee

Please note that GMAT/GRE test scores are  not  required to apply to the Executive Ph.D. program, but may be submitted in support of your application.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Your application and all supporting materials   must be received by our office by the deadline dates listed below. We strongly encourage early application to ensure that your recommenders have ample time to submit their letters before the deadline.

Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered if space is available. Please email [email protected]  to inquire.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• Students with undergraduate degrees from universities outside the U.S. must submit a report from a credential evaluation service that converts grades into a grade point average (GPA) with a course by course breakdown of their degree. The university will accept evaluations done by any credentialing agency listed on the  National Association of Credential Evaluation Services web site .
• TOEFL scores are required of all international students whose first language is not English. The university-wide minimum score requirement is 90 for Internet and 577 for paper.  Please visit  the TOEFL website  for additional information on the TOEFL exam.
• U.S. naturalized citizens and permanent residents
• Applicants who have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction. The language of instruction must be confirmed as English on your transcript evaluation for the Graduate School to provide the waiver.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is also accepted in lieu of the TOEFL. A 6.5 minimum is required to apply.
• Official test scores should be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School, institution code 5859. Do not enter a department code.
• Additional information for international graduate students can be found on the  Cranwell International Center site .

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER FOR MILITARY STUDENTS

The Graduate School is pleased to waive the $75 application fee for its military students. You will have an opportunity during the online application to submit the required documentation to receive your waiver. Additional information is provided on our Apply Now page.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to write Virginia Tech supplemental essays? CollegeAdvisor.com ’s guide to the Virginia Tech application essays will show you exactly how to write engaging Virginia Tech essays and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

Virginia Tech Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate is 67% 
• U.S. News considers Virginia Tech a selective school.
• Virginia Tech is ranked #75 on the U.S. News ‘ list of National Universities .

Does Virginia Tech Have any Supplemental Essays?

Yes. In addition to the personal statement that you will write for the Common App or the Coalition App , you’ll also answer four Virginia Tech essay prompts. The Virginia Tech essay questions are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are as a student, peer, and person.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get great tips from our Common App essay guide .  

How Many Essays does Virginia Tech Require?

You must answer four Virginia Tech essay questions when you complete your application. Each of the Virginia Tech essay questions requires a response of no more than 120 words. It is just as challenging to write a short essay as it is to write a long essay, so take time to brainstorm, outline, draft, and revise each of your four Virginia Tech supplemental essays. There should be a targeted message in each of your Virginia Tech essays. 

What are the Essays for Virginia Tech?

The Virginia Tech application essays for Virginia Tech are about four topics: service, resilience, leadership, and goals. Each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is relatively broad. This gives you lots of freedom and flexibility to choose your topic and articulate the story you tell in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. At 120 words each, your Virginia Tech essays must be clear and concise. 

How do I Write the Essays for Virginia Tech: Question 1

Prompt 1: Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Question #1 of the Virginia Tech supplemental essays is a bit of a twist on the classic community service essay. Since the school incorporates its motto into the prompt, you will also want to look at the school’s core values and mission statement. These will help you learn what should be reflected in your Virginia Tech application essays. 

“Community” is defined very broadly. Successful Virginia Tech essays can be written about families, teams, project groups, neighborhoods, religious groups, or any other group of people with whom you spend your time. The key to writing a strong Virginia Tech supplemental essay is to choose a community that is important to you. The best Virginia Tech supplemental essays show how you have been an active member of your community. Through your Virginia Tech supplemental essays establish clearly how you would be an active member of communities on campus.

Address each part

This prompt asks that you include a few specific details in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays: how long you have been involved, what you learned, and how you would share it at Virginia Tech. The best Virginia Tech essays will not only answer these but also discuss the “why.” Why do you choose to spend time impacting this community in particular? In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, articulate how what you do has shaped who you are.

Importantly, this prompt is not asking you to describe the community in your Virginia Tech application essays. Rather, you should discuss your role in the community in-depth. How has your involvement transformed you? How have you transformed the community? Service is inherently about others, but your 120-word Virginia Tech supplemental essays should contain vivid stories that illustrate your qualities and character traits. 

Connecting your cause

What cause are you committed to? This is the essential question that effective Virginia Tech supplemental essays will answer. Then, you can connect your passions to opportunities at Virginia Tech. Perhaps, you could highlight an initiative or two that you would get involved in through VT Engage or in volunteer opportunities in Roanoke in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays.  In your Virginia Tech essays, make an authentic connection between what you do now and what activities and organizations you plan to be involved in at Virginia Tech. 

In this and all your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, avoid writing a monologue on the meaning of service in general or using cliche examples and phrases. Also, be sure to hone in on a specific and personal story in your Virginia Tech essays. This should not be a laundry list of your community service endeavors. 

Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Do you answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay questions in your essay? 
• Does your essay tell a compelling story?
• Do you clearly establish your “why” in your essay?
• Does the reader learn what is important to you through your Virginia Tech application essays?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 2

Prompt 2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

This Virginia Tech application essay is almost identical to the common ‘overcoming challenges’ essay archetype, but with an emphasis on resilience. The best Virginia Tech application essays that answer this prompt will be authentic; the adversity that you overcame does not have to be traumatic or monumental. 

How you handled the challenge is more important than what the challenge was. So, don’t force a topic into your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Your Virginia Tech essays will be better if you discuss a low-stakes challenge authentically than if you fabricate a high-stakes challenge that doesn’t have implications for your character, skills, or growth. 

Be specific and personal to make your Virginia Tech application essays stand out among the many other qualified applicants. Illustrate the traits and skills that you showed in your resilience. What motivates you? What enabled you to persevere? Your choice of topic is one way to stand out in your Virginia Tech essays, but so is your ability to write about your chosen topic. 

The best Virginia Tech application essays will incorporate elements of vulnerability and transparency. Before drafting your responses to this and each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, take time to reflect on how your essay conveys your values. Also, remember that rarely do we overcome adversity alone. In your Virginia Tech essays, you can write about how you relied on others as part of being resilient.

Virginia Tech supplemental essays answering this prompt are only 120 words, so let’s talk about structure. In your Virginia Tech essays, take a few sentences to lay the foundation, elaborate descriptively on your story, and emphasize the “so what?” — why does it matter? 

The best way to maximize the 120 word limit in your responses to the Virginia Tech essay prompts is to show instead of tell. Use vivid descriptions instead of simple narration to make the reader feel like they are part of your story. How did you feel? What was your environment like? Who did you interact with? 

Avoid overused cliche examples such as losing a sports game or getting a bad grade unless you can make them extremely unique and personal. 

• Do you show instead of tell your message in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Is your choice of topic specific and personal?
• Do you focus more on your resilience in handling the challenge than the challenge itself?
• Did you thoroughly proofread your Virginia Tech essays for grammar and content?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 3

Prompt 3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

When choosing your topic to write about for this Virginia Tech supplemental essay, you can discuss being a role model through one of several avenues: influencing others, leadership, resolving a dispute, or contributing to group goals. You have a lot of freedom when answering the Virginia Tech essay prompts! Think about a situation in which you took an active role in a group setting among peers, adults, or your family. In your Virginia Tech essays, highlight how your leadership demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and other character traits. 

When writing your Virginia Tech application essays, don’t worry if you don’t have an official leadership title such as president of a club or student council representative. Virginia Tech does not expect that every leader has a title. The impact you had in your role is significantly more important to discuss in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays than the title or size of the role you held. 

Different kinds of leadership

The leadership you discuss in your response to the Virginia Tech essay questions can be academic, professional, social, or otherwise. Regardless of the type of leadership you choose to discuss, the best Virginia Tech essays will reveal what role you play in group settings and how you build connections with those around you. 

The secret to this one of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is that it’s about collaboration more than leadership. After all, what is a leader without people to lead and other leaders to work with? The stories you select to write about for your Virginia Tech application essays should reveal how your leadership is cooperative in nature; you’re not in it alone!

Though you will inevitably write about other people in your Virginia Tech essay prompts, make sure that you are focusing on your own redeeming qualities and traits. 

• Do you discuss leadership in a collaborative way in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Do your Virginia Tech admissions essays reveal redeeming qualities about your character?
• Does your choice of topic enable you to highlight your leadership style?
• Do you fully answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay prompt?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 4

Prompt 4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays for this prompt, you can write about many types of goals. You are not limited to just academic goals! Perhaps you have career goals, personal goals, or others. Interestingly, this prompt asks you for a goal that you are currently working toward achieving. Therefore, in your Virginia Tech essays, you must be able to articulate the steps that you are taking — not ones you plan to take or already took.

Another consideration when choosing which goal to write about for your Virginia Tech supplemental essays is the message that the goal and your progress send about what type of person, peer, and student you are. How does what you strive for show who you are?

Don’t forget the “why”

The Virginia Tech essay prompts you with guiding questions: What is your motivation? What is your timeline? Who do you seek help from? But, the most important question is implied: Why? In your Virginia Tech essays, fully answer each of these questions while demonstrating your commitment to learning and growing. 

You should not feel pressure to talk strictly about your academic and career goals in any of your Virginia Tech essays. However, of these Virginia Tech essay questions, that discussion likely fits in this one the most seamlessly. Nevertheless, you should not choose to write about your future plans if they are not clearly articulated or you are applying relatively undecided. With more than 150 majors and 130 minors to choose from, one likely aligns with your interests and goals. Investigate which clubs , classes , and research opportunities could fit your goals.

Whether you choose to write about an academic, personal, social, or another goal in your Virginia Tech essay questions, tell a compelling story about your motivations and aspirations. Help the admissions committee learn more about who you are in a way that your other Virginia Tech essays have not yet revealed.

• In your Virginia Tech essays, do you clearly articulate your goal?
• Is your goal one that you are currently pursuing?
• Do you clearly and concisely answer all parts of the question in 120 words or less?

Additional tips for Virginia Tech essays

In each of your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, strive to be honest and sincere while demonstrating growth and reflection. You only have 120 words to use in your response to each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, so carefully consider the purpose of each word and sentence. Ultimately, aim for your Virginia Tech essays to be meaningful and memorable.

In combination with your Common App or Coalition App personal statement, your Virginia Tech essay prompts will round out the full package of your application. Consider how you can reveal another side of yourself in each of your essays responding to the Virginia Tech essay prompts. If you are applying to the Honors College, that admissions committee will also review your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

Before submitting your application, re-read your application and think about how the Virginia Tech admissions team will perceive each aspect of it. Make sure that your Virginia Tech supplement essays say something about you that the reader doesn’t learn in other parts of your application. 

The Virginia Tech essay prompts are only slightly altered from last year’s version, so it is clear that the school values the responses you write in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Clearly and concisely show the admissions readers who you are through your Virginia Tech essays. Highlight what will make you a star college student. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on Virginia Tech was written by Caroline Marapese , Notre Dame ‘20. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Virginia Tech, click here . Want help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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4 Strong Virginia Tech Essay Examples by Accepted Students

Virginia Tech combines a wide range of academic offerings with a reputation for athletic excellence, a combination that many students find attractive. Since you’ll be competing against many other qualified students, you want to make sure your essays will set you apart from applicants who may have similar grades and extracurriculars.

In this post, we’ll break down four essays that helped real students gain acceptance to Virginia Tech. We’ll talk through what each essay did well, and any areas for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Virginia Tech essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Essay Example 1 – Leadership

“Sorry, I don’t have my lines memorized yet.” When I heard the phrase for the third time two weeks out from the first state high school theater competition, where my high school was entering a 30-minute version of Hamlet in the Klingon language, I knew I had to take charge.

Spending hours constructing a line-by-line guide to the script and seeking out the actors having trouble, I stepped beyond my roles as a mere translator and dialogue coach to tutor the cast. Rapidly learning my part, I aided other actors’ preparations during rehearsals as much as I practiced mine. Despite our third place finish, I discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing.

What the Essay Did Well

One of this essay’s primary strengths is its thoroughness. The prompt asks you to not only describe a particular situation, but also answer three specific questions related to it, all in less than 120 words. Being both comprehensive and efficient is far easier said than done, but this writer does an excellent job of striking that balance:

• The lines “I stepped beyond my roles as a mere translator and dialogue coach to tutor the cast” and “I aided other actors’ preparations” answer the prompt’s first two questions, by explaining which skills the writer contributed and how others relied on them for guidance
• The final line tells us what the writer learned about themselves, namely that they “discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing”

Additionally, the writer answers the questions in a way that isn’t heavy-handed. They trust that they have described the situation well enough that their point will be clear the first time, which means that they can keep things moving, rather than throwing a wrench in the flow of the story by spending a bunch of words hammering home a point that readers already understand.

The essay’s other biggest strength is its originality. While you don’t want to twist yourself into knots trying to pick a topic admissions officers have absolutely never seen before, as that’s practically impossible, you do want to tell a story that they haven’t heard a million times before.  

Because not too many applicants have performed “a 30-minute version of Hamlet in the Klingon language,” we don’t just learn about the student’s leadership skills, but also get a more general idea of their personality, and what makes them different from other 18 year olds. Unfortunately, college applications are by their nature usually quite dry, so telling a more unusual story like this one can help humanize you more than a more “typical” response centered on, for example, volunteering as a tutor for middle schoolers. 

That being said, honesty is crucial in the college essay, so if your most authentic response is about a more conventional topic, that’s completely fine! Just don’t be afraid to pick something unusual, if the opportunity presents itself.

What Could Be Improved 

Overall, the writer makes great use of the space given to them. However, the last two lines aren’t as strong as the rest of the essay, and so things unfortunately end on a relative down note.

The line “Rapidly learning my part, I aided other actors’ preparations during rehearsals as much as I practiced mine,” doesn’t really teach us anything that isn’t already communicated by the previous sentence. And the line “Despite our third place finish, I discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing” is clear, but a pretty bland way of phrasing the essay’s final takeaway.

To keep momentum going through the finish, the first sentence could be rewritten to something more descriptive, so that we stay fully immersed in the story’s development. That might look something like: “By the time the curtains opened on the big day, our pronunciation was indistinguishable from Spock’s.”

Then, to make the final line more personal, the writer could more explicitly tie the takeaway to their story, with a something like “Despite our third place finish, to this day I smile whenever I think of my actors spending those extra hours with me, doing gymnastics with their tongues to try and master a particularly challenging vowel, all in the name of putting on a show we could be proud of.”

This version’s specificity makes the takeaway more personal to this particular student, and thus more impactful, rather than it just feeling like a variation of something cliché.

Essay Example 2 – Community, Scholastic Bowl Style

Despite having been a member of the Scholastic Bowl team since entering high school, even a year ago, I could contribute little more than an understanding of the sciences and esoteric medieval history. However, when I became one of the team’s senior members, I realized that wasn’t enough. 

After working hard to ensure that my teammates can depend on me, I’ve learned to recognize figures as various as Rodin, Coltrane, and Hegel. During games, I’ve gained the confidence to step forward when it’s time to choose a captain and the experience needed to make quick decisions. At Virginia Tech, in the Academic Competition Organization, I will continue to use the skills I’ve acquired to bring those around me to victory.

In this “Community Service” essay, the student does an excellent job of concretely describing how they have grown through their involvement in Scholastic Bowl. We learn that they have gone from “contribut[ing] little more than an understanding of the sciences and esoteric medieval history” to “recogniz[ing] figures as various as Rodin, Coltrane, and Hegel,” which is a specific, engaging way of framing their development.

Additionally, the writer lists increased confidence and an ability to make quicker decisions as general skills that they have taken away from this experience. In any college essay, you want to make sure you don’t just tell your reader about something you did, but also show how the lessons you learned are relevant to your personality as a whole. Otherwise, admissions officers may not understand how your story is supposed to help them envision you as a member of their campus community.

There are a couple of places in this essay where the writer’s points are somewhat vague, which makes it hard for us to understand the concrete ways this activity has helped them grow. As noted above, we do learn about two particular skills they have learned from Scholastic Bowl, but what’s missing is a description of how they developed those skills.

For example, “working hard to ensure that my teammates can depend on me” doesn’t say anything about the specific steps they took to grow their knowledge base. A more informative line would read something like:

“I was determined to become a reliable member of the team, and so I spent countless hours scrolling through museum’s online inventories, and giving myself papercuts from making hundreds of flashcards to learn the difference between Kant and Hegel’s philosophies.”

By seeing what exactly the student did to become a more dependable team member, we get a more concrete sense of what actions they might take in a similar situation in college.

The last line of the essay is another place where the writer needs to get more specific. While they are clearly trying to explicitly tie their past experience to their potential future at Virginia Tech, that link feels forced. They have done a good job of finding a particular club at Virginia Tech that they would like to join, but the line

“I will continue to use the skills I’ve acquired to bring those around me to victory”  

doesn’t say anything concrete about how the student would fit into the Academic Competition Organization. Just looking up a club that fits what you did in high school isn’t enough. You need to also spell out how your past experiences would make you an asset to that club, and, by extension, the school as a whole. In this case, that might look something like:

“At Virginia Tech, in the Academic Competition Organization, I look forward to planning pizza parties to both teach my teammates about the intricacies of early modern philosophy, and continue learning how to distinguish Raphael from Michelangelo, a distinction which remains infuriatingly beyond me.”

This version paints us a much clearer picture of how this student will contribute to this organization at Virginia Tech, and in turn how they see the organization being integral to helping them grow and develop in college.

Essay Example 3 – Community, Dog Walking Style

I moved to my neighborhood seven years ago, and ever since I’ve been heavily involved with all the dogs in the neighborhood. My favorite resident was Spot, an older dog, who belonged to a blind man. While her owner was in the hospital where he passed away, I watched her full-time. He could no longer pay me, but I didn’t mind. I cared for Spot until she passed as well. The neighbors refer to me as the dog whisperer, because I was able to get a leash on a lost dog who is typically very aggressive and find his owners. Through this, I’ve learned great responsibility, that I intend to spread to my peers at Virginia Tech.

In responding to the same “Community Service” prompt as above, the writer does a fantastic job of providing two concrete examples of how they have helped their community: taking care of a blind man’s dog while he was sick and even after he passed away, and finding a lost dog’s owners. 

Additionally, along the same lines as the “Hamlet in Klingon” story from Essay Example 1, one of this essay’s strengths is that it focuses on a story not many other applicants are likely to tell. In response to this prompt, many students will likely talk about more formal service work they have done, through an organization or school club. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that approach–the example above shows how you can do it successfully.

However, describing something you did in a more casual, everyday context can sometimes make your points even more impactful, as admissions officers get a sense of who you are “when nobody’s watching.” Taking care of your neighborhood dogs isn’t something that’s likely to make it onto your resume, which means there’s no doubt that your dedication is coming from your heart, rather than from a desire to impress anybody.

What Could Be Improved

This essay’s biggest weakness is that, after a detailed, endearing story, the last line is incredibly generic and impersonal. “Through this, I’ve learned great responsibility, that I intend to spread to my peers at Virginia Tech” could be about anything from doing beach cleanups to a part-time waitressing job–there is no connection to the wonderful story we’ve just been told, nor to the writer’s goals for their potential future at Virginia Tech. A more cohesive, satisfying ending might look something like: 

“The sense of responsibility I feel while mushing up an elderly dog’s wet food, or picking a thorn out of a paw, is something I will take with me to Virginia Tech. I will dedicate myself to helping my peers in whatever way I can, whether that’s walking someone’s dog through the streets of Blacksburg, or bringing a friend dinner from Burger ‘37 in Squires Food Court when they’re too busy studying to get food themselves.”

This version both personalizes the takeaway about responsibility to this particular story, and connects that takeaway to this student’s potential life at Virginia Tech. As a result, admissions officers can much more easily understand why this story is relevant to the student’s application.

One last point: on a structural level, it would be a good idea to split this essay into two paragraphs. Even though this is a short supplement, it’s long enough that the writer makes multiple points, and breaking up those points by paragraph (for example, starting a new one after the Spot ancdote) makes the essay feel more organized.

Essay Example 4 – Setting Goals

I have a goal to go D1 for cheerleading. I’ve been cheering since I was eight, and this has always been my dream. I currently attend weekly tumbling classes on top of my daily practices, and after this season I plan to spend my time working on my skills. I want to start cheering my freshmen year, so I have under a year to get ready. Until recently, I didn’t know much about college cheer, so I consulted with my coach. She helped me gather a list of colleges and told me what I needed to work on. She has helped me attend multiple cheer clinics. Those clinics confirmed my desire and started me on the path to my dream.

This writer does a great job of explicitly addressing each question in this prompt. Just like the prompt from Essay Example 1, Virginia Tech is asking you to pack a lot into just 120 words, but this writer manages to use those words efficiently enough to answer everything that is being asked.

Additionally, we get concrete examples of this writer’s dedication to their goal of cheerleading at a D1 level, such as “attend[ing] weekly tumbling classes” and “consult[ing] with [their] coach.” These actions show us that the student is proactive and has a strong work ethic, which are two of the qualities admissions officers are hoping to see highlighted in responses to this kind of prompt.

The number one thing that could improve in this essay is the tone, as it currently feels more like a list of bullet points than a piece of reflective writing. While the student is wrestling with a low word count, with a little extra effort they could make their phrasing much more engaging.

For example, the lines “I have a goal to go D1 for cheerleading. I’ve been cheering since I was eight, and this has always been my dream” could be rewritten to something like: “Since I was eight, I’ve had a vision of myself in a sparkly leotard, with my college’s name splashed across my chest.” This version is actually shorter than the original (22 vs 23 words), and gets readers much more invested in the writer’s pursuit of their goal.

It is important to note that the essay as is would be a completely fine first draft. When you start writing a college essay, the most important thing is getting your thoughts down. But once you have a basic framework in place, taking the time to phrase your ideas in more creative, descriptive ways is often what will take your essay from good to great.

Additionally, as also noted with Essay Example 3, this essay is long enough that splitting it into two paragraphs would make sense. For example, if the writer started a new paragraph with the line “Until recently,” we would have one paragraph focused on steps the writer has already taken towards achieving their goal, and one focused on things they are planning on doing moving forward. That would break the essay into two distinct pieces, rather than throwing everything in together.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay 

Want feedback on your Virginia Tech essay before you submit? That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Cover Letters

A cover letter typically accompanies your resume. The purpose of your cover letter would depend on whether you are applying for a position, inquiring about opportunities, or submitting other materials.

Check the tabs below for some ideas for formatting your cover letter:

Cover letter basics

• Q : Should you send a cover letter even if the employer says it’s optional?
• A:  YES! Cover letters allow you to give additional information beyond your resume.

Cover letter sample

A completed sample cover letter.

Submitting a cover letter via email

• If you are told to email your cover letter and resume, you may chose to include the cover letter as the body of the email and then your resume as an attachment.
• In email, there is no need to leave space for your handwritten signature; it is not applicable in email
• Your address block follows your name at the end of the text.

Supporting documents:

Scholarships

Scholarship program, student affairs administers a number of scholarships to currently enrolled undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding leadership..

These scholarship awards typically range from $1,000 to $4,000.

Henry Dekker Student Leadership Award

The Henry Dekker Student Leadership Award was established to honor Henry J. Dekker ’44 and to acknowledge his outstanding service to the university. This award recognizes a rising sophomore or junior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership service within Student Affairs. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Rising sophomore or junior
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership service within Student Affairs
• GPA of 2.8 or higher

One scholarship will be given to an eligible undergraduate student.

Edward F.D. and Norrine Bailey Spencer Leadership Scholarship

The Edward F.D. and Norrine Bailey Spencer Leadership Scholarship was established to honor Edward F.D. Spencer, vice president emeritus for student affairs, and in memory of his wife Norrine Bailey Spencer, who served as associate provost and director of undergraduate admissions. The recipients of this scholarship will be known as Spencer Scholars. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Undergraduate student in any field of study
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership potential
• Preference given for individuals with financial need
• Multiple scholarships may be given annually to eligible undergraduate students.

Robert Edward Nance ’50 Memorial Scholarship

The Robert Edward Nance ’50 Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Robert Edward Nance, a graduate of Virginia Tech in the Class of 1950. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Demonstrated financial need
• Outstanding leadership potential
• Preference given to current or newly selected members of the German Club

Benedetti Student Leader Scholarship

Brothers Stephen ‘85 and Mark ‘86 Benedetti created this endowment to provide support to students who wish to pursue leadership activities as part of their experience at Virginia Tech. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Leadership service at Virginia Tech
• Demonstrated fnancial need

Preference will be given to a student in the Pamplin College of Business or the College of Engineering.

Robert C. and Emily S. Jones Family Scholarship

Mr. Jones ‘83 created this endowment, on behalf of his wife and five children, to set an example of philanthropy and to provide support to students with financial limitations that wish to pursue leadership activities as part of their experience at Virginia Tech. The following guidelines are required for this award:

Preference will be given to a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Stulb-Heffner Motivation Matters Scholarship

In gratitude for the encouragement received from the VT community during her own personal and academic challenges, Barbara Stulb-Heffner ‘77 established this endowment. It is meant to provide continued incentive for students who may have had difficulty during their first years at the university, but through perseverance and commitment have been able to make steady academic improvement. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Full-time academic status
• Rising junior or senior status
• Demonstrate personal challenge(s) while showing academic improvement throughout their time at Virginia Tech (personal statement and letter of recommendation should reflect individual experience)

Ellen and Ben Ames Leadership Scholarship

Ben Ames ’48, with his wife Ellen, established this award to recognize an outstanding student leader. While a student here at Virginia Tech, Mr. Ames served as a cadet, vice-president of the German Club, and the student body president. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Demonstrated student leadership experience in a program of Student Affairs

The Bible “Dream Big” Scholarship

The Bible Family “Dream Big” Scholarship was established to honor the spirit of service of Bible family members who have attended and served the university, both while students and later as alumni. As the second endowed scholarship established by Bible family members at the university, it challenges its recipients to a lifelong leadership journey to Invent the Future. This award recognizes undergraduate students in the College of Engineering with demonstrated financial need.

The Kenneth W. and Katherine T. Bible “Dream Big” Scholarship was established to honor the spirit of service of Bible family members who have attended and served the university, both while students and later as alumni. As the second endowed scholarship established by Bible family members at the university, it challenges its recipients to a lifelong leadership journey to Invent the Future. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Undergraduate student in the College of Engineering

Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need.

Adam Ward ’11 Memorial Scholarship

The Adam Ward ’11 Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Adam’s legacy at Virginia Tech to help students who, like Adam, are true Hokies and are persistent, active, caring, and willing to reach out and help others. The following guidelines are required for this award:

Preference will be given to students who demonstrate caring compassion and service to others; residents of the Roanoke Valley; and students in the Department of Communication.

Student Government Association Leader Scholarship

The Student Government Association Leader Scholarship was established to recognize the leadership and contribution a student leader has made to SGA and the student body. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Undergraduate student who is a current member of SGA and who holds a leadership position within the organization and a 3.0 GPA at the time of application.

The recipient must maintain a leadership position to remain eligible for any additional awards.

Charles W. Schiffert and Dolores S. Schiffert Scholarship

The Charles W. Schiffert and Dorlores S. Schiffert Scholarship was established to provide scholarship support for a current undergraduate student who plans to pursue a career as a medical physician. The Schifferts moved to Blacksburg in 1968 from Craigsville, Virginia where Dr. Charles Schiffert served as a family practitioner. He was Associate Director of Student Health at Virginia Tech from 1968-1971 and served as Director from 1971 until he retired in 1986. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Undergraduate student enrolled in a curriculum that will prepare her/him for a career as a medical physician

Interested candidate must also provide a recommendation from an advisor in Health Professions Advising.

Austin Michelle Cloyd Social Justice Scholarship

The Austin Michelle Cloyd Social Justice Scholarship provides financial assistance to exceptional undergraduate and graduate Virginia Tech students to offset the costs of social justice-focused leadership building activities that may not otherwise be accessible for students due to financial limitations. Social justice is interpreted broadly to reflect the spectrum of challenges facing underserved communities and marginalized populations. The range of acceptable activities for scholarship application include, but are not limited to, internships, study abroad programs, alternative breaks, co-ops, apprenticeships, fellowships, service-learning, and undergraduate research.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Any current Virginia Tech full or part-time undergraduate and graduate student(s). Applicants must be VT students for the duration of the grant.
• Applicants must be participating in and use funds to support an experiential learning experience including, but not limited to, study abroad, internships (paid or unpaid), fellowships, undergraduate research, co-ops, and alternative break trips.
• The experiential learning experience must have a social justice focus. We recognize that social justice is interpreted broadly to reflect the spectrum of challenges facing underserved communities and marginalized communities.
• Applicants must agree to meet with a member of the VT Engage team at least once during their scholarship duration and for a final share-out of their work after their experience is complete.
• Applicants must disclose a point person from the experience they are applying for funding for and agree to VT Engage contacting that person for verification.
• Applicants must agree to meet with a representative from the financial aid office to discuss the ways this scholarship will affect their award package.
• Applicants must agree to complete a reflection component at the end of their experience including, but not limited to, thank you cards to the donors and short reflection essays.
• Previous award winners are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

• Interested students must complete an application on Scholarship Central . Deadlines listed.
• All students who apply for this scholarship must agree to meet with a representative from scholarships and financial aid in order to determine how this award might affect existing aid.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but we encourage applicants to submit their application at least one month in advance of the experience they intend to use funding for.
• Students may apply for this scholarship at any point in advance of the experience they intend on using the funds for. This does not guarantee the application will be reviewed in time for funds to be dispersed for the experience. We recommend applying at least three months in advance of the experience.
• Students may use this scholarship for experiences taking place outside of their enrolled academic year, provided they will be enrolled for the semester following the experience.
• Students may use the funds for a variety of experiences with a social justice focus but they must provide VT Engage with contacts for the organizations they will be working with. An example of this is providing the contact information for the faculty leading a study abroad experience.
• Funds from this scholarship will be dispersed as a refund to the awardee’s financial aid account. This can negatively affect other financial assistance already awarded to the student. For this reason, all students must meet with a financial aid representative before continuing further in the application process.
• Funds from this scholarship are meant to offset the costs of experiential learning opportunities that may not have otherwise been accessible to students due to financial limitations. VT Engage will prioritize those students with financial limitations during the application process.
• Award amounts will vary depending on the availability of funding, needs of the applicants, and other factors.

Buzz's Bunch Scholarship

Brent "Buzz" Williams, Virginia Tech Basketball Coach 2014-2019, established this scholarship to assist undergraduate students with disabilities so they may reach their full potential. The ideal candidate embodies the character strengths of leadership, integrity, and commitment to improving our world. The following guidelines are required for this award:

• Recognized as a student with a disability by Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) and enrolled for at least one semester
• Be in good academic standing with the University and the respective Academic Department (overalll and in-major GPAs meet required standards)

Interested students must complete an application on Scholarship Central .

The Robert and Mary McClelland Aspire! Ut Prosim Scholarship

The Robert and Mary McClelland Aspire! Ut Prosim Scholarship was established in 2014 and is given annually to an undergraduate student or students who have been an Ut Prosim Aspire! Award recipient. The scholarship is designated for students who enrich their lives through service to others and takes into account demonstrated financial need.

Diversity Statements

Statement on transsexual and transgender identity, chosen names and personal pronouns.

November 21, 2022

This weekend our nation witnessed yet another senseless act of gun violence. This time it was  an act of hate directed at our LGBTQ+ community on the evening of November 19th. We mourn the lives lost at Club Q in Colorado Springs. Queer venues such as Club Q are sacred spaces; they build community, instill pride, and offer refuge from an otherwise hostile world wherein LGBTQ+ individuals are told through public policy, political and religious rhetoric, and outright discrimination that they are not welcome. We acknowledge that this was an act of hate which stripped five individuals of their lives and a community of a space which was home to many.

The Office for Inclusion and Diversity and the Cultural and Community Centers send love to our LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students who have felt the effects of this act of violence. We support the LGBTQ+ community in their legitimate fight for legal recognition and protections and we are committed to making Virginia Tech a more affirming and welcoming space for all. We encourage our Virgnia Tech community to engage with the VirTual Safe Zone program , which makes space for the exploration and support of queer and trans identities and experiences. We also encourage everyone to demonstrate concern and support for our friends and colleagues in ways that respect their individual needs to manage grief and trauma as they see fit.

LGBTQAI2+ folks deserve to live a full and happy life.

Menah Pratt, Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity

Ellington Graves, Associate Vice Provost for Diversity

Dr. Bing, Director of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center

• Support Resources
• Educational Resources
• Club Q Resources
• Virginia Tech's Dean of Students: dos.vt.edu
• LGBTQ+ Resource Center: ccc.vt.edu/lgbtq
• Lavender House: llp.vt.edu/llc/lavender_house
• Cook Counseling Center: ucc.vt.edu
• GLAAD: glaad.org
• Campus Pride: campuspride.org
• National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org
• Safe Zone Training at Virginia Tech: ccc.vt.edu/safe_zone
• Transgender Day of Remembrance: glaad.org/tdor

gofund.me/ecc85ae3

Club q resources: , coloradosprings.gov/clubq.

Virginia Tech Board of Visitors sets tuition and fees for 2024-25

Mark Owczarski

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The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has set tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year.

After considerable discussion and deliberation to seek a balance between access and affordability to the students and families who must bear this cost with preserving the quality of a Virginia Tech degree and investing in world-class faculty and campus programs, the board unanimously approved a 2.9 percent increase in tuition for resident and nonresident undergraduate students for the 2024-25 year.

This continues a multiyear trend of tuition increasing slower than the level of inflation.

Tuition and mandatory fees for Virginia undergraduate students will increase $474, to $15,950 annually, and out-of-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase $1,084, totaling $37,777 annually. This includes a $99 increase in the comprehensive fee.

Annual room and board charges will increase by 5.2 percent, or $612 per year, to a total of $12,358.

For the past six years, Virginia Tech has been able to keep tuition increases to half of the consumer price index on average. Combined with increases in institutional financial aid, the university continues to do everything it can to make Virginia Tech education as accessible to more Virginia students.

Tuition and fees are the primary source of the university’s Educational and General Program (E&G) budget. In the current fiscal year, for example, tuition and fees from both in-state and out-of-state students accounted for approximately $700 million (or 69 percent) of the approximately $1.006 billion total E&G budget. The state provided approximately $251 million (or 25 percent) toward the E&G budget, and an approximately $55.8 million (or 6 percent) came from other sources.

Virginia Tech will continue to deploy its Funds for the Future program, which provides 100 percent protection from tuition and fee increases for returning students with a family income of up to $100,000 with demonstrated financial need resulting in a predictable and unchanging tuition and fee package for all four years of their undergraduate study at Virginia Tech.

The university’s Presidential Scholarship Initiative will once again provide full four-year scholarships to 215 incoming Virginia students next year, supporting a total program of 600 students.

Including university-funded support, Virginia Tech undergraduates received $169 million in grants and scholarships last fiscal year.

Virginia Tech will continue to discount undergraduate tuition by 10 percent during the summer session and winter session courses in Blacksburg to help students complete degrees at an accelerated pace during nontraditional times.

When adding tuition and mandatory fees with room and board costs, the total cost in 2024-25 for a Virginia undergraduate student living on campus will be $28,308, while the total cost of an out-of-state undergraduate living on campus will be $50,135. Virginia Tech remains among the lowest-priced public universities in the commonwealth for resident undergraduate students.

Tuition and mandatory fees for in-state graduate students will rise by $553 to $18,565 and for out-of-state graduate students by $1,007 to $35,091.

The total annual cost to Virginia and Maryland veterinary students will be $28,874, an increase of $718, and the total annual cost to out-of-state (and non-Maryland) veterinary students will be $61,482, an increase of $1,511.

Students enrolling at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine this summer will have a total annual cost of $61,909, an increase of $1,554.

The Virginia Tech cost of attendance for the 2024-25 academic year which is used to determine financial aid can be found online.

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Evening Edition

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Sports College Sports

Subscriber only, with experienced roster in place, virginia tech football coach mostly sees younger players at spring game.

BLACKSBURG — For at least a couple of hours Saturday evening, Brent Pry was not feeling any of the pressure that almost has the grasp of college football coaches.

The spring game had concluded. Injury issues had been kept to a minimum. The first round of the transfer portal came and went without major losses. He knows he won’t be spending the summer mulling the decision of who should be Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback.

“Hokies win,” Pry declared as he entered his post-scrimmage press conference.

In an event that is light on veteran presence and heavy with walk-ons and reserves on the southern half of the depth chart, the Hokies’ spring game wasn’t perfect. But Pry and his coaching staff had the solace of knowing that sending inexperienced players into the huddle wasn’t an act of desperation, but rather preference.

“Oh yeah, I couldn’t be more excited,” Pry said after watching his Orange and Maroon squads combine for five touchdown drives in a two-hour scrimmage played in front of about a half-full Lane Stadium. “And it’s … every time I get excited, then caution kind of creeps in.”

Having caution is a constant side effect for all coaches. Pry is entering his third season in charge at Virginia Tech, so while being wary of pitfalls, he is also much more familiar with his surroundings.

That familiarity starts with the offense, where almost all of the top receivers and running backs opted to return. That includes former Old Dominion wideout Ali Jennings, who showed great promise in his debut as a Hokie last fall, only to be lost early in Virginia Tech’s second game due to a season-ending leg injury.

Jennings re-introduced himself to the fans right away, catching the first two passes for his Orange team and finishing with three catches for 45 yards.

“It was great, good to see him back in the stadium with confidence and playing ball,” offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen said. “He’s obviously a big part of what we’re doing and a big part of leadership in that room.”

Also making a brief appearance was quarterback Kyron Drones, who just offered a brief glimpse of what’s to come in the fall. He was playing with three returning starters from the 2023 season.

Drones, a redshirt junior who became the starter three weeks into the 2023 season, assured the Lane Stadium audience that for the first time in the Pry era, there would be no quarterback controversy heading into fall camp.

Drones completed 6 of 10 passes for 122 yards and led the Hokies’ Maroon unit to three touchdowns in his four series.

“He was (efficient) and we did some things to try to push the ball down the field early,” said Bowen, who also serves as Virginia Tech’s quarterback coach. “So, we can certainly get into a more high-percentage pass game for him, which we got into when we moved the pocket, some quick game, things like that to get the ball out of his hands. But I was pleased the way he went in and operated, led us on a few touchdown drives in the first quarter, and then we were able to get him out.”

Drones said the offense on display Saturday was the result of a lot of work he and the other skill players have put in since the Hokies wrapped up the 2023 season with a 41-20 victory over Tulane in the Military Bowl.

“(I was most pleased with) the consistency we had,” Drones said. “The big jump we had from last spring to this spring is a tremendous improvement. The consistency we had, we never had a day where you leave practice and be like, ‘What the hell was that?’ The consistency has been good, just going against the defense and having that competition. I’m really proud of our offense and where we are right now.”

To no one’s surprise, the top two running backs on the roster, senior Bhayshul Tuten and redshirt junior Malachi Thomas, made brief appearances Saturday. Tuten was in for three snaps for the Orange team, while Thomas saw a little more action — he carried the ball three times for 14 yards, caught a 66-yard pass from Drones and actually threw the first pass of the game, which was incomplete.

That left time for a number of running backs further down on the depth chart to get some time.

Walk-on P.J. Prioleau, son of safeties coach Pierson Prioleau, scored the first touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run for Drones’ Maroon team. He also scored the Maroon’s third touchdown on a 22-yard run.

In between, Drones connected with another walk-on, redshirt freshman tight end Ja’Ricous Hairston, on a 3-yard TD pass.

Prioleau finished with 62 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards, earning accolades from the coaching staff.

“He reminds me of his dad a little bit from back in the day,” Pry said. “He’s crafty, he’s quick, he’s kind of twitched up. We’ve asked him to do everything. He’s played it all on the scout team for us. He bounces around. If we need a wideout, he goes to wideout. If we need a running back, he goes to running back. I think we even tried him in the secondary at one point.

“… He’s gotten better and better each year. He’s positioned himself where he’s got an opportunity to help us.”

The Orange team’s touchdowns came on carries by redshirt freshman quarterback William “Pop” Watson II in the second quarter and redshirt freshman running back Tralon Mitchell.

As for concerns, Pry mentioned that his staff will need to figure out why the two defensive units finished with a combined 13 sacks. While some were the result of the no-tackle rule on quarterbacks, Pry said it still caught his attention.

“That’s a little tricky,” Pry said. “It’s always tough on the O-line when we split the team. I had written down on my notes: So many sacks. Why? It felt to me the quarterbacks were holding the ball a little too long — the young guys. They have to get rid of it. That probably contributed to some of it. We’ve also got some guys who can rush the quarterback. So it was probably a combination there.”

In the case of Watson and the other quarterback currently battling for the backup job behind Drones, redshirt freshman Dylan Wittke, Pry said that is one postion where Virginia Tech may look in the transfer portal and see if there’s someone who can help.

“We’re having those discussions now,” Pry said. “We’ve obviously got some guys in mind that we’ll speak with. We’ll see where it goes. It’s got to be the right group. When you look at Dylan and Pop, and you say ‘could one of them be ready by September?’ Maybe. But do you want to take that risk? That’s something (we’ll consider) when we’re watching this film. That’s why today was so important for those guys.”

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