Your Comprehensive Guide to Virginia Tech Freshman Orientation
Embarking on your college journey at Virginia Tech is an exciting milestone. Orientation serves as a crucial introduction to university life, academic expectations, and the vibrant Hokie community. This guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the Virginia Tech freshman orientation experience, ensuring a smooth and successful transition.
Why Orientation Matters
Orientation is an important event for all incoming Virginia Tech students. It's more than just a formality; it's your gateway to understanding the academic and social landscape of Virginia Tech. Transfer students must register to attend an Orientation day to work with an advisor on their schedules for Fall.
As my parents and I drove down to Virginia Tech for my freshman orientation, I was really nervous. I came back home two days later with nothing but excitement.
Orientation Programs
Virginia Tech offers a hybrid orientation experience that extends throughout the summer, with various components designed to cater to different needs and preferences.
- Virtual Orientation: A mandatory online program that must be completed by the specified due date. These modules provide essential information about university policies, resources, and academic expectations. Complete your mandatory Virtual Orientation modules. (These are required and must be completed by the student. The modules will open December 1, 2025 and must be completed by Jan. 16, 2026.
- New Student Visits (NSV's): These are optional and not mandatory, but we highly encourage new students and families to come to Virginia Tech campus to attend our in-person orientation experience. NSV stands for New Student Visits, and it is our optional program for newly admitted students and their families to visit campus in July before their start at VT. Note: registration for NSV sessions must be completed at least 24 hours in advance. Registration opens May 1.
- Summer Orientation (In-Person): The summer Orientation (in-person) program is an optional program for all new undergraduate students, including transfer students. Come to meet your fellow new Hokies and learn about Virginia Tech, life on campus, next steps, and VT resources. Orientation will be hosted beginning mid-June throughout mid-July.
- Weeks of Welcome (WoW): WoW stands for Weeks of Welcome, and it is the in-person portion of the extended orientation experience. WoW programming is designed to make new students’ transition to Virginia Tech fun and exciting! Weeks of Welcome occurs during the beginning of the Fall and Spring semester. Fall WoW begins the first day new students move-in and concludes with GobblerFest. The full schedule for Weeks of Welcome can be found on our Hokies On Track app or Hokie Family Hub.
Preparing for Orientation: A Checklist
To make the most of your orientation experience, it's essential to complete several tasks before arriving on campus. Here's a checklist to guide you:
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- Accept Your Offer of Admission: Accept your offer of admission by the date noted on your offer letter. This will require submitting the $400 enrollment deposit by selecting a payment method through your Applicant Portal. Accepted methods are credit card, eCheck, check, or money order. Credit card and eCheck payments can be made in the Applicant Portal.
- Create Your VT Username (PID) and Passphrase: Create your VT Username (PID) and passphrase. Finding things you need is a lot easier with OneCampus.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships: Complete the FAFSA and General Scholarship Application by January 22 for maximum aid consideration.
- Complete Virtual Orientation Modules: Complete your mandatory Virtual Orientation modules. (These are required and must be completed by the student. Select "Student Login" and sign in using your PID/passphrase.) The modules will open on May 1 and must be completed by July 31. (Additionally, there are a set of family modules that your family is encouraged to complete as well.
- Housing and Dining Contract: Complete your Housing and Dining Contract by June 1 via the StarRez portal. Even if you live off-campus, you can still get a Dining meal plan! Search for “housing” in OneCampus. Select “Housing and Dining Contract (StarRez)” from the dropdown and follow the instructions. Please note that access to StarRez may take up to 72 hours after your deposit is processed and your VT Username is created.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Enroll in 2-factor authentication with Duo Mobile.
- Immunization Records: Submit your immunization forms by June 30. Search for “immunizations” in OneCampus. You should see, “Immunization Form” under tasks.
- FERPA Familiarization: Familiarize yourself with FERPA. This is a federal law that protects students’ rights to the access of their academic record. You (the student) determine what access your family has to your student records. Authorized payer access permits them to see and pay your bill. Proxy access allows you to share with them your class schedule, registration holds, midterm and final grades (you can choose what to share). Completing a FERPA waiver allows them to reach out to Virginia Tech with questions about your academic record including your bill, schedule, grades, and conduct. A Medical Release gives them access to medical records you choose to share with them. Creation of a FERPA pass code in Hokie SPA allows you to approve disclosure of your academic record information.
- Hokie Passport Photo: Submit your Hokie Passport ID Card photo by July 15. Your Hokie Passport will be your “everything card” on campus!
- Transcripts: Submit final official high school transcripts and update your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) if applicable. If you submitted a Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) record for admissions review, update and resubmit it by January 3, 2026.
- Placement Assessments: Complete any placement assessments if applicable for your major, such as ALEKS, prior to being advised for coursework if at all possible, to aid in your course registration.
- Bike Registration: If you plan on bringing a bike to campus, make sure to register it first.
- Gallup CliftonStrengths: Complete your Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment by visiting experience.vt.edu/strengths and clicking “Take the CliftonStrengths Assessment as a student.” Virginia Tech is a Strengths campus!
- GobblerConnect: Check out GobblerConnect to learn all about the thousands of opportunities on campus including events and student organizations.
- Tuition Payment: Make your fall tuition payment in by August 11, 2025. Learn more by visiting bursar.vt.edu. Students should use Hokie SPA to view eBills, authorize payers, etc.
- Move-In Parking Permit: Temporary move-in parking permits must be clearly displayed on your dashboard during move-in.
- Walk Your Schedule: Walk your schedule!
- Social Media: Let everyone know on social media that you're officially a Hokie using one of our digital downloads created just for you. Visit our digital downloads page to find your favorites!
Academic Advising and Course Registration
A critical part of orientation involves academic advising and course registration.
- AP/IB/Dual Enrollment Credits: If you received credits through AP/IB/Dual Enrollment, you may not have to take these courses at Virginia Tech. To help determine the best schedule for you, we need to know what credits you are receiving so we don’t schedule you in the same courses. Students are urged to bring an unofficial copy of their AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment transcript or scores. You are expected to send the official documents (transcripts and/or AP/IB scores) to the Registrar’s Office. Send all years of official score reports for AP, IB, CLEP, etc.: All score reports should be sent to the Office of the University Registrar using the Virginia Tech school code 5859.
- Changing Your Schedule: Yes, you can change it when add/drop period opens (around mid-August). You must consult with an advisor because if you drop a class that you need, you may not be able to re-enroll due to space limitation.
- Neuroscience Students: There are no specific computer requirements for Neuroscience students.
- Curriculum for Liberal Education: Every student has to complete the Curriculum for Liberal Education, which includes seven areas of study that cover math/science, writing, other cultures, music, and so much more. While completing these requirements, you can still find classes and electives that tailor to your interests. Whether it’s Astronomy or Nations and Nationalities, you’ll be in the hands of intelligent professors who will give you knowledge that will last a lifetime.
- Course Registration: Course registration will open mid-June for new students to begin working on their schedules.
Navigating Campus and Embracing Hokie Culture
Virginia Tech's campus is expansive, but easily navigable.
- Campus Size: The campus spans 2,600 acres, or 4.1 square miles. Even if you have to cross the Drillfield between classes, you’ll get there in no time. Just fill up on the good Blacksburg eating and put one foot in front of the other!
- Hokie Spirit: Hokie Spirit knows no limits. After hearing a few opening speeches from the Virginia Tech staff, including the Student Body President, the tone changes. The lights dim, high energy music starts to play, and 30 pumped orientation leaders run in from the back doors screaming.
- Community: Everyone is really, REALLY nice. Tired of having people two steps in front of you not hold the door open for you? That doesn’t happen at Tech. Even if you’re a painfully awkward distance away, the Hokie in front of you will hold it open for you. Students won’t roll their eyes at you if you ask for directions. People will reach out to you and offer to help you or answer any questions you may have. You will have no choice but to feel welcomed!
- Diversity: Diversity is everywhere. My orientation leader pointed out something that I hadn’t really thought about. Diversity goes deeper than the color of your skin, what state you’re from, or what language you speak. People in my orientation group came from big schools and small schools, participated in everything from sports to National Honor Society to yearbook, and had varying interests. Even though everyone in the group was so different, we all clicked pretty well.
Family Involvement
Virginia Tech recognizes the importance of family support in a student's success.
- Families as Partners: Families as Partners is our philosophy and approach to family engagement. We believe families should be educated, engaged, and empowered to best support their students. Families as Partners is also the name of a presentation we provide from our office. This presentation is given often during our webinars and events we host and is centered around letting students grow vs.
- Family Weekend: Family Weekend occurs during the Fall and Spring semester. Our office does not provide any parking passes or services. We work with local hotels to provide available lodging options, discounts, and hotel blocks ahead of each family weekend.
- Hokie Family Hub: Family members can connect to news, resources, and other families on the Hokie Family Hub. Involve your family! Help your family connect to the Virginia Tech community by planning a fun and meaningful visit during Fall and Spring Family Weekends.
Key Takeaways
- Orientation is designed to help you with a smooth transition to Virginia Tech and our University Studies major. Below is an outline of your next steps. It is the academic college portion of your VT orientation experience; a series of tasks and meetings designed to help you with your transition to college and class planning. It is required for all new students.
- Welcome to the Hokie community! The start of your next chapter at Virginia Tech is beginning soon! This is an exciting time, but might also seem like a lot to handle. Below is a checklist of items for new students to complete before coming to campus. If you have any questions as you’re navigating this list, please reach out to the resources listed on this page or New Student and Family Programs. Please make sure to complete all items on this list during your onboarding process to Virginia Tech.
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