Your Virginia Tech Information Source: Cars and AC!

Well, after a long hiatus, I checked my Google Analytics page again.  And the search results that get people here, other than the "diabetic waffles" one (lol) seem to be on the topics of whether freshmen at Virginia Tech can have cars and whether the dorms are air conditioned.

So, the answers:
Freshmen can have cars.  You have to get a parking permit, and you can only park in Lane Stadium or the Cage (Duck Pond Lot) if you live on campus, and if you park in Lane, you have to move for football games, but you may have a car.  It's pretty useful; even though the bus system here is pretty good, it's nice to not have to depend on it.  So you can spend as many hours in Wal-mart as you want.

Are the dorms air conditioned?  Only a couple, but unfortunately for freshmen they're pretty much upperclassmen dorms.  I think the RLC theme dorm is in one of them, though, and that's available to freshmen.  But for the most part, no.  But you know what?  It isn't a big deal.  There are lots of places to study and work that are air conditioned (including all dining halls, which rocks), and it really isn't that hot here.  It does get pretty warm some days, but right now, on my fourth week, I am perfectly comfortable in my dorm wearing a t-shirt and jeans.  Of course, it's nearly midnight, but even during the day, having a couple fans on makes it comfortable.

Also keep in mind that even an air-conditioned building will seem warm after you walk five minutes to get there and get all sweaty.  At least in this season.  But after a few minutes, you cool off and it's fine.

But to all people who may become freshmen at VT sometime soon:  bring fans.  That's what helps keep it cool, along with keeping the window open.  In some of the dorms, you can even keep the window open when it is raining without any problems; I live in Slusher Wing and have no problem.  If you put a fan in your window, the room stays cooler.

The question in a few weeks:  When do the radiators turn on, and how hot do the rooms get?

Can't help you there.  Yet.