Large freshman class may result in housing adjustments at Virginia Tech

This group of freshmen could be the largest ever, at around 7,000 students.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The school year is inching closer and closer. At Virginia Tech, staff members are expecting the largest-ever incoming freshman class.

It's a show of support for the university but could also result in housing troubles. Virginia Tech typically has about 9,300 residence spaces on campus..

"It's a good problem to have because people really want to be here," said Mark Owczarski, university spokesperson. 

Virginia Tech may see its largest-ever freshman class this fall, nearly 7,000 students. And while the numbers won't technically be final until the first day of school, the university is already prepping for the influx.

"We have offered in the past and we are doing it again this year, we offer upperclassmen students the opportunity to buy out their housing contract so that they can move into off-campus apartments because we do want our freshmen to live on campus," said Owczarski.

Besides the upperclassmen buyouts, the university is also looking at the possibility of tripling rooms and doubling up resident advisors. But Owczarski wants to be clear, the freshman numbers are still fluid.

"In the business, it's called the summer melt. You accept and receive students and then over the summer it constantly goes down. That's true at any college or university. It will melt," said Owczarski.

Campus renovations are also playing a part in the housing situation. New Cadet Hall will open up 500-600 beds for students, while O'Shaughnessy Hall is closed for construction, a loss of about 450 beds. Outside of that back and forth, some students are just anxiously awaiting that first day.

There's a little excitement.

"I'm super excited because living in a dorm will be cool, just to walk down the hall and see your friends and ask if they want to go out and eat, just that quick," said Diana Robinson, an incoming freshman. 

But there's also a little caution.

"I think two to a room would be less crowded and would probably be a better work area because there can probably only be two desks that fit in a room," said Ellie Smith, an incoming freshman.

Virginia Tech's largest incoming freshman class to date was 6,400 students in 2015.