A Guide to Hokie Life

Updates and Drop/Add

2009-08-10T09:36:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted entries about dorms or moving in. I was on vacation (with no internet, which was frankly wonderful) and then I was just too darn lazy for the last few days.

Hooray Hokie Camp! Session 1 starts today, and I leave tomorrow for Session 2 counselor training.

Anyway, in case you were wondering, here are the posts from last year about dorm life, roommates, and such:

Dorm Life 101 -- Roommates and Friends
The All-Important "What to Pack" List
Staying Safe at VT
And the one that you'll probably never admit to worrying about: Homesickness

Another note: Drop/Add for Fall 2009 has opened, and will remain open until the second week of classes. So now's the time to pick up that section of ECON 2005 you were thinking about adding or to *consider* changing your English class. Remember what I said though -- once you drop a class, you might not get it back. A good rule of thumb is to try and switch to a class with several seats still left in it. We're talking at least 4 or 5.

Also, be careful when you're signing up for classes. Make sure you enter the precise CRN. I made this mistake myself today (yes, and I'm a senior).

I wanted to change my section of FST 2014 from online to in-class. The CRN for the section of FST 2014 I wanted was 93096, but I typed in 90396. That enrolled me in AOE 7994, the research and dissertation course for Aerospace and Ocean Engineering PhD students...oops. I'm good, but I'm not that good.

Fortunately you can catch a slip-up like this immediately and correct it. Just remember to keep the timetable open.

Weather Update and a Few Reminders

2009-07-05T09:15:00.004-04:00

Hey there freshmen Hokies!

Right now it's pretty gray, dreary, and unlikely to get out of the 60s (the rain is much-needed, though). On the other hand, it's looking to be in the low 80s for the first week of Freshman Orientation, so pack accordingly. But don't forget that umbrella! We haven't had any unpredictable thunderstorms yet, but I'm not holding my breath.

Some Reminders:
- Visit the Hokie Camp table during Orientation and sign up! Only 1/3 of the spots have been filled, mostly in sessions 1 and 3. As a session 2 counselor, I'd love to see more of you sign up!
- Some colleges, including the College of Science, have an evening session during Day 1. This session is NOT optional. In efforts to make the sessions on Day 2 shorter, we present a significant amount of information during these evening sessions. The sessions last about an hour, giving you plenty of time to eat dinner and put your things in the dorm before the student night sessions on Day 1.

It's That Time of Year...

2009-06-18T17:54:00.005-04:00

Orientation time, that is. I just thought I'd repost the advice from last year and add some more.

For both Transfer and Freshman Orientation:

- Check the weather as you pack. Summer in Blacksburg is slightly bi-polar, though it's generally hot. Hot and humid, hot and dry, hot and windy, etc. So unless you have to wear pants or a long skirt for religious reasons, I would advise wearing shorts and a T-shirt, as well as comfortable walking shoes. It's looking to be in the high 80s and sunny for Transfer Orientation.

- That being said, bring an umbrella. Rain in Blacksburg tends to come quickly and with little warning aside from a thunderclap, even if the forecast is promising sunny skies. If you have one that can fold up and be shoved in a backpack or purse, bring that.

- Your head must be uncovered for your Hokie Passport photo (religious head coverings being the exception), and long hair must be loose. Feel free to tie it up once your photo's been taken, however. Be sure to also bring a photo ID (driver's license, ID from a previous college, etc) to your passport session.

- Make sure you have your two wallet-sized photos, and write your name and ID number on the back of each.

- You'll want to bring a sweatshirt or long-sleeve shirt with you. McBryde 100 is cold, as are Squires (freshmen) and the GLC (transfers), and some of the academic buildings where your department sessions are held are also routinely kept about as warm as your refrigerator (the building where Chem majors meet is especially notorious for this).

- Bring copies of anything that needed to be sent to VT (transcripts/grade reports, AP scores, etc) on the off chance that the college hasn't received it from Admissions. (Especially transfers) Spring 09 transcripts haven't all come in yet, so some transfers and freshmen with dual enrollment still have courses listed as "in progress".

For Transfer Orientation:

- If you weren't offered a spot in on-campus housing, you'll probably be spending some time during Orientation trying to find an apartment. The Collegiate Times (CT) and the Off-Campus Housing office both have listings for people looking to sublet or in need of additional roommates. For the Off-Campus Housing site, you'll need to register. You can visit the office as well, in Squires Student Center. The office will also provide you with a list of all the complexes in Blacksburg.

- Everyone comes in with a different amount of credit and classes fulfilled for his/her major, so department sessions can get long. Be patient, you will be helped.

For Freshmen Orientation:

- Get a good amount of sleep the night before. You'll be up late the night of Day 1 and have to be up early for college sessions and advising on Day 2. Breakfast on Day 2 starts at 6:30 AM. I speak from experience; sessions on Day 1 don't end until nearly midnight and I didn't go to bed until nearly 2 AM. I felt dead the next morning.

- You don't need a suitcase for your overnight in the dorm. All you need is a backpack or a small duffel. In it, you will need: something comfortable to sleep in (I vote T-shirt and gym shorts, as Slusher is not air-conditioned), the essentials for hygiene, and a T-shirt, shorts, and sweatshirt for the next day. Additionally, you'll have to carry this around on Day 1 due to minimal parking at Slusher, so keep it light. Bring a small window or personal fan as well.

- Your schedules will be batched out soon. Depending on how much AP/IB/dual-enrollment credit Tech has received for you, you may not need to make any changes, or you may need to sign up for a class to fill the time normally taken up by MATH 1205 or English. If you don't need to make changes*, you can meet up with your parents as soon as you get your schedule. Otherwise, an advisor will help you create your schedule.

* by "need to make changes," I mean you have credit for English and therefore don't need the class, or have only been assigned Physical Geology because you've got credit for everything. An 8 AM Econ class when you aren't a morning person does not count.

After Orientation:

- DO NOT CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE!!! Some classes (ex: Chem Lab) are in such high demand that some of us are watching drop-add around the clock for an open section. If you drop it in hopes of adding one at a different time, you may never get it back.

- Don't give your parents your password (sorry parents). Every year we get a few calls because Mom or Dad has dropped Hokie's Math/Sociology/whatever class and now it's full. If your parents want to see your grades and records, and you're okay with that, fill out the FERPA release on Hokie Spa. Make the passcode something easy to remember, like their wedding anniversary or whatever.

- If you're going to get your textbooks from the On-Campus Bookstore/Volume Two or the Tech Bookstore, reserve them in advance. This will save you time at book rush. You can also compare prices on Half.com, Amazon, or where ever. If you do this, be sure you buy the correct edition of the book.

- You will have an additional information on the afternoon of Sunday, August 23rd. Attendance is mandatory, as topics relating to academic eligibility, the honor code, and other academic issues will be covered.

At Orientation, you'll be issued a Course of Study Planner and some post-it notes to use with it. Feel free to play around with it, looking at what's offered for Core Courses and free electives. Most majors have an Orientation course that you'll have to take in your first semester at Tech, and during these courses you'll have to create a four year plan, so this is a good way to get an idea of what's offered.

See you all at Orientation!

A Note on Behavior

2009-06-11T09:06:00.000-04:00

Everything in this entry should go without saying, but it still needs to be said.

When you’re in contact with someone from Virginia Tech, or anywhere really, whether it be through e-mail, on the phone, or in person at Orientation and after, be polite. Be polite almost to a fault.
Everyone at Tech has been working day and night to prepare for Orientation and the arrival of new students. This includes, but is not limited to, creating student files, documenting transfer and AP work, preparing schedules, and setting up presentations.

So take the time to read all the information we’ve provided for you, even if it seems obvious and you’ve heard it a zillion times before. Be patient, as there is a purpose to everything at Orientation.
When you’re meeting with advisors, keep in mind that this is what they do; they are experts. They know the requirements for your major inside and out. If the advisor tells you that you shouldn’t take more than 6 hours of psychology your first semester, listen. We understand that your AP and dual-enrollment was to get ahead, and you are ahead, but college is not high school.

We’ve created batch schedules to make it easier for you as well as us. With a pre-made schedule, you (as an incoming student) don’t have to sit around staring at drop-add waiting for MATH 1205 to open up; you’ve already been given a seat in that class. The schedule may not be ideal, but you’re freshmen, the lowest on the food chain.

You’re going to have early classes or labs. You may have a three-hour evening class that causes you to miss Gray’s Anatomy or American Idol or whatever. Cut your losses and watch the episodes on the channel’s website, it’s just a semester.

But please, do not give attitude to anyone you interact with. It causes you to be labeled as a pain in the you-know-where in the minds of the people who are supposed to help you, and that does not work in your favor with anything.

The Guide is on Twitter!

2009-06-02T08:08:00.003-04:00

Hey all you Twitter fans! Post notifications will be posted on Twitter, as well as other news as the College of Science prepares for Summer Orientation. Our Twitter also provides links to other Tweeters, such as VT SGA, Hokie Camp, Orientation, and Virginia Tech news, so check us out!

Things to Know, Things to Do

2009-05-30T08:19:00.005-04:00

I've got a list that all Future Hokies should have checked off very soon. I've also got a list of slightly less imminent, but no less important, items.

Many of these things require you to have access to HokieSpa, so if you haven't created a PID, redirect yourself immediately (if not sooner) to HokieSpa and follow the instructions for New Students on the main page.

Things That Should Be Done Right Away
1) Register for Orientation! What days you can attend are dependent upon your major, so sign up now! (There will be enough room, each department knows how many students are coming in).
2) Make a doctor's appointment. Some Colleges are putting holds on your registration until they receive your Health History and Immunization forms, so get yourself to your favorite family doctor. All the required forms are at the Schiffert Health Center website. Make sure you're scheduled to receive or finish any of these important vaccinations: Meningitis (1 dose), Tetanus (if you haven't received a shot in the last 8-10 years), and Hepatitis B. If your religion prescribes against vaccination, Schiffert has religious exemption forms. Also check the Tuberculosis Risk form to see if you need a TB skin test.
3) Commit your ID number to memory. Just about every form at VT, from quiz scantrons to Hokie Passport replacements to study abroad applications, requires your ID number. Start learning it now. It's one digit shorter than a phone number (with area code) and how many of those have you managed to memorize?

Things That Should Be Done in the Near Future
1) Find two recent photos (within the last year) of yourself, wallet size. School yearbook photos are good for this, or team composite shots or whatever. If you don't have any because every relative in existence has snatched up your pictures, find a camera and someone to take a picture of you and print it out in wallet size. Or go to one of those mall photo booths. Just get two wallet size photos of yourself. Then go ahead and write your name, major, and ID number on the back of the photos. One copy will be in your College file and the other will be in your department file, so be sure to bring these with you to Orientation.
2) Learn to do laundry. Your parents have been cleaning your clothes for the last 18 or so years, but they're not going to do it in college. Next time laundry is being done in your house, learn to do it. No one likes all their socks mysteriously turning pink or their favorite sweater shrinking to the size of a hand puppet.
3) If you don't have any idea how, learn to sew. Nothing serious, but it's good to know how to reattach a button or patch a hole.
4) Register for a dining plan on HokieSpa. Dining plan registration starts June 1, and as freshmen you'll have a choice of the Major Flex or the Mega Flex plans.
5) Request the following to be sent to VT: dual-enrollment transcripts (from the college!) and AP or IB scores from exams taken before senior year. To check that they've been received, go to the grades menu on HokieSpa and check either transfer credit or AP credit (AP shows up in both).

Shameless Self-Promotion Alert
Register for Hokie Camp! I'm going to be a counselor during session two, and at the moment, there are less than 40 campers signed up for that particular session, and about 200 combined for all sessions. The Hokie Camp staff recruited 150 counselors (50 per session) so we can provide the best experience to as many new freshmen as possible! So if you currently have nothing planned from August 10-17, go on and sign yourself up. We've got 3 incredibly exciting days planned for you, which include Camp Olympics, a ropes course, campfires, and skits.

A Quick Note

2009-05-30T08:10:00.003-04:00

Hey Future Hokies,
Just a quick FYI: If you're going to be in contact with anyone at VT between now and move-in, be sure to include your full name and student ID number in any communications (phone, e-mail, snail mail, carrier pigeon, etc). This makes it much easier for anyone in your college or admissions to pull up your file. If you don't remember what your ID number is, look at your acceptance letter. It's a nine-digit number that starts with "90".

Renewing the Guide

2009-05-19T21:52:00.002-04:00

Hello new Hokies!
I started this guide last year to help new students transition into life at Virginia Tech. In it, you'll find information on how to prepare for Orientation, eating well and staying healthy, how to find academic help if you need it, and many other things (including the pressing question of how to obtain football tickets).
I'll be re-posting (and amending) the posts as they become relevant again. If you have any questions that I do not address in the blog, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me at the address provided.
-- Beth

Spring 09 classes already? But I just took my midterm!

2008-10-07T13:08:00.004-04:00

So the Spring 09 timetable is up. Course request starts soon (Oct 21). Fortunately, you had your fall schedule made up for you when you got to Tech. No such luck this time, kids. It’s time to play the Course Request game with the rest of us. And know that you’re the low man on the totem pole.

Picking Classes
By this point, you should have some idea of what you need to take this spring. (Aren’t sure? The registrar’s website has checksheets for every major) For most of you, it’s going to be the second half of nearly every class you had this fall (MATH 1206, CHEM 1036, ENGL 1106, etc). Feel free to scan the timetable and start making up a schedule for your self. A word to the wise: even though no Friday classes sounds incredibly appealing, do you really want to have four classes on Tuesday and Thursday? Think about balance when you create your schedule.
If you’re one of the many who has credit for classes you’d normally be taking this semester, then start considering your major requirements and Core requirements. Balance is important here too. Don’t overload on in-major courses; you will go crazy and end up hating your major. I would normally suggest no more than 6 or 7 in-major credits, if at all possible.
Keep in mind this is just a request period. You are not guaranteed to get these classes, though you should receive at least a few of them. But that’s a topic to be addressed closer to drop/add, in December.

OK, but I was considering changing my major
Fortunately, as freshmen, you won’t be too far behind if you decide to change your major. If you want to change, but aren’t sure what to go to, take a few classes that will fill Core Curriculum requirements. You can take something completely different from what you’re studying now, and you may find something else that you’re interested in. Look at what’s being offered in other areas. Tech even offers a class, UNIV 2004, that focuses on exploring other majors.
If you think you know what you may want to switch in to, visit that department’s office and talk to an adviser. He/she will know the requirements you’ll have to fill, and whether or not you can switch in immediately or if you’ll have to wait a semester. The adviser will also help you determine what classes you should take this spring.

Fun/Interesting Core Classes
Finally, I thought I’d offer my input on some Core classes being offered this spring—namely ones I would suggest taking. I’m assuming you know what you need to take for Areas 1 (English), 4 (Science), and 5 (Math/Stats), so I’ll focus on the areas with a little more freedom. I’ve picked courses with no pre-reqs, but feel free to check any others out.
Area 2:
CLA/ENGL/HUM 2444 – Greek and Roman Mythology (you can register for it under any of those subjects)
ENGL 1624 – Intro to Detective Fiction
REL 1024 – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (there is also an Honors section of this course)
Area 3:
GEOG 1014 – World Regions (Be warned: The waitlist for this class tends to be well over 2000 students—but the class is well worth it)
HS 1004 – Human Development I
PSYC 2004 – Introductory Psychology
Area 6:
COMM 2054 – Intro to Film (Complete with Monday night film screenings)
EDPE 2204 – Creative Dance
HORT 2164 – Floral Design (another class with a huge waitlist, but also worth it)
Area 7:
AAEC/REL/STS 2464 – Religion and Science
PPWS 2004 – Mysterious Mushrooms and Molds
PSCI 1024 – Comparative Government and Politics

The Real "Hell Week"

2008-09-15T12:56:00.003-04:00

You've probably heard of "Hell Weeks" already. And odds are, this week is your first one. It's the first round of tests, people. Hope you're ready.

If you're smart, you spent some time last week and this past weekend reviewing already. If you haven't, shut off your computer and hit those books. Tests come in packs and its never pretty.

Fortunately, these weeks are survivable, and it is possible to do well. Make sure you're balancing your time studying. I tend to do two hour blocks (you know, two hours of bio, two of history, two of physics, and so on). Also, give yourself breaks in between each block. Fifteen minutes or so to run and get a soda from DX or to check your e-mail, whatever you need to do to unwind a little before the next block. Give yourself some breaks after each test too, an hour or so just to de-stress.

Don't stay up too late. Sleep helps your memory, so be sure you're getting your eight hours or whatever you normally need to feel well rested. Obviously, make sure you're eating well. Apparently breakfast really is brain food.

Good luck on your tests!

Lastly, this is a matter of personal preference, but I think it's a good idea to not study for two hours before the exam. In my experience, last minute cramming only increases your stress and makes it more likely for you to forget things.

JRs and Staying Healthy

2008-09-07T19:11:00.004-04:00

Hopefully your semesters are all going well...mine's been busy so I'm condensing entries while I have time to write them. I'll start with the "bad" things first.

Judicial Referrals
Hopefully you haven't gotten a judicial referral (JR) yet, but maybe you know someone who has. Or you have. Anyway.

For starters, the JR itself does not mean you're in trouble. It's documentation of a potential violation.
If you receive one, you will have a hearing before Judicial Affairs (their office is on the first floor of Dietrick; you may have passed it on your way to D2) to determine if a violation occurred.

That being said, the JRs I was most aware of when I lived on campus were mostly noise violations (sound should not be heard outside your room from 10 PM to 10 AM, and the residence halls have 24/7 courtesy quiet hours, during which if someone asks you to turn down your music/TV or close the door, you do so), and alcohol violations.

The RA is not out to get you, I promise. Sometimes it may seem that way, and there are some RAs who appear to be JR happy. But it's like everything else: people have varying amounts of tolerance. If you're drunk and in the hall (not that you should be, ever), the RA isn't going to care unless you're creating a disturbance. Just be smart and remember that you're not the only person who lives there.

Staying Healthy
Everyone's heard of the dreaded Freshman Fifteen, and with Virginia Tech being at the top of the nation for food services, it seems likely to occur.

Well, that doesn't have to be true. For starters, it's usually more of a "Freshman Five" (if any), although there are the people who gain fifteen and then some. But it's easily avoidable.

Be sure you're eating a varied diet, like you did at home. Don't have West End's London broil with mashed potatoes and corn bread every night (that will put a hurting on your dining plan as well). I don't care how good it is. I'm not saying you have to eat salad all the time (heck, I hate salad and never eat it), but be sure you're mixing it up. Have spaghetti one night and then get a wrap the next time. Make sure to throw in the right amounts of every food group. Keep in mind that things like tomato sauce and peppers on your pizza count in the fruit and veggie categories.

Exercise is important as well. You don't have to be a gym rat or go running every day. Just make sure you're not constantly sitting on your butt in front of the TV or your laptop. Go for a walk out to the duck pond with a friend. Take the stairs instead of immediately running to the elevator (yes, even you hi-risers in Slusher, AJ, Lee, Pritchard, and O'Shag...taking the stairs at least once a day won't kill you). Speed walk to class. Play basketball out on the Prairie or volleyball at Slusher Beach. There are lots of little ways to work exercise into your life.

Everyone gets sick at some point. It's inevitable. The best way to prevent it is something you've known since the preschool days of coloring and naptime: wash your hands. Before you eat, after you eat, after you go to the bathroom. Carry a little bottle of Purell around if you happen to be in one of the buildings with the weird grainy powder soap (not exactly sure how that is supposed to clean, but it's in half the buildings on the academic side of campus).

If you feel like you're getting sick, strike pre-emptively. Get more sleep (even if it means not going out Friday night--there will be more weekends; it's your first year after all), drink some OJ and hot liquids, take some cold medicine if you have to. Need cold medicine or cough syrup? Schiffert has a self-treatment clinic right in the lobby. You take a little form, fill out your symptoms, they'll give you about two day's worth of what you need. If it's something worse, get an appointment to be seen by a doctor.

As you may have guessed, dorms are like a playground for disease. Case in point: strep went through my freshman dorm like wildfire, and conveniently, this happened right before finals, so everyone felt awful and we were all trying to stay awake to study. If your roommate gets sick, or even someone near you, avoid them as much as you can. It's not rude, you're trying to stay healthy. And hit up CVS the next time you're at the Math Empo for some Airborne. Buy the afflicted a can of chicken soup (or whatever they prefer) as a peace offering.

And get a few cans for yourself, just in case. From November to February, it becomes near impossible to find anywhere in Blacksburg. As soon as the poor kids at Kroger and Food Lion stock them, the cans fly off the shelves.

On Homesickness

2008-08-25T05:43:00.002-04:00

Whether you live in Roanoke, DC, or are an out-of-state or international student, you’re going to feel homesick at some point. And that’s okay. Tech comes well-equipped with resources to help you deal with it.

The first step is to talk to your RA. Part of his or her training covered how to help homesick residents. They can help you to become more involved if you’re feeling lonely or even just be there to talk.

If it’s possible and you have a free weekend, make a trip home. Don’t have a car on campus? Home Ride of Virginia runs buses almost every weekend. One route goes to Northern VA (Vienna specifically) and stops at either JMU or UVA, depending on the trip. The other route goes to Hampton and makes stops at UVA and VCU. Check out Home Ride’s website for ticket prices and dates. Just going to the Roanoke area? The Smart Way bus leaves from Squires on a regular basis (you've probably seen it driving around, as it's a commuter bus) and stops at the Roanoke Airport, Hotel Roanoke, and at Campbell Court.

Sometimes it’s not possible to go home. You have a big test on Monday or it’s simply too far or too long of a trip. If distance is an issue, or even if it’s not, set a time each week to call home and talk to your parents. For most of us, it’s the first time we’re living away from our parents, and as much as they drove us crazy the last 18 years, we miss them.

I call home a lot. Sometimes it’s just because I want someone to talk to, sometimes I ask for advice on medicine to take for a cold (both of my parents are in health care, I grew up with it), sometimes I just need to hear my mom or my dad’s voice because I’ve been having a bad day.

You’re allowed to get homesick. It’s okay if you even need to call home and just cry for a while. Know that they are missing you just as much, if not more.

My best tips for preventing homesickness are this: the set time to call home I already discussed and keeping busy. When you’re doing your chemistry homework or out playing volleyball with people from your hall, you’re not thinking about how much you miss home.

So get off the internet, call your parents, chat with them a little, then take up that offer to go get milkshakes at Deets.

So, Where are My Classes?

2008-08-21T07:38:00.003-04:00

Some of you have moved in already, some of you haven't. Hopefully you're spending time getting to know some other people on your hall and taking advantage of Tech's Welcome Back events (such as seeing Iron Man on the Drillfield this weekend or going to the Hokie Spirit Picnic on Sunday).

But, unfortunately, the real reason you're here is for school. And that means you're going to have to find your classes. Check with your RA to see if he or she is planning a campus tour sometime this weekend (I know there are a few out there) and, if so, bring your schedule with you.

As it is Thursday, or heck even if you do this tomorrow (Friday), you are able to go inside the buildings and find the actual classrooms. On Saturday and Sunday, you'll just be able to go to the buildings.

If there is no campus tour, either find your schedule from Orientation or print out a new one on Hokie Spa, arm yourself with a map, and hit the pavement. If you're not sure of building abbreviations, find your RA and ask or use the abbreviation guide on the timetable. On the small white side menu, there is a link that says "View Building Abbreviations;" a window will pop up when you click on the link.

The purpose of this trip, along with finding where your classes are in the first place, is to figure out what the best trip between two classes is. If you don't have it now, at some point you will have back-to-back classes in places like Surge and Williams (or Litton-Reeves and just about anywhere). It happens to everyone, you get used to it. If this has happened to you, it is up to you now to find the best path so you can make it to your next class 15 minutes later. Here's a hint: the shortest trip generally involves the Drillfield.

Another quick tip: familiarize yourself with the Hokie Express BT route, particularly if you have to get from Litton-Reeves or Wallace to somewhere clear across campus. But don't get on the bus on LR's side of the street--that will take you out to Oak Lane and the Cage, putting you even further from your class. Instead, get on the bus where it stops outside of Harper and Engel. Though, honestly, considering how slowly traffic moves on campus during class time, it will probably take you the same amount of time to walk.

Finally, if you do have classes that are clear across campus from each other, give the professor in the second class a head's up as to the situation. Tell them you're coming from Building X and that you'll do your best to make it on time each day. The prof's know what the walking distance is like here.

The Long-Awaited Football Tickets Post

2008-08-19T19:36:00.005-04:00

Finally, football tickets!

Basically, for freshman, the process is as such. When a lottery date arrives, sign up at Hokie Tickets any time within the three-day window (midnight of the first day to midnight of the third day). In about a week, you'll get an e-mail if you've won a ticket. If you don't win one, fear not. People who don't turn in their ticket claim forms have to forfeit their tickets and a second round of lottery takes place.

To claim your ticket, take the claim form to the box office in Cassell Coliseum by the dates listed on the claim form (usually the Tuesday and Wednesday of the week you get your form). If you want to get a group together for a game, delegate one person to bring all your forms in together. Lottery tickets are seated in either the East Stands or South End Zone.

So bust out your calendars or planners and write down these dates:

Game Opening Date Closing Date
Furman 8/23/08 8/25/08
Georgia Tech 8/30/08 9/01/08
W. Kentucky 9/20/08 9/22/08
Maryland 10/25/08 10/27/08
Duke 11/08/08 11/10/08
UVA 11/15/08 11/17/08

Staying Safe at VT!

2008-08-16T08:19:00.002-04:00

Safety’s a big topic here at VT, obviously, as it is at any college. As long as you know how to keep yourself safe, though, you’ll be golden.

Dorm Safety
First of all, and your RA will tell you this: tailgating (that is, letting someone follow you into the dorm) is frowned upon. Really, you shouldn’t let anyone follow you in unless you know him or her and know he/she lives in the dorm. If someone’s outside and says they’re going in to meet someone, they can wait until that person comes to let them in. While a lot of people look the other way, know that ultimately, whomever you let into the building is your responsibility.

Fire alarms. They will happen. If you’re in a dorm like Lee or Pritchard, expect that they’ll happen often, generally in the wee hours of the morning. Most other dorms will have maybe two or three a year. Slusher was bad my freshman year, but apparently last year it was fairly quiet. Anyway, when you hear the alarm go off, stop whatever you’re doing, turn off the lights, lock your door, and head outside. An RA will be around when you get outside and tell you how far back you have to be. Usually these are short, 10-15 minute affairs and then you can get back to whatever you were doing. If it’s the middle of the night, sorry, you’ll still have to get up and get out; if you’re caught staying in during a fire alarm, you will be given a JR (Judicial Referral, I’ll cover those when school starts).

Keep a little first aid kit in your room. It doesn’t have to be one of those intense kits you see at Wal-Mart, just a little box or freezer bag of things like band-aids, a small tube of Neosporin, some medical tape and gauze pads, and whatever your preferred brand of pain-killer is. I like to have a variety of band-aids (I’ve even got a few “butterfly” bandages) and also a tube of After-Bite. You will get at least one bug bite in your first few weeks at Tech, and I some how manage to get spider bites year-round.

Lock your door whenever you leave the room. Thefts happen, and it can be anything from markers to your laptop (if you got a laptop lock, use it). If you’re alone in the room and the door if closed, check the peephole before just letting someone in.

Campus/Town Safety
This mostly has to do with nighttime, and a lot of it is common sense. Stay in well-lit areas, and try not to wander around alone. Besides, that black belt you got in Tae Kwon Do was in the 7th grade, and it’s been a few years since then.

I’ll start with Safe Ride. You can contact them by calling 540-231-SAFE (easy, right?) and they’ll get your name, where you are, where you’re going, and give you an approximate time of when the van will be in your neighborhood. This only works if you’re on campus, and people mostly use it going to and from the Cage, though I’ve known people to take it from labs to the dorm or even from one dorm to another. They start running at about 6 PM and go through to the morning (I guess about 6 AM). They also have a booth out at the entrance of the Cage, so if you’re in the area, you can just walk in. Priority goes to single riders and groups of two, as well as people going a bit of a distance. Also, be aware that the wait time goes up in rain or snow, simply because no one wants to be out in bad weather.

You may or may not have noticed the blue light phones around campus. On each of these emergency poles there is a phone and a red button. Using either of these will alert the VT Police to the location, so if you feel threatened and you’re near one, don’t hesitate to use it. The Police want you safe.
As you’re in college, you are going to want to go out and have a good time occasionally. In those instances, you are able to take the BT to and from nearly all apartment complexes; on Friday and Saturday nights, they run until 2 AM (midnight all other nights). If you miss the last run, call the Hooptie Ride (540-449-DRIV), or make sure you’ve got a DD for the night.

Thus ends my primer of safety at VT! And yes, I promise to post about football tickets the instant hokietickets.com has information.

Oh yeah: If your RA or another RA in your building offers an opportunity to take the RAD class, definitely go for it. It's mostly aimed at women, but I think it's a good course for anyone who wants a refresher in basic self-defense.

The All-Important "What to Pack" List

2008-07-31T14:38:00.002-04:00

It’s July 31st. Now you've got your housing assignments and, whether or not you’re happy about it, it’s time to think about moving in.

So what does the conscious Hokie bring with him or her to Virginia Tech? Fortunately, Student Programs has a good basic list of things each person should bring, as well as what you and your roommate should share. If you haven’t e-mailed your roommate yet about that, hop to it! The sooner you get that all squared away, the better you’ll feel about it. Anyway, that list, which is a little dated, can be found here on the Student Programs website.

Now some of these things can be forgone based on your own habits. Not a big cereal/oatmeal/ramen person? You can most likely skip the bowls. You only need one clock; I’m not sure why they say to bring both an alarm clock and a desk clock. Most clocks have alarm settings now, and besides, odds are you’ll start using your cell phone as your alarm clock, especially if you and your roommate have very different schedules.

Now my suggestions and addendums to this list:

First off, get a good tool kit. It doesn’t have to be the hardcore set-ups you see in department stores, just a small basic one. Hammer, screwdriver (try to get one with interchangeable magnetic heads), wrench, tape measure…you know, the basics. You’ll probably only ever use the hammer and screwdriver, but it’s a good starter set for life. And duct tape. Get a roll of duct tape and learn to love the stuff. It fixes EVERYTHING from a hole in your backpack to the mysteriously opening drawers in Slusher. Slusherites, you’ll know what I mean very quickly.

Power strips are crucial. There will be an average of four outlets for you and your roommate to share. That’s eight plugs. Now think: laptop, printer, desk lamp, alarm clock, fan, and say you’ve got the TV and a vacuum. That’s seven right there, not including your roommate’s stuff. Get two power strips, and make sure they have surge protectors. We get thunderstorms often here in Blacksburg, and the power does go out on occasion. It’s only happened three times since I’ve been here, and for no longer than 10 minutes, but you can never be too prepared.

I’m an advocate of the sewing kit. You can get little ones at pretty much any department or home store. Every so often, a button will come off a shirt. It happens. And the needles can do double-duty as blister poppers (just sterilize them first with a lighter). Those happen too.

It says umbrella/raincoat. I vote umbrella. Get one that can collapse enough to fit in your backpack, and keep it there. It might be beautiful when you leave for Chem, but 75 minutes later, it could be the storm of the century. As many of you saw during Orientation, weather in Blacksburg is crazy. Always carry an umbrella.

I’m not sure why laundry detergent and dryer sheets aren’t on the list, but obviously, they should be. As for the washers and dryers, they’ll take quarters or Hokie Passport. I would suggest putting money on your Passport account so you’re not scrounging for quarters when you’re down to your last pair of underwear. Febreezing clothes does not count as doing laundry. Also, don't be that kid who has enough clothes to get from August to Thanksgiving without doing laundry. No one likes that kid.

The issue of shower shoes: Seriously, go to your local Old Navy or to a drugstore and get a pair of cheap flip-flops. I say Old Navy because their flip-flops are like, 2 for $5 and then you can have a pair to wear on rainy days as well. If you really must have some other company’s flip-flops (though seriously, American Eagle and J. Crew make the exact same ones for about 5 times the price), or Crocs as your shower shoes, go ahead. I’m just of the opinion that shower shoes should be easy on, easy off, and not something I would particularly care about other than for the prevention of athlete’s foot.

Finally, something that’s not on the list but should be included in your shopping trip: a good winter coat. Maybe you have one because you’re from chillier climes or because you have an annual family ski trip to Boulder every year at Christmas. Those will be fine. If you don’t have one, find a ski store and buy a good coat. Why? Blacksburg gets cold. Biting to the bones, sub-zero wind chill cold. This trip can actually be put off until Fall Break in October if you so desire or if there’s nothing in stores yet. Your best bet: get a coat with a lining you can remove and wear as a jacket itself. Most major brands make one like this. Then you’ll get three coats for the price of one. Make sure you have a hat and mittens or gloves too.

And about packing: Space Bags should hire me to advertise for them. I love those things. Go to the home store (Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens ‘N’ Things, whatever) and find them. Get the large or extra large ones. I got 8 pairs of jeans, 5 sweatshirts, and about 15 T-shirts into one. It didn’t compress completely flat, but I’ve only got three bags now (they have an unfortunate problem of getting holes after a few uses), so I shoved as much as I could into what I had.

About the Hokie Passport Account
I usually put $200 on my Passport account for the semester. That covers laundry, vending machine snacks, random games of pool or bowling with friends, the occasional meal downtown, and emergency bookstore or general store purchases (i.e. I ran out of notebook paper or pop-tarts).

Dorm Life 101 -- Roommates and Friends

2008-07-28T09:26:00.003-04:00

Well, now that Orientation's over and your schedule's set*, the next thing you're probably focusing on is what will happen July 31st: the posting of housing assignments.

The assignment will be posted to Hokie Spa in the afternoon (figure at about 5 PM) under the housing and dining menu. It will give you your room number, on-campus mailing address and phone number (though almost no one uses this anymore, since everyone has cell phones), and your roommate, along with his or her home contact information. If you're Facebook-obsessed like many incoming freshmen and more than a few returning students, go ahead and Facebook the person. You're going to be living with them in a little less than a month.

Anyway, the first thing you should do is contact your roommate, even if it means just sending a quick "Hi, I'm (your name) and I'm really looking forward to meeting you at move-in". Oh yeah, that message is copyrighted, so if you use it, send me royalties (joking). But seriously, contact your roommate, because you're going to have things to talk about before move-in, specifically who is bringing what in terms of the big items: TV, fridge + microwave, vacuum, etc. Things of which you're only going to need one. If you want to coordinate colors, go ahead and do that too, though honestly, it won't matter if you don't have a room that's all pink or green or orange or whatever.

Also on Facebook: start searching for Facebook groups for your dorm. I know one for Johnson already exists (the RAs set that one up) and others will be popping up as housing assignments are posted. It's a good way to find out who will be living near you.

You're probably already wondering how you're going to manage living with a roommate. You've probably never shared a room, or it's been a long time since you have. Well, know you're not alone in that. Like everything else, it's going to take some work and compromise.

Set up rules with your roommate once you're done moving in and getting settled. Write them down and tape them to the fridge or something if that makes it easier to commit them to memory. Rules for studying, sleeping, visitation, etc. Say one of you needs complete silence to fall asleep and the other cannot do so without having the TV on; obviously you're going to need to work that one out.

As for making friends in the dorm, the easiest way is simply to leave your door open the first few days (while you're home, of course--lock it the rest of the time). Say hi as you walk past open doors. Your RA will also have a meeting within the first week about procedures in the dorm, you'll meet your whole hall there (FYI -- hall meetings are never optional. Don't skip unless you're taking a test or have to be home for a court date or something). Also, many RAs will probably have some community-building program in the first week or so. Freshman year, the RAs in my dorm had volleyball games every night for a while, and sophomore year we had a bulletin board project. It might seem cheesy, but it's the best way to meet the people on your hall and get to know your RA.

I'll have more later. And I promise, as soon as the lottery information goes live on Hokie Tickets, I will post about football tickets.

* People, don't give out your password to anyone, not even your parents. Your PID and password accesses everything at VT and obviously needs to be secure. Also, we've had a few people call in already because they or their parents were messing with their schedule (did I not already tell you to not do that?) and they lost something crucial like Math 1205 or a lab.

Another Orientation Note

2008-07-14T09:09:00.003-04:00

For those of you who have later Orientations (especially during Week 3):

There will be classes left for you to take. If you're in the College of Science, you have already been batch scheduled and, unless you have AP scores that would change that initial schedule, you will be pretty much set. You may have to choose an elective to get you to fifteen credit hours, but other than that, you will be okay.

If you need to be picking electives, know that Virginia Tech has holds on sections of classes and will release them as time goes by so that all incoming students are able to get the courses they need, be it requirements or core classes. So the class you want in particular (say, Floral Design) might not be open, but another class that fills a core requirement that you might want to take (like Knowledge and Reality) could be.

So relax, enjoy your summer, and know that there will still be classes for you to take when you get here.

Also, about the Foreign Language Requirement: this will show up on your Hokie Spa as "Not Filled" until at least September. It's entered manually, so just check Hokie Spa periodically throughout the semester. If it's finals time and it hasn't been corrected, then go visit your dean's office.

Don't Drop Your 8 AM Lab

2008-07-06T18:29:00.003-04:00

'Twas the night before Orientation...and I'm issuing you a pre-emptive warning. Odds are you aren't going to be reading this until after you've registered for your classes anyway.

So you've got your schedule in hand and you've gotten to thinking: I don't like to get up early, and I've got an 8 AM and a 9 AM, or maybe you're looking at that 5:00-6:15 English class and don't really think you'll want to be discussing books while your friends are all chowing down at D2.

There are some classes you really don't want to mess with in your schedule. Dropping them might mean you never see that class again, which in some cases can put you seriously behind.

After you leave Orientation, your registration will be locked again until August 4th, when you'll be allowed to play with your schedule. Only this time, instead of just having to pick and choose classes, you'll be up against upperclassmen who are well-seasoned at the Refresh the Timetable Until Your Class is Open game. We play this a lot, we know what to do.

Don't drop any labs. I don't care if it's at 8 AM on Monday morning. Do. Not. Drop. That. Lab. Ditto your Freshman English. There is a waiting list for that, and if it opens up, another freshman who may not have been as lucky as you will snatch the seat. Also, don't drop your in-major classes in hopes of getting one at a more appealing time. And, for the love of all that is holy, if you got into a sophomore-level class because you have AP credit, DO NOT ALTER YOUR SCHEDULE. Some majors (Biology and Chemistry immediately come to mind) are replete with upperclassmen who need those classes as much as you do, and they are checking compulsively to see if Evolutionary Biology or Organic Chemistry Lab have opened up.

Class times are going to be inconvenient. You are not going to get that no-mornings, no late afternoons, no Fridays schedule.

I know people who've tried. It does not work out well. I don't care if you don't do mornings, you WILL do mornings. You did them in high school, you can do them here.

That being said, if a substitution is available at that precise moment you are looking, and this substitution fits into your schedule (say switching an 8 AM class to an 11 AM), go ahead and make the switch.

Hokies in Beijing

2008-07-02T09:05:00.004-04:00

Planning on watching the Beijing Olympics this summer? Be on the lookout for some past and present Hokies vying for a gold.

Junior Queen Harrison will be sprinting on the US Track team and her teammate senior Tasmin Fanning is looking to join her this week.

Former Hokie women's basketball players Ieva Kublina and Nare Diawara will be playing for Latvia and Mali, respectively, so keep an eye on those teams as well as Team USA.

Non-Olympic News:

- Deron Washington is the first Hokie picked in the NBA draft in nearly 10 years. He was picked up by the Detroit Pistons in the second round.

- You've probably heard of Angela Tincher, the Hokie pitcher who no-hit the US Olympic Team among other awesome accomplishments this season. She was named USA Softball's Player of the Year and is up for "Best Female College Athlete" at this year's ESPYs.

- Senior Drew Weaver will be playing in the AT&T Open hosted by Tiger Woods this weekend.

Another Way to Stand Out

2008-07-02T08:15:00.003-04:00

Did you know Tech offers two minors in Leadership? Yes, it's true, and you don't have to be in the RLC (Residential Leadership Community theme housing) or the Corps of Cadets to get it.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers the Leadership and Social Change minor (18 credits) and Pamplin College of Business offers the Business Leadership Minor (18 credits). Both are open to all majors and have the common required course of MGT 3304: Management Theory and Leadership Practice (you need to have junior standing to sign up for this class).

Checksheets:
Leadership and Social Change
Business Leadership

The main difference between the two minors is that Business Leadership obviously focuses more on business courses and also requires an experiential course (MGT 4074 or MGT 4964). However, the minor is flexible and you can substitute other campus leadership experiences for that course (an example of an acceptable substitution is being an RA, but there are many options).

Freshmen Orientation

2008-06-28T07:47:00.009-04:00

Just a few thoughts on the upcoming Freshmen Orientation:

- Get a good amount of sleep the night before. You'll be up late the night of Day 1 (I've seen the schedule, you're in activities until nearly midnight, and odds are you'll stay up later) and have to be up early for college sessions and advising on Day 2. Breakfast on Day 2 starts at 6:30.

- Check the weather as you pack. July in Blacksburg can vary, though it's generally hot. Hot and humid, hot and dry, hot and windy, etc. So unless you have to wear pants or a long skirt for religious reasons, I would advise wearing shorts and a T-shirt, as well as sneakers. Clothes you'd feel comfortable literally running around in. Just trust me on this one.

- Bring an umbrella. Rain in Blacksburg tends to come quickly and with little warning aside from a thunderclap. Pass it off onto Mom or Dad during Day 1, as you'll be inside most of the day, but definitely keep one on hand. I cannot emphasize this enough

- For those of you with long hair: come to Orientation with it loose/down, and then pull it back as soon as your Hokie Passport photo has been taken. Keep a hair tie or headband ready. Like I already said, Blacksburg gets hot in July, and while Squires is air-conditioned, outside is not.

- The only head coverings allowed in your Hokie Passport photo are those worn for religious reasons (such as a head scarf or yarmulke).

- You don't need a suitcase or duffel for your overnight in the dorm. All you need is a backpack. In this backpack, you will need: something comfortable to sleep in (I vote T-shirt and gym shorts, as AJ is not air-conditioned), the essentials for hygiene, and a T-shirt, shorts, and sweatshirt for the next day.

- Why the sweatshirt? Because several of the buildings where you'll be having your college sessions are notoriously cold (McBryde and Torgerson immediately come to mind).

- This tidbit comes from what I realized no one understood at Transfer Orientation. Those two photos they told you to bring? The best ones to use are wallet-sized photos left over from school (such as your senior portrait). Or get Mom to take a simple photo of you against a solid background and print out two wallet-sized copies. These are going to go into your file in your college and your major. And make sure they're separated beforehand, so you don't have to go hunting for scissors the morning of your college session. If you want to jump the gun, go ahead and write your name and ID number on the back of both.

- I'll repeat this later, but after Orientation, be careful if you play around with your schedule. Some classes (ex: Chem Lab) are in such high demand that some of us are watching drop-add around the clock for an open section. If you drop it even for a second, you may never get it back. Even at 2 AM. I speak from experience on that.

Hokies Gotta Eat

2008-06-22T00:38:00.003-04:00

So it’ll be a while until you’re here on campus, but for those of you who may be spending a few days on either side of Orientation around Blacksburg, I wanted to throw in the Off-Campus dining opportunities.

As a freshman and on-campus resident, you’ll be eating in a dining hall or at Squires 95% of the time. Familiarize yourself with this website: Student Programs
It has everything: daily menus, upcoming special events in dining (theme dinners, when D2 goes trayless, etc), and even links to help create healthy meals.

Try to change it up in terms of where you eat. Yes, you can always eat at Shultz or Owens, but you’ll get really sick of it really fast. And places like ABP (Squires), DX, or West End can drain your dining plan pretty quickly.

Read the daily menus. Deet’s always has paninis (which are great, btw), but their soup changes daily. They also have daily coffee flavors. Owens and West End also have daily specials. Personally, when there’s Sunday Gravy at Owens, it makes my week. So learn to check the menus.
Love the on-campus dining. Remember, we have the best in the country. There’s a reason for that, and you will see why (and it’s not just the lobster at West End).

But say it’s someone’s birthday or you have a date, or heck, you just want to get off campus for a meal. Blacksburg (and Christiansburg) has a lot of great restaurants, and I thought I’d just list my favorites. This is by no means an extensive list.
Souvlaki – Greek food, subs, and salads. Get a gyro (yee-roh) or kebabs. They’re great.
Happy Wok – This place opened my freshman year and within a week had a line out the door. Cheap and tasty Chinese food.
Moe’s – They had the good sense to open during move-in last year. It’s Mexican along the same lines as Chipotle and Qdoba.
Sharkey’s – I love their sandwiches. I forget what night it is, but they have a 99-cent wing night.
More Than Coffee – Blink and you’ll walk right past this place, and that would be a shame. It’s Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, and if you’re not feeling that adventurous, their cheese fries are great too.
Backstreet’s – Pretty much everything here is good. Get a group of friends out here and get a pizza. Can sometimes be a little slow.
Bogen’s – This place is a great date restaurant or somewhere to go with your parents. It’s a little pricey, but has great American food. And all the entrees are named after locations at Tech.
El Gran Rodeo – Not to be confused with El Rod’s. This place is in Christiansburg. Great Mexican food.
Blacksburg also has the following chains (OK, Moe’s is a chain too): Jimmy John’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Macado’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell TCBY, Starbucks (2), and Subway (2). In Christiansburg, there’s Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Jimmy John’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, IHOP, Texas Steakhouse, Cici’s, 2 more Subways, Red Robin…and that’s just what’s right off 460.
Want to order pizza? I personally think Firehouse is the best. There’s also Gumby’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s.
So go find somewhere to eat. I’m still mourning the loss of Boston Beanery.

Just a Few Updates

2008-06-17T13:00:00.002-04:00

At the request of some people in the College of Science Dean's Office, I'm putting a few things in:

1) How to Check Your VT E-mail: If you haven't already done so, check your VT e-mail. Hopefully, you've already created your PID. Go to webmail.vt.edu and enter you PID and password.

2) Are your dual-enrollment or AP credits in? The best way to find out is to log on to HokieSPA, look under the Grades Menu at Transfer and Other Credit (AP will show up on here as well).

3) Lastly, if you e-mail anyone at the university, be sure to include your full name and ID number until you arrive. After you're situated at Tech, be sure to keep including your full name, though you can drop the ID.

Enriching Your Freshman Year

2008-06-12T15:49:00.012-04:00

Hey Future Hokies,

Orientation is still a few weeks away, but we're nearly ready for you to be here. With that being said, I thought I'd let you know about a few programs that VT offers to incoming freshmen, as well as all students, that can help you adjust to college life and have a successful semester.

Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence
All of the following programs can be found on the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence's website. Check it out in order to sign up for these.

The first of these is Hokies 101, a four week no-credit program that focuses on adjusting time management and study skills to meet the demands of college. It meets the first several weeks of classes.

Another option is UNIV 1004, a 3-credit course about college success skills. If you're in the WING program, you'll be in a class very similar to this one (UNIV 1704). While it won't count towards graduation requirements, it will again cover the all-important time management and study skills, as well as university resources and exploring majors if you're currently undecided or considering changing your major.

Say it's a little later in the semester, end of September, early October, and you're seeing that your grades haven't been so hot. Don't sweat it, CAEE provides another four-week program, Get on Track, that covers everything that Hokies 101 did, as well as the issues of keeping motivated and avoiding procrastination.

In addition to these programs, CAEE offers free tutoring for a lot of lower level courses. In the past, tutors have been offered for nearly all 1000-level math classes, common sciences like Chemistry and Geology, and popular Core Curriculum classes such as Economics.

Theme Housing is Still Open
Have you applied to live in theme housing? As of right now, nearly all of the theme housing options have extended their deadlines: both Engineering theme housings, MOSAIC (multi-cultural awareness), the WING (first-year experience), BLSC (life science), the WORLD (mostly international students, but anyone is welcome), and Honors (by invitation only). The WELL, which is a healthy lifestyle theme housing, is accepting applications as well, but now on a wait-list basis. I lived in the WING and will personally pimp it out to whoever asks.

Earth Sustainability
Finally, and you've probably received an e-mail about this, the Earth Sustainability program is
still open. This is an interdisciplinary four-semester program that will fulfill all Core Curriculum requirements while focusing on sustainable development of the Earth's natural resources. If you're into "going green" or think you might want to go into a career related to the environment, this is definitely a program worth considering.

You should e-mail your intended major's advisor before you sign up for it though. Some major requirements for the Core Curriculum may prohibit you from going into Earth Sustainability. Also, if you're thinking of doing a pre-health track (med, pharmacy, vet, etc), you should probably skip it. You've got too many other requirements to fill. I'm not sure about pre-law...so if you're interested in that, contact one of Tech's pre-law advisors as well as your major advisor before signing up.

Well, that's all I've got for you now. Later this month I'll post about Orientation and eating in the area, in case you'll have time while you're down here to sample one of the many restaurants around Tech.

Some Early FAQ's

2008-06-04T11:50:00.005-04:00

I just thought I'd get some early, and common, FAQ's out of the way. These FAQ's are coming from my e-mails (I'm a student contact for College of Science freshmen) and some things I thought of when I was a new freshman at Tech.

1) What dining plan should I choose?
Well, that really depends. What I did was the first semester, I had a Mega Flex plan (commonly referred to as "the big plan") and ended up with a LOT of money left over. While I generally do eat three meals a day and get snacks or late night ice cream/coffee from Deets from time to time, I found I normally at breakfast in my room or on my way to class. So I wasn't buying breakfast every morning.
If you're really committed to eating a full, big breakfast every morning (i.e. you're a cadet or an athlete, or heck, just really love D2 breakfast--you'll see what that's like at Orientation), a Mega Flex plan is for you. If you're like me and tend to shovel a bowl of cereal or a granola bar/pop tart down your throat on your way to class, stick to the Major Flex plan (the "normal plan").
If you're still not sure where you stand, you can do what I did: see how it goes with the Mega Flex. If you end up having a lot left over, switch to the Major Flex for the spring semester. Your leftover money will roll over into the spring semester.

2) Do I have to go to Orientation?
Orientation is very strongly suggested and encouraged. I personally think that unless you're going to be out of the country for the entire month of July or traveling to Blacksburg will be
very difficult, you should go to Orientation.
If you absolutely positively cannot go, make sure to contact your college's Dean's Office in order to make arrangements for class registration.

3) When do I sign up for football tickets? Can I get season tickets?
I'll answer the second question first: Freshmen cannot get season student tickets to football games. This is a privilege reserved for returning students. You will get an e-mail near the end of your freshman year about ordering season tickets for the following football season.
That being said, football tickets at Virginia Tech are given out as the result of a lottery. I'll discuss this again in August, close to the date of the first lottery. It does not matter when you sign up for the lottery, as long as you do it within the time window given (generally two days). The dates for the lottery will be posted later in the summer, most likely in August.
If your family is planning to come down for a football game, you may order tickets through www.hokietickets.com.
I'll address the ticket situation later on this summer, especially what to do if you don't get a ticket.

4) What kind of laptop should I pick?
The type of laptop you use during your college career is going to be a personal choice. Department and college-specific requirements are here under the "Getting Ready" tab.
If your department doesn't have a specific requirement, pick the system (Mac or PC) that you're most comfortable with. Personally, I used a Mac through all of middle and high school, so I'm acclimated to the system, and all I ever use my laptop for anyway is to check my e-mail, write papers, and blog.
You'll be able to pick up the required software for your computer during move-in, on Torgerson Bridge (that archway over Alumni Mall, accessible through both Torgerson Hall and Newman Library).

5) When do I find out where I'm living and who my roommate is?
Freshmen housing assignments are posted on HokieSPA July 31st. Generally they go up in the mid to late afternoon. If you end up meeting someone at Orientation who you'd want to live with, you both can contact the housing department and request to be roommates.
Freshmen will be living in nearly every dorm, except for New Res East, Payne, and Harper. When your housing assignment is posted, they will give you a map of your dorm and the dimensions of your room.

That's all for right now. I'll post more as the e-mails come in.

Have a great summer everyone!

Welcome!

2008-06-04T11:03:00.001-04:00

Welcome future Hokies!

This blog is meant to help you through your first year at Tech. While right now it's June and most of you are still in high school, I thought I would start things off well.

This blog will be fairly inactive until later in the summer, mostly because nothing major will happen until then (sorry guys).

I'll be making posts related to the following:
- Hokie Sports/Wellness (including football/basketball ticket lottery days, important games you should know about, and keeping yourself healthy)
- Dorm Life (making friends, the housing process, the RA is not out to get you, etc)
- Classes + Academics (study tips, resources for tutoring, course request, etc)
- Everything else from clubs and Greek life (which I admittedly know nothing about--will bring in a guest blogger for that) to vacations and preparing for the all-important career.

This will be geared more towards the College of Science, as that's what I'm most familiar with, though I will try to make it for Hokies as a whole.

Look for posts to start up in the beginning of July.