Virginia Tech® home

Getting Ready

Summer Programs and Orientation

Summer Start will be virtual only this year. If you will be at Summer Start, please email us at corps@vt.edu. You are still expected to try and attend the Corps Orientation in July that is a one-day event.

If you have not already completed your housing contract online, you will need to email housing@vt.edu with your full name and birthday and request a “Cadet” housing contract. Until housing opens a contract for you, you will not be able to sign up for Corps housing through the StarRez portal. 

You will need to add a section of MGT 1945 that fits your class schedule. If you have an unavoidable conflict with MGT 1945 or Corps lab, you will need to obtain approval to miss Corps lab from your Deputy Commandant at the beginning of the semester. 

Talk with your ROTC program about additional classes you may need to take if you have fewer than four years until graduation. Most ROTCs require a minimum of six semesters remaining to graduation from Virginia Tech to participate and commission. If you have fewer than six semesters remaining, contact your ROTC directly. If you have fewer than four semesters, contact the Corps recruiting office at corps@vt.edu as soon as possible. 

You will be completing New Cadet Week the week before school starts and will complete two semesters in first-year standing in the Corps regardless of your academic level. The only exception to this policy is if you have only four semesters remaining to graduate. This can be discussed at your first interview with your deputy commandant during the school year.

The Corps and Cranwell International Center work together to help make your transition to Virginia Tech and the United States a smooth experience. 

Like all other new cadets, you will check-in with the Corps and move into your residence hall on the first day of New Cadet Week. We highly recommend that international students choose one of the earlier blocks for move in through the Canvas assignment, but you must plan to arrive on campus no later than 11 a.m. 

It is critical that you complete the Immigration Document Check upon arrival in the United States. You can find instructions for how to do this and a list of the documents you will need to complete the check at international.vt.edu/Immigration-Services/IntlHokies.html. Failure to complete the Immigration Document Check-In eform may result in the cancellation of your immigration record in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). 

We will ensure you are able to complete your International Student Orientation sessions for check in, your visa paperwork, and academic advising during New Cadet Week to help you accomplish the items you must for International Student Orientation, including the immunization clinic, as needed. You will be escorted to any international student orientation events you need to attend by your upperclass cadets. The Cranwell International Center and New Student and Family Programs are aware of your unique situation as an international cadet. 

Virginia Tech New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is an overview of life as a Hokie, available as a virtual experience May 1 through July 31. You can get started here.

The experience includes monthly tasks on Canvas and your academic department should be in touch with you regarding how to sign up for your classes. Parents are encouraged to attend the family programming offered through the online New Student Orientation. Get started in the Orientation Portal and select "Family Member" to begin. Plus, don’t forget to read the university’s You’re In, Now What? website for new students. Cadets need to complete the same tasks as incoming civilian students.

Your academic department or college will send you information on registering for classes. Make sure to add a section of MGT 1945 (Corps Lab) that works for your class schedule. Also, be sure to add your desired ROTC/ Citizen-Leader Track classes and labs. You can find the Corps Classes handout as an assignment on Canvas. 

The Corps lab is mandatory for all cadets. If you have an unavoidable class conflict, you will need to obtain approval from your deputy commandant at the beginning of the semester. See the Corps/ROTC Classes handout in Canvas for more information.

Your Hokie Passport is one of the most important tools you will have as a student at Virginia Tech. It will be used to access your residence hall, your room, your meal plan, the buses, your extra money for laundry (Hokie Passport account), and to check out books or electronics from the library. Through the Orientation Canvas course, you will receive directions on how to submit your picture for your Hokie Passport. 

Domestic students will receive their Hokie Passport in the mail and must bring their Hokie Passport and their driver’s license or U.S. or international passport to verify the I.D. with them when they check in. For students residing outside of the United States, you will be taken to the Hokie Passport Office for your Hokie Passport picture and ID verification. Bring your authorized identification with you to M-Day (U.S. driver’s license, U.S. passport, or your country’s passport, etc.) for verification. 

Parents or family members will need to provide Hokie Passport Services with their cadet’s FERPA passcode before any information can be released to them.

You will be able to select one of two on campus dining plans: Unlimited and Unlimited Plus. Find your perfect meal plan here. Changes are accepted until the day before the dining plans start for the fall semester. Below are a few included features for cadets within the Unlimited and Unlimited Plus options: 

1. Breakfast Options

  • The Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans will include access for cadets to eat breakfast at the Fire Grill in Turner Place at Lavery Hall, including a to-go option and D2 at Dietrick Hall (dine-in only). These meals will count toward your all-you-care-to-eat plan and will not be deducted from your Declining Balance Dollars.

2. Unlimited Plan Meal Exchanges

  • Unlimited: 2 meal exchanges per week

  • Unlimited Plus: 3 meal exchanges per week

  • Meal Exchanges may be used at Perry Place or Turner Place

    Dining Services will be announcing specific locations later this summer. Students will use Grubhub Mobile (includes fee) or Grubhub Kiosk (free) to order Meal Exchange. This option is always available when Perry Place and Turner Place are operating. Think of a Meal Exchange as a pre-decided meal deals at a location. For example, eating at Fire Grill would include a choice of protein, two sides, and fountain drink cup while Atomic would include two slices of pizza and fountain drink cup.

More information will be available for cadets this fall.

Corps Requirements This Summer

Corps Orientation

Both you and your family are expected to try to attend Corps’ Orientation. You can register for a one-day out of 15 offered sessions between July 6 and July 24 through the assignment on Canvas. During Corps’ Orientation, in addition to fitting you for your Corps uniforms, you will hear from the Commandant or Vice Commandant of Cadets, and we will explain the organization of the Corps and the ROTCs, the move in plan, and what to expect for New Cadet Week and your first year.

Corps Town Halls 

Periodically throughout the summer, the Corps will host town hall meetings to answer questions you and your family may have. The link will be sent in an email to your vt.edu email and through an announcement on the Corps’ New Cadet Paperwork Canvas course. The first will be at 6 p.m. June 9 via a Zoom webinar. It will also be recorded and the link will be shared via the Canvas course. Additional sessions will be held on July 15 and August 6.

Uniform Fittings

You do not sign up for a time to be fit, but instead for the entire one-day session of programming. Upon arrival for your Corps Orientation session, you will be assigned a Tailor Shop appointment. Approximately 10 minutes before your appointment time, check in at the back of the Corps Leadership and Military Science (CLMS) Building atrium. DO NOT show up at the Tailor Shop. Corps Orientation staff will escort you to the Tailor Shop for your fitting. Families may not accompany their cadet to the Tailor Shop.

Families can use the time their student is being fitted for uniforms to tour a sample new cadet room, visit the VT Bookstore, get a coffee, snack, or lunch. The appointment will take 45 minutes to an hour and Corps’ Orientation Staff will escort your student back to the CLMS Building atrium. 

Housing and Organization Structure 

Room Assignments

Room assignments will be made around the first week of August. If you are interested in joining the Highty Tighties, please contact the Corps recruiting office at corps@vt.edu. Your room assignment will be available online. Check One Campus or StarRez.

  • Unforeseen circumstances could require that assignments be changed. StarRez will reflect the most accurate room assignment. 

  • If the Corps has not received your positive intent to enroll as a cadet by July 1, you will not be allowed to enroll in the Corps for the fall semester unless approved by the commandant of cadets. This may also trigger the withdrawal policy and you may lose your offer to attend Virginia Tech.

Company assignments will be sent to your vt.edu email address the first week in August. Company and roommate assignments are random for new cadets. If a family member was previously in the Corps and you wish to be assigned to a company this fall or next based on your family member's previous company, complete the Legacy Company Assignment Request in Canvas.

The regiment is made up of four battalions. There are typically four companies in a battalion. A company is approximately 90 cadets of all year groups that live together in the Corps’ residence halls. There are usually around 30 new cadets in each company. Your company will be the main unit that you will interact with as a new cadet. 1st Battalion is made up of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta companies. 2nd Battalion is made up of Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, & Hotel companies. 3rd Battalion is made up of India, Kilo, Lima, and Mike companies. 4th Battalion is made up of November, Oscar, and Band companies. Battalion Placements for Formation

After your first year, you will be shuffled to a new company and battalion to:

  • Give you broader exposure to different leadership styles

  • Equalize the size of each company

  • Give you a fresh start as an upperclass cadet 

  • Expand your professional network

Highty-Tighties do not take part in the sophomore shuffle and will remain members of the band. 

Each college and department has different computer requirements, which can be found at compreq.vt.edu. Students connect to the Internet in their rooms through an Ethernet cable and connect through wireless when traveling around campus. A long Ethernet cable is useful. 

You will be able to connect and set up your computer on Sunday evening before the first day of classes. If you need assistance setting up your computer, contact 4Help, the university's IT personnel, at 4Help@vt.edu, 540-231-4357, or by using your VT Username to log into vt4help.service-now.com.

The Undergraduate Bundle provides students with access to the Microsoft Office applications for Windows, macOS, and mobile devices, as well as the Microsoft Windows operating system. Software updates are provided for as long as you are enrolled in credit hours at Virginia Tech. For more information see the Requirement FAQs at Student Software Bundles or contact Student Software Sales at studentsoftware@vt.edu or 540-231-3969. 

Students in building construction, engineering, communication, the Pamplin College of Business, and the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, and visual arts usually have additional software requirements. Visit Student Software Resources for more information.