Orientation and Welcome Events

Get a head start on the fall semester and learn many of the key components to help you get started as a graduate student at Virginia Tech. At this session we will discuss how to register for classes, how to find and pay your tuition bill, the assistantship funding timeline and graduate comprehensive fee payment plan. This session is for graduate students at all campuses. 

Graduate School Slides

Bursar's Office Slides

Graduate School Dean Dr. Aimee Surprenant helps you learn how to establish expectations and manage the relationship with your advisor. This session is intended for research students, both master's degree and Ph.D. This session is for graduate students at all campuses.

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Hear from current graduate students about what organizations and clubs they have gotten involved with and how they found their community at Virginia Tech. This session is geared towards graduate students at the Blacksburg campus. 

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Learn how to enroll in the university's health insurance and what your benefits and coverage will be on the plan from Student Medical Insurance Representatives. A rep from Schiffert Health Center will discuss immunizations and what their facility will provide in Blacksburg while health insurance reps will speak to how student's outside of Blacksburg should seek medical attention and make appointments. There will be time for you to ask questions! This session is for graduate students at all campuses.

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If you are an incoming student on a graduate assistantship, you may be wondering what steps you need to take next. At this session you will learn more about your contract, what benefits are included with your assistantship and what questions you need to ask your supervisor. This session is for graduate students on assistantship at all campuses.

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Representatives from the Controller's office and Hokie Wellness will speak to international tax policies, important financial information new students need to know, budgeting tips and much more at this session. This session is for graduate students at all campuses.

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Discover what living in Blacksburg and the New River Valley is like! We will discuss housing, transportation, shopping, entertainment, living on a budget, and more! This session is geared towards graduate students at the Blacksburg campus. 

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This session is designed to introduce incoming students to life in the greater Washington, D.C. area. You will learn about fun activities and attractions the region has to offer, how to navigate the area using public transportation, and the resources available to assist with your housing search. A panel of current students will also share their experiences and be available to answer your questions.This session is geared towards graduate students at the D.C. Area campuses.

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If you are coming into a PhD program directly from completing your undergrad degree, you'll find that grad school runs differently from undergrad! We would like to help you prepare for that transition.  You'll find that graduate school isn't simply "more school,” there will be different expectations placed on you regarding self-directed learning, goal setting and completing, engaging with advisors and mentors, and increased responsibilities with research and coursework.  We'll start the conversation this summer and hopefully continue to connect with you through the completion of your degree! This session is for graduate students on assistantship at all campuses.

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Join representatives from VT Athletics and Recreational Sports to learn about Hokie Sports and all of the opportunities for students to get involved in related activities while at VT. After the presentations and Q&A, breakout rooms will be set up to allow attendees to connect about activities and share contacts for forming future teams or groups. This session is geared towards graduate students at the Blacksburg campus. 

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Join representatives from Hokie Wellness, Cook Counseling Center, and the Student Success Center to learn about the resources, programs, and initiatives available to support you in developing and maintaining healthy and productive habits. A panel of current students will share about their experiences, provide tips and suggestions, and will answer your questions. Making the transition from undergrad to graduate school, or from a MS to PhD program can be more challenging than expected, attend this session to set yourself up for success at Virginia Tech. This session is for graduate students on assistantship at all campuses.

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The purpose of this session is to support incoming students' transition to graduate school by preparing them to get the most out of their mentoring experiences.  Active learning and engaging activities will be used to develop graduate students’ understandings of and experiences with mentoring. This session is for graduate students at any campus.  This session is for graduate students on assistantship at all campuses.

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