Dear Virginia Tech Freshmen,
I want to start off by saying OH MY GOD, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LUCKY YOU ARE, CHERISH EVERYTHING, YOU ALL HAVE IT SO GOOD.
Alright. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I will try to continue this article with as little outbursts as possible. It’s weird for me to think that three whole years ago, I was standing exactly where you are. I still feel like a freaking teenager.
And so begins the incessant preaching from a senior. If you’re no stranger to Her Campus, you’ve probably seen dozens of articles detailing exactly what you need to do in order to start your college career on the right foot. What better way to supplement that awesome knowledge with a bit of pointers that are totally unique to Virginia Tech? Here are just a few suggestions to you all as you begin your journey as a Hokie.
1. Bust your butt to go to at least one football game. The lottery seems impossible. Never give up.
Don’t forget to exhaust your resources, either. Scour Facebook class pages and see if anyone is selling tickets. Make friends with upperclassmen who have season tickets and let them know you’re available to buy a ticket whenever they need or want to sell one.
2. The Blacksburg Transit is your friend. Seriously, I give mad props to Tech for having one of the most reliable bus services I have ever had the pleasure of using. Not only do you not have to worry about reliability, but the routes are so convenient for getting around town. If you find yourself going through your meal plan way faster than you originally intended to, a quick lift by the UCB line can get you straight to Kroger. Need a shopping fix? The Two Town Trolley has a stop right by the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg. It gets even better! You can now download the new and improved BTransitHelper app for your smart phone. This is PERFECT for planning routes, looking up times and stops, and getting a feel for the BT system. Leaving your car at home has never been smarter.
3. Take advantage of the surrounding area! Okay, so we’re not exactly located near any major city. But while
your NYU friends are going on and on about the nightlife and hipster hangouts, throw this little piece of knowledge back in their face: we have AWESOME nature. Nature that is practically begging to be taken advantage of. If you don’t pride yourself as a country girl, allow a Saturday or Sunday outdoors in the NRV to change your mind. In the warmer months, head on down to the New River and go tubing for a day. The New River Junction is a perfect spot with reasonable tubing prices and a shuttle that will pick you up once you’re done with your floating journey. Also on the menu for an outdoor must? Hiking! Here is a pretty good list of some of the bigger spots with some pretty detailed descriptions. Pack up a lunch and head to the mountains for the day!
4. Complete the Hokie bucket list! It exists. Check it out, and add your own little fun things.
5. Take advantage of your delicious meal plan, but know your limits. It’s both a blessing and a curse to be ranked #2 for best food on campus. With the addition of Turner Place this year, there’s no doubt you’re in for a good four months of gourmet eating. But, turning a blind eye to how much more food you’re eating since you’ve left home can yield some not-so pretty results on your health. The solution? Be conscious of what and how much you’re eating, and don’t over-indulge for every meal. One of my favorite resources to use when I’m trying to be conscious of what I’m eating is the Dining Hall Menu feature on the VT website. You can view menus from any dining hall and figure out how many calories you’re eating as well as sodium content, protein content and more! Awesome, right? Just don’t look up that West End quesadilla. Trust me.
6. Take advantage of the active lifestyle that Virginia Tech so readily provides. Free gyms with awesome equipment and flat screen TVs everywhere you look? Yes, please. Also, the days of being unable to join your high school soccer team because the competition is insane are over. Tech offers club and intramural teams for almost any sport you can imagine. From ultimate Frisbee to Quidditch, the options are pretty much endless. Club and intramural sports are not only a great way for you to stay in shape, but a great way to meet new people as well. For information including fitness facilities and a listing of all club and intramural sports, visit the rec sports site.
7. I couldn’t make a list without including possibly one of the most important things you should focus on your freshman year- involvement! In the same vein of the sports clubs I just mentioned, you wouldn’t even believe what kind of awesome clubs and organizations exist out there. I guarantee there is something out there for you! For a comprehensive list and logistics of some of Virginia Tech’s organizations, visit the Gobbler Connect webpage.
So, there you have it. A few tips on how to spend your first year in Blacksburg the best you can. Have fun, study hard and live it up Hokie style! And don’t ask what’s in the jungle juice. Seriously, don’t ask what’s in the jungle juice.
Sincerely,
A senior who is jealous of you all!