Reach
Imagine Your Future Ignite Your Passion Astound Yourself
With so many majors to choose from, it’s common to have trouble deciding which career options will best suit you. REACH is a living-learning community designed to bring together first-year students like you as you embark on the journey of career exploration. So take advantage of this unique opportunity to live and study together as you learn more about the opportunities that await you at Virginia Tech.
REACH
Deciding on an academic major or choosing among career options can be some of the most challenging decisions you will make. Research suggests that up to 80 percent of students entering college are not certain about what they want to study, and approximately 50 percent of first-year students change their major at least once before graduation. Choosing satisfying academic and career paths can take time and effort.
REACH offers you a group of your peers with whom to work through the career exploration process. Here you will find encouragement and support from career advisors as well as other students as you learn more about who you are and how your unique strengths, talents, and attributes impact your choice of major and career options. REACH is housed in Newman Hall.
Course Information
Students in REACH will be enrolled in UNIV 2004–Exploring Careers Course, a three-credit pass/fail course, during the fall semester.
The Exploring Careers Course will be taught by career advisors from Virginia Tech's Smith Career Center. This course will engage community members in self-assessment as well as research on occupational and academic majors. You will explore the value of career-related experience, learn the steps of a successful job search, and master the definition of professionalism.
The Exploring Careers Course embraces the concept of active learning, so you will also participate in a variety of group activities and team projects; reflect through class presentations, essays, journals, and the development of a career portfolio; and benefit from guest speakers in business, industry, and academics.
The spring semester will expound upon all that was learned in the fall through a weekly group meeting, and programs to emphasize the importance of establishing short- and long-term goals. Guest speakers, field trips, and job shadowing experiences will complement the spring semester.
Understanding yourself and the global community will provide the knowledge base you need to build a successful and satisfying career. Skills learned in the REACH community will be utilized throughout your lifetime. So join the REACH living-learning community and Astound Yourself!
Contact Information
For more information about REACH, contact Leigh Anne Leist at 540-231-6241 or leistla@vt.edu. For questions related to housing assignments, contact Housing and Residence Life at housing@vt.edu.
