Does Virginia Tech Require Letters of Recommendation?

It’s a common question we get here at Virginia Tech. The answer is no, Virginia Tech does not require letters of recommendation for admission.

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Introduction

At Virginia Tech, we give great importance to letters of recommendation. We believe that letters of recommendation provide valuable insights about an applicant’s potential for success in our program. For this reason, we require all applicants to submit at least two letters of recommendation with their application.

What are the requirements for admission to Virginia Tech?

In order to be considered for admission to Virginia Tech, you will need to submit a completed application, official transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and a non-refundable application fee. You may also be required to submit letters of recommendation, depending on your program of interest. Keep reading to learn more about the requirements for admission to Virginia Tech.

GPA

To be eligible for admission to Virginia Tech, you must meet the minimum high school course requirements and earn at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in those courses. If you have a GPA below a 2.5, you may still be eligible for admission if you meet additional requirements.

SAT/ACT Scores

You are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores if you have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited high school, regardless of the number of college credits completed, or you’ve completed an associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college. If you are submitting SAT or ACT scores, the admissions committee will superscore your results, meaning that we will consider your highest score from each section across all test dates.

Class Rank

Virginia Tech does not have a class rank, but we do look at the difficulty of your course load and how you have performed in those courses when making admission decisions.

Letters of Recommendation

There is no set number of letters of recommendation required for admission to Virginia Tech, but we recommend that you submit at least two. Letters of recommendation should come from adults who know you well and can speak to your abilities and character. Counselors, teachers, coaches, employers, and community leaders are all good choices. We prefer that at least one letter come from someone who can speak to your academic abilities.

If you have any questions or concerns about the admissions process at Virginia Tech, please feel free to contact our office. We are here to help you every step of the way!

How important are letters of recommendation?

Most colleges and universities require at least two letters of recommendation as part of the admissions process. The purpose of these letters is to provide colleges with an outside perspective on your academic achievements and personal character. Letters of recommendation can come from teachers, counselors, coaches, employers, or anyone else who knows you well and can attest to your ability to succeed in college.

While letters of recommendation are not required by all colleges, they can be a helpful way to strengthen your application. At Virginia Tech, we require two letters of recommendation for all first-year applicants. If you have already been working or attending school for a few years after high school, we will also accept up to two letters of recommendation from employers or post-secondary instructors.

Who should write your letters of recommendation?

There is no set formula for who should write your letters of recommendation. The admissions committees are interested in learning about you from a variety of sources, so we ask that you provide us with at least two letters of recommendation. These can be from teachers, coaches, employers, community leaders, or anyone else who knows you well and can speak to your abilities and personal qualities.

When should you ask for letters of recommendation?

You should start thinking about letters of recommendation during your sophomore or junior year of high school. That way, you can be sure to get the best possible letters when you apply to colleges.

There is no set number of letters of recommendation that you need to have, but most colleges will require at least one or two. Some colleges may also have specific requirements, such as a letter from a math teacher if you’re applying to a engineering program.

Your counselors and teachers can write excellent letters of recommendation, but you should also think about asking other adults who know you well, such as coaches, employers, or volunteer coordinators. These people can write about your character and motivation, which are important factors in the college admissions process.

How many letters of recommendation should you submit?

Virginia Tech requires two letters of recommendation with your online application. We prefer that at least one of these come from a teacher and one from someone who knows you in a paid or volunteer capacity such as an employer, coach, or community leader.

What if you can’t get letters of recommendation?

If you are unable to obtain letters of recommendation, you may still submit your application. However, it is strongly recommended that you provide at least two letters of recommendation as they can be very helpful in determining your candidacy for admission.

Conclusion

There you have it! While Virginia Tech does not require letters of recommendation, we strongly encourage you to submit them as part of your application. Letters of rec can provide valuable insight into your character and abilities, and can help us get to know you better as a person. So if you have the opportunity to submit them, we recommend that you do!