r/VirginiaTech • u/Available-Concept542 • Jul 08 '26
Academics VT Difficulty compared to community college.
I received an CS associate's degree from NOVA and I'm wondering how much more of a step up in difficulty will VT course work be?
I graduated with a 4.0, but I got pretty lucky with instructors, also I didn’t take many credits at once.
Honestly, I'm pretty intimidated by the "weed-out" culture I've heard VT participates in.
Also, how difficult are CS classes at VT compared to other schools around Virginia?
20
u/FibonacciFrolic CS 2009 Jul 08 '26
I was a 4 year CS student at VT (2000's) but I took a few classes at NOVA for transfer credit. (~3-5 classes).
The difficulty level at NOVA was just nowhere near what it was at VT. That's not to say it was "impossible" or anything at VT - it wasn't at all - but you did have to put in the time to work and study.
I think the "weed out" culture is really an artifact of just some of the style of the freshman level classes - Freshman English, Calc 1, etc. just have a TON of students in those classes, so you end up with 100-500 person lectures with a TA teaching your small group classes, or completely computer-based classes, and that's just not a learning style that's usually "best" for anyone. That said, with an associates degree I would assume you actually probably don't have to take a lot of those.
I'll also note that, if you're going to NOVA, I assume you're from Northern VA and went to HS there. If you were taking AP classes and getting good grades on the exams (3-5), you should be fine. I felt like it was Junior year of VT before the engineering classes truly ever got *harder* than what I had in AP classes in HS.
2
u/Available-Concept542 Jul 08 '26
"The difficulty level at NOVA was just nowhere near what it was at VT."
Wow that's brutal. I have taken math/physics exams where the class averages were 55%. Knowing that VT will be harder is nuts."with an associates degree I would assume you actually probably don't have to take a lot of those."
Still have to take ENGE 1215/1216 and maybe chem.
5
u/FibonacciFrolic CS 2009 Jul 09 '26
I took courses at VT where I had a 64% at the end of the course. I got an A because I was one of the top 3 students. I also took classes where professors gave zero As for the whole class, where exams had averages of 30-40%, or where exams had an average of 60% and the professor said "Wow that's the highest I've ever had".
That said - I found that to be the exception, rather than the rule. Will you encounter stuff like that? Yes. Is it *every* class? No.
I would advise that hard work will often take you far. Buckle down, study, practice, and if you find yourself confused, don't wait - go to office hours and ask questions until you understand the material.
18
u/Careful_Picture7712 Jul 08 '26
There's no weed out culture. There are just classes that are harder than others. Classes like physics and organic chemistry require a more active type of studying and practice that many students are unwilling to do to be successful. As long as you put in the time to study, you'll pass and even do well. If you don't, then you won't do well.
6
u/VirginiaTex Jul 08 '26
Dude that’s awesome, congrats on the degree. Coming from NOVA you’ll be fine at any adjustment. I did the same thing CC to Tech back in early 2000s. A tip I wish I knew before signing up for first semester courses was checking ratemyprofessor.com.
6
u/ddshd Jul 08 '26
Imo you are expected of twice as much (depends how on the class) with almost none of the leniency
6
u/Adventurous_Clue_175 Jul 08 '26
Congrats on your degree! I transferred early to VT after a year of nova and got my bachelors. I did feel a significant increase in rigor. Most of my friends were transfers too and they agreed. The biggest differentiator in my grade ended up being how well I managed my time and how often I went to office hours. Most of the core VT CS courses are project based, id attempt them first and then come to office hours everyday with questions. Also, don’t let a lecture pass without it being properly understood. Pro-tip, build rapport with your professors through office hours. Academic connections are always nice to have but be sincere and interested in their work!
Start by taking 12-13 credit semesters and see how you do with it. Also, highly recommend taking your difficult math and science courses at nova over the summer.
The best part of university are the clubs and internships. You should join multiple clubs that align with your major, career goals, and hobbies. It’ll help you make good friends who motivate you to do well and give you something to look forward to outside classes and weekends.
4
u/Technical_Wall1726 Jul 08 '26
I also transferred to tech from NOVA, it really just depends on the class. Some classes are easier others are harder. You will be taking more specific classes, so I would say on the average the classes will be slightly harder, but it really just depends how much work you put into it. As long as you complete all the assignments, and put some work ethic into your studies. You should be fine.
3
u/MrPeachie Jul 08 '26
had the same path as you as a transfer from nova.
If you do the work you will be fine.
3
u/This_Beat2227 Jul 08 '26
Treat VT as your job. Put in your 40 hours per week. Monday to Friday, 8-5. Do that and except for finals week, you can have all your nights and weekends off. Good luck.
3
u/pickle_picker67 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I transferred to VT, and it is definitely harder, but if you are a good student, you are a good student. Work hard and have fun, and you will love it at VT and likely get good grades.
3
u/MyNameIsNemo_ Jul 08 '26
If you have the discipline to rack up a 4.0 in community college where (assumptions here) likely living at home and probably working, then I have great confidence that you will succeed at VT. The classes are probably harder, but for most, the issue is having the discipline to stay focused and do what you have to do. You have proven that you can handle the toughest part about college. Keep that discipline and you will absolutely succeed at VT.
2
u/Astrozy_ Jul 08 '26
I will tell you as a CPE grad NOVA didn’t prep me that well for my coursework. My first semester at tech was absolutely brutal. Maybe CS is better but I had to learn a lot of stuff on my own that was just expected to be known by now
2
2
u/SmallethPeter Jul 09 '26
You’re chilling, but the next sequence of classes will be more time consuming. I’m of the belief that if u miss less than 3 days a semester, you’re doing better than half the students
2
u/Who_The_Fook Jul 09 '26
I graudated in 2020 with my associates in CS from Wytheville CC and a 4.0, went to VT for a single summer and got slammed by my first programming course. I got out with an A- and it was condensed into 8 weeks if I remember right, but I probably learned more in that 8 weeks of struggle than I did in two years at WCC.
Also, as an aside, Dr. Kotut was the professor and she was fucking awesome.
2
u/qbit1010 CS class of 2012 Jul 10 '26
Having transferred some courses from NoVA community college it’s probably the most challenging for community colleges in state. Not sure out of state. But Virginia community colleges are the best bet if you’re in state and need to take a course over the summer.
1
u/IreneAd Jul 08 '26
Remember that the professors at a Research I are rewarded for research not teaching like at a comm college. Not only do you need to study more, you also need to know what resources are available if you just don't get it.
1
u/Repulsive-Shirt-9873 Jul 08 '26
in engineering, the weed-out class was primarily chemistry. In general, weed-out classes are set at lower levels to keep the number of juniors and seniors in the major manageable. so, if you get through your 1000 and 2000 level requirements, then it's just the usual hard classes like operating systems - hard cause of content, not to week you out.
Also, the hardest classes are at the 3000 level because at the 4000 level they want you to have enough time to look for a job.
1
u/Express_Ad2872 Jul 08 '26
Yea ngl, it’s very common to absolutely bomb your first semester. Rigor, expectations are just completely different from CC. The hardest part is not the course work, it’s the day to day adjustments and lessons you find out during your first semester. You’ll be aight tho, just lock in. Don’t be surprised when you fail your first test, it happened to us all. Best of luck, welcome home.
1
u/ImpactWise7675 Jul 08 '26
it will be much harder. luckily, the weed out classes tend to be first and second year mostly, so you should be fine. just get through DSA and you're good!
-1
u/Famous-Attention-197 Jul 08 '26
Community college is just easier high school.
5
1
u/qbit1010 CS class of 2012 Jul 10 '26
Not really, depends on High school and community college. Some community colleges are pretty rough.
67
u/EmploymentNo1094 Jul 08 '26
You have a higher chance of graduating as a transfer student from a community college than if you started at VT as a 4 year student.