Admission InformationAcademic CredentialsAcademic 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 in the most rigorous academic programs available. Each application is evaluated holistically. Primary criteria are: rigor of academic program, grades in academic courses, and standardized test (SAT or ACT) performance. Other criteria include alumni of Virginia Tech pipeline or TRiO program participation, special talents, first-generation college attendee, interest in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, legacy, leadership and service, major, ethnicity, residency, disciplinary record, and (optional) responses to personal statements and (optional) guidance counselor reference. (While letters of recommendation are not required, if an applicant chooses to send one letter of recommendation, it must accompany the high school transcript.) For the 2009 fall semester, those offered admission had average GPAs of 3.94 (middle 50th percentile 3.71-4.15) and average combined SATs (critical reading and math) of 1250 (middle 50th percentile 1160-1330). Competitive freshman applicants will have A/B+ grades in a rigorous curriculum and strong SAT or ACT scores. Students who opt to take only the ACT also should take the ACT writing test. Students who intend to compete in intercollegiate athletics are also 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. 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 request an audition should contact the department head of the appropriate curriculum by January 1 of the senior year in high school. Undergraduate AdmissionProspective 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 many Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Admission information sessions and student-led walking tours are offered regularly. Prospective visitors should consult the ‘Visit Virginia Tech’ section at www.admiss.vt.edu for up-to-date schedule information. Virginia Tech does not require nor schedule a personal interview for admission. Information on undergraduate admission may be obtained by contacting: Office of Undergraduate Admissions Admission, EarlyHigh 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 the 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 scores on record of at least 1300 (minimum 620 critical reading, 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 ProcessWhen applying for admission as a freshman, the applicant must send the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to the above deadlines:
An Early Decision Option is available for students with strong qualifications and a sincere desire to attend Virginia Tech. Those interested in Early Decision must choose 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. Early Decision applicants may be offered admission, deferred to the regular applicant pool, or denied admission. (Students denied admission under Early Decision are no longer admissible to Virginia Tech and should not reapply for Regular Decision for the same term.) Applicants deferred to the regular decision pool will receive unbiased consideration during this admission process. Early Decision is a binding agreement in which applicants agree to apply only to Virginia Tech under an Early Decision option and, if offered admission, 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, and accept the Virginia Tech offer. Admission, International Applicants Process (Undergraduate)International applicants for undergraduate admission are generally considered out-of-state students for tuition purposes and should apply using the Application for International Admission. International student applicants must meet all freshman or transfer requirements, as previously outlined. International freshman applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. 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. 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. All university-level work completed outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional educational credential evaluation service. (A listing of credential evaluators is linked on the online international application.) 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 (http://www.uusa.vt.edu/cranwell/) 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. Admission and Applying as a Non-Degree-Seeking Student (Undergraduate)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 juniors, students enrolled in other colleges or universities, and senior citizens. Non-degree applicants must be in good standing from all previously attended educational institutions. 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: Non-degree seeking stduents may apply online at www.admiss.vt.edu. The application should be submitted by the published deadline for the term selected (April 15 for Summer Session I, June 1 for Summer Session II, August 1 for Fall), as noted at http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/non_degree/dates_deadlines.php. If accepted, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission via e-mail along with other related forms. Restrictions on Non-Degree-Seeking Students
Admission (Undergraduate), Transfer ProcessAdmission 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. Competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or better. In majors where applications exceed available space such as architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture), the competitive GPA will be considerably higher. The majors in the School of Design, which include architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture, are reviewed on the most selective basis and generally demand GPAs above 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale). (Please note that transfer students admitted into School of Design majors will be required to begin their studies during the summer term and are required to enroll in the summer qualifying design lab.) The most important factors considered for admission are: completion or substantial progress toward completing prerequisite courses, particularly freshman English, math, and science appropriate for the intended major; and overall GPA in college course work. 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 equivalents, 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 minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Prospective applicants from the Virginia Community College System will find information about guaranteed admissions agreements at http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/transfer/articulation.php. Transfer applicants must send the following application materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 104 Burruss Hall:
Completed applications are considered and decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. If offered admission, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission and related forms. Advanced PlacementThrough Advanced Placement examinations administered 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. Students must have scores sent directly to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech (school code 5859) from the College Entrance Examination Board. If scores were not directed to the University Registrar at the time of the examination, contact the College Board at (888) 308-0013. Advanced StandingAdvanced standing refers to an arrangement that permits a student to be placed in a course without having completed the normal prerequisites. Credit may be awarded for specific courses based upon grades achieved in specific external tests and/or achievements. Applying to Graduate SchoolStudents interested in working toward an advanced degree at Virginia Tech should contact the Graduate School for an application (www.grads.vt.edu). Applying to Summer SessionsVirginia Tech offers two summer sessions of approximately six weeks each. 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 invited 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. Freshman applicants wishing to change term of entry to summer should e-mail appchange@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 at 540/231-6207 or housing@vt.edu, or visit www.studentprograms.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. Entrance TestsFreshman applicants are required to take the SAT or ACT. (Students who opt to take only the ACT also should take the ACT writing test.) The SAT or ACT should be taken by the December test date of the senior year in high school or earlier, as scores are considered in the admissions application process. 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). Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action StatementVirginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment on any of these bases is prohibited by Policy 1025, "Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy." 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 Assistant Act of 1974, the Federal Executive Order 11246, Virginia's State Executive Order Number Two, and all other rules and regulations that are applicable. International BaccalaureateVirginia 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. Students must have scores sent directly to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech from the IBO Board. If scores were not directed to the University Registrar upon completion of the diploma or certificate, refer to the IBO website at http://www.ibo.org/ibna/graduates for information on how to have the results sent. OrientationFreshmen: 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 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 HOKIE HI activities (coordinated by Student Life) scheduled during the first several days of fall semester that includes a Welcome Back Picnic in Lane Stadium the day before classes begin. 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. All new transfer students attend a one-day summer orientation program in July. Information is available at www.orientation.vt.edu. Requirements, ComputerStudents 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. Virginia Tech requires that entering students have a laptop or tablet computer and strongly recommends that entering students obtain a computer that meets (or exceeds) the university general specifications. If you have declared a major, check the college and department specifications. Complete information about the computer requirement can be found online at www.compreq.vt.edu. Requirements, Minimum Freshman Entrance
A student must complete a minimum of 18 units before enrolling at Virginia Tech. 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 ’What do we look for’ section at www.admiss.vt.edu, 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 academic courses for the student to be considered for admission. However, because admission to Virginia Tech is competitive, those offered admission have much higher credentials. Of the 18 required units, the following minimums must be met: Virginia Tech reserves the right to deny admission to students who have been dismissed or suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons or to those convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor impacting the safety of the University community. Student Health HistoryEach 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. Information is available at http://www.healthcenter.vt.edu. Transfer Student Credentials, Evaluation ofOfficial final academic transcripts from all colleges previously attended should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 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. Grades in transfer courses do not transfer or appear on a student’s record at Virginia Tech, and are not included in a student’s Virginia Tech GPA computation. Only grades of "C" or higher in courses consistent with those offered at Virginia Tech are certified for transfer credit. Credit will be awarded based on Virginia Tech policies. International transfer students are required to submit additional documentation. For a list of required documentation see http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/international/checklist.php. Virginia Tech reserves the right to deny admission to students who have been dismissed or suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons or to those convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor impacting the safety of the University community. Transfer Policy of Virginia Community College StudentsPer State Policy on Transfer, students who take their entire course work (native Virginia Community College or Richard Bland 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 Curriculum for Liberal Education. However, it may take such students longer than two years to complete the baccalaureate degree because of major prerequisites and other circumstances or requirements. Non-native students are those students who do not begin their college work at a Virginia Community College, or transfer credits to the Virginia Community College to complete the transfer associate degree. Complete Virginia Tech Transfer Guide
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