STUDENT COMMENTS
The only reason I have chosen very good is because I always believe there is room for improvement, but overall Tech is awesome at all of the above.
I couldn't be more pleased with Virginia Tech's undergraduate program. We have excellent career services and career fairs. The business school attempts to gives all students the tools they need to be successful in today's world.
I felt that a lot of the companies that recruit on campus during the job fair are all from Washington DC or New York The few companies that were not from these areas were not ones I was interested in. I would have liked to have seen more local companies.
Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business has overall been a great experience for me. With a few exceptions, the professors are all incredibly passionate about their work and convey that on their students constantly. Practically every upper-level class requires at least one major group project, which helps students get away from the individuality they have grown acustomed to and learn how to effectively work in groups.
My academic adviser was my least favorite part of my experience here. She was cold and uninviting. I regretted the time of year when I had to meet with her and was reluctant to do so.
The one highlight that stands out whenever I look over my tenure here at Virginia Tech is my membership in SEED, Tech's Student-managed Endowment for Educational Development. The organization is completely voluntary for students and requires an additional 10 hours to 20 hours of work each week for those students who are accepted through the competitive application and interview process. The university entrusts $4 million solely to our student portfolio giving us the opportunity to make investments in the stock market and actually see return on our stock selections.
Most recruiting firms are solely from the Virginia area.
Pamplin has prepared me for the business world. I cannot underestimate the power of having an individual adviser, professors who care, and coursework that is relevant and applicable to students needs.
VT's program is as good as you make it. Extracurricular investment clubs and fed policy clubs have been the most important part of my education.
The professors are highly—and I mean highly—intelligent and knowledgeable, but sometimes I feel like some of these career academics could benefit from some more real-world experience. My five best professors have all had extensive work experience, while some of my least favorite professors are career academics. I'd say there needs to be less emphasis on PhDs and a greater emphasis on real-world knowledge.
This goes for all universities in the U.S.: the general education requirement should be tossed out the window. I barely did anything in my major until my junior year. I took women's studies and intro to film and theatre arts instead of learning more about finance, accounting, etc. That's a complete shame.
The parking situation is completely out of control. While the bussing system has to be one of the best in the country, the parking has to be one of the worst in the country. It's difficult to understand how a school in the middle of nowhere could have such difficulty finding adequate parking.
Virginia Tech alumni are very loyal to the school. This is very helpful in the job search. In fact, I am within a few days of being offered an incredible job by a firm that hires only Virginia Tech and a few Maryland graduates. I simply could not have come close to this job had it not been for Virginia Tech. In addition, companies are all over Virginia Tech. Finance majors at Virginia Tech are so in demand that it would be negligence for me to graduate in May without a job.
When I first entered the Pamplin School of Business I couldn't see how it was 37th in the nation. Now that I've completed a majority of the required classes I think it should be higher. This program is outstanding. The faculty are knowledgeable, personable, available, and caring. Applying to the business school of Virginia Tech is one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Pamplin's weakness falls in allowing inexperienced teachers (PhDs and TAs) to teach classes. This is due to a lack of full-time professors. However, Pamplin has the two largest undergraduate-managed bond and equity funds in the country. Both groups of students trade securities worth $4.3 million of endowment money. Proceeds benefit scholarships and student aid. I absolutely believe the students accepted into these programs receive the most rich finance education of any institute worldwide.
Outside the classroom is where I have learned the most about what you can do with a Finance Degree. By joining BASIS (Bond and Securities Investing by Students) I have had the opportunity to manage $4.3 million of the school's endowment, meet industry leaders, and apply the skills learned in the classroom to real world problems.
I am very passionate about Virginia Tech, the Pamplin College of Business, as well as the Hospitality Dept. I am as prepared as I could be to enter the "real world." I believe the business program is extremely underrated and that the Hospitality School is on the rise at Virginia Tech. The hospitality industry will only play a larger role in the future of this country and world. The Pamplin College of Business is first class, and it will be among the elite programs in future years.
Pamplin is a great business school. The school is constantly trying to bring itself to the next level and I like being a part of that kind of a team.
The career fairs that the school provides are good for business majors, but companies that come that specify in marketing and advertising are few. Also the companies that come are usually only from the Virginia area.
I am extremely disappointed with my undergraduate experience at Virginia Tech. I am counting down the days until I can leave with my degree. Numerous professors on the first day of class have told us that even though it is mandatory they offer office hours that we are not to bother them. Classes are large and crowded. Assignments are meaningless. Grades are based almost always on infrequent multiple choice exams. It wasn't until my last semester that we started delving into casework.
Boston College: Integrating Ethics and Business
Campus Reality Guides
Job Market
Undergrad Forums
