Admission Information

Academic Credentials

  • Academic preparation for Virginia Tech is best achieved by continued formal study of academic or college preparatory subjects. Consequently, it is recommended that required and elective academic units be evenly distributed throughout the high school years. Specifically, it is recommended that a minimum of seven (7) academic units be completed during the last two years of high school with at least three (3) academic units completed each year.
  • Virginia Tech encourages applicants to develop a broad educational foundation for study at the university. Advanced, honors, gifted and talented, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in any academic or college preparatory subject area listed above are given special consideration in the admissions process.
  • Students with exceptional leadership qualities as demonstrated through a record of participation in, and leadership of, extra-curricular activities, student and civic organizations, athletic teams, or a significant and successful employment history prior to college, and who are interested in enrolling in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, may receive additional consideration in the admissions process.
  • Students who intend to compete in intercollegiate athletics are required to meet all NCAA and ACC requirements for admission. Such candidates under consideration for athletic scholarships may also receive additional consideration in the admissions process.
  • Students applying as art majors must submit a portfolio to the art department. Prospective music students must schedule an audition with the music department. Although it is not required of prospective theatre arts students, special consideration for admission will be given to applicants who audition. Applicants who wish to submit a portfolio or request an audition should contact the department head of the appropriate curriculum before January 1 of the senior year.

Admission

  • Prospective students and their parents are encouraged to visit the campus at their convenience. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, except on holiday weekends and weekends in May and June. (The office will close early on home football Saturdays.)
  • The admissions office offers information sessions for prospective students Monday-Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; and on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. An appointment is not necessary, but visitors are encouraged to check the visit section at (www.admiss.vt.edu/visit.html) to confirm that tours will be given on the day of their visit. When classes are in session, student tour guides lead walking tours of the campus Monday-Friday at 10:00 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m., and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and noon, when the office is open. Virginia Tech does not require a personal interview for admission.
  • Information on admission may be obtained by contacting:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
201 Burruss Hall, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg VA 24061
Phone: 540/231-6267
Fax: 540/231-3242
540/231-9175 TDD (8 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., M-F)
E-mail: vtadmiss@vt.edu

Admission, Early

  • High school juniors with exceptional qualifications may be considered for admission to Virginia Tech before high school graduation. General application procedures and deadlines are the same as for seniors, with the following additional documentation also required: written endorsement from the director of guidance or the principal; a letter from the parents or guardian supporting the decision; and a statement from the applicant outlining the reasons for seeking college entrance after their junior year. Each of these statements should address the student's academic and social preparedness for college. The applicant must rank academically in the top 10 percent of the high school junior class and have official SAT I scores on record of at least 1300 (minimum 620 verbal, 600 math). Prospective applicants should take the SAT examination during the fall of their junior year in high school so that scores will be available when freshman applications are reviewed during January, February, and March.

Admission, Freshman Process

  • When applying for admission as a freshman, the applicant must send the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to the above deadlines:
    1. Official application and application fee (non-refundable): $40 for freshmen, transfer, and non-degree students; $75 for international students.

      Please note: we prefer that students apply online at www.admiss.vt.edu.

    2. An official or unofficial copy of the secondary school record (transcript), including grades on all work through the junior year.
    3. A list of the courses in which the applicant is, or will be, enrolled as a senior. The applicant's record through the first semester of the senior year may be requested if grades and test scores are not completely satisfactory.
    4. Official scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) of the College Entrance Examination Board or the American College Test (ACT).
    5. SAT II subject test in writing should be taken by the January testing date; this score is used for proper placement in first-semester English courses. Scores should be sent directly to the admissions office.
    6. Discharge certificate (DD214) if the applicant is a veteran.
  • Freshman applicants will receive a notification of the admission decision April 1. If offered admission, the applicant will receive an official offer letter, instructions to obtain a housing application, and a health history form. Virginia Tech subscribes to the Candidate's Reply Date of May 1 for freshmen offered admission for the fall semester.

Admission, International Applicants Process (Undergraduate)

  • International applicants for undergraduate admission are considered out-of-state students. International student applicants must meet all freshman or transfer requirements, as previously outlined. International freshman applicants must submit SAT I (Scholastic Assessment Test) and SAT II Writing Subject Test scores. This requirement may also apply to some international transfer students. In addition, international students whose native language is not English must document proficiency in the English language by submitting a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score. Official copies of all scores must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  • The TOEFL test is required of all applicants who are not native speakers of English, in addition to all foreign students with visas, except those raised or schooled in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Jamaica, or other countries in which English is the language of instruction. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL test and 207 on the computer-based TOEFL test is required, although achieving that score is no guarantee of admission. Transfer applicants who have completed two semesters or terms of a non-ESL English composition course with above-average grades at an American college or university are not required to submit TOEFL scores.
  • Non-English transcripts and documents must be submitted in their original form, accompanied by a certified English translation. Unofficial documents and documents without accompanying English translations will not be accepted.
  • International transfer students must submit a syllabus of university study. This description of each course or subject studied (including textbook used and author) must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation of the syllabus. Applications without this information cannot be considered. It is recommended that transfer students seeking admission from international educational systems have their transcripts evaluated by a professional educational credential evaluation service. This is a requirement of the College of Engineering for those seeking to transfer into one of its programs from an international system or for those who previously attended an international system. Students currently enrolled in a U.S. system must still have their international transcripts evaluated.
  • No financial aid is available for international students at the undergraduate level. All undergraduate international applicants must certify that they have sufficient funds to pay for their education at Virginia Tech prior to being issued an I-20 or IAP-66.
  • All international students holding F-1 and J-1 visas must purchase health and accident insurance.
  • The Cranwell International Center provides a full range of services to international students at Virginia Tech. Such services include an orientation program especially designed to meet the needs of new international students, as well as immigration counseling and counseling for personal and financial problems. The center also coordinates a variety of cross-cultural programs designed to facilitate interaction between American and international students.

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Admission and Applying as a Non-Degree-Seeking Student

  • Virginia Tech makes every effort to provide educational opportunities to individuals who are not seeking a degree from the university, but who wish to continue their education by taking courses at Virginia Tech for college credit or, in some cases, degree credit. Such students include, but are not limited to, highly qualified high school students, students enrolled in other colleges or universities, and senior citizens.
  • Students who enroll at Virginia Tech under this program may not be considered candidates for degrees unless they apply formally for regular undergraduate or graduate admission. At that time, minimum requirements must be met and the applicant's academic and disciplinary record at Virginia Tech and all other colleges and universities attended would be reviewed within the context of the current competition for regular admission.
Applying as a Non-Degree-Seeking Student
  • When applying as a non-degree-seeking student, the applicant must send the following materials to the admissions office:
    1. Official application form for admission as a non-degree-seeking student or a summer-only student (whichever is appropriate), plus a $40 application fee (non-refundable). (Please note: We prefer that students apply online at www.admiss.vt.edu.)
    2. Test scores and transcripts normally are not required for non-degree-seeking students, with the exception of high school students. High school students must be at the junior level or beyond, rank in the top 10 percent of their class with SAT I scores of at least 1300, and have written permission from a high school official to take a specific class. Such students cannot take a course that duplicates one offered at their high school. The Admissions Committee may request SAT scores and transcripts of any non-degree-seeking student.
    3. A letter explaining the purpose of attending Virginia Tech as a non-degree-seeking student. In some cases, the Admissions Committee may request an interview.
  • Non-degree seeking stduents may apply online at www.admiss.vt.edu. The application should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the term in which the applicant wishes to enroll. If accepted, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission along with other related forms.
Restrictions on Non-Degree-Seeking Students
  1. Students who have been denied admission to Virginia Tech as freshmen or transfer students normally will not be eligible for reconsideration as non-degree-seeking students.
  2. Non-degree-seeking students will be able to register on a space-available basis only. Until the deadline for adding classes, such students may be required to drop a class if the number of degree-seeking students exceeds the number of available spaces in a particular class.
  3. Non-degree-seeking students will be permitted to attempt up to 40 hours at Virginia Tech, not to exceed 11 hours in any one term during the academic year or 5 hours in either summer school term.
  4. Non-degree-seeking students are required to maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
  5. Non-degree-seeking students are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships.

Admission, Transfer Process

  • Admission is offered on a competitive basis to transfer applicants with the strongest academic records, as long as space is available in their chosen fields of study.
  • Applicants from accredited colleges and universities, including applicants from Virginia community colleges who have completed two full academic years and have received an associate's degree in the University Parallel College Transfer Program, must (1) have completed all entrance requirements, or their equivalent, in their college developmental program; (2) have a minimum GPA of "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in all previous college work attempted; and (3) be in good standing with all colleges or universities attended. The applicant's overall grade point average and the quality of the student's former academic program are critical factors in admissions considerations. Most transfer applicants who are offered admission have a higher GPA than the minimum "C" level. In majors where transfer applications exceed available space, the GPA required for admission will be considerably higher than the minimum "C" level. Transfer applicants must send the following application materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 104 Burruss Hall:
    1. Official application and application fee (non-refundable): $40 for freshmen,
      transfer, and non-degree students; $75 for international
      students.

      Please note: we prefer that students apply online at www.admiss.vt.edu.

    2. Unofficial or official transcripts covering all college-level course work, through the last term enrolled. (To be cleared for final admission, applicants who have accepted the offer of admission must provide the admissions office with final official transcripts from all colleges previously attended.)
    3. A list of the courses in which the applicant is currently enrolled.
    4. Official and complete secondary school record, showing all grades, date of graduation, and SAT scores if less than two years of college have been completed at the time of application.
    5. Discharge certificate (DD214) if the applicant is a veteran.
  • Completed applications are considered and decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. If accepted, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission and related forms by mail.

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Advanced Placement

  • Through Advanced Placement examinations administered in May of each year by the College Entrance Examination Board, exceptionally qualified high school graduates may be considered for advanced placement in certain subjects in which they show a proficiency. Final determination of credit will be made after the test results have been evaluated by the university.
  • Credits allowed for advanced placement are shown as transfer hours on Hokie SPA. These are included as hours passed toward a degree and, therefore, are counted when considering academic eligibility. A student may decline advanced credit only during the first semester of enrollment at Virginia Tech. Questions about Advanced Placement credit should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar.
  • Advanced Placement Credit Table

Advanced Standing

  • Advanced standing without credit will be allowed for satisfactory completion of one to five years of study in a foreign language in a secondary school.
  • Advanced standing with credit will be allowed for exceptional performances on certain tests and/or achievements in mathematics, English, vocational education fields, the International Baccalaureate program, or the terminal year at selected international secondary schools. Credit will not exceed 38 semester hours.
  • Credit by examination, not to exceed 12 semester hours, will be allowed by special examination where exceptional command of a subject is demonstrated. (Please see chapter on Academics in this catalog for further information.)
  • Advanced Standing based on completion of any College-level Examination Program (CLEP) exams is granted at the discretion of the individual departments.

Application Deadlines

  • For fall semester admission, the application deadline for freshman applications is January 15. Freshman applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early in the fall of their senior year in high school. Transfer students from other colleges or universities should apply by March 1 for fall admission. The deadline for applications for spring term is October 1. Applications for spring semester are considered on a space-available basis.

Applying to Graduate School

  • Students interested in working toward an advanced degree at Virginia Tech should contact the Graduate School for an application (www.grads.vt.edu). Applications will be considered completed when official transcripts (in duplicate) of previous scholastic and college records, and all other required information, have been received by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

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Applying to Summer Sessions

  • Virginia Tech offers two summer sessions of approximately 6 weeks each, as well as a 12-week summer session. Credit courses on other than the regular time schedule, including intensive courses for teachers, are also offered. The summer sessions program features a comprehensive offering of courses and special programs, including online courses, study abroad programs, and a few undergraduate courses in Northern Virginia.
  • Enrolled Virginia Tech students, as well as visiting students, are welcome to participate in summer sessions. Enrolled students follow the same registration procedure for summer courses as they would for fall and spring. New or visiting students may enroll in summer sessions in either a degree or non-degree status. Such students should visit www.summer.vt.edu for information. Entering freshmen and transfer students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to be cleared for summer entry. The form to change term of entry is available at www.admiss.vt.edu. Entering graduate students should contact the Graduate School.
  • On-campus housing is available in the summer. For more information, contact the Housing Office, 540/231-6204 or housing@vt.edu.
  • Summer students have access to most university academic, athletic, and recreational facilities and programs, including the Horticulture Gardens and miles of cycling and walking trails. In addition, the Summer Arts Festival provides free movies, concerts, and exhibits.
  • Additional information is available at www.summer.vt.edu or summer@vt.edu.

Early Decision Plan

  • An Early Decision Plan is available for students with strong qualifications and a sincere desire to attend Virginia Tech. Those interested in the Early Decision Plan must check that option on the application form and submit all required credentials by November 1. All Early Decision applicants are notified of their admission status by December 15. Applicants not offered admission at that time may be deferred to the regular applicant pool to receive unbiased consideration during this admission process. The only stipulation on the part of applicants is that they agree to apply only to Virginia Tech under an Early Decision plan and, if accepted, will submit the matriculation deposit by January 15. This does not mean that Early Decision applicants cannot apply to other institutions as regular-decision applicants, but rather that Virginia Tech is their first choice and, if offered admission under Early Decision, they will withdraw applications to other institutions.

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Entrance Tests

  • Freshman applicants are required to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) or the American College Test (ACT). The SAT I or ACT should be taken by the December testing date of the senior year in high school or earlier, as scores are considered in the admissions application process. The SAT II Writing Subject test is not required for admission to Virginia Tech, but is recommended for placement and should be taken before the May testing date of the senior year, so that students' scores will be available during the summer for advising and placement in their first semester at Virginia Tech. Information on these tests may be obtained from high school guidance directors or principals, or by writing directly to the College Entrance Examination Board, Princeton, New Jersey, or the ACT program in Iowa City, Iowa. The tests are given at centers in Virginia, in all other states, and in many foreign countries. The applicant should arrange to have all test scores sent directly to the admissions office by the testing agency or high school. Virginia Tech's CEEB number for reporting test scores is 5859. The ACT code is 4420.
  • International applicants whose native language is not English, and American applicants who are English-speaking but whose native language is not English also are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

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Equal Opportunity Policies

  • Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. The university is subject to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Federal Executive Order 11246, Virginia's State Executive Order Number Two, and all other rules and regulations that are applicable. Questions concerning any of those regulations should be directed to the Equal Opportunity Office, 336 Burruss Hall (0216), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; 540/231-7500; TDD 540/231-9460.
  • Virginia Tech admits students without regard to disabling conditions. The university makes reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the university setting. In doing so, a variety of supplemental services are offered to help offset the functional disadvantage of a disability and help increase students' educational opportunities. Students with disabilities who need assistance or information should contact Services for Students with Disabilities, 150 Henderson Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0255; 540/231-3788; TTY 540/231-1740. Applicants who are disabled and desire assistance or accommodation in the application or admission process should notify the admissions office (see contact information above).

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International Baccalaureate

  • Virginia Tech recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or individual International Baccalaureate courses with advanced standing if the student scores at least a four on the International Baccalaureate higher-level examinations. The university encourages completion of the IB diploma.
  • The additional value of the complete IB diploma is recognized in evaluating a student's record for admission and for advanced standing with credits. Subsidiary level courses are considered for advanced standing only for students who complete the IB diploma. Up to 38 semester credit hours may be granted for those earning the IB diploma, and up to 30 semester credit hours for those without the IB diploma. Credits granted for IB courses are shown as transfer hours on Hokie SPA. These are included in the hours passed toward a degree and, therefore, are counted when considering academic eligibility.

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Orientation

  • Freshmen: All new freshmen and their parents attend a two-day summer orientation program. Students who are entering Virginia Tech in the summer or fall will receive summer orientation information shortly after they accept Virginia Tech's offer of admission.
  • This summer orientation program, conducted by the Student Life and Advocay Office, provides students and parents with an introduction to life at Virginia Tech. Students are required (and parents are invited) to spend the night in a residence hall, eat in campus dining halls, and participate in a wide range of programs concerning campus life. During orientation freshmen will meet with college or department representatives and register for fall semester classes.
  • All new students also are invited to participate in fall orientation activities (coordinated by Student Programs) scheduled during the first several days of fall semester. The week before classes begin in the fall the corps holds an additional one-week orientation for freshmen cadets.
  • Freshman students who will enter Virginia Tech in the spring semester rather than in the fall are invited to attend an orientation program in January before the beginning of spring classes.

Requirements, Computer

  • Students are required to have their own personal computer. The university annually establishes baseline specifications for each new entering class. Transfer students are subject to the requirement that was in place for students at the same class level into which they enter. Broad specifications are announced mid-May for students entering in the fall of the next academic year. Some departments and colleges recommend a specific configuration from among the options outlined by the university. Complete information about the computer requirement can be found online at www.compreq.vt.edu.

Requirements, Entrance

  • Before being formally admitted to Virginia Tech, the applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school or private preparatory school with a minimum of 18 units. One unit is equal to one academic year of study in a selected course. Students who will graduate from a program other than an accredited high school program should check the Freshman/Get Ready site, and contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.
  • At least 14 of the 18 units must be academic or college preparatory units. Academic or college preparatory units are courses in English, language studies, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and fine arts. They must be distributed as indicated below. At least a "C" average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required in all academic courses for the student to be considered for admission. However, because admission to Virginia Tech is competitive, applicants with a solid "B+/A" average are more likely to be offered admission.

Requirements, Minimum

  • Of the 18 required units, the following minimums must be met:
    • English - 4 units, one in each year of high school.
    • Math - 3 units, including algebra II and geometry. Admission preference will be given to those who complete math beyond algebra II. A fourth unit of math is required for engineering, building construction, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics majors. A fourth unit of math is strongly recommended for Pamplin College of Business majors. The fourth unit of math must include one-half unit of trigonometry and one-half unit of advanced algebra or higher mathematics. A fifth unit of math (e.g., calculus) is preferred for engineering majors.
    • Social Science - 2 units; 1 unit must be in history.
    • Laboratory Science - 2 units; units must be chosen from biology, chemistry, or physics. 3 units (including chemistry and physics) are required in engineering and recommended for all science-related majors.
    • Additional Academic Units - 3 units from college preparatory courses. These may be electively chosen from English, natural sciences, social sciences, history, mathematics, computer science, language studies, and fine arts. These courses must be comparable in content and purpose to other required academic or college preparatory courses.
  • The remaining 4 units may be selected from any course offerings for which the high school grants credit toward graduation.
  • By the time they graduate from the university, students must meet a language study requirement. The minimum requirement may be met in high school by completing 2 units of a single foreign or classical language. Some majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences may require 3 units. The requirement also may be met after admission by one of the following:
    • Earning 6 semester hours of college-level foreign or classical language credit. Such credits are in addition to that number normally required for graduation in a students.
    • Receiving credit by examination for a foreign or classical language.

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Student Health History

  • Each student entering Virginia Tech must furnish a health history form, completed by a home physician, for the University Student Health Services. The form will be available online to applicants who accept the offer of admission. Failure to meet Health Services standards may result in dismissal from the university.

Transfer Student Credentials, Evaluation of

  • Official final academic transcripts from all colleges previously attended should be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar for evaluation. Courses from another institution in which a grade of "C-" or lower was earned, and courses taken on a pass/fail or audit basis, are not acceptable for transfer credit. Only grades of "C" or higher in courses consistent with those offered at Virginia Tech are certified for transfer credit. Courses for which a student received credit by exam, Advanced Placement (AP) credit, or credit for life experiences at another university are not transferable. AP scores should be sent directly to Virginia Tech from the Educational Testing Service; credit cannot be awarded from high school transcripts. Credit will be awarded based on Virginia Tech policies. No more than 50 percent of the credits required for graduation from Virginia Tech may be transferred from two-year colleges. To receive transfer credit, official academic transcripts from all colleges previously attended should be received in the Office of the University Registrar no later than the end of the first term of the student's enrollment at Virginia Tech. Class standing will be based upon the number of credits designated as acceptable for meeting graduation requirements. All transfer credits are used in the computation of academic eligibility.

Transfer Policy of Virginia Community College Students

  • Per State Policy on Transfer, students who begin their work (native students) toward the baccalaureate degree by enrolling in transfer programs at a Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College, who graduate with associate degrees based upon a baccalaureate-oriented sequence of courses, and who are offered admission to Virginia Tech will be granted junior level status upon admission. Additionally, these students will have fulfilled the requirements of the University Core Curriculum. However, it may take such students longer than two years to complete the baccalaureate degree because of major prerequisites and other circumstances or requirements (State Policy on Transfer, Section II). Non-native students are those students who do not begin their college work at the community college, but rather transfer to the community college and complete the transfer associate degree.
  • VCCS/RBC students who are offered admission and who have been certified as having completed the Virginia Community College Transfer Module and have a grade of "C" or better in each course of the module will have fulfilled requirements toward the University Core Curriculum.
  • Admission preference shall be given to local transfer students who have completed an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. (Associate in Arts and Sciences) at the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College as well as those who have completed the Virginia Community College System Transfer Module as certified by the VCCS. While some courses from the Associate of Applied Science degree from a Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College may transfer to Virginia Tech, the Associate of Applied Science degree does not transfer. Transfer students shall have the same opportunities as other native students in areas of residence and dining programs, registration, and scholarships and financial aid.
  • Complete Virginia Tech Transfer Guide

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