I think you can approach a review of a college in a couple of different ways, as a student most obviously, maybe also as an employee and/or professor or as a parent. I'm coming at this as merely a visitor. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality at VA Tech asked me to accompany her on a campus visit last week, her first time back since her graduation roughly a quarter century ago. She's always spoken very fondly of her time here and just unfortunately hasn't had the opportunity to return until now. Just for context, I went to NYU, which doesn't really have a campus - Washington Square Park is the closest comp to that, but one of the bigger selling points of that school is that NYC is your campus and you're not really cordoned off in your own little world. Pros and cons to both scenarios. I preferred to be dropped in the middle of a chaotic city but I can see the appeal of this type of college living as well. We spent roughly a day here, arriving by car late Tuesday morning and leaving the following day after checking out of The Inn at VA Tech. We were blessed with sunny skies but it was pretty toasty during our visit, in the 90s during the afternoon. For our main tour/walk, we went from The Inn down Perry Street, curving around Stanger Street until we hit the vaunted Drillfield and then visited the Duck Pond. Then we walked up West Campus Drive and down Washington before cutting back into the campus again to see some of her old dorms (I think Newman was one?) before hitting up the University Bookstore and walking into the downtown area for lunch. Especially with the nicer weather, the Drillfield was a great optic - just a gorgeous, lush lawn, and a cool homage (at least in name) to VA Tech's military background. The imposing structure of Burruss Hall was a cool sight right next to it, and right behind a very classy tribute to the VA Tech shooting - we were both wondering as we walked around if we'd see something acknowledging that tragedy from 2007. Initially we thought it was literally just a small kiosk, until turning around and realizing it was a much larger setup with an acknowledgment of each specific victim. My chum graduated several years before that shooting occurred but was obviously/understandably impacted by it in her own way, so that was a nice moment. She was a little disappointed (probably the right word) at how many new buildings had been erected since she'd graduated in 2001. On one hand, that's literally a generation ago so it's not surprising that there have been significant changes in the interim. But it WAS striking how many areas were just flat-out unrecognizable and new to her, particularly in the Perry Street section. I'm assuming that the student population has expanded significantly to accommodate all of the new buildings, but it's just not the same college she left. Not a negative, but probably not a positive either - is what it is. My two cents as a humble outsider is that everything just seems very monotonous - pretty much all of the buildings are constructed of this Hokie Stone, a specific time of rock that's mined nearby, I believe. A couple of buildings composed of that would have been pretty cool; it's got an old school gothic vibe to a certain extent, but after seeing the same building over and over again, I'd politely suggest a little more variety. Again, this school has its roots as a military institute so you definitely got that impression from the architecture as well, but to me it came up short compared to, say, their ACC rival Duke's campus and its buildings, or West Point. Definitely a cool experience to see this, especially through the lens of my top-tier chum and her formative years here. Go Hokies. read more

See all

Driving over the mountains north of VT, this marker points out the amazing history of this world renowned education institution. It is on the side of a busy road but there is a wide breakdown lane if you're interested in risking your life to see and read the marker like me. As it says, this is FIVE MILES from the university so please don't merge it. The marker reads, "Five miles south lies the main campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, founded in 1872 as a land-grant college specializing in agriculture and mechanical arts. The land-grant college system initiated scientific agricultural and industrial instruction in the Commonwealth. Over the next century, Virginia Tech became nationally recognized as a comprehensive research university with a broad range of scientific, technological, business, and liberal arts instruction. The 3,000-acre campus includes the site of Draper's Meadow, where Shawnee Indians attacked settlers on 30 July 1755 at the beginning of the French and Indian War." This is marker number I-2-a and was erected by the Department of Historic Resources in 1998. [Review 19579 overall - 1417 in Virginia - 550 of 2023.] read more

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Marker, Blacksburg - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

See all

I got my undergrad at VT Physics, and did all my graduate research there. it wasn't until after I was awarded my PhD that my advisor Randy Heflin let me know how much hatred and disdain he had for me for having been a combat veteran. Beatte Schmidtman made her views very clear at the Virginia tech physics annual picnic, when she told me to my face several years earlier I am encouraged to see that Mark Pitt is now the department chair. although an ivy leaguer like those two, he was kind and generous by not lording that over the students. while I am hopeful that he will institute change, Heflin and Schmidtman are still very powerful figures there. the dean at the time I was there, Laynam Chang, was aware of this and a couple of times tried to set my mind at ease, telling me how he previously had that same sort of bigotry when he was at berkeley, but learned from his mistakes. but he was unsuccessful in changing the culture, proven by the fact that Heflin and schmidtman are revered there, and achieved high office. if you are a veteran, I recommend going somewhere else where they won't hate you and treat you in a bigoted manner. for instance, VT engineering loves veterans. read more

The best university in the world. (Ok, so I might be a little biased.) The four years I spent here were the best 4 years of my life! I love this campus, the professors, my fellow students and learned so much about myself going to school here. It's extremely affordable (especially if you are in-state) and has some of the best academic programs in the country. I could have asked for a better place to earn my degree! Go Hokies! read more

See all

Nice beautiful campus in the middle of bo-funk Virginia. Not sure what a Hokie is, unless it's their mascot which is a turkey. read more

See all

I'm a junior attending Virginia Tech and I used to love it but let me tell you something. THERES TOO MANY GD PEOPLE. Wanna get food on campus? Set aside an extra hour of your time to wait in line. Want to drive to class? NOT AN OPTION there's no spots. Have you ever seen ants gather together on a sidewalk and crawl all over each other? That's what our campus now resembles. It's simply disgusting that admissions is letting in more and more freshmen that our campus can not compensate for. Do you enjoy personal space and like getting things done without running into the entire student body while doing so? Don't come to Virginia Tech. RIP my hokie pride read more

I toured campus with family before my brother's college basketball against Virginia Tech. The campus has a lot of beautiful buildings. Tech campus is very spacious and easy to navigate (IMO). We didn't have a problem parking. Virginia Tech sports museum is open to the public (check hours). I enjoyed touring Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. read more

I love this school people are incredibly nice. The teachers do a lot to help you and provide so many options for you to do well.

Almost the whole state has Hokie Pride! There are tons of students and tuition is on the cheaper side when compared to other institutions. Parking is a bummer. read more

I'll keep this short and sweet, since much of the academic research can be done online. I loved going to school here. The country is beautiful, the campus is just as pretty, and the camaraderie and alumni loyalty to each other is second to none. Architecture and engineering are top-notch, and many other majors are very respectable. A STEM school first and foremost, and a great balance with athletics and Greek life, if that is your thing. read more

Very nice campus and great university. I'm a proud Hokie. I'm glad to call this my alma mater.

Best school ever!! Best 4 years of my life! Getting depressed writing this because I miss Blacksburg so much and that beautiful Hokie stone (recent tech grad probz). Best decision of my life choosing this school. GO HOKIES read more

Beautiful campus, nice people and professors, and amazing food. Cheap in-state tuition as well. Plus, it looks like Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry because of the "Hokiestone" used in the construction of the buildings (there is even a Quidditch team). I'm surprised there aren't more reviews for this. read more

Very pretty campus, nestled in a small hip town. The only thing at "ruins" it, are the nasty fans at the football games and the hippies. Sometimes, it's more like PCU. To each their own I guess. read more

Affordable, wonderful location, with top notch professors. I loved my time in Blacksburg though I wish I had done engineering instead. All in all, I couldn't ask for a better place to do my undergrad. read more

VT is a great university with a small town.

this mans brady, proceeded to not read my girl jocelyns text inviting him to study at Deets, then proceeded to show up to Deets, whille he knew that she was there and blatantly ignore her. 10/10 would not recommend, -1/10 satisfied, 10/10 headassery read more