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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 Outlook email 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: June 30
  10. First-Year Students Only: Complete and submit the housing/dining contract
  11. Transfer Students Only: Search for Off-Campus Housing for Blacksburg and Surrounding Area

Priority Engineering Orientation Checklist Items

  1. First Year General Engineering Students Only: Complete your first attempt of the ALEKS placement assessment prior to your group advising session for fall 2025 virtual academic advising and course registration (group advising will occur between June 11-July 25). 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. This step is not required for transfer students.

  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. First-year students should have their self-evaluation of transfer credits complete and available for their group advising meeting, no submission is needed.

  5. Look up your academic advisor assignment on Hokie Spa under View Your General Student Information.  Advisor assignments for first-year students will be updated on May 6th and for transfer students on June 6th.  You will receive details regarding the mandatory virtual academic advising process that will occur between June 11 - July 25 (specific dates will vary by major) on June 6th.  Between now and then, work on completing all items on this checklist. 

  6. Transfer Students Only: Complete the Engineering Pre-Orientation Form for Transfer Students - Deadline: June 9 -(submissions accepted after deadline)-You must be logged into your Virginia Tech account to access 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. First-Year Students Only: If you earned an associate of science or associate of arts and sciences from a VCCS institution and completed all of the following courses: EGR 121 (ENGE 1215), EGR 122 (ENGE 1216), MTH 263 (MATH 1225), MTH 264 (MATH 1226), and ENG 111 (ENGL 1105) email Dr. Marlena Lester (marlenal@vt.edu) with a copy of your transcript, type of associate degree, major through the VCCS, VT intended major, and a completed self-evaluation of transfer credits. This step is 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 program requirements (advising guides & roadmaps)
  6. Run a Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS).  Students in a degree-granting major (Transfers and BC students) should complete their application for degree which then allows you to request a DARS. Students in General Engineering (FTIC students) should request a "What If" DARS until they are officially declared in a degree-granting major. 
  7. Review the engineering orientation frequently asked questions
  8. Bookmark and review the Engineering Undergraduate Program website
  9. Connect with us on social media
  10. Register for fall classes (June 11-August 29)
  11. Review the Academic Calendar - the first day of classes is Monday, August 25, 2025.
  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 20, 21, and 22. 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 prior to August 20, attend the Wednesday, August 20 session (except for Corps of Cadets)
    ~ Move-in on Tuesday, attend the Wednesday, August 20 session
    ~ Move-in on Wednesday, attend the Thursday, August 21 session
    ~ Move-in on Thursday, attend the Friday, August 22 session
    ~Corps of Cadets, attend the Friday, August 22 session
    ~ Transfer students and FTIC students not living on-campus, attend the Friday, August 22 session
  13. Mark your calendar to attend the College Social for the College of Engineering on Friday, August 22 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Goodwin Hall Lawn.