We had the great opportunity of interviewing Joshita Padala, a student from Virginia Tech about: Getting into a Top University
Here are some of her qualifications:
Education Junior chair in the Association for Women in Computing at Virginia Tech
Public Relations chair for the VT Science Olympiad
Majoring in Computer Science
Here are some important words she shares
"Every student at Virginia Tech comes from a background of extensive volunteering because it is one of the core principles at the school."
"...it is so important that you do something that you love! Not only will that serve as a break from academics but it would also help with the stress and keep your mental health in check..."
Q: Why did you choose Virginia Tech, and what did it have to offer you specifically?
A: I chose Virginia Tech, because of its Engineering program! While applying to schools one of the main things that I looked for is how each school's Engineering program was ranked. After some research, I also found that many companies actively look out to recruit students from Virginia Tech, so I knew it would also be amazing for my future. Lastly, VT offers so many opportunities for Engineering students. For example they have an Engineering LLC, multiple career fairs, and various technical and non-technical workshops that benefit the students.
Q: What type of student do you think would fit well going to Virginia Tech?
A: Honestly, Virginia Tech is one of those schools that any type of student would fit into! But it also depends on the major. Most students that attend Virginia tech are students that are well rounded. They are students that did well in academics and were also involved in various clubs in High School. Not to mention, volunteering. Every student at Virginia Tech comes from a background of extensive volunteering because it is one of the core principles at the school.
Q: What type of projects did you undertake on your own in high school(experiments, forming a club, nonprofit, research, internships, etc)?
A: I was involved in MYEP (Mayor's Youth Employment Program) and through that I was able to get two paid internships. My first internship was for The City of Charlotte I&T department, and through this program I was able to learn so much about programming radios and the different software tools they use! My second Internship was for Payzer, which is a software company. I was able to learn so much about the work environment and different technical aspects through both these internships. Apart from those, I was heavily involved with the TSA (Technology Student Association) club for my high school. As the Vice President, I was able to not only compete in various technological competitions in different states, but I was also able to get insights of leadership which definitely is helping for my future.
Q: How did you spend your free time in high school? (weekends, summers, breaks, etc.)
A: Apart from homework assignments and studying for tests my favorite thing to do was to hang out with my friends! We would do all kinds of activities from going out to eat to playing topgolf. I think that it is so important that you do something that you love! Not only will that serve as a break from academics but it would also help with the stress and keep your mental health in check, which is a significant step in the road to your success!
Q: Where was your main focus or priority in high school and how did you set them? (Academics, extracurriculars, etc.)
A: My top most priority was academics, because this is the most important and first thing colleges look at. Then I placed emphasis on my extracurricular activities such as orchestra and clubs. Then lastly, my third priority was volunteering hours. I made sure to help out as much as I can in the community. I set them based on talking to different college representatives, and what they usually look for in students.
Q: What would you say made you stand out for Virginia Tech?
A: The main thing that made me stand out, in my opinion, was the school/life balance. I made sure to really focus on my academics while also excelling in extracurricular activities. And my ability to be well rounded while keeping my grades up really is something colleges love to look out for! Another thing is that I made sure to relate my choices in extracurriculars and classes to the major I was interested in, and that also showed that I was passionate in puring engineering.
Learn more about Joshita and her experience on her LinkedIn account.
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