The largest number of prospective students to date attended Virginia Tech’s Spring Open House on March 16-17. Virginia Tech welcomed 2,823 students and guests on Saturday, and 2,837 on Sunday.

Spring Open House offers prospective students and their families a chance to explore admissions and financial aid, academic opportunities, and student services. Students also experience the beauty of the Blacksburg campus, learn more about the university’s programs of study, and get a taste of life campus life. In addition, Open House allows prospective students to get to know other students and form early friendships, sample the food at dining halls, meet professors, view housing options, and visit the Blacksburg community for recreation, shopping, and other interests.

“I think this record attendance shows a continuation of the growing interest in Virginia Tech as a premiere destination for top talent,” said Greg Carter, director of strategic enrollment communications and marketing. “The campus visit experience is often the motivation behind many of our prospects naming Virginia Tech as their top choice. We will have to wait and see if this record number of attendees translates to another year of record applications next cycle, but it certainly is a promising sign.”

In 2018, Virginia Tech changed its admissions process, adopting a more holistic review process. In addition, the university began collecting self-reported academic information and streamlined the fee waiver application process. These changes resulted in a larger, higher quality, and more diverse pool of applicants seeking admission.   

In 2023, for the fourth straight year, the number of first-year applications to Virginia Tech hit a historic high at 52,365 applications submitted – an increase of 11 percent over last year. First-year applications have increased more than 50 percent since 2018.

The fall 2024 applicant pool is also the strongest in the school's history when measured by academics. The average GPA of all 2024 applicants was 4.07, compared to 4.06 in 2023. Noteworthy gains include

  • 8,059 applicants identified as first-generation college students, a 3.5 percent increase from last year
  • 20,610 in-state applicants, up 4.5 percent
  • 26,696 out-of-state applicants, a 12 percent increase
  • 5,059 international applicants, up from 3,591 last year

"Four record years of first-year applications continue to affirm that the transformational changes made in 2018 have made Virginia Tech a place that students can see themselves calling home for their undergraduate education and beyond," said Kayla Nichols, interim associate vice provost for enrollment management and director of undergraduate admissions. "We are proud of our innovative recruitment strategy. It allows us to emphasize access and affordability while also highlighting Virginia Tech’s community, school spirit, and strong academic opportunities.”

Other opportunities to visit Virginia Tech this spring through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions include High School Spring Break and Hokie Focus.

High School Spring Break, March 25-29 and April 1-4, offers high school students the opportunity to participate in an admissions information session, learn about student life, get a feel for the campus experience, and see what it means to be a Hokie.

Hokie Focus, April 6-7, is an invitation-only program for first-year students who were offered admission to Virginia Tech.

For students who are unable to attend those events, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers daily information sessions and tours whenever classes are in session. There are also virtual visit resources for those who are unable to make it to campus but want to explore Virginia Tech on their own schedule.

“It is clear that students are attracted to the impact that Virginia Tech is having as our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), drives us forward as an institution to do wonderful and innovative things,” Nichols said. “We are excited to welcome the Class of 2028 this fall and look forward to recruiting future classes of Hokies.”

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