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College Essays

Are you hoping to be part of Virginia Tech's next matriculating class? If so, you'll need to write strong Virginia Tech essays to supplement your application.

All Virginia Tech applicants are required to answer four short answer questions as part of their application. In this article, we'll break down what the Virginia Tech essays are and what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer.

Why Does Virginia Tech Require Applicants to Answer Essays?

Virginia Tech requires all applicants to answer four short answer questions. If you're applying to the Honors College, your answers will also be shared with the Honors College admissions committee. You don't need to answer any separate questions as an applicant to the Virginia Tech Honors College.

The Virginia Tech essays are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are, both as a student and a person. The short answers questions ask about your character, leadership, and goals. The admissions committee will use your answers to better understand you as a person—who are you? What do you care about? How will you fit in on Virginia Tech's campus?

It's important to put some serious effort into your Virginia Tech essays so that you represent yourself well to the admissions committee. These essays are your chance to present a well-rounded version of yourself that makes the admissions committee say, "We have to admit this student!"

What Are the Virginia Tech Essays?

Virginia Tech requires that every applicant answer four short answer questions. These short answer questions are just that—short! Each has a word limit of 120 words. Let's take a look at the 2022-2023 essay questions:

#1: Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

#2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

#3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

#4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

Virginia Tech Essays, Analyzed

Now that we know what the Virginia Tech essays are, let's break down how to answer each one as best as possible.

Since the Virginia Tech essays are so short, the key is to be super targeted in your responses. For each prompt, we'll break down what the essay is asking and how you can tailor your response to make sure it's what the admissions committee wants to hear.

Essay Question 1

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

This essay question is asking about your involvement or service with a specific community. The admissions committee is looking for you to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a cause —what the cause is doesn't matter as much as the fact that you genuinely care about it.

To start, think about the communities that are important to you. This could be your family, neighborhood, school, place of worship, a club, etc. Then think about how you've worked to have a positive impact  there. Finally, consider the lessons you've learned from helping the community that you'll bring with you to Virginia Tech. 

You should pick a community that you've made real, lasting change at. Don't choose something that sounds the best if you haven't actually done a lot for them. For instance, if you were a member of your school's Habitat for Humanity club but didn't actually attend very many meetings, don't talk about how meaningful it was to build houses for disadvantaged people just because you think it sounds nice. Any insincerity in your application will be very obvious.

Essay Question 2

Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

This second question can seem intimidating—you'll need to reflect on a tough time and analyze how you grew as a person because of it.

Fortunately, this doesn't need to be an all-out catastrophe that happened in your life. Anything that you found a challenge but were able to overcome and learn from is fair game. For example, you could discuss not making the school basketball team, even though it was your dream to play on it, then deciding to rededicate yourself to practicing so you wouldn't let this failure define you. 

Your goal isn't to impress the admissions committee with the most tragic tale they've seen, but instead to show how you learn and grow from challenges.  So, as you're writing, keep the actual description of the setback short and focus most of your response on how you showed resilience because of it.

Essay Question 3

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

This prompt wants to know two things: first, have you taken on the responsibility of leading other people? Second, what did it teach you about yourself?

The admissions committee wants to know that you don't shy away from mentorship roles and growth opportunities. You don't have to be president of a club or captain of a sports team to demonstrate leadership. Perhaps you took on the role of project coordinator for a classroom project or are section leader of a few instrumentalists in the band. The size of the role isn't as important as the scope of your influence—how did your choices and actions influence others as well as your perception of yourself?

The question also specifically asks you to explain how you relied on others for guidance, so be sure to make it clear that you weren't just making decisions unilaterally. In this essay, you want to show that you're capable of making decisions, but also that you're capable of cooperation and self-reflection.

Essay Question 4

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

The final Virginia Tech short essay question assesses your commitment to growth. Notice that the question asks about a personal goal—that means you don't have to pick something lofty or world-changing. You just have to pick something that resonates with you.

Maybe you decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can meditate or do yoga before school. Maybe you made it a goal to complete all of your essays two days before they were due so you could revise your work. Maybe you made it a goal to try a sport this year when you normally hate sports.

Whatever your goal is, you want to demonstrate that you're capable of self-reflection and of positive growth —that you're constantly assessing how to better yourself.

You also want to show humility in this prompt—that you can rely on or ask for help from others when you need it. The admissions committee doesn't expect that you'll have all the answers yourself. They want to see that you can collaborate with and learn from others when you need to.

Tips for Answering Your Virginia Tech Essays

Follow these general tips for making sure that your Virginia Tech essays are as strong as possible.

#1: Demonstrate Growth and Self-Reflection

Virginia Tech places a strong emphasis on service and self-reflection. These qualities are reflected in the choices of essay topics.

You should demonstrate these qualities in your answers. Show that you're constantly working to better yourself. Demonstrate humility and understanding. Virginia Tech wants students who will grow on their campus—not ones who will matriculate already thinking they're perfect.

#2: Be Honest and Sincere

All of the experiences that you outline in your Virginia Tech essays should be real—they need to have actually happened to you.

It can be tempting to lie about or exaggerate your experiences to make them seem more impressive. Don't do this!

First of all, lying on your application is a major ethics violation and can get you in some pretty serious trouble if you're caught.

Second all, insincerity will be super obvious. The admissions committee reads thousands of applications every year. They can easily sniff out people who are lying. Be as honest as possible in your Virginia Tech essays and remember—they WANT to hear about how you've grown.

#3: Proofread!

It should go without saying, but your Virginia Tech essays should be the best examples of your work possible. Don't just write your essays and be done with them. Take the time to formulate an answer and then go back and edit it. Make sure to proofread and run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure it's polished.

#4: Get a Second Opinion

Getting a second opinion on your work can be a helpful way to assess whether your Virginia Tech essays are demonstrating your best qualities. Ask someone to read your work who really knows you, so they can tell you whether or not you're underselling yourself or missing a key feature of your personality that the admissions committee should know.

That being said, there's a fine line between getting a second opinion and plagiarism. It's okay to ask for someone's opinion on your work. It's not okay to steal their ideas and pass them off as your own. Make sure you're doing the former, not the latter.

Recap: Responding to the Virginia Tech Essay Prompts

The Virginia Tech essays are designed to show who you are as a student and how you'll fit in on Virginia Tech's campus.

• Be honest and sincere.
• Highlight opportunities you've taken to grow and change.
• Edit and proofread your work to make sure it's as strong as possible.
• Lie or over exaggerate to make yourself seem better.
• Steal anyone else's ideas.
• Sweat the short answers too much. They're important, but they won't make or break your chances at admission to Virginia Tech.

What's Next?

Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges.

Thinking of applying to other great schools like Princeton , Brown , or Columbia ? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to write Virginia Tech supplemental essays? CollegeAdvisor.com ’s guide to the Virginia Tech application essays will show you exactly how to write engaging Virginia Tech essays and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

Virginia Tech Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate is 67% 
• U.S. News considers Virginia Tech a selective school.
• Virginia Tech is ranked #75 on the U.S. News ‘ list of National Universities .

Does Virginia Tech Have any Supplemental Essays?

Yes. In addition to the personal statement that you will write for the Common App or the Coalition App , you’ll also answer four Virginia Tech essay prompts. The Virginia Tech essay questions are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are as a student, peer, and person.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get great tips from our Common App essay guide .  

How Many Essays does Virginia Tech Require?

You must answer four Virginia Tech essay questions when you complete your application. Each of the Virginia Tech essay questions requires a response of no more than 120 words. It is just as challenging to write a short essay as it is to write a long essay, so take time to brainstorm, outline, draft, and revise each of your four Virginia Tech supplemental essays. There should be a targeted message in each of your Virginia Tech essays. 

What are the Essays for Virginia Tech?

The Virginia Tech application essays for Virginia Tech are about four topics: service, resilience, leadership, and goals. Each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is relatively broad. This gives you lots of freedom and flexibility to choose your topic and articulate the story you tell in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. At 120 words each, your Virginia Tech essays must be clear and concise. 

How do I Write the Essays for Virginia Tech: Question 1

Prompt 1: Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Question #1 of the Virginia Tech supplemental essays is a bit of a twist on the classic community service essay. Since the school incorporates its motto into the prompt, you will also want to look at the school’s core values and mission statement. These will help you learn what should be reflected in your Virginia Tech application essays. 

“Community” is defined very broadly. Successful Virginia Tech essays can be written about families, teams, project groups, neighborhoods, religious groups, or any other group of people with whom you spend your time. The key to writing a strong Virginia Tech supplemental essay is to choose a community that is important to you. The best Virginia Tech supplemental essays show how you have been an active member of your community. Through your Virginia Tech supplemental essays establish clearly how you would be an active member of communities on campus.

Address each part

This prompt asks that you include a few specific details in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays: how long you have been involved, what you learned, and how you would share it at Virginia Tech. The best Virginia Tech essays will not only answer these but also discuss the “why.” Why do you choose to spend time impacting this community in particular? In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, articulate how what you do has shaped who you are.

Importantly, this prompt is not asking you to describe the community in your Virginia Tech application essays. Rather, you should discuss your role in the community in-depth. How has your involvement transformed you? How have you transformed the community? Service is inherently about others, but your 120-word Virginia Tech supplemental essays should contain vivid stories that illustrate your qualities and character traits. 

Connecting your cause

What cause are you committed to? This is the essential question that effective Virginia Tech supplemental essays will answer. Then, you can connect your passions to opportunities at Virginia Tech. Perhaps, you could highlight an initiative or two that you would get involved in through VT Engage or in volunteer opportunities in Roanoke in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays.  In your Virginia Tech essays, make an authentic connection between what you do now and what activities and organizations you plan to be involved in at Virginia Tech. 

In this and all your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, avoid writing a monologue on the meaning of service in general or using cliche examples and phrases. Also, be sure to hone in on a specific and personal story in your Virginia Tech essays. This should not be a laundry list of your community service endeavors. 

Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Do you answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay questions in your essay? 
• Does your essay tell a compelling story?
• Do you clearly establish your “why” in your essay?
• Does the reader learn what is important to you through your Virginia Tech application essays?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 2

Prompt 2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

This Virginia Tech application essay is almost identical to the common ‘overcoming challenges’ essay archetype, but with an emphasis on resilience. The best Virginia Tech application essays that answer this prompt will be authentic; the adversity that you overcame does not have to be traumatic or monumental. 

How you handled the challenge is more important than what the challenge was. So, don’t force a topic into your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Your Virginia Tech essays will be better if you discuss a low-stakes challenge authentically than if you fabricate a high-stakes challenge that doesn’t have implications for your character, skills, or growth. 

Be specific and personal to make your Virginia Tech application essays stand out among the many other qualified applicants. Illustrate the traits and skills that you showed in your resilience. What motivates you? What enabled you to persevere? Your choice of topic is one way to stand out in your Virginia Tech essays, but so is your ability to write about your chosen topic. 

The best Virginia Tech application essays will incorporate elements of vulnerability and transparency. Before drafting your responses to this and each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, take time to reflect on how your essay conveys your values. Also, remember that rarely do we overcome adversity alone. In your Virginia Tech essays, you can write about how you relied on others as part of being resilient.

Virginia Tech supplemental essays answering this prompt are only 120 words, so let’s talk about structure. In your Virginia Tech essays, take a few sentences to lay the foundation, elaborate descriptively on your story, and emphasize the “so what?” — why does it matter? 

The best way to maximize the 120 word limit in your responses to the Virginia Tech essay prompts is to show instead of tell. Use vivid descriptions instead of simple narration to make the reader feel like they are part of your story. How did you feel? What was your environment like? Who did you interact with? 

Avoid overused cliche examples such as losing a sports game or getting a bad grade unless you can make them extremely unique and personal. 

• Do you show instead of tell your message in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Is your choice of topic specific and personal?
• Do you focus more on your resilience in handling the challenge than the challenge itself?
• Did you thoroughly proofread your Virginia Tech essays for grammar and content?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 3

Prompt 3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

When choosing your topic to write about for this Virginia Tech supplemental essay, you can discuss being a role model through one of several avenues: influencing others, leadership, resolving a dispute, or contributing to group goals. You have a lot of freedom when answering the Virginia Tech essay prompts! Think about a situation in which you took an active role in a group setting among peers, adults, or your family. In your Virginia Tech essays, highlight how your leadership demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and other character traits. 

When writing your Virginia Tech application essays, don’t worry if you don’t have an official leadership title such as president of a club or student council representative. Virginia Tech does not expect that every leader has a title. The impact you had in your role is significantly more important to discuss in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays than the title or size of the role you held. 

Different kinds of leadership

The leadership you discuss in your response to the Virginia Tech essay questions can be academic, professional, social, or otherwise. Regardless of the type of leadership you choose to discuss, the best Virginia Tech essays will reveal what role you play in group settings and how you build connections with those around you. 

The secret to this one of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is that it’s about collaboration more than leadership. After all, what is a leader without people to lead and other leaders to work with? The stories you select to write about for your Virginia Tech application essays should reveal how your leadership is cooperative in nature; you’re not in it alone!

Though you will inevitably write about other people in your Virginia Tech essay prompts, make sure that you are focusing on your own redeeming qualities and traits. 

• Do you discuss leadership in a collaborative way in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Do your Virginia Tech admissions essays reveal redeeming qualities about your character?
• Does your choice of topic enable you to highlight your leadership style?
• Do you fully answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay prompt?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 4

Prompt 4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays for this prompt, you can write about many types of goals. You are not limited to just academic goals! Perhaps you have career goals, personal goals, or others. Interestingly, this prompt asks you for a goal that you are currently working toward achieving. Therefore, in your Virginia Tech essays, you must be able to articulate the steps that you are taking — not ones you plan to take or already took.

Another consideration when choosing which goal to write about for your Virginia Tech supplemental essays is the message that the goal and your progress send about what type of person, peer, and student you are. How does what you strive for show who you are?

Don’t forget the “why”

The Virginia Tech essay prompts you with guiding questions: What is your motivation? What is your timeline? Who do you seek help from? But, the most important question is implied: Why? In your Virginia Tech essays, fully answer each of these questions while demonstrating your commitment to learning and growing. 

You should not feel pressure to talk strictly about your academic and career goals in any of your Virginia Tech essays. However, of these Virginia Tech essay questions, that discussion likely fits in this one the most seamlessly. Nevertheless, you should not choose to write about your future plans if they are not clearly articulated or you are applying relatively undecided. With more than 150 majors and 130 minors to choose from, one likely aligns with your interests and goals. Investigate which clubs , classes , and research opportunities could fit your goals.

Whether you choose to write about an academic, personal, social, or another goal in your Virginia Tech essay questions, tell a compelling story about your motivations and aspirations. Help the admissions committee learn more about who you are in a way that your other Virginia Tech essays have not yet revealed.

• In your Virginia Tech essays, do you clearly articulate your goal?
• Is your goal one that you are currently pursuing?
• Do you clearly and concisely answer all parts of the question in 120 words or less?

Additional tips for Virginia Tech essays

In each of your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, strive to be honest and sincere while demonstrating growth and reflection. You only have 120 words to use in your response to each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, so carefully consider the purpose of each word and sentence. Ultimately, aim for your Virginia Tech essays to be meaningful and memorable.

In combination with your Common App or Coalition App personal statement, your Virginia Tech essay prompts will round out the full package of your application. Consider how you can reveal another side of yourself in each of your essays responding to the Virginia Tech essay prompts. If you are applying to the Honors College, that admissions committee will also review your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

Before submitting your application, re-read your application and think about how the Virginia Tech admissions team will perceive each aspect of it. Make sure that your Virginia Tech supplement essays say something about you that the reader doesn’t learn in other parts of your application. 

The Virginia Tech essay prompts are only slightly altered from last year’s version, so it is clear that the school values the responses you write in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Clearly and concisely show the admissions readers who you are through your Virginia Tech essays. Highlight what will make you a star college student. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on Virginia Tech was written by Caroline Marapese , Notre Dame ‘20. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Virginia Tech, click here . Want help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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Honors students recognized with Norrine Bailey Spencer Strong Start Award

23 Feb 2022

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More than 100 students in the Virginia Tech Honors College were recently recognized as Norrine Bailey Spencer Strong Start Honorees. The recognition goes to Honors College students who achieved a 4.0 in their first semester of study at Virginia Tech.

The namesake of the award is the late Norrine Bailey Spencer, former associate provost and director of undergraduate admissions and former associate dean of the Pamplin College of Business, who often expressed to students the importance of getting a strong start in their university education.

“It is fitting that this award be named in memory of Norrine,” Spencer’s husband, Edward Spencer, said. “With an undergraduate mathematics degree and a Ph.D. in educational evaluation and research, she appreciated how important a strong start is in determining cumulative success. Using the mathematical GPA formula, Norrine was very fond of showing students that after the first semester, each succeeding semester has less and less ability to impact one’s overall GPA. It’s the strong start that is so important!”

The following students are recognized as Norrine Bailey Spencer Strong Start Honorees for 2022:

• Jennifer Abraham, College of Science
• Mohamed Abu-Ajaj, College of Science
• Ashil Amin, Engineering
• Henry Arze, Engineering
• Maleha Asmi, College of Science
• Henry Auvil, Engineering
• Aryan Bangalore, College of Science
• Christopher Barreiro Jr., Engineering
• Salvador Buenadicha Calvo, Engineering
• Isabelle Cang, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Paulina Charalambous, Pamplin College of Business
• Kevin Chen, College of Science
• Abigail Conner, Pamplin College of Business
• Jada Czesnakowski, Engineering
• Luke DiGiovanna, Engineering
• Gino DiMatteo, Engineering
• Abigail Dillard, Engineering
• Katelyn Domke, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Kyle Dzuroska, Engineering
• Elizabeth Eroshenko, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Kantner Eversole, Pamplin College of Business
• Elenora Fiel, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Benjamin Fielder, Engineering
• Grace Finch, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Logan Flanagan, Natural Resources and Environment
• Kristen Folk, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Kendall Fortner, College of Science
• Sachin Gandhi, College of Science
• Soham Gandhi, Engineering
• Krish Ganotra, Engineering
• Zoe Gaucher, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Vera Gliga, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Addison Glozer, College of Science
• Anna Goodman, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Jonathan Hartman, College of Science
• Jonah Hutchison, Natural Resources and Environment
• Eman Ibrahim, College of Science
• Nami Jain, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Haley Johnson, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Caroline Joseph, Engineering
• Daniel Kaighn, Engineering
• Ananya Kanuparthy, Pamplin College of Business
• Diya Khilnani, Engineering
• Kathryn Kinskie, Pamplin College of Business
• Atinsai Kolli, Engineering
• Anna Koubek, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Pelagie Ky, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Rishi Lahoti, Pamplin College of Business
• Shannon Lehrke, Pamplin College of Business
• Jason Liu, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Jennifer Lopez-Perez, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Thomas Lu, Engineering
• Sarah Luttenberger, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Nishad Manohar, College of Science
• Sydney Mccarthy, College of Science
• Forrest Meng, Engineering
• Charlotte Menke, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Benjamin Montminy, Engineering
• Elizabeth Morris, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Alexandra Nelson, Engineering
• Sean O'Dowd, Engineering
• James O'Hora Jr., College of Science
• Kyler Orourke, College of Science
• Etienne Ouellet, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Pramil Patel, Engineering
• Sarah Paz, Engineering
• Anna Pitts, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Berkley Puzey, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Robert Ramirez Sanchez, Engineering
• Dylan Recardo, Pamplin College of Business
• Laci Reed, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Eliza Rothenburger, Natural Resources and Environment
• Rupabali Samanta, College of Science
• Jazmine Sands, College of Science
• Zachary Santoni, Engineering
• Shahd Sanuri,  Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Lauren Sartori, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Griffin Schager, Pamplin College of Business
• Kyle Scherock, Engineering
• Reave Sexton, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Madeline Shivas, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Adrien Sion, College of Science
• Riley Smith, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Kendra Sollars, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Matthew Speciale, Engineering
• Amanda Sternitzke, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Tanishq Sundaresan, Engineering
• Joshua Taibbi, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Brady Talbert, College of Science
• Erin Taylor, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Jacob Taylor, Pamplin College of Business
• Anika Thatavarthy, Engineering
• Joseph Tittel, Engineering
• Stephen Titus, Architecture & Urban Studies
• Emily Tortora, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Victoria Valladares, Engineering
• Neha Vashistha, College of Science
• Robert Whitehead, Engineering
• Emma Whitney, Engineering
• Sean Wiger, Engineering
• Evan Wilson, Pamplin College of Business
• Marguerite Yates, Engineering
• Matthew Yoon, Engineering
• Riley Zeman, Agriculture & Life Sciences
• Matthew Zheng, Engineering

Michelle Fleury

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays 2023-24

August 28, 2023

Unlike many other public institutions with notable strengths in the areas of business, computer science, and engineering, Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate does not yet strike fear into the hearts of prospective applicants (although it has fallen from 70% to 56% in the past three years). However, it is important for wannabe Hokies to be aware that the admissions process at this university is becoming highly selective. This is particularly true for the aforementioned popular majors. Thus, prospective Virginia Tech students need to take advantage of every component of the application in order to stand out. This includes the Virginia Tech supplemental essays.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Virginia Tech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Virginia Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim” is Latin for “That I May Serve.” The school requires all undergraduates to complete the “Ut Prosim Profile” which consists of four service-related essay prompts. These essays are “very important” to the admissions committee. Therefore, it is vital that all Tech applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to these short answer questions.

Below are Virginia Tech’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

2023-2024 University of Virginia Tech Essay Questions

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve.’ Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Pretty much everyone applying to Virginia Tech is deeply involved in some semblance of a “community.” The term “community” can have many meanings. In this instance, it could be an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. You could discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community and what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Or, perhaps you are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, the president of a club, or simply a valuable contributing member. Regardless of whether you are a leading man/woman or a still-essential bit player, make sure that you use your writing ability to  show  the admissions officer what type of community member you are rather than merely  telling  them.

Whatever you choose, be sure to draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on Virginia Tech’s campus. Research and cite  Virginia Tech student-run organizations  or local nonprofit groups. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 30,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

For example, if you’ve done work with Habitat for Humanity throughout your teens, it will be most impactful if you express your commitment to joining Tech’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity in the future.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience? (120 words)

The U.S. presently finds itself in an extreme state of polarization. There seems to be little agreement even as to what constitutes “truth” or “facts” Within this divided world, it can be hard for individuals with competing viewpoints to engage in civil and productive dialogue. Here, Virginia Tech is giving you the chance to reflect on a time when your voice may have been silenced (or when you observed someone else’s voice being silenced). What was the outcome? How do you feel about your reaction, and what did you learn from it? This is your opportunity to show that you are an open-minded, intellectually curious, self-aware young person. One key thing to remember when addressing this prompt is that you don’t have to be the hero of the anecdote. In fact, you may be one who learned to expand their thinking.

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

Leadership is an admirable quality, but it can manifest in many different forms. This essay is not only for those who captained a varsity team to a state title, started a charitable organization, or made sweeping changes as student body president. Teamwork and collaboration are also valued leadership skills both in academia and in the workplace, and students with strong interpersonal skills and a high EQ can be an asset to any university. Think beyond the title that you may have held and more about the action(s) of which you are most proud.

To sum up, this essay is about leadership, broadly defined. You can chronicle anything from mentoring others on your debate team to a simple instance of conflict resolution within your peer group. Along the way, just make sure that you provide answers to each question embedded in the prompt. This includes what you learned about yourself through this role modeling/leadership moment.

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

Through this prompt, Virginia Tech wants to know more about your goal-setting, work ethic, and level of executive functioning. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that becoming a master or expert at anything takes 10,000 hours of practice. Consider talking about the grind and sacrifice it will take you to become great at a given skill. Further, explain how you see that skill becoming even more finely tuned/developed over time. If this goal fits into your future academic/career plans, all the better—share that too! As with the other three prompts, #4 packs in a lot of questions into a single prompt.

Ultimately, you’ll need to produce a well-edited, concise piece of writing that chronicles not only your goal, the steps you will take to achieve it, and the timeline of the steps, but also who will help you along the way. Answering the last question is key in showing that you are a mature learner who understands that you will need mentorship, assistance, and other resources along the path toward achieving your dreams.

How important are the Virginia Tech supplemental essays?

The essays are “very important” to the Virginia Tech admissions committee. This places them in the same tier of importance as the rigor of your coursework, GPA, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, and race/ethnicity.

Want personalized essay assistance with your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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2023-2024 Academic Catalog

2023-2024 course catalog.

Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.

Explore Programs

Search courses, university honors program (uh).

Introduction to honors education at Virginia Tech. Disciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity. Qualitative and quantitative research methods. "Wicked problems," systems thinking, and collaborative discovery. Problem analysis and iterative thinking. Ethical dimensions of trans-sector activity.

Orientation for Presidential Global Scholars (PGS) participants. Introduction to theories of culture and cross-cultural competence. Survey of Swiss culture, history, and politics. Introduction to PGS faculty and research interests. Development of individual research questions; transdisciplinary research on critical issues in U.S. contexts. Critical travel and safety information.

Introduction to critical practices in undergraduate quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including generating focused research questions, finding scholarly literature, organizing data, conducting ethical research, collaborative research practices, and identifying venues to present research findings.

Reading based sections in which small groups of students practice discussion, debate, and argumentation grounded in a topic or genre of reading of their groups choosing. Honors standing. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.

Discovery, analysis, creation, and evaluation of written, spoken, and visual presentation of ideas in cross-cultural contexts. Special attention to the relationship of rhetoric to effective participation in academic, professional, and public/civic problem-solving. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Application of quantitative/computational thinking in cross-cultural civic/public contexts. Use of quantitative/computational thinking to frame a question and devise a solution related to a civic/public issue. Drawing valid quantitative inferences about civic/public and cross-cultural issues characterized by inherent uncertainty. Evaluating conclusions or decisions about civic/public issues based on quantitative data. Ethical considerations of quantitative/computational thinking in cross-cultural civic/public issues. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Study of a specific branch of the natural sciences, especially as it intersects with public/civic controversies and problem-solving. Cross-cultural perspectives on the nature, purposes, and processes of scientific inquiry and knowledge. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Study and practice in the process, meaning, and value of creative design and the fine and performing arts. Examination of historical context and methods of representation in artifacts and performances. Visual literacy and design thinking as means of exploring, engaging with, and representing cross-cultural experiences and perspectives. Functions of design thinking in everyday life. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Study of the behavior and actions of individuals, groups, and institutions within larger social, economic, political, and geographic contexts, especially in cross-cultural settings. Special attention to social beliefs and actions as they influence public/civic controversies and problem- solving. Examination of the influence of value and beliefs on human behavior and social relationships. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Analysis and interpretation of texts and other artifacts to understand ideas, values, and identities in cross-cultural contexts. Special attention to the functions of narrative and rhetoric in public/civic controversies and problem- solving. Situating local/regional texts and artifacts in global frameworks. Course cannot be repeated for credit.

Intermediate study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including identifying funding opportunities for research, collaborating across disciplines, designing introductory research protocols, managing research projects, and using posters to present research findings.

Foundational study of applications of computational thinking in technology innovation for societal impact. Key components of computing and their interrelation. Uses of computational thinking to frame questions and devise solutions. Implementation of simple computational processes and tools. Construction of computational models to analyze and draw inferences about complex and uncertain phenomena. Evaluation of knowledge based on quantitative data. Impacts of computing and information technology on society. Ethical dimensions of computing for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.

Advanced study of applications of computational thinking in technology innovation for societal impact. Uses of computational thinking to frame questions and devise solutions. Application of computational processes and tools. Application and evaluation of computational models to analyze and draw inferences about dynamic and uncertain phenomena. Impacts of computing and information technology on society. Ethical dimensions of computing for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.

Study of applications of computer and systems engineering in technology innovation for societal impact. Application of computer and systems engineering processes and tools to analyze complex or large-scale phenomena. Application and evaluation of computer and systems engineering approaches to analyze and draw inferences about the feasibility and effectiveness of technological innovations. Impacts of computer and systems engineering on society and the environment. Ethical dimensions of computer and systems engineering for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.

Threshold concepts in social sciences related to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas about the behavior of individuals, groups, and institutions related to technology innovation within larger social, economic, political, and geographic contexts. Use of key concepts in the social sciences to examine the ethical dimensions of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.

Application of threshold concepts in the fine arts to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas for non-specialists about the formal elements, process, meaning, and value of the fine arts in technology innovation. Use of key concepts in the fine arts to examine the ethical dimensions of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.

Threshold concepts in the humanities related to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas and values related to technology innovation in various spatial, cultural, and temporal contexts. Use of key concepts in the humanities such as historical/cultural context and the nature of the good to examine the ethics of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.

Introduction to transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 2855: Collaborative problem-setting. Evaluative criteria for technology innovation: feasibility (can it be made?), viability (is it financially sensible?), desirability (do people want it?), and sustainability (can it work long-term?). Introduction to design thinking. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. 2856: Collaborative problem-solving. Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods. Optimization and integration. Design thinking and component prototyping. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. Design Lab/Studio.

A two-part course. Part one: three hours a week working directly with community partners. Part two: a one-hour class to reflect on the service experience and discuss readings and other course materials that place the experiential learning into a theoretical context. Open to all Honors students. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.

Exploration of transdisciplinary issues and questions. Analysis of complex topics from multiple points of view. Collaborative discussion and critique. Ethical decision-making across disciplines. Application of knowledge and processes from other disciplines. Variable course content. May be repeated one (1) time with different content for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

Advanced study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including transdisciplinary project management, refining research protocols based on feasibility of data collection, maintaining research ethics and integrity, planning for data collection, and planning for dissemination of research findings.

Continuing advanced study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including working with multiple types of data, collecting, cleaning and managing data, reporting of primary and secondary data, evaluating the work of others, and communicating conclusions to general audiences.

Intermediate study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 3855: Systems thinking and systems definition; identification and analysis of stakeholders; skills discovery and transdisciplinary team building; rapid prototyping. 3856: Collaborative innovation; customer discovery; evidence-based decision-making; iterative design; troubleshooting. Design Lab/Studio.

Honors Section.

Small, seminar-style course of one or a few students. Students explore a specific topic that is new to them with a faculty member who provides individual attention and is an expert in that established field. Open to all Honors students. Junior Honors standing. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.

For Honors students facilitating Honors courses that encourage and require student facilitation or mentorship responsibilities. Student Teaching Assistants and their sections are overseen by honors faculty or staff. Student Teaching Assistants meet weekly with a member of the honors staff in a class designed to prepare them for the facilitation experience and to monitor their progress. Open to all Honors students, subject to Program approval. Sophomore Honors standing required. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to eight credits. P/F only.

Discovery and definition of critical, real-world problems. Transdisciplinary collaboration, design thinking, and experimentation. Reflective evaluation of individual and collective problem-solving efforts. Communication of solutions to diverse stakeholders. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to 12 credits.

Transdisciplinary collaboration. Identifying and defining public/civic issues. Framing and strategizing transdisciplinary solutions to public/civic problems. Reflecting on transdisciplinary processes. Identifying and reflecting on issues of ethics and equity in public/civic problem solving. May be repeated one time with different content for a maximum of two credit hours.

Transdisciplinary and trans-sector collaboration in technology innovation. Identifying, defining, and setting problems in technology innovation. Applying evaluative criteria for technology innovation — feasibility, viability, desirability, sustainability. Using design thinking to analyze and reflect on creative processes. Identifying, articulating, and reflecting on the ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation. Design Lab/Studio (2H, 2L, 3C)

Advanced study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 4855: Systems building; project leadership and management, including resource allocation and scheduling; team management; value propositions; project pitches. 4856: User experience; user testing; systems assessment, including feasibility, viability, desirability, sustainability, optimization, and integration; systems reflection and documentation. Design Lab/Studio.

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Stamps Scholars

A community for exceptional student leaders

The application deadline for the Stamps Scholarship is January 10, 2024. No extensions will be given, so plan ahead!  Access the application through Scholarship Central .

It is strongly recommended that students apply Early Action (November 15th) in order to gain access to the scholarships.

In 2006, Penny and Roe Stamps created merit scholarship programs for undergraduates at their alma maters, The University of Michigan and Georgia Tech. Since then, the Stamps Scholars community has grown into a national network of visionary colleges and universities. Virginia Tech has partnered with the Stamps Scholars Program to award multi-year scholarships that help driven and talented student leaders achieve their education and life goals.

Stamps Scholars pursue their educational interests while developing their leadership skills with merit-based financial aid, including enrichment funds, that can be used for study abroad, cultural exchanges, research projects, and other educational experiences. Stamps Scholars also join a community of more than 2,875 current and alumni Scholars around the world with whom they network and share their experiences.

Virginia Tech Stamps Scholars receive funding for four years for estimated cost of attendance which includes tuition, fees, room, and board. Because these students are among the strongest in the university community, we expect great things from them. Each scholar will receive a generous enrichment fund for experiential learning opportunities, which could include undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, academic and co-curricular conferences, or a combination of opportunities. One fully-funded enrichment option is the Presidential Global Scholars program, an interdisciplinary study abroad program based in Switzerland for some of the university’s most outstanding undergraduates.

Stamps Scholars will live in student-led Honors communities with other high-achieving peers pursuing similarly rigorous courses of study, service, and personal development. All Honors residents enjoy increased individual contact with faculty and participate in enriching co-curricular functions such as dinners with award-winning faculty and guests.

Freshmen applicants to Virginia Tech who have indicated an interest in the Honors College on their undergraduate application may apply for the Stamps Scholarship. Applicants will need to complete the Stamps Scholarship application on VT’s Scholarship Central by the posted deadline each year. The Honors College will contact selected candidates for a virtual interview with the faculty scholarship committee. Finalists will have another virtual interview with a representative from the Stamps Scholars Program.

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Stamps Highlights and News:

• Welcoming 2023 Incoming Stamps Scholars
• Stamps Scholars partner with organizations to build beds for children in need | June 28, 2022
• Welcoming 2021 Incoming Stamps Scholars | August 9, 2021
• Virginia Tech Honors College to welcome its largest ever class of Stamps Scholars | July 14, 2020
• Aerospace engineering major and Stamps Scholar Garrett Asper brings youth drone academy program to the Dominican Republic | November 19, 2021
• 2021 Virginia Tech Honors College Stamps Scholar Graduates | May 2021
• The Virginia Tech Honors College welcomes eight 2021 Incoming Stamps Scholars | August 5, 2021
• Celebrating our 2021 Virginia Tech Stamps Scholar Graduates | May 19, 2021 
• Virginia Tech Stamps Scholars give back by building beds for kids in the New River Valley | December 22, 2020
• The Virginia Tech Honors College welcomes its largest class of Stamps Scholars yet: Ten incoming Virginia Tech students are awarded 2020 Stamps Scholarships June 22, 2020
• Stamps Scholarships expanding to offer more opportunities at the Honors College |  October 3, 2019
• Three incoming Virginia Tech students awarded 2016 Stamps Scholarships | June 22, 2016 
• Stamps Leadership Scholarship helps top students pursue learning inside and outside classroom | November 4, 2015

STAMPS SCHOLARS HIGHLIGHTS

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Virginia Tech Stamps Scholars:

2023 Lia Corning, Neuroscience Samanvitha Dammalapti, Neuroscience Rebecca Donovan, Engineering Anna Gomer, Biology Julia Hocker, Engineering Jessica May, Engineering Lea Padden, Engineering Kate Paff, Animal & Poultry Sciences Summer Vander Kooi, Animal & Poultry Sciences Kyle Walker, Engineering

2022 Alyssa Bishop, Architecture  Aiden Buckner, Hospitality  River Hamme, General Engineering Madilyn Herskovitz, Human Development Lauren Pitonyak, General Engineering Casper Rao, Biology Ella Reitmeier, Pyschology Christina San-Marina, Political Science Olivia Thacker, Architecture Yanna Willett, General Engineering

2021 Samantha Corduan, Agricultural Sciences Krish Ganotra, Engineering Addison Glozer, Physics Rupabali Samanta, Neuroscience Jacob Tatum, Meteorology Samantha “Lainie” Thompson, Marketing Management Diego Antonio Valencia, Mathematics Nicholas “Nick” Wagner, Engineering

2020 Zachary Abdo, Biology Garrett Asper, Aerospace Engineering  Mia Hagood, Computer Science Cameron Hogge, Aeronautical Engineering Olivia Kastor, Architecture Trevor Niles, Geosciences Teresa Thomas, Computer Science Waverly VanGundy, Biology Rachael Wennermark, English

2018 Andrew Perry, General Engineering Ashley Barlow, Business

2017 Abina Baral, Clinical Neuroscience & Psychology James Burke, Material Science Engineering Justin Chacko, Mechanical Engineering Natasha Doshi, Clinical Neuroscience and Biology Sengal Ghidewon-Abay, Electrical Engineering

2016 Casey Jung, Mechanical Engineering; Member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Grant McMillan,  Biological Systems Engineering Dana Mulligan, Crop & Soil Science

2015 Grant Briers, Finance Anna Broshkevitch, Biochemistry & Microbiology Aimee Maurais, Mathematics, Physics & CMDA Jake Norton, Industrial Systems Engineering Rebecah Storms, Mathematics & Music Performance

2014 Galina Belolipetski, Computer Science & Music Composition Jessica King, Communications & International Studies Wolfe Glick, CMDA & Economics Moira Miller, Physics & Spanish

Virginia Tech 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

The Requirements:  4 short essays of 120 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s):   Community ,  Additional Info

Each of the Ut Prosim Profile questions are required with a limit of 120 words in length per answer. Once you submit your application, your responses to the questions are final and cannot be updated.

Virginia tech’s motto is “ ut prosim ” which means ‘that i may serve’. share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. how long have you been involved what have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at virginia tech.

Chances are, you’ve done some community service at some point in your life, and this prompt asks you to reflect on that experience. The prompt is clear about what it wants you to cover and lays out a basic list of questions that we’d expect you to answer regardless: from details about your involvement to the lessons you’ve taken with you. You only have 120 words, so you will have to cut straight to the chase. In some ways, this is a glorified resume entry, but you can bring it to life by devoting more of your word count to concrete, personal details than a verbatim recitation of the organization’s mission and vision (or worse, a bloated list of clichés related to the value of service). Why do you care so deeply about a particular cause or community? What change do you hope to see in the world? Remember that, fundamentally, community service is not about personal glory or achievement. Did you volunteer at a hospital over the summer? Describe how this affected your beliefs about what doctors owe their patients or why bedside manner is as important as medical knowledge. Have you been fundraising for girls’ education in developing countries? Reflect on what drew you to this cause and how you knew your efforts had paid off. Finally, address about how you’d like to continue your service on Virginia Tech’s campus.

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience?

The Virginia Tech admissions committee wants to hear about a time when you were (or someone you know was) silent or silenced while adverse opinions were being discussed. Admissions knows that engaging with others in meaningful conversations about important issues is both intimidating and integral to progress, and we’re not always able to get the words out. If you could do it over again, what would you change? What did you take away from this experience? Maybe your relatives were discussing gun control during Thanksgiving last year, and you watched as your cousin was dismissed for having an adverse option. Do you wish you would have added your two cents and offered your solidarity? Maybe you learned that one of your friends was a passive supporter of an organization that you vehemently disagree with. After mulling it over, did you broach the subject? What was the outcome of your conversation? In order to impress admissions, you just need to show that you’re capable of reflection and bravery when it comes to engaging with those who have different opinions than you. College will present you with a plethora of opportunities to meet and interact with people who are very different from you, so show VT that you’re game to listen, learn, call in, and grow.

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

At a glance, this might seem like a question about leadership, but secretly, it’s about collaboration. Which role do you choose in group situations and how do you connect to others? The greatest challenge may be choosing the right story. Any time you worked or engaged with others is fair game, so don’t restrict yourself merely to your science fair project or the baseball team. This is also a great opportunity to write about a professional experience (your first time working as a hostess!) or even community service (organizing the county coat drive!). Since the word limit is relatively tight, you’ll want to zero in on a specific moment or challenge. And remember that this question is about collaboration; it’s not just about how you paved the way or saved the day, but about how you interacted with and supported a larger group. How did your contribution affect your team’s ultimate success (or failure)? In the end, you should be driving at a lesson that you will be able to carry with you into the future. In other words: an experience that will have a positive impact on your collaborative work at Virginia Tech.

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal?

So many questions! We all have goals we hope to achieve in the future, whether that’s learning how to decorate a cake, running for public office, or leading an expedition to space! Describe a goal that you have set for yourself and then let admissions in on how you plan to make that dream a reality. Your response will demonstrate your grit, tenacity, and determination. No goal is too small, so long as you’re showing admissions that you can follow through and challenge yourself. After all, you’ll be setting new goals and accomplishing them as you earn your degree!

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Ut Prosim Profile: 2023-2024 Short Answer Questions

The Ut Prosim Profile is required for all degree-seeking applicants. Each question has a word limit of 120 words for your response. The Ut Prosim Profile is your opportunity to let us get to know you beyond what is on your application or academic materials. We encourage you to use your own voice and answer each prompt as fully as possible. Once you submit your application, your responses to the Ut Prosim Profile questions are final and cannot be updated.

Please take your time to form responses that you feel confident about and help to support your application for admission.

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community support access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination.  Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience?

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how important are virginia tech supplemental essays.

Hey guys, I'm applying to Virginia Tech this year and I was wondering how important VTech supplemental essays are? Are they a make-or-break part of the application? Would appreciate any advice, thanks!

Supplemental essays, including those for Virginia Tech, play a significant role in the college application process. While they may not be a complete make-or-break factor, they certainly hold substantial weight in determining your candidacy for admission. The primary reason that supplemental essays are important is because they provide admissions officers insight into your personality, interests, and goals that aren't necessarily reflected in your grades, test scores, or extracurricular activities. Especially when so many applicants have stellar transcripts and test scores, essays are one of the primary ways admissions officers can differentiate applicants.

Virginia Tech's supplemental essays are an opportunity for you to showcase your individuality and passion for the school, as well as explain why you would be a strong match for their programs. The essays also help the admissions committee get a sense of whether you'd be a good fit within the Virginia Tech community.

Overall, while a strong supplemental essay may not guarantee admission on its own, it can certainly improve your chances and help you stand out from the competition. Invest time and effort into crafting thoughtful, well-written responses that best represent you and highlight your fit for Virginia Tech. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Virginia Tech honors the lives lost in mass shooting 17 years ago

Tuesday marked the 17th anniversary of the tragic Virginia Tech shooting that claimed the lives of 32 people.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the mood on campus was incredibly somber: other than a few birds chirping and cars passing by, it was dead silent at the memorial.

Most students at the university wouldn’t remember that day when they were young, but they’re doing their part to never forget that day and the lives lost.

Students, staff, and members of the community all gathered to remember the 32 people shot and killed during a wreath-laying ceremony just before 10 am.

A candlelight vigil was placed at the memorial late Monday night, which burned throughout the day.

For the University's ROTC Air Force cadets, today is personal because they lost one of their own in this tragedy:  Matthew Joseph La Porte.

“Some may know that Matthew La Porte, who was one of the 32 killed that day, was an Air Force ROTC cadet and part of the Virginia Tech corps of cadets," Colonel Greg Lowe, the Air Force ROTC Commander for Virginia Tech, explained.

Colonel Lowe had all the cadets run out to the Blacksburg cemetery in a silent run of support for La Porte, who was awarded the Airmen’s medal posthumously.

“The airmen’s medal is the highest medal awarded for bravery, not under armed conflict with an enemy," Colonel Lowe said. "So very high honor for Cadet La Porte.”

Colonel Lowe told us that La Porte threw himself in front of the shooter to save fellow students and staff members.

The cadets showed their respect for the victims with 32 pushups for the people lost.

Those too young to remember that day are thankful for the example he showed.

“Myself and other cadets, I’m sure are feeling a sense of sadness but we also feel a sense of pride," Vanessa Barsoom, the Cadet Wing Commander for Virginia Tech's Air Force ROTC, said. "And it just shows how large of a community Virginia Tech is.”

SEE ALSO: Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley heading to to Las Vegas Aces after 2024 WNBA Draft

They also left a clear message for those tasked with remembering this tragedy as the years go on.

“The important part is to understand who Matthew was, what he did that day, and for us all to live up in his honor to the courage that he displayed," Colonel Lowe said.

“Even though most of us did not know Matthew La Porte ourselves, we can relate to him in the way that we hope to live up to his bravery and legacy," Barsoom said.

The candlelight vigil will be on display at the Memorial outside of Burruss Hall until 11:59 Tuesday night when it will be brought back inside.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered all flags in the Commonwealth be flown at half staff in light of the anniversary.

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How to Write the Virginia Tech Application Essays 2017-2018

Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi! Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech, is a public university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech serves around 31,000 students , making it the third largest university in the state.

Because Virginia Tech uses its own application — rather than the Common Application or the Coalition Application — the 1-3 supplements stand alone as each applicant’s writing sample(s). Virginia Tech evaluates the same essays whether an applicant chooses to apply to the Engineering School or the College of Humanities and Sciences.

For the 2017-2018 admissions cycle, Virginia Tech has provided seven essay prompts, from which applicants are free to choose one, two, or three prompts to answer. Each prompt has a word count limit of 250 words .

With an acceptance rate of 73%, Virginia Tech admissions are somewhat competitive, meaning that stellar supplemental essays have the potential to push an otherwise below-average applicant over the top. Here is how CollegeVine suggests you tackle each prompt.

What are the top five reasons you want to be a Hokie?

This prompt is an excellent opportunity to convey interest in attending Virginia Tech and to show that you have thought seriously about how you might take full advantage of your Virginia Tech experience.

To answer the prompt, first you should visualize how you might spend your four years at Tech — what classes, extracurriculars, and social aspects would you be most excited to explore? These three categories can serve as the basis for drafting your five reasons. Your essay should strike a balance between what you’ll pursue inside the classroom, what you’ll spend your time doing outside the classroom, and what aspect(s) of the Tech community appeal to you most.

For example, a well-rounded essay could include (1) two specific reasons related to academics (such as a class you would like to take and research opportunity you would like to pursue); (2) two activities you can either start or continue pursuing at Tech (such as intramural soccer and Hiking Club, for example); and (3) an aspect of dorm culture that interests you (such as the living-learning labs in some dorms).

Aside from this academic-extracurricular balance, the most important tactic for writing an essay for Prompt 1 is specificity. Cite specific examples within your reasons — writing “I’m eager to pursue PSCI 3034: The CIA In Today’s World ” is much more effective in showing interest and commitment than writing “I’m eager to pursue classes in my major, Political Science.” Look for clubs or extracurricular opportunities that appeal to you at Tech and call them out by name, showing your dedication to Tech’s academic and community offerings.

If there is something you think would be beneficial for the Admissions Committee to know as we review your academic history, please take this opportunity to explain.

Prompt 2 provides an opportunity for applicants whose academic careers have been affected by adverse or unanticipated circumstances to explain precisely how the situation(s) was/were detrimental to their academic performances . Moving during the school year, suffering a prolonged illness, being in an accident that required extended time off of school, or caring for an elderly relative or younger sibling are just a few examples of circumstances that could impact your academic performance.

The Virginia Tech Admissions Committees want the whole picture as they review your application, so if you feel that something in your academic history requires additional explanation, take this opportunity to engage in a candid dialogue about how the situation affected you as a student.

The essay you’ll write for this prompt will necessarily be personal, so there’s no “right” way to write it effectively. As you brainstorm, think of specific circumstances in which your academic career was affected by the topic of the essay. Don’t say “recovering from the accident made it harder for me to do my homework, which is why I did poorly my sophomore year.”

Instead, say, “Even after returning home from the hospital, waking up in the middle of the night to change my bandages often left me unable to focus effectively in my early classes.” Instead of “It took so much time to feed and get my little sister to bed that I just didn’t have time for my homework,” try, “Some nights, an unexpected stomach bug left me preoccupied caring for my little sister until late in the night; my chemistry reading was left untouched as I administered pink medicine and took her temperature at 30-minute intervals.”

As you write this essay, make sure that you’re honest and candid about how a situation or experience impacted your ability to perform academically, and keep in mind that the goal is to provide context for the evaluators of your academic credentials.

Our motto is Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). How is service to others important in your life?

Service is an integral part of Virginia Tech’s community, so this is a great essay choice if you prioritize serving others in any way and on any scale. You may wish to talk about your servant leadership in a school or community club, a service capstone project you organized to benefit those in need, or simply how you incorporate the ideal of service to others in your day-to-day actions.

Whatever you choose to write about, make sure that you hit not only the specific consequences of your service but also the reasons why your service is important to you personally . It’s not enough to say, “I love to serve others because it gives me a chance to help my community, and it makes me feel fulfilled.” Instead, try something like this: “Video chatting with the overseas beneficiaries of my used bike drive and hearing about how Sofia was able to spend two more hours each day with her son because of her new work transportation inspired me to continue my work with Bikes for the World.”

It may be appropriate for you to touch on how you plan to continue a prolonged service activity in college. For example, if you tutor elementary students in math each week as a volunteer service, you may want to cite your plans to join or create a similarly-oriented service club at Virginia Tech. Showing that you’ve taken the time to research service opportunities at Tech will help to show your commitment to service and its importance to your identity.

We believe strongly in the Virginia Tech Principles of Community and the value of human diversity affirmed therein. Share a perspective or experience related to your culture, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status that might explain how you will enrich the climate of mutual respect and understanding here.

By this question, Tech strives to help potential students see that the admissions office and the university as a whole understand these aspects of identity to be complex and individualized facets of character rather than descriptors that can be answered for by simple yes/no check boxes. If you believe that there is an aspect of your identity that warrants special consideration of how you’ll fit into and benefit the Tech community , then this question is for you.

It’s easy to get carried away while discussing an aspect of your identity, so the important tip to remember while writing this essay is to stick to the prompt as much as possible. You want to write about your identity through the lens of Tech’s commitment to “mutual respect and understanding.”

This means you’ll want to discuss how your perspective can help others learn something about their community and the world. For example, your religion might give you a unique perspective on Eastern literature that would enhance your English class discussions. Alternatively, you might be committed to changing the narrative about disabilities on campus because of your physical or mental disability.

One of the most important factors that admissions readers consider is how each applicant will contribute to the school community. This essay is a direct opportunity for you to explain in a personal fashion how you would be able to contribute to Virginia Tech. So be sure to keep your essay focused on how you will use your identity to enrich your community at Tech both inside and outside the classroom.

Virginia Tech is one of six senior military institutions in the country. How will this setting contribute to your college experience?

This prompt is specifically tailored to students hoping to participate in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets . This is an immersive, residential program that provides a military training experience that’s comparable to the college experience at a U.S. military institution. Participants include all ROTC participants as well as some students who participate in the Corps of Cadets but not an ROTC program.

Most students choosing to pursue the Corps of Cadets have distinct personal reasons for their commitment. This is the time to convey those personal reasons – your convictions, career goals, and other motivators for your pursuing the program. Additionally, you’ll want to touch on what about the program appeals to you. This could include the residential aspect, the opportunity for leadership responsibilities, or the tight-knit community feel of the program, among many other possible motivators.

While the Corps of Cadets will likely serve as a track to your future career goals, it’s important that (if you choose to make this point in your essay) this not overshadow your answering the prompt – how will the CoC contribute to your college experience? Think about what you want to get out of your college experience, do your research on the CoC and all that it entails, and then speak candidly about why you would benefit from the program and what you would bring to it.

For example, if you participated in JROTC in high school, this would be a good time to describe a situation during training in which you exhibited honor, courage, leadership or another foundational value of the program — whether establishing a tradition to welcome new members, finding a way to motivate your peers during training, or enabling community by facilitating bonding outside of training. Then you’ll be able to tie your potential contributions into what you’re hoping to get out of the program.

You could write about how having a strong bond with a team of committed peers would help you stay on track in and out of the classroom. You might be eager to engage in the leadership training and education offered by the program. Explain your reasons for wanting to be a part of the Corps of Cadets community, keeping in mind the residential, immersive nature of the program in shaping your college experience.

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Writing a narrative, anecdotal account of an important experience can be an effective method for showing the admissions committee who you are as a person and what kind of Hokie you would be on campus. It’s an open-ended prompt — the story can be about something good or bad, seemingly insignificant or monumental, a failure or a triumph, as long as you can convey why and how the experience made you who you are today.

The most common mistake applicants will make on this essay is falling into the trap of “telling” rather than “showing.” Don’t just say what happened, set the scene and appeal to the senses of the reader . You want to give the reader a deeper understanding of the situation by making them feel a personal connection to the scene — this will help them understand better its impact on you.

For an essay about navigating your parents’ divorce, you’d want to avoid general “telling” statements like, “I had to calm down my little sister, who was upset about having to split time between our parents’ new houses.” Instead, you could “show,” saying, “As the blue-grey facade of my mom’s house faded out the car window, I distracted my sister with a game of tic-tac-toe. By the time we approached dad’s apartment, her tears had dried and she happily pressed her face against the glass to get a glimpse of dad.”

Remember that the focus of the essay is on how the experience changed your character. It may be helpful to use parallel examples from before and after the experience. For example, you could recount the ease with which you wrote, ate, and ran before an accident, and then detail the struggle of relearning these previously taken-for-granted abilities afterward.

If you choose to write about an experience that demonstrated your character rather than shaping it, choose one of your defining character traits and think of a situation or experience that was emblematic of that value.

For example, if you’re hardworking, you may want to write about a project that you gave your all and poured your heart into. No matter what topic you choose, “showing” by appealing to the senses rather than “telling” objectively will help you to write an effective narrative supplement.

Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

If you have a topic that you’re eager to write about but it doesn’t fit any of the above prompts, you might consider creating your own prompt and writing the essay under Prompt 7. It could be your favorite essay from school or an essay you wrote for another school’s supplement or the Common Application or Coalition Application.

Regardless, make sure that you’re sticking to the rule of “showing” rather than “telling” and writing about something that resonates with you personally. Essays are an opportunity to show passion, character, and personality, so let your voice shine through.

Ideally, you should pick a topic that ties in with your admissions theme and that tells the readers something about you that hasn’t been explained in your previous essays. Other than that — anything goes! Have fun and write about something you love to write about.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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