Student Life
Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, a town of approximately 50,000, in the southwestern corner of Virginia, approximately a 5-hour drive southwest of Washington, DC, and 45 minutes from Roanoke, VA. It is a small, safe, and clean town, but large enough to provide a good choice of health care and day care facilities, schools, dining and shopping. Situated at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains it offers a lot of opportunities for nearby outdoor activities from hiking and biking to boating and skiing. For example the Appalachian Trail can be accessed within 30 miles from Blacksburg. Claytor lake is 16 miles away and offers boating and water skiing. Winterplace at 45 miles is the closest winter ski resort.
Virginia Tech is expanding its graduate program in all fields of study. The former Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center has been converted into a Graduate Life Center. The Graduate Life Center includes graduate student housing, a graduate student lounge, meeting rooms, a coffee shop and state of the art computer facilities. The Graduate Life Center is located on campus within walking distance from most molecular plant labs and from down town Blacksburg. Check back soon for more details about the new center.
For more information on campus Life see also the Virginia Tech Campus Life pages.