Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be accepted to Virginia Tech (or have accepted an admissions offer to attend Virginia Tech) before applying for a living-learning community?

Yes. You must have accepted your offer of admission to Virginia Tech. You then must create a PID (Personal Identifier). You will use your university PID and password to begin an application.

Is a certain academic major required for living-learning communities?

To participate in Hypatia or Galileo you must be accepted to the College of Engineering. To participate in the Biological Life Sciences Learning Community you must have a major in a life science area. Curie learning community requires a major in Chemistry, Geo-Sciences, Math, Physics, or Statistics. All other communities do not require a specific academic major.

Once I start my application do I have to finish it immediately?

No. You will be able to save your work until you are ready to submit your completed application.

How can I apply to the Hillcrest Community, the Honors Residential College at East Ambler Johnston or to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets?

Hillcrest Community and the Honors Residential College at East Ambler Johnston:
These programs are by invitation only. Contact University Honors for more information: 540-231-4591.

Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets:
If you are interested in joining the corps of cadets, please visit the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets website.

What is the timeline for the application process?

Applications are accepted until each program is full. The application process is managed on a rolling basis, therefore it is better for you to apply early.

Can I apply to more than one community?

Yes. However, we allow students to apply to no more than two communities. When you begin the online application process you will be asked to prioritize your first and second choice between the two communities.

When can I expect to hear the decision regarding my application?

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Notification of results is also on a rolling basis. Students applying by May 1 will be notified of their status no later than May 15. Applications will be accepted after May 1 until all spaces are filled. Typically, most of our communities will review application well into the month of June.

How do I accept my offer for a living-learning community?

After receiving an offer to a living-learning community you will log into the application system. You must have completed a housing dining contract to accept the offer. To submit this you will need to go to My VT and click on the "Personal Info" tab. Look for the "Housing and Dining" section and click on the "Complete the Housing Contract" link.

My preferred roommate and I both applied for the same community. I was accepted, but my preferred roommate was not. What are my options?

Due to limited space, some students are not accepted for a living-learning community. In this case you have two options. You can accept the offer to live in the living-learning community without your current roommate preference or you can decline the community and request to be placed in traditional housing (non-LLC) with your preferred roommate.

How will I be notified about the status of my application?

You will receive an email that will inform you of your application status. If you are accepted into a community, the email will contain instructions for how you can accept the offer and confirm your participation in the community. Emails will be sent to both your Virginia Tech email address and your “home” email address (alternate email address you listed when you applied to Virginia Tech). It is important to consistently monitor these email accounts.

How do I request a roommate?

Students in living learning communities other than the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston can indicate roommate requests on their housing contract. These requests must be mutual. First year students in the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston will be randomly assigned to one of four houses. Because we want new members of the residential college to fully integrate within their respective houses we do not allow new students to request a roommate.

How can I check my application status?

Logging into the application system will allow you to view the status of your application(s).

How can I tell if programs are still accepting applications?

Visit the status page at https://systems.housing.vt.edu/theme.

My application status says “decision pending” - what does that mean?

Your application is in the process of being reviewed, but a decision has not been made about it. It will continue to be reviewed over the next few weeks and a final decision will be made. You will be offered a spot in the community, put on a wait list, or not offered a spot. You can check the status tab on the application page on a regular basis to see if your status has changed. No matter the decision, you will receive an email sent to your preferred email address updating you on the final decision regarding your application.

I have further questions regarding the process, is there a person I can contact?

Please contact James Penven, associate director of Residence Life at 540-231-6205 or livinglearning@vt.edu.