Collegiate Times

Welcome to your home for the next four (or more) years. Well, sort of. Orientation is the first time many freshmen and transfer students see

Virginia Tech, but the otherwise sleepy town of Blacksburg is in downright hibernation mode during the summer months.

And that’s a shame, because Blacksburg has more to offer than what you’ll witness during orientation. On top of that, those cheerful orientation guides have a knack for overloading doe-eyed freshmen with a ton of information that either you will forget come August or will be irrelevant to your college experience.

If for whatever reason you feel somewhat underwhelmed during your brief 48 hours in Blacksburg, just know that come August when students uproot their lives into the shoeboxes known as dorms and everyone starts gorging themselves at D2 three times a day while football fever sweeps the town, the college experience will start to come together.

But hopefully this guide will give you a glimpse of Tech in those exciting first few months of college.

Tech Fundamentals was created by students from different years and majors who make up the staff of the Collegiate Times, Tech’s independent student newspaper. It contains honest information and advice that you’ll need to get settled in for your first year.

Use this guide to get caught up on last year’s biggest headlines (page nine). Familiarize yourself with Tech’s history (page eight) or how construction will shape the campus (page 22). Dining, campus jobs, course schedules, sports ­— it can all be found in these pages.

And throughout the guide you’ll find features such as “CT Says” and “Top 20 experiences of freshman year” (page 50) that offer advice from CT editors about what to expect your first year.

I remember my orientation experience. It was the first time I laid eyes upon Tech’s comely campus, but I was too  sleep-deprived to appreciate it. Luckily you can keep this guide handy between now and mid-August to absorb everything you need to know about Tech. And stay up-to-date with the latest summer news at CollegiateTimes.com

As a senior about to embark on my final year, I’m a little jealous of the incoming class, which will soon experience all the fun, fear and shenanigans that come with college. I do, however, have some advice: Get involved.

Those names to the right of this column? All of them are students working at the paper; our advertising division, College Media Solutions; or our photography division, SPPS. (See page six if you want to get involved with us.)

And while I would love it if dedicated people got involved with the paper or one of our sister divisions, there are countless ways you can connect with Tech above and beyond schoolwork. Athletics, clubs, work — do something to meet new people and feel connected to your surroundings.

When you find your place in school will be more enjoyable, and you’ll make the most of your time in college.

Have a great orientation, and I hope to see you around campus in the fall.