Virginia Military Institute Reviews
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Kimberley from Newland, NC
01/13/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
14 out of 14 people found this review useful. 1 of 12
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Students who want to become the best person they can possibly be and want to get the most out of life. Although VMI is a small school, there are so many opportunities available for anyone who attends. It requires motivation, perseverance, and dedication, but anyone can do much more than they thought they ever could, and VMI proves that to you.
Tips for prospective students Anything worth having requires sacrifice and hard work. But you can not lose your sense of humor in the process. Learning to cope with stressful situations is much easier when you can find the humor in them.
Bang for the buck The lessons one learns at VMI are lessons that are quite rare in today's society. Although it is tough and requires alot of sacrifice, every ounce of effort is worth the outcome of becoming a VMI graduate.
Am enjoying being here This is a difficult time for anyone going through the Ratline, but in the end it is worth all of the hard work and sacrifice.
Am learning a lot This school is definitely one of a kind. The Ratline that all freshmen must experience is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is so rewarding one you get through it. It teaches you the important lessons that are so vital to a successful career in the real world, such as time management, self-confidence, discipline and responsibility.
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Blake from Cypress, TX
06/14/2009Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
6 out of 7 people found this review useful. 2 of 12
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Students who wish to pursue the U.S. Military Students who wish to attend a very structured school with great rewards during your school career. Students who wish to attended a small school
Tips for prospective students It is a Military College with uniforms and haircuts included. VMI is a small school located in historic Lexington, Virginia. VMI also less than 1500 students. There is no commitment to military at graduation.
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William from Decatur, GA
06/27/2011Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
4 out of 4 people found this review useful. 3 of 12
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Highschoolers interested in the military or bettering themselves in general. The unlocked room policy is incredible, the 4th I was staying with introduced me to all of his BR's all over the barracks. We would just walk in and it was completely normal. GO KEYDETS!
Tips for prospective students Make sure you're squared away before going here. The intensity level is off the charts similar to a service academy, so knowing how to drill, being in good shape give you a huge advantage going in.
Bang for the buck Out of state is expensive, but I'm going for the ROTC and NROTC scholarships.
Will enjoy being here Cannot wait. It's going to be hard, but you just have to embrace the suck.
Will learn a lot There's not many degrees to choose from (15ish), but the keydets and cadre referred to it as the toughest education in America.
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from Austin, TX
10/11/2011Reviewer is A current student here.
3 out of 3 people found this review useful. 4 of 12
Categories Comments Tips for prospective students This is a one of a kind place. VMI just resonates with honor and respect. From the second I stepped foot on the campus, I could tell that this was a place that people worked to be at and wanted to be at. The military training is outstanding and the academics are as well.
Am enjoying being here It depends on the type of person. I feel at home here, but the first year is a bump that many find hard to get over. Its going to be a rough first year; but after you get used to the schedules, you'll come to love it.
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Afton from Powhatan, VA
01/24/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 5 of 12
Categories Comments Campus Safety there is a guard team on duty 24/7 literally.
Greek Life non-existent.
Great for these types of students military focused and people who are in good physical condition.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus the ratline..
What to do for fun watch movies, hangout with friends, or go into town- lexington
Food and Dining the food here really isn't very good, but honestly, what college food is good?
Dorm Life you live in barracks and share a room with about 2-3 people on average. there is heating but no air conditioning.
Academic Rigor the academics here are very difficult. like any thing else in this school, they require a lot of time, effort, and patience.
Tips for prospective students be in good shape become coming here! the ratline will test you in every way possible. stay focused and really pay close attention to your academics; because in the end, that is what is going to get you through here and into a good graduate school or get you a good job after graduation.
In three sentences vmi is a very tough, yet rewarding place to study. it is unlike any other college, you must be physically, mentally, and emotionally tough. as long as you have the drive and determination to be here, you can make it.
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Nicole from Onalaska, TX
03/28/2012Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 6 of 12
Categories Comments Campus Safety Cadets do not lie, cheat or steal. Enough said!
Clubs and Activities Corps of Cadets is the life of a VMI cadet. Sports, PT, PT, PT and PT.
Great for these types of students Serious, loyal and hard workers.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Deeply historic and rooted into civil war traditions. Rats march across the battlefiled of Newmarket.
Bang for the buck Alumni joke and say VMI is a wonderful school to have graduated FROM. The experience is not typical college life, but a commitment, mind, body and soul to a meaningful education and Brother Rats.
What to do for fun Rats get to strain. PT, PT, PT, PT, sports and club sports.
Food and Dining I ate in the dining hall and the food was good and plentiful.
Dorm Life LOL, if you don't mind sleeping on a rack with a 2 inch mattress then VMI is for you! Barracks life is not a typical dorm, but a brotherhood.
Academic Rigor Faculty tells you to come to VMI prepared to work hard!
Tips for prospective students Read admissions instructions carefully and be prepared for a thick stack of health paperwork. An alumni interview is not required, but I suggest you have one. I interviewed with alumni and made a friend, probably for life.
In three sentences What an amazing institute! VMI is not for the faint of heart and spirit. Beautiful campus, awesome faculty and stunning parades!
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AMG6532752364
07/26/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 7 of 12
Categories Comments Campus Safety I have walked back to my room at 4am during exams and nothing has happened. Our Post police constantly do patrols around the campus. It is a very safe environment.
Greek Life We do not have this on our campus.
Clubs and Activities If you want to make a club and have enough people to be in it, VMI will help you make it. We don't get much practice time club sport wise in the fall due to all of the parades and other activities, but the spring is a fun time for it all.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There are too many traditions to talk about on here. Just go to VMI's school website and you can see albums on their page of ratline activities, Ring Figure, Commissioning Ceremonies, and Graduation.
Bang for the buck It is extremely expensive, and most of us don't understand why. There are a lot of building projects going on, but we will never see them completed or benefit from them. Yes, we are getting a good education, but the price really shouldn't be that high and rising every year.
What to do for fun You can join a Club Sport if you're not NCAA, go swim in the river, workout, go into town on the weekends and see a movie, eat out, have a movie night with your classmates, etc. It's like a normal college in a way with those activities, but you can't do them often if you want decent grades.
Food and Dining The food is horrible. This year's theme was slop as in taking a ladle and plopping it onto your dish. There are some really good days, but most of the time the food is just bad and not that healthy for a military school.
Dorm Life We all live in a barracks with anywhere from 2-4 roommates. It gets extremely loud at times, but ear plugs help when trying to take a nap or go to sleep at night.
Academic Rigor It is extremely tough because you do not have a lot of time to study in the fall semester. Between football games, parades, and ratline activities, it is extremely hard to get everything done on time, and you barely sleep. The faculty and staff are always there ready to help you out because they understand what we go through and the little amount of time we have to get work done.
Tips for prospective students Do as many things as you can to make yourself stand out from the others, get good grades, and no criminal activity. Community service and playing a sport really helps.
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John from Richardson, TX
01/27/2013Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
0 out of 1 people found this review useful. 8 of 12
Categories Comments In three sentences i know almost nothing about the academics here and def need to.
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Mark from Woodbridge, VA
03/19/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
9 of 12
Categories Comments Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The Rat Line.... Look it up for more information
What to do for fun Join a sport or club
Food and Dining Food and Dining isn't that bad but it gets old eating there after awhile.
Dorm Life Initially, Dorm Life is rough, but once you break out it isn't that bad
Academic Rigor Academic Rigor is tough, but teachers are willing to with you after class or during their office hours.
Tips for prospective students Prospective students need to come prepared to work hard, and prepared to be challenged physically and mentally on a daily basis.
In three sentences Virginia Military Institute, commonly referred to as VMI, is a great place for developing favorable traits. My peers at home have noticed that i am a lot more determined to achieve my goals. I would rate this school a 4/5.
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Ally from Ithaca, NY
05/08/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
10 of 12
Categories Comments Greek Life none
Clubs and Activities rugby. glee club.
Great for these types of students athletic. outgoing. challenged.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus the ratline.
What to do for fun run. watch movies.
Food and Dining could be worse. but could be much better.
Dorm Life barracks........
Academic Rigor first and second year is the hardest
Tips for prospective students stay positive throughout the ratline. dont let people get to you and dont let anyone change who you are during the first year.
In three sentences VMI is competitive. VMI is disciplined. VMI is not for everyone.
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Brody from Naples, ME
05/20/2013Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
11 of 12
Categories Comments Campus Safety It's a military school. They have a sentinel in each barrack, patrolling 24/7 on different shifts. My bet is it's very safe unless you manage to fall off the balcony.
Greek Life No Greek life. Just Corps of Cadets.
Clubs and Activities I do believe there is activities and clubs to keep most every cadet busy through their 4 years at VMI. Don't know about the diversity and variety of the group so I feel it would be unfair to rate.
Great for these types of students Those willing to focus and change. Those looking for a structured learning environment.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus I do know they have a cannonball mounted on concrete at the school that is given a new layer of black paint every year after ring figure. From what I've heard the students and Washington and Lee occasionally sneak on campus and paint it a ridiculously bright color.
Bang for the buck For some of the best education in America, it's quite worth it. I know for me, a New Englander, the cost of coming here or Norwich University was dead even with travel. I chose here because of the atmosphere and the overall feeling of success that every cadet portrayed the small class sizes and quality of education are a plus.
What to do for fun Sporting events & club activities.
Food and Dining Haven't heard much about this. I do know that you are allowed non-perishable food items in your dorms. No refrigerators in rooms. I'd keep it light.
Dorm Life From visiting the museum and touring the building they have said 2-3 cadets per room freshman year. I'm not sure if this changes after you become a third class cadet.
Academic Rigor Extremely demanding, trying to balance military demands with academics is tough.
In three sentences Regimented college offering some of the best education south of the Mason-Dixon line. Known as the West Point of the South. if you go here you know you will build awesome relationships with future employers and colleagues.
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Mhairi from San Antonio, TX
05/23/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
12 of 12
Categories Comments Campus Safety There is a 24/7 guard team within Barracks, as well as Post Police patrolling the campus.
Greek Life Non-existent.
Great for these types of students Motivated, honest, hardworking students prepared for a challenge. VMI will certainly give you one.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There are far too many to describe, VMI is founded and runs on the traditions and odd habits of its history. The Ratline, and the entire system of the school is in itself unusual, unlike anything you'll find anywhere else!
What to do for fun VMI has a largely closed campus, so there isn't much to do during the week. However, clubs offer wide-ranging activities, many of which involve off-post trips. But on a day to day basis, it's simply hanging out with friends or working out that I enjoy.
Food and Dining VMI's mess hall has edible food, but it's not particularly palatable, especially day after day. Cadets survive by balancing the basic food with snacks kept in their rooms and takeout.
Dorm Life Everyone lives in Barracks, an open-air hub of activity, the definite heart of the Institute. Rooms usually house 2-3 people. There's heat but no air-conditioning. But as noisy or crowded as Barracks can be, much of the character and experience of VMI is there.
Academic Rigor Academics at VMI aren't easy by any stretch, a factor that is only multiplied by the other stresses on a cadet's time and mind. Finding time to focus on academics can be difficult with the demands of leadership opportunities, sports and military ever pressing. However, the faculty are patient and helpful. With a small student-to-professor ratio, the faculty get to know cadets by name, and are prepared to help them.
Tips for prospective students Prepare for the Ratline! VMI isn't for the faint of hearted. Brace yourself mentally for the trial you will endure if you choose to attend here. PT beyond what you think could ever be enough. Be prepared for a tough experience, a challenge. But know that it will make you stronger, once you succeed.
In three sentences Don't do ordinary. The combination of the academics, physical activity and military professionalism results in an experience that will change you for the better. VMI is unlike any other school you'll ever encounter, but it isn't for everyone.
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