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Engineering Orientation Checklist

After accepting your offer of admission to VT, please complete all items on this checklist. We know you are looking forward to registering for your first semester of classes and we are excited to help you through this process.

 

University New Student Checklist

  1. Create your VT Username (PID)
  2. Enroll in 2-factor authentication with duo
  3. Download the Duo Mobile app on your personal smartphone and enroll the device
  4. Access, read, and use your VT Gmail daily
  5. Add your VT email to your personal device (i.e., smartphone)
  6. Setup Zoom - all sessions during the Virtual Academic Advising and Course Registration process will take place through Zoom.
  7. Complete your virtual orientation modules - Deadline: July 31, check your VT email for more information after you accept your offer of admission. Modules will be available after May 1, plan to spend a couple of hours completing the modules. 
  8. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you wish to apply for financial aid
  9. Complete and submit the immunization history form - Deadline: July 31
  10. Complete and submit the housing/dining contract (requirement for first-year students) - Deadline: June 1

Priority Engineering Orientation Checklist Items

  1. Complete the ALEKS placement assessment - Deadline: June 5 (First Attempt) - (submissions accepted after deadline)
    The ALEKS assessment is used to determine eligibility to enroll in MATH 1225 and CHEM 1035/1045 at Virginia Tech. One assessment is used to qualify for MATH 1225 and qualify for CHEM 1035/1045. ALEKS is offered free of charge for Virginia Tech students. Read all of the FAQ's before proceeding.  
    • Note: The established deadline is a College of Engineering deadline for the first attempt of the ALEKS placement assessment and must be completed prior to the mandatory virtual one-on-one academic advising process.  All majors in the College of Engineering require MATH 1225. All General Engineering and Building Construction students should complete the ALEKS assessment regardless of anticipated AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, or other transfer credits. Students admitted as transfer students do not need to take the assessment.  
      • Students with a qualifying score for MATH 1225 awarded on Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credits do not need to complete the ALEKS.  
      • Students who earned a qualifying score not awarded on Hokie Spa need to send scores to the Office of the University Registrar using the Virginia Tech school code 5859.  
      • Students awaiting scores, should complete the ALEKS. 
    • Once students complete the ALEKS, scores for the placement assessment are automatically sent to VT and updated on Hokie Spa nightly.  Log into  Hokie Spa, Click View your General Student Information, select the current term, click View Orientation Information.   
    • Course registration for fall 2023 will be open to add courses from June 12-August 25 students have until then to complete their second and if necessary third attempt; fall 2023 classes begin on August 21.   
       
  2. Send all official high school, college, and university transcripts
    All transcripts should be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions through electronic transfer (i.e., Parchment) or through mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Virginia Tech, 925 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Transfer students need to send their high school transcript if they completed 2 years of a single foreign language in high school.

  3. Send all years of official scores reports for AP, IB, CLEP, etc
    All score reports should be sent to the Office of the University Registrar using the Virginia Tech school code 5859. Once scores are received and processed they will appear on Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credits. 

  4. Complete a self-evaluation of transfer credits
    Transfer students will submit their self-evaluation of transfer credits on the Engineering Pre-Orientation Form (checklist item 6). First-year students should have their self-evaluation of transfer credits complete and available for their advising meeting, no submission is needed.

  5. Look up your academic advisor assignment on Hokie Spa under View Your General Student Information (available after May 8). You can locate your advisor's contact information on the academic advising website. On June 5th you will receive details regarding the mandatory virtual one-on-one academic advising process that will occur between June 12 - July 28 (specific dates will vary by major).  Between now and then, work on completing all items on this checklist.

  6. Complete the Engineering Pre-Orientation Form for Transfer Students - Deadline: June 4 -(submissions accepted after deadline)- (not required for first-year students)
    You must be logged into your Virginia Tech google account to complete the form. If you receive the following message "You need permission", you will need to sign out of your non-VT gmail account and log into your VT gmail account at myaccount.google.com.

  7. Students admitted to engineering as a first-year (first time in college student) into General Engineering who earned an associate of science or associate of arts and sciences from a VCCS institution, email Dr. Marlena Lester (marlenal@vt.edu) with a copy of your transcript, type of associate degree, major, VT intended major, and a completed self-evaluation of transfer credits (not required for transfer students).

Additional Engineering Orientation Checklist Items

  1. Continually verify receipt of AB, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and additional transfer credits on Hokie Spa
    Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credits  
  2. Complete the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment
  3. Purchase a computer that meets the engineering computer requirement
  4. Review/purchase the items on the engineering supplies
  5. Review the graduation requirements (checksheets)
  6. Review the engineering orientation frequently asked questions
  7. Bookmark and review the Engineering Undergraduate Program website
  8. Connect with us on social media
  9. Complete the SEC First-Year Orientation Assignment
  10. Register for fall classes (June 12-August 25)
  11. Review the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar - the first day of classes is Monday, August 21, 2023.
  12. Mark your calendar to attend the College Session for the College of Engineering from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM in Burruss Hall Auditorium. The session will be held August 16, 17, and 18. You only need to attend one session; the date you attend the session is dependent on your specific on-campus move-in day:
    ~ Move-in on Tuesday, attend the Wednesday, August 16 session
    ~ Move-in on Wednesday, attend the Thursday, August 17 session
    ~ Move-in on Thursday, attend the Friday, August 18 session
    ~ Transfer students not living on-campus, attend the Friday, August 18 session
  13. Mark your calendar to attend the College Social for the College of Engineering on Friday, August 18 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Goodwin Hall Lawn. Arrive based on the following:
    ~ 2:00 PM - Last Names A-L (not participating in CEED Peer Mentoring or Galapatia)
    ~ 2:30 PM - Last Names M-Z (not participating in CEED Peer Mentoring or Galapatia)
    ~ 3:00 PM - CEED Peer Mentoring Students (regardless of last name)
    ~ 3:30 PM - Galipatia Living Learning Community Students (regardless of last name)