VT International Students - Recently Updated Pages

VT International Students Home

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:25:52 CST

We look forward to you joining us at Virginia Tech!

This site is intended to be a clearinghouse for qualified information that is relevant and important to international students planning to study at Virginia Tech. The content of this Wiki is moderated by the staff of the Virginia Tech Cranwell International Center.

To the left of this message is a list of various topics that we feel may be of interest or concern to you. We will update and answer questions on this site once per week. All correspondence should be written in English.

Specific questions about student status or immigration should not be entered on this site but rather emailed. Undergraduate students should email bpauley@vt.edu. Graduate students should email grads@vt.edu.

Please consult our websites at:
www.grads.vt.edu and www.international.vt.edu

Graduate Students

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:14:11 CST

International Graduate students have many of the same questions as other students; however, there are significant differences in the academic expectations.

Graduate students are encouraged to ask your questions on the threads of this page.

Remember to refer to the website: grads.vt.edu

Exploring U.S. Society & Culture

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:52:51 CST

Do you have any questions about what life is like in Blacksburg or at the university?
Ask any questions in this thread of conversation.

Housing

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:51:15 CST

First year students are expected to live in the university's on-campus residence halls. After the first year, most will move off-campus.
There is a limited number of rooms on-campus reserved for Graduate students.
Students seeking more information about living on-campus should use the on-campus section to ask questions.
Students looking for off-campus room-mates may use this section to communicate with other students.

On campus housing

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:45:55 CST

At Virginia Tech, you can be part of a community of more than 9,100 students who live in our residence halls. On-campus living offers special programs and activities, cost-effective housing and dining rates, and convenient location.

Internarional students should consider choosing a Residence Hall which is open for 10 months per year. This allows you to remain on-campus during the breaks in the University calendar.

All first year students are expected to live on-campus. You should be familiar with the website studentprograms.vt.edu/housing.
After the first year, most students move off-campus to apartments that have been designed for students and are connected to campus by a bus service at no charge.

Most rooms are shared by two students. There is a bed and desk provided in each room.

There is a limited amount of housing for Graduate students. Most of these rooms are occupied by only one person and are usually open during the university breaks.

Virginia Tech has a national award-winning dining program that is committed to innovation and student satisfaction. We serve more than 5 million meals each year at our 11 conveniently located restaurants, and our flexible dining plans are designed to fit even the busiest schedules.
You can see the various choises by going to website: studentprograms.vt.edu/dining.

Off campus housing

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:45:27 CST

There are many options for off-campus housing that is convenient, affordable, and supports different lifestyles. Most apartment complexes designate units for grads and undergraduates. Each complex offers unique amenities. Getting around is never a problem--campus and downtown are always nearby, and Blacksburg Transit bus connects many of the housing complexes to the campus. Several of these properties are as close to the academic core of campus as other universities’ on-campus housing units. Blacksburg is rated as one of the best places in the United States to live--a safe and welcoming small community, intermeshed with a major research university.

Friendship Program

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:15:27 CST

The Virginia Tech International Friendship Program
The International Friendship Program pairs community residents of all ages (couples, families, and individuals), with international students attending the university. The students do not live with their hosts. The main goal of the International Friendship program is to allow Virginia Tech international students to develop off-campus friendships and to see how Americans really live--within their homes and families, within their work, within their community. Without this program, many students would continue to see Americans only through TV and movies. The friendships formed by sharing time together about once a month enrich the residents' lives and expand the students' educational experience. Students discover a more personal approach to American culture, and community members gain intercultural understanding.
Hosts and students are matched on the basis of common interests and share all kinds of activities: cooking, eating, shopping, family gatherings, birthday celebrations, watching videos, attending school and community activities/events, civic meetings, church suppers, etc. – activities that show daily life, no matter how mundane. The program helps international students feel more "at home" while studying here and also provides them with a more balanced view of America than they find in movies, fast food restaurants, and television. Without this program of "sharing America," many of these students would spend their entire academic career never having visited or experienced an American home and thus return to their country with a good education but very little awareness of how the average American lives.

Insurance

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:28:48 CST

The United States does not have a government medical plan or health care service that covers everyone. Instead, most people have private health insurance. While most students will never need emergency services, individuals can not plan as to whether they will be in an automobile accident or get a serious virus. Virginia Tech has a mandatory policy that all international students have a minimum level of health and accident insurance. This must include insurance called repatriation and evacuation that means that you could return to your family and homeland in case of a serious illness or death. This is required to ensure that non-immigrant students do not become dependent on the U.S. government to take care of them.

The university provides access to a plan called GM Southwest. Students with Graduate Assistantships will receive the benefit of having a portion of the cost of this insurance paid through their contract.

ALL STUDENTS MUST PURCHASE THE GM SOUTHWEST PLAN OR PROVE THEY HAVE AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF COVERAGE THROUGH ANOTHER COMPANY. THOSE CHOOSING TO PURCHASE THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE COMPANY MUST HAVE THAT COMPANY COMPLETE A FORM WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT THE WEBSITE OF THE CRANWELL INTERNATIONAL CENTER OR THE GRADUATE SCHOOL.

The US government website Education USA explains the need this way: "If health premium seems too high for your budget or if, as a healthy young person, you think that health insurance is an unnecessary expense, consider the costs that could be incurred in the United States as outlined below. Hospitals, doctors, and other medical costs vary throughout the country, but emergency room care averages about $200 per visit. Hospital rooms vary in price depending on the hospital and the region of the country, but currently one overnight stay in a hospital room averages $200 to $1,000 per day, not including charges for doctors and other medical services. Maternity care and delivery cost between $5,000 and $8,000. Overall, national figures indicate that the average cost for a one-week stay in a U.S. hospital is often as much as $8,000. In other words, this is about half the cost of attending some U.S. colleges or universities for an entire year. Health Insurance Plans: Although health insurance covering your stay in the United States can be purchased in your home country, experience has shown that many of these plans do not adequately cover your health care needs during your U.S. stay. In addition, many U.S. health care providers are reluctant to bill foreign insurance companies for health care charges. They prefer to receive payment directly from the patient and to let the patient seek reimbursement from the foreign insurance company. Unless you are certain that the policy is equal to or better than the policies of U.S. health care insurance companies, and that your home-country health insurance policy can be billed in the United States, you should probably purchase health insurance when you arrive in the United States."

Orientation

DirectorKim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:14:07 CST

Orientation is important to the sucess of each new student at Virginia Tech. A number of activities have been designed to assist you in adjusting to your new environment.

Soon we will be adding detailed information to this page. Until then, you are welcome to ask any questions.