virginia tech application essay prompts

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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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The Admissions Strategist

How to write strong virginia tech essays 2020-2021: the valuable guide.

Virginia Tech has an acceptance rate of 71%.

It is a four-year university with over 34,000 students. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the school offers 110 bachelor programs in addition to graduate and doctoral degree programs. To learn more about what the college has to offer, check out their website here .

Virginia Tech uses the Common App.

The Virginia Tech application requires four supplemental essays of 120 words each, which is not a lot of space to express yourself. Be concise and original, and follow these tips!

What are the Virginia Tech Essay Requirements?

Interestingly, Virginia Tech does not require you to submit the Common App essay with your application. That being said, there is absolutely no harm in submitting your Common App essay with your application. However, this does let you know that the focus will likely be on your supplemental questions specific to Virginia Tech, so make sure you give these extra attention!

Virginia Tech calls its supplemental questions the Ut Prosim questions, which means “ That I May Serve .” As you may have guessed, the emphasis is on service and your commitment to it on campus and beyond. The official directions for the Virginia Tech essays are as follows:

“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.”

Here are Virginia Tech’s essay prompts and a few ideas to get you started. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 1

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able to influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group?*

Read this prompt carefully: it asks you to write about how service is important to your life. It does not ask you to describe that one time you did community service because it was required for a class, and it does not ask for a laundry list of your volunteer hours.

This question asks you to go deep, as evidenced by the plethora of follow up questions. Virginia Tech wants to understand why a particular area of service is important to you, and you must convince them you “practice what you preach” and have delved into this area. 

• If possible, write about something you’re truly passionate about. It’s better to write on a topic that you believe may not sound as impressive, but to which you are truly devoted, than something fluffy and devoid of true personal meaning. Reflect on why this cause spoke to you and continues to do so. 
• A good example might be a leadership position in Students Against Destructive Decisions where through organized recurring service opportunities, you built up a network of students and organizations to match opportunities, and took the initiative to start multiple service projects to give back to the community appropriately.
• If you had a leadership role, focus on the strength of your leadership in guiding decisions. If you didn’t have a leadership role, focus on the areas in which you developed the organization, such as recruiting new volunteers or holding fundraisers. 
• Consider the internal effect and how this service has changed you or helped you grow. Do not be afraid to cite setbacks that one might call ‘failures,’ as long as you’re able to identify what you learned and how you can serve better in the future.

Get personalized advice!

Overall, this essay should give you an opportunity to elaborate on a passion project of yours that perhaps appears on your resume, but with limited detail. Avoid listing, repeating what’s already on other parts of your application, or gloating. Remember to write with humility and a lens of personal reflection. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 2

Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? *

This is a tough question that evokes an immediate emotional response in many applicants. You may have been a victim of discrimination, or you may have been a witness to an act of discrimination. You may have even been a perpetrator. 

There are two basic guidelines for this question.

• Be honest. This may be the greater challenge for some applicants. For example, if you were a witness to an act of discrimination in years past, and said or did nothing, you may feel ashamed to say as much. However, a response in which you describe that feeling, what you have learned, and how you have or did or would handle it differently in the future is a more authentic and meaningful response than describing an invented moment of activism in which you are the hero.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 3

Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal?*

There’s a lot to unpack here in just 120 words. Virginia Tech is looking to see if you’re a goal-oriented person and how you handle challenges and setbacks in pursuit of a goal. Let’s start by picking a goal: 

• Don’t assume the goal needs to be academic. In fact, try to choose something not reflected in your application elsewhere. 
• The size of the goal is not important. It could be something as simple as saving some money for college. The important element is the journey. 

Once you’ve established what your goal was and is, reflect on the details. 

• What is it about this goal that’s so meaningful to you? If there was a catalyst or specific moment you knew you needed to set this goal, discuss that. 
• Reflect on the goal-setting process you went through. If you set milestones or timelines, examine their connection to the long term goal. 

Now comes unpacking what you’ve learned from the process. Try to spend the bulk of your essay in this section. 

• If you experienced any setbacks or challenges, talk about how you approached and overcame them. 
• If there was anyone influential in inspiring or supporting you in pursuit of your goal, discuss their role and what you have learned from them personally. What do you hope to replicate or emulate in your future? 
• Finally, how has this changed you? What will you use from this experience in goal setting that you’ll apply to achievement in your future, perhaps even at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 4

Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently?*

Similarly to the service essay, Virginia Tech is looking for a time you’ve successfully worked towards a greater cause. In this case, they want to see a clear demonstration of your leadership ability. 

Once again, try to avoid referring to something you already discussed in your service essay or in another part of your application. Ensure you address each part of the question. 

First, identify the leadership role and situation. 

• Remember that this does not have to be broad in scope. Depth is better than breadth. If you happen to have been the captain of a sports team or president of a club, fantastic. If not, consider smaller roles you may have had. The skills and qualities are the essences of the essay, not the situation. 
• Clearly identify and give context to the situation and role, but do not spend more than 1-2 sentences. The bulk of your essay should be spent elsewhere. 

Once you’ve provided a backdrop, focus on a problem or challenge you encountered and how you responded. 

• If there were ever disputes within your group that you were able to resolve, this is a great chance to show your people skills or strength in moving a group forward towards a greater cause. Clearly identify the action you took to resolve the problem. 
• If the problem was logistical, focus on concrete steps you took to tackle the issue at hand, and how you harnessed the commitment of others to support you. Focus on what you achieved together as a result of your leadership rather than personal accomplishments alone. 

To round out the essay, identify any areas for improvement, but don’t end the topic on a low. Focus on what you learned and how you would apply this to leadership roles in the future, perhaps at Virginia Tech. 

Conclusion: Writing the Virginia Tech Essays

As mentioned previously, the 120 word limit makes for a very short essay. Here is some general advice for making the most of your word count:

• Provide context, but remember that your essay is addressing the prompt.
• Use specific detail instead of vague statements. Those details should tie in your personal stories.
• Include your personality in your essay; it shouldn’t sound like it could belong to any student interested in attending Virginia Tech.
• Express enthusiasm at the possibility of getting admitted to Virginia Tech.
• Read aloud, revise, and share with a friend . Editing is your best friend.

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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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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, virginia tech's application: questions and short answers.

Hello, I'm a high school junior considering applying to Virginia Tech. Can someone please give me some insight into their application process, specifically the questions and short answer prompts they ask for? I want to make sure I have enough time to prepare thoughtful responses. Thanks!

Hello! It's a good idea to start thinking about the application process early, especially for a competitive school like Virginia Tech. While the specific prompts may change from year to year, you can find a breakdown of how to tackle the current prompts on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-virginia-tech-essays.

Remember that the prompts may change for your application cycle, though. So, while CollegeVine's post can give you a general sense of what to expect, I'd advise against actually starting to write until August 1st before your senior year. That's when the prompts for your applications cycle are officially released - you don't want to work hard on your responses before then only to find out that the prompts have changed!

Once you do start drafting, remember that CollegeVine also offers both a free peer essay review tool and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors. Either of these resources can provide you with a more objective second set of eyes, which is sometimes just the thing that takes your essay from good to great.

Good luck, and I hope this helps you get a head start on your application!

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.

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How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies

February 16, 2022

The 45,214 high school seniors hoping to join the Virginia Tech Class of 2026 were part of a record-setting applicant pool, as the school broke their own all-time application high for the second straight year. For historical content, less than a decade ago, Virginia Tech received less than half as many applications per year. For further evidence of VT’s soaring desirability, the university dealt with a headline-grabbing case of over-enrollment a few years ago when 1,000 more admitted members of the Class of 2023 elected to enroll that the university expected. While it took some reconfiguring of dorms and even renting out a local Holiday Inn, the school was ultimately able to accommodate the unanticipated growth.

Clearly, it’s not hard to conclude that becoming a Hokie has never been a more common dream for high-achieving teens. To help you gain an edge in the admissions process, we will provide those considering applying to Virginia Tech:

1) An in-depth and realistic understanding of what you are up against.

2) More data on which to accurately assess your chances of admission.

3) Advice for how to get your Virginia Tech application to stand out, even against other qualified students.

To accomplish these goals we will touch on the following topics:

• Virginia Tech’s Class of 2025 ED acceptance rate
• Virginia Tech’s Class of 2025 acceptance rate
• SAT and ACT scores of enrolled Virginia Tech applicants
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2025
• Virginia Tech’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of Virginia Tech undergraduates
• The percent of accepted students that attend the university
• Tips for applying to Virginia Tech
• How to approach the Virginia Tech supplemental essay
• How to assess whether applying to Virginia Tech is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Virginia Tech Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025

Virginia Tech gives applicants three options for submitting their application: the Early Decision deadline is 11/1, the early action deadline is 12/1, and the regular decision deadline is 1/15.

The most recent ED acceptance rate data available is from the Class of 2025 which saw 1,336 of the 2,305 applicants accepted for an acceptance rate of 58%. Note, this figure is actually lower than the regular decision percentage, a rarity among selective American universities. It is possible that many of the ED applicants possess borderline credentials (relative to VT’s standards) and, given their over-enrollment issues in recent year, the admissions committee has no need to “reach” in the ED round for less-than-stellar applicants.

Virginia Tech Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025

Out of 42,054 total applications submitted for a place in the 2021-22 freshman class; 56% were accepted. This is significantly lower than the 67% clip for the Class of 2024.

Interestingly, the out-of-state acceptance rate is typically higher than the in-state acceptance rate. State residents made up 72% of the Class of 2024. That year, the out-of-state acceptance rate was 76% compared to 63% for Virginia residents.

Virginia Tech Admissions – SAT and ACT Scores

The mid-50% Reading SAT score for members of the Class of 2025 (most recent data available) was 610-690 and the mid-50% SAT Math range was 600-720; the ACT range was 26-32.

Those aiming to study engineering or computer science need to bring even more impressive credentials to the table. The most recent stats available for the College of Engineering are from 2019, when the average first-year student possessed a 1351 SAT score and a 4.14 GPA. This is likely higher in 2022, given the more intense admissions environment.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• The 2021-22 freshman class saw a 93% increase in African American students and a 64% increase in Hispanic students from the arriving class in the fall of 2017.
• 47% of Class of 2025 applicants chose not to submit test scores as part of their application.
• The Class of 2026 saw a 20% increase in ED applications from the prior year.
• The average GPA for the Class of 2025 rose slightly from 3.97 to 3.98 since last year.
• 74% of the Class of 2025 possessed a GPA of 3.75 or better.

How Virginia Tech Rates Applicants

There are seven factors that Virginia Tech ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, GPA, essays, first-generation, geographic residence, state residence, and racial/ethnic status.

Factors that are “considered” are: standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, legacy status, volunteer work, and work experience.

Straight from the VT admissions office: When your application is complete, it will be reviewed holistically within the context of your school. Factors that are considered include:

Academic Review:

• Rigor of academic program within context of school
• Grades in academic courses
• Standardized test scores (if applicable; test-optional for Fall 2022)
• Major requested on your application

Personal Review (in alphabetical order, not reflective of order of review):

• Activities outside of the classroom like jobs, clubs, sports, family responsibilities, service, research, etc.
• Disciplinary record
• First-generation college student status
• Interest in the Corps of Cadets
• Legacy of parents, guardians, grandparents, or siblings
• Participation in Virginia Tech pipeline programs
• Personal statements through the Ut Prosim Profile
• Race and/or ethnicity
• Veteran status

Who Actually Gets Into Virginia Tech?

Let’s look at the demographics of the Class of 2025.

Geographically, the greatest number of incoming freshmen hailed from the following states (outside of Virginia which was #1):

• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania

Competition is harshest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you come from a less populated state like Alaska, North Dakota, or Montana, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown for current undergrads is as follows:

• Hispanic: 8%
• African American: 5%
• Two or more: 5%

The countries sending the greatest number of students into Virginia Tech undergraduate body are:

• South Korea
• Saudi Arabia

The breakdown by gender is as follows:

• Female: 43%

With far fewer women entering the university, female applicants certainly have a significant edge over male applicants. Female Class of 2025 applicants enjoyed a 60% acceptance rate compared to 53% for their male counterparts.

Virginia Tech’s Yield Rate

Virginia Tech’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted is 33%. For comparison, other notable tech-centric public flagships sport the following yield rates: Georgia Tech (37%), Purdue (23%), and North Carolina State University (33%).

Tips for Applying to Virginia Tech

If you plan on joining the 45,000+ Hokie hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Virginia Tech does not offer any type of in-person or alumni interviews for incoming freshmen.
• VT does not factor in recommendations in the admissions process.
• Virginia Tech does not consider “ demonstrated interest ” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit (in non-pandemic times), contacted an admissions officer, etc. Still, given the school’s lower yield rate (compared to some other elite schools), it is never a bad idea to reach out to admissions officer with a question, attend a virtual session, or engage with the school on social media.
• Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental UT Proism Profile section which includes the following short answer prompts:
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)

For detailed advice on how to approach each of these four essay prompts, take a look at our blog: Virginia Tech Essay Prompts and Tips .

Should I Apply to Virginia Tech?

Those that fare best in gaining acceptance to Virginia Tech will boast a transcript of mostly-A’s in an exceptionally rigorous selection of classes. Given their test-optional policy, students with sparkling transcripts can be successful even without SAT or ACT scores. Still, students (particularly those aiming for engineering or CS) need to develop a balanced college list consisting of multiple “safety” and “target” schools to go along with their “reach”/dream schools.

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Virginia Tech Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions Team

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine admits students who are strong in academics and research. The Admissions committee values research, critical thinking, and problem solving. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite. It’s important to discuss your previous research experience and future medical research ideas in your Virginia Tech secondaries. Read our Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application essay tips below!

The Virginia Tech secondary application frequently changes prompts. We would STRONGLY advise to not pre-write these essays until the official prompts have been released.  

Our  Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping several of our mentees receive acceptances to Virginia Tech and all other Virginia medical schools for the past 12 years. We can help you next! We want to stress that submitting a strong Virginia Tech secondary application is crucial and we can help you through our secondary essay editing packages .  

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• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

Note: The essay prompts for Virginia Tech’s secondary application change from last year’s application.

• Explain why integrity is more important than intelligence and perseverance using an example from your life  From the following list of human qualities, choose the ONE you think is most important and explain your choice: intelligence, honor, humility, perseverance, optimism. (600 words max)
• Explain how your concept of diversity is both the same and different from the mainstream view. (600 words max)
• Choose one aspect about yourself, not already reflected in your application, that you are most proud of. Explain your choice below. (600 words max)
• Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it.  (600 words max)

Tips to Answer Virginia Tech Secondaries

Virginia Tech Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: The Virginia Tech secondary application frequently changes prompts. We would STRONGLY advise to not pre-write these essays until the official prompts have been released.  

• Download  all  our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays:  Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #1:  Virginia Tech values patient care alongside teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving. Make sure you give stories and examples that reflect these values.

Many of our successful Cracking Med School Admissions mentees who apply to Virginia Tech write about class projects, research, and engineering projects where they have exhibited teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving. What will be your personal contribution to advance medicine? Contact us below if you have questions about Carilion’s medical school secondary application. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages . 

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #2: It is extremely important to include stories in your Virginia Tech secondary application if you want to submit a strong application. Great Virginia Tech secondary application essays include stories in each essay. For example, for the prompts related to personal values (integrity, humility, etc.), you can give a life experience story that highlights how you reflect one or more of the values. Additionally, you can write about a clinical experience when talking about diversity (i.e. how you helped a patient from a different background). Finally, you can write a story related to your research. The essays have very long word limits, so we think it’s a MUST to write at least one story per essay. 

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #3: It is important to do your research on Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM), including its core values.

Here are the core values of VTCSOM we found on the Virginia Tech website : 

Collaboration and Excellence

We commit to collaborative excellence in all facets of academic life.  We work within transdisciplinary and interprofessional teams as educators, clinicians, and scholars to deepen existing and forge new relationships with our health system and university partners, as well as community leaders and organizations.  We strengthen and preserve our commitment to a learning environment that emphasizes well-being and features supportive relationships between our learners and those who teach and mentor them.

Innovation and Discovery

We commit to a continuous process of innovation and discovery to build knowledge and paradigms for improved health and transformative health care.  We focus on excellence in scholarship including teaching, research, and the implementation of evidence-based delivery of care and lifelong learning.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We commit to being a continuous learning organization that recognizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency as essential to excellence.  While affirming our common humanity, we expect our learners, staff, and faculty to be sensitive to and respectful of the inherent dignity and worth of each individual in our community.  We embrace innovation in the pursuit of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that values open expression and mutual respect so that all may thrive.

Humanism and Compassion    

We commit to humanism and compassion as essential for achieving learner-centered education, patient-centered care, and the enhancement of well-being and success for all.  Using the art and science of medicine in the spirit of  Ut Prosim  (That I May Serve), we commit to creating a more compassionate and just society.

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #4:  Other than how you align with VTCSOM’s core values, you can also discuss specific aspects the curriculum, research, and community projects you want to be involved with. Even if there are no VTCSOM essay prompts that ask specifically “Why do you want to come to Carilion?” you should still aim to add your interest to the school throughout the various secondary essay prompts. 

• Read our HIGH-YIELD blog post about how to answer “Why this Medical School:”  Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example

Finally, put it all together. Discuss “Why Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine” and examples of how you exemplify the school’s core values through stories.

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #5:  For the question, “ Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it ” 

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #6:  Start early  and  get our help . The Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application not only has several essay, but the essays also have large word limits. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us  below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our  secondary essay packages . 

[ Read more secondary essay tips:  University of Virginia School of Medicine , Case Western Reserve University & Cleveland Clinic , Washington University in St. Louis , Emory University ]

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Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• From the following list of human qualities, choose the ONE you think is most important and explain your choice: intelligence, honor, humility, perseverance, optimism. (600 words max)
• What advice would you give someone your age but from a different culture who is new to our country? (600 words max)
• What do you think your chances of being accepted into medical school are this year? Please explain your answer. (600 words max)
• Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (600 words max)

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Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• Tell us about constructive criticism you have received, or a personal challenge you have experienced, that you found particularly impactful. Please describe how that experience has advanced your development as a future physician thought leader. (600 words max)
• Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your world view and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
• Describe three aspects of VTCSOM and how those align with your philosophy of medicine. (600 words max)
• Please describe a research passion: If funding were no object, what scientific study would you design? Please also describe a non-research passion. (600 words max)

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

• If funding were no object, describe how you would direct medical inquiry. (600 words max)

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

• What, in your opinion, makes the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine different, and why is that important to you? (600 words max)

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

Virginia tech medical school secondary application questions: 2017 – 2018.

• VTC’s curriculum fosters a culture of compassion through its community service learning initiatives. Through their inter-professional learning group projects (IPL), students demonstrate leadership and innovation while making a positive difference in the community. Describe an event or a time when your personal contribution was instrumental to the success of a team or made a positive impact on someone else’s life. (600 words max)
• Each member of the VTC community has a unique and enriching life-story. Interactions with heterogeneous populations increase compassion, understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Explain how your life experience has shaped your world view, describe your approach to people who see the world differently, and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
• What, in your opinion, makes VTC different, and why is that important to you? (600 words max)

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

• VTC is committed to strengthening the diversity of its community. Through interactions with a heterogeneous population, people broaden their knowledge about other cultures and ultimately develop the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Tell us about how your life experience has broadened your perspective of the world and relate how you would add to the diversity of your class, if admitted to VTC. (600 words max)
• (Optional Essay) Essay to update VTCSOM on activities not mentioned on AMCAS.

Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

• (Optional Essay)  Use this optional essay opportunity to update the information you provided in your AMCAS application on your recent experiences, such as medical volunteering, shadowing, community service, research, leadership, teamwork and/or work. Please do not repeat information already reported in your AMCAS application. For the optional essay, please limit your responses to approximately 600 words (1 page, 1-inch margins, 12-point, single-spaced) and leave one blank line between paragraphs.

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays 2024 | Strategies and Insights for Success

While Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate may not yet inspire widespread anxiety among prospective applicants, the university’s evolving admissions landscape demands attention. With a recent decline from 70% to 58%, the institution is transitioning towards a more selective admissions process, particularly for popular majors like business, computer science, and engineering. Aspiring Hokies must recognize the importance of every application component, including the Virginia Tech supplemental essays.

At the heart of Virginia Tech’s ethos lies the motto “Ut Prosim” — Latin for “That I May Serve”. Reflecting this commitment to service, the university mandates that all undergraduates complete the “Ut Prosim Profile,” comprising four service-related essay prompts. These essays carry significant weight, marked as “very important” by the admissions committee, making dedicated attention to these short-answer questions imperative for all Tech applicants.

Below, we present Virginia Tech’s supplemental prompts for the 2022-23 admissions cycle, along with expert advice for crafting standout essays that capture the essence of your candidacy and align with the university’s values and expectations.

Also read Virginia Tech Acceptance Rate | Strategies and Insights for Admission Success 2024 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays

Prompt 1: contributing to community.

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)

Dive into your community involvement, whether ethnic, religious, or club-based. Highlight your role and the impact you’ve made, drawing on specific experiences and lessons learned. Articulate your vision for continuing this service at Virginia Tech, citing relevant student organizations or local nonprofits.

Prompt 2: Reflecting on Resilience

Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

Narrate a challenge you faced, emphasizing your resilience and subsequent growth. Be candid and introspective, delving into the emotional journey and lessons learned. Highlight how this experience has shaped your character and prepared you for future obstacles.

Prompt 3: Proud Moments of Leadership

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)

Explore a moment of leadership, whether formal or informal, focusing on the skills you demonstrated and the impact you had. Reflect on what you learned about yourself and your leadership style, emphasizing growth and self-awareness.

Prompt 4: Setting and Achieving Goals

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)

Detail a specific goal, outlining your plan for achieving it and the motivations driving your ambition. Discuss your timeline and support network, highlighting the importance of mentorship and collaboration in your journey toward success.

In tackling Virginia Tech’s supplemental essays, brevity is key. Each response should offer a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into your character, values, and aspirations. By weaving personal anecdotes, reflections, and future aspirations into your essays, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates with the admissions committee and sets you apart as a standout candidate for Virginia Tech.

Also see 12 Best Technology Colleges in the US 2024

The Importance of Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays

The Virginia Tech supplemental essays hold considerable weight in the eyes of the admissions committee, being classified as “very important” factors in their evaluation process. Placed alongside key elements such as the rigor of coursework, GPA, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, and race/ethnicity, these essays play a pivotal role in shaping the overall impression of an applicant’s candidacy.

This underscores the critical role these essays play in providing insights into an applicant’s character, values, and potential contributions to the Virginia Tech community. Each essay offers a unique opportunity for candidates to showcase their individuality, aspirations, and alignment with the university’s mission and values.

By approaching each essay thoughtfully and authentically, applicants can leave a lasting impression and bolster their chances of securing admission to Virginia Tech. In essence, the supplemental essays serve as a powerful tool for candidates to articulate their readiness to thrive in Virginia Tech’s dynamic academic environment and contribute meaningfully to its vibrant community.

The Virginia Tech supplemental essays stand as critical components of the university’s admissions process, designated as “very important” by the admissions committee. Alongside other key factors such as academic rigor, GPA, and demographic background, these essays provide a unique opportunity for applicants to showcase their individuality, values, and potential contributions to the Virginia Tech community.

By dedicating time and effort to crafting compelling and authentic responses, applicants can effectively convey their readiness to excel academically and thrive within Virginia Tech’s diverse and dynamic campus environment. Ultimately, the supplemental essays serve as a vital platform for applicants to differentiate themselves and leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee, solidifying their candidacy for admission to Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 15

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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