Virginia Tech® home

For Families

Insert your title here

Family smiling together at commencement.

We are here for your student—and you—during this incredible journey

You and your family have watched your student grow into a dedicated, hardworking, and creative individual who is now ready to stretch the limits of what they can do, where they can go, and who they can become.

We are committed to providing the transformational learning experiences that make this possible. But we — and your student — can’t do it without your ongoing support and encouragement.

Partner with us and engage with our community as we create the next generation of capable, confident, and passionate professionals and people.

Dean Liu in Burchard Hall talking to students.

A special message from Dean Lu Liu

Welcome to the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech! We are a vibrant community of passionate, talented individuals where creativity thrives. Together, we enrich the human experience and integrate intention and innovation to improve our spaces and places in the global built environment.

Read more

Mark your calendar with these key admissions deadlines

  • FAFSA available: Oct. 1
  • Virginia Tech deadline for completing the FAFSA and the General Scholarship Application for maximum scholarship and financial aid consideration: Jan. 22
  • First-year Early Action deadline: Nov. 1 (materials due: Dec. 1; response deadline: May 1)
  • First-year Regular Decision deadline: Jan. 15 (materials due: Jan. 31; response deadline: May 1)
  • Transfer application deadline: March 1 (materials due: March 10; response deadline: June 1)
  • Dates of auditions for music majors are available on the School of Performing Arts website.
Student working with an architecture firm.

Encourage your student to immerse themselves in opportunities

When students graduate from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, we want them to be skilled and successful professionals. Even more, we hope that they emerge with their own creative processes and passions that will nurture a life filled with joy and the satisfaction of making a difference.

Your student is ready to stretch, explore, and grow, so it’s important to support them and to also encourage them to take the lead. That’s exactly what we’re built to do as a college and what faculty do every day.

Click on the links below for resources you can use to help your student find community and purpose.

Celebrate their passions: Ask about their projects and what’s sparking their curiosity. Show up for performances, exhibitions, and presentations.

Two students smiling in the student section at the Homecoming game against Wake Forest.

Encourage engagement: AAD students benefit from hands-on learning. They can find their people through student orgs, ensembles, and other campus activities.

Students working together in a dining center.

Stay informed but let them lead: Keep up with academic calendars and processes like financial aid and scholarships. Be in the loop but let them do the work.

Advisor talking to two students in their office.

Encourage self-advocacy: Students are resilient and amazing problem solvers. Taking the initiative to email their advisor or talk with a professor builds confidence.

Two students sitting on the Drillfield talking under a tree.

Support work-life balance: The studio environment can be intense, so encourage healthy habits. Check in and offer extra support during midterms and finals.

Student looking through binoculars outside.

Expect growing pains: College is a lot and change isn’t always comfortable. Let them know it’s OK to struggle with a class or change direction.

  Want to stay in the loop?

Follow us on Facebook (@VTAAD) or Instagram (@vtaad_) to get a glimpse of day-to-day life in the college. You can also get all the latest news and watch our videos at AAD News.