Hokie Spirit lifts Virginia Tech in Princeton Review’s latest guide
Virginia Tech earns top honors based on responses from students at almost 400 colleges and universities in The Princeton Review’s 2014 edition of its annual college guide.
The Princeton Review surveyed 126,000 students at 378 schools to rate their own academic institution in more than 60 categories. Schools that ranked in the top 20 for each category are available online and in the book, “The Best 378 Colleges.”
Virginia Tech holds multiple placements in the ranked categories.
- No. 1 – Their Students Love These Colleges
- No. 3 – Town-Gown Relations are Great
- No. 4 – Best Campus Food
- No. 5 – Best Quality of Life
- No. 7 – Happiest Students
- No. 17 – Students Pack the Stadiums
“These distinctions hold special value, in particular, because they are driven by student feedback,” Mark G. McNamee, senior vice president and provost, says. “Our students are engaged with the university through diverse learning opportunities, innovative courses and programs, research with faculty members, and outreach and service opportunities. The holistic approach to education makes students proud to share what they love about the Hokie Nation.”
The university is adding new undergraduate degree options in both old and new career fields with a focus on interdisciplinary learning, including real estate, environmental informatics, and Russian. Other new degrees are in the pipeline for approval to meet the needs of our changing society and student body.
Students have the opportunity for individual exploration through undergraduate research throughout the academic year. This summer alone, more than 250 undergraduate students participated in research programs on campus.
The academic mission continues at home with multiple living-learning communities on campus. “Innovate” is the newest community that will immerse 35 students in entrepreneurship.
“We know the learning does not stop when students leave a SCALE-UP classroom, laboratory, discussion room, or lecture hall because learning has the potential to happen everywhere,” says Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. "We intentionally facilitate learning opportunities, develop life skills and foster personal growth through living learning communities, student organizations, educational programs and campus activities."
Looking at the entire university experience, Virginia Tech again is recognized in this annual college guide for its excellent dining options. Being one of the top campuses for food fueled students to excel in their studies and activities. The university’s newest dining facility, Turner Place at Lavery Hall, recently received an acknowledgement of excellence by the National Association of College and University Food Services as the best new dining facility in the country.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
