Experience Report
Atlantis Dual Degree Undergraduate
Exchange Program
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
August 2008 – August 2009
André Niederdorf
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Preface
First of all, I would like to thank all the persons who made it possible for me to participate in
the Atlantis Dual Degree Exchange program and who helped me along the way. I especially
want to express my gratitude towards Professor Hampe and Professor Bøhn who are the
initiators of the program. They succeeded in creating a unique program that enables
undergraduate students to study at three different universities and obtain two Bachelor
degrees. Without their dedication I would have been unable to make the important
experiences I made and enjoy two interesting semesters at Virginia Tech.
I also like to thank Mrs. Barbara Seifert and Mrs. Tanja Loy from the MechCenter who were
able to answer many questions. They were also very competent in terms of transferring and
accepting grades from Virginia Tech. Furthermore, I would like to thank Mrs. CunninghamWandel.
Moreover, I would like to express special thanks to Mrs. Linda Vick who is working for the
College of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. Her dedication for the concerns of the
exchange students was highly appreciated. In addition, I want to thank Assistant Director of
the Outreach and Educational Services Offices at Virginia Tech, Mrs. Vicky Langford, who
worked hard to coordinate the evaluation of transcripts.
I have created the following report in order to help exchange students participating in the
Atlantis program in the future. As one may know, this particular exchange program includes a
short study period at the Swedish ‘Royal Technical University’ (KTH) in Stockholm. Since
experience reports concerning the time at the Swedish university are already available online,
the following paper will only address issues related to Virginia Tech. In this report I have
tried to discuss all important questions that an exchange student participating in this program
might have. I also included my personal experiences and tips that, I think, will help to succeed
at Virginia Tech. Nevertheless, I am aware that this report will most likely not address all
concerns that one might have. Consequently, I am more than willing to offer my help if there
should be any open questions.
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Content
Preface………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Preparations…………………………………………………………………………….
Application at TUD……………………………………………………………
Application at VT……………………………………………………………...
TOEFL Test…………………………………………………………………....
Bankstatement………………………………………………………………….
Additional Paperwork………………………………………………………….
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Visa……………………………………………………………………………………..
DS 2019………………………………………………………………………..
Visa and SEVIS costs………………………………………………………….
Visa Interview………………………………………………………………….
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Important Paperwork…………………………………………………………………...
Immunization History Form…..……………………………………………….
…………Form……………………………………………………
Insurance……………………………………………………………………….
I-94……………………………………………………………………………..
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Arrival ………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Flight…………………………………………………………………………... 8
The Cranwell Center…………………………………………………………... 8
Accommodation………………………………………………………………………... 9
Temporary Housing…………………………………………………………… 9
Accommodation……………………………………………………………….. 9
Things to Do During the First Days…………………………………………………….
Money and Bank Account……………………………………………………..
Drivers License………………………………………………………………...
Meal Plan………………………………………………………………………
See Academic Advisor and Linda Vick………………………………………..
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Shopping……………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Furniture……………………………………………………………………….. 11
Groceries………………………………………………………………………. 11
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Courses………………………………………………………………………………….
Engineering Design and Project (ME 4015)…………………………………...
Fall Term……………………………………………………………………….
Fluid Mechanics (ME 3404) …………………………………………..
Mechanical Engineering Lab (ME 4006)……………………………...
CAD of Thermal Fluids (ME 4124)……………………………………
Controls Engineering I (ME 4504)…………………………………….
Aerospace Propulsion Systems (ME 4234)……………………………
Spring Term……………………………………………………………………
Heat and Mass Transfer (ME 3304)……………………………………
Dynamic Systems – Vibrations (ME 3504)……………………………
Applied Numerical Methods (AOE 4404)……………………………..
Aircraft Engines and Gas Turbines (ME 4224)………………………..
World Regions (GEOG 1004)…………………………………………
Creativity and Aesthetic Experience (FA 2004)……………………….
Summer Term I………………………………………………………………...
Human Development I (HD 1004)…………………………………….
Music Appreciation (MUS 1104)……………………………………...
Introduction to Humanity, Science and Technology (STS 1504)……...
Summer Term II………………………………………………………………..
Freshmen English I (ENGL 1105)……………………………………..
Freshmen English II (ENGL 1106)…………………………………….
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Live in Blacksburg……………………………………………………………………... 19
Getting around in Blacksburg…………………………………………………. 19
Things to do in Blacksburg……………………………………………………. 19
Travelling around the Country…………………………………………………………. 21
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 22
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Preparations
Application at TUD
The program was made public by Professor Hampe online in April 2007. Honestly speaking,
there was not much time to hand in the necessary documents. I had to decide relatively
quickly whether I wanted to apply for the program or not. Within a couple of days, I wrote a
letter of motivation and handed in my transcripts of the first two semesters. The next step was
to pass the selection interviews with Professor Hampe. Once you have passed these, there
should be no more problems with respect to the application process. Although you will have
to officially apply at VT, this application will not be denied unless you make some terrible
mistakes and fail the TUD exams of the third and fourth semester. From that point on, the
official application process was handled by the International Relationship Office led by Mrs.
Cunningham-Wandel. It is recommendable to get an appointment with her as soon as possible
to clarify which documents have to be sent to Virginia Tech. Also Mrs. Cunningham-Wandel
will provide advice in terms of insurance, accommodation and similar related problems. What
is extremely important is to apply and pass the TOEFL Test as soon as possible because this
test plays a vital role in the application process. Without the test, the DS2019 document will
not be sent to you and you will need this particular document in order to apply for a visa. The
application process can be quite frustrating at times because there are numerous documents
you have to fill out and guidelines are rarely provided. Also, since in America the Bachelor
degree requires four years of studies and in Germany only three, some courses from
Highschool will count towards the Bachelor. Therefore, I had to translate course descriptions
of all courses I took in the last two years of Highschool.
Application at VT
As already mentioned, the application at VT is merely a formality. However, you will have to
hand in a variety of documents, some of which will take you some time to get. Only if all
documents are handed in at VT, the DS2019 form, which is important to get the visa, will be
sent to you. All the correspondence between VT and TU Darmstadt is handled by the
International Relationship Office. Consequently, the only thing you have to do is handing in
everything at the office of Mrs. Cunningham-Wandel in time. The most important documents
you have to hand in are the following ones.
TOEFL Test
TOEFL is short for ‘Test Of English as a Foreign Language’ and is a computer-based test
comprised of various parts: speaking, writing, reading, grammar and listening. You have to
apply for that test online at www.toefl.org at least six weeks in advance. As one can see it is
imperative to get the application done as soon as possible. Also, the test is quite expensive
considering the $155 costs. Time and money are the two good reasons to prepare well for the
test and pass it the first time. The test itself is quite demanding and for those of you whose
English is a bit rusty, I would recommend getting the literature which is recommended on the
homepage of TOEFL.
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Bankstatement
Another important document that Virginia Tech requires in order to accept you is the socalled Bankstatement. This document is merely a letter in English that you have access to
sufficient funds to pay all the bills. It has to be issued by your bank. The sum you have to
have access to varies a little year to year but $1000 per month is a good estimate.
Consequently, for one year in the US you will have to prove that you will have access to
$12,000, which is a lot. If you are participating in the Atlantis program however, Professor
Hampe can issue you a confirmation of the stipend that you are about to receive. The
document will be valid as an alternative to a regular Bankstatement.
Additional Paperwork
The TOEFL Test and the Bankstatement are the most important documents for your
application at VT and it will also take you some time to get them. However, there are
numerous other documents that you will need to fill out. For example, you will need to
provide information on the courses you are planning to take. Detailed information with
respect to these documents will be provided by Mrs. Cunningham-Wandel. Nevertheless, be
prepared that it will also be very time-consuming to complete all the paperwork.
Visa
DS 2019
The DS2019 is the most important document that you need to apply for a visa. It is not only
important for the visa itself, you will also need it at the Cranwell Center, if you need to sign a
lease or if you apply for an American drivers license. Basically you will need it in every
situation in which you have to prove that you are in the US legally. Therefore I recommend
keeping an eye on it and not loosing it. The form itself is sent from VT after they have
received and processed your application including the Bankstatement and the TOEFL test.
Consequently, in order to get the DS2019 and proceed with getting the visa, it is important to
get the Bankstatement and the TOEFL test as quickly as possible.
Visa and SEVIS Costs
Once you have the DS2019 you need to pay the visa and SEVIS fees. This has to be done
online on the page of the American consulate. You will need to pay these fees prior to your
appointment at the consulate as you will have to bring the bills. If you want to know the exact
costs you can check out the homepage of the American embassy.
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Visa Interview
Once you have paid everything you can start making your appointment at the consulate in
order to get your visa. The only way to get the appointment is online or via telephone and
again you will have to pay just to get the appointment. If you chose a time slot, be aware that
there will be long lines in the afternoon. Waiting for two or three hours can be possible.
Consequently, I recommend getting there early so that you might be done in only half an
hour. It is extremely important that you have all the paperwork ready. If you should be
missing something, you will be sent home without a visa and you have to start all over again.
Therefore, double check everything. Next to all the forms you will need to bring a picture of
you that satisfies certain requirements. Since a lot of photographers are not aware of all those
requirements, make sure that you explain exactly what you want. If you have everything
ready you will be called to a counter where an employee will interview you. The interview
itself just comprises a couple of questions and there should be no problem. Once you are
done, the employee will collect your passport and you can go. The passport including the visa
will be sent to you in the next few days. To avoid trouble and stress, I recommend accounting
for the time it takes to send the passport via mail and not planning the visa interview directly
before you fly.
Important Paperwork
Immunization History Form
In the VT information package, which is sent to you if you are accepted at Virginia Tech, you
will find a so-called ‘Immunization History Form’. The form has to be taken to the doctor
who has to fill it out and complete it. Virginia Tech requires certain immunizations and you
will find detailed information on the form itself. Worst case is that you will have to be
inoculated again. This form needs to be taken to the Schiffert Health Center once you are in
Blacksburg.
Insurance
There are two types of insurance that you might want to consider: health insurance and
casualty insurance (especially against damage to third parties). Health insurance is required by
VT and there is absolutely no way getting around it. VT will send you a form with their
requirements for health insurance, a so-called ‘Alternative Insurance Compliance Form’. You
will have to find an insurance that can satisfy ALL these requirements. If you should not have
health insurance prior to your arrival you will be forced to take the VT insurance which is,
modestly speaking, VERY expensive. Unfortunately the VT health insurance requirements
are ridiculously high so that it is very hard (almost impossible) to find an insurance covering
all of them. After a long search I can definitely confirm the advice that is usually given by
Mrs. Cunningham that only MLP offers a product that VT accepts. Therefore, I would
recommend not searching too long but going to MLP directly, showing them the form and
asking about the product that covers all the terms named there.
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The casualty insurance is not required but recommended. You do not need it in order to be
accepted to VT. However, if you should have an accident and, in the worst case, persons are
injured it can become very, very expensive in the US. I had a casualty insurance that was
covering damage up to 10 million dollars. This sum was also recommended by the insurance
agent.
I-94
The I-94 is a small piece of paper which is attached to your passport when you arrive in the
US. You will not use it in any way, but it is very important to keep an eye on it for a simple
reason: if you loose it you will have to pay a lot of money.
Arrival
Flight
The closest airport to Blacksburg is in Roanoke, Virginia. First of, there are no direct flights
to Roanoke from any German airport, which implicates that you will have to switch planes at
least one time. It is recommendable to fly either via Washington D.C. or via Philadelphia.
Anyway, getting the tickets early is important in order to save a lot of money. How to get the
tickets is your choice but comparing prices using the Internet is always a good idea.
Once you are in Roanoke you can make use of a very cheap shuttle bus to Blacksburg called
the “Smartway Bus”. They charge three dollars per ride (exact change required) and they will
take you to downtown Blacksburg within 50 minutes. Look for the schedule of the bus on
www.smartwaybus.com. If you should arrive too late to catch the last bus, you can ask at the
Cranwell Center for a transfer service to Blacksburg. The center offers the service to any new
exchange student. However, you will have to apply ahead to use it. More detailed information
about the transfer service can be found on the homepage of the Cranwell Center and in the
information package which you are likely to receive from VT.
The Cranwell Center
The Cranwell Center is the most important office for exchange students in the first few days
at VT. They will organize everything and answer virtually every question. Also, they offer
various services which I strongly recommend to make use of. Should you reside in the
‘Temporary Housing’ (please see the section about Accommodation for more information) the
Center offers a free shuttle to campus which you should use. They also advise incoming
exchange students about the important things they have to do during the first days. These
tasks include getting the Hokie Passport, visiting various offices around the campus, handling
the paperwork with the insurance and getting the Immunization History Form to the Schiffert
Health Center. You will see that you probably need at least two full days to get done with all
the paperwork, so plan ahead accordingly!
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However, the Cranwell Center is not just another boring office that you have to go to and
hand in some stupid forms. First of all, the staff is awesome and during the orientation period
there are VT students helping them out. Consequently it is very easy to get to know new
people. Also they offer numerous leisure time activities to get the new students
accommodated with VT. I recommend taking part in the campus tour or the spaghetti dinner.
Also, they will help you out when you have individual problems i.e. if you need a ride to
WalMart in Christiansburg or wherever, just ask them.
Accommodation
Temporary Housing
If you should have no apartment by the time you get to Blacksburg, you can stay at the
temporary housing for a while. The temporary housing is basically a very cheap hotel, the
‘Red Carpet Inn’, which is located on South Main Street. During orientation period the
Cranwell International Center runs a shuttle between the office and the hotel. You can get
information the current prices at the temporary housing on the homepage of the Cranwell
Center about. Also, it is very easy to add nights if need be.
Accommodation
As a student of VT there are mainly two possibilities to get a room: you either live on campus
or off campus. Should you be staying in Blacksburg only for fall and spring terms, on campus
housing is an alternative. However, since I stayed a whole year and since dorms close during
the summer, it was impossible to live on campus and I had to find my own apartment. I found
it very difficult to find a suitable room since they were all already sold and nobody was
looking for a roommate. I got to Blacksburg three weeks before classes started and I already
looked for rooms online prior to my departure. However, it took me all three weeks to get a
room and furnish it and I would definitely not recommend arriving any later if you are still
looking for a room. The best way to get accommodation is to ask the students that are
currently at VT what they are doing with their rooms or whether they can look for something
suitable. Even if you have no room when you get there, do not panic! The staff at the
Cranwell International Center will help you out. There are numerous apartment complexes in
Blacksburg like Hunters Ridge, Maple Ridge or Terrace View. In my case, I called several of
these companies and asked whether they have rooms available. Finally, I got a 3-room
apartment in Foxridge. I then looked for two other roommates and there was no problem with
finding them. The only drawback of this method was that the rooms were all unfurnished and
we had to get everything, which took a lot of time too. Therefore I really recommend getting
the accommodation issue settled before you get to Blacksburg.
Should you be in the position to choose between apartment complexes, I can recommend
Foxridge. The rooms are very nice and sunlit. Although it is not the closest one to campus,
buses run frequently and take approximately 20 minutes. If you should consider buying a
bike, there is a nice trail directly from Foxridge to the Drillfield and it takes about 15 minutes
to get there by bike.
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Important Things to Do During the First Days
Money and Bank Account
Getting money is relatively easy in the US. Also, there is no problem with opening a bank
account at one of the numerous banks in Blacksburg. Personally, I recommend getting some
Dollars ahead of the trip in Germany for the first days. I have made the experience that
traveller cheques are unnecessary but that is a decision one has to make individually. In my
eyes one of the best solutions was to become a customer of a German bank that offers the
service of getting money at ATM machines all over the world. One of these banks is the
DKB, which I can really recommend. Using their VISA card, one can get money at almost all
ATM machines in the United States without paying any fees, including two ATMs located on
campus. This aspect also comes in handy if you are travelling a lot. Since I was able to get
money from the ATMs I did not open a bank account. However, if you should want to open
one, I have heard that Wachovia and Bank of America are two banks that one can
recommend. My roommate, who was also an exchange student from the TU Darmstadt,
opened his bank account at Wachovia, located on Main Street in downtown Blacksburg, and
he had no problems with organizing his account.
Drivers License
Getting an American drivers license is extremely important and easy as well. The drivers
license is regarded to be official photo identification and can be used everywhere, from
getting into clubs and bars to the passport check at the airport. If you have a German drivers
license, you can get the American one for only four dollars at the DMV (Department of Motor
Vehicles) in Christiansburg. You will have to go there twice and you need to bring various
documents like your German drivers license or your official lease contract the second time.
Make sure you have all documents they ask for or you will wait at the DMV for two hours
just to be sent back home again like me! Anyway, the trouble is well worth it, as this ID will
greatly simplify your stay in the US.
Meal Plan
As a student of VT you can choose to purchase a so-called meal plan which will enable you to
use the dining facilities on campus. If you are buying a meal plan, dining dollars will be
uploaded to your Hokie passport. These dining dollars are used to pay for the food. If you are
living on campus you will be required to buy one, whereas students living off-campus have
the choice. Since the American dining facilities are really good (far better than the ones in
Darmstadt), I definitely recommend getting a plan, especially for those who are planning to
eat on campus frequently. I have made good experiences with the combination of a minor flex
plan in the fall, and a commuter plan in the spring term. The minor flex plan was about $670
and thus relatively expensive. However, with this plan you should be able to eat on campus
five days a week and still have money left in the end. If you should not purchase another meal
plan for the spring term, all money that is left over will simply vanish. Using the commuter
plan for only $201 the remaining dining dollars roll over and can be used in the spring term in
addition to the ones you get with the commuter plan itself. That should be enough to eat in the
cafeterias every day until the summer.
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See Academic Advisor and Linda Vick
One major task you will have to do in the first days at VT is to get into the courses you might
have to take. If you are participating in the Atlantis program, this will be a quite difficult but
nevertheless manageable task. Since the program requires the student to take courses of the
Junior and Senior levels (the American equivalent to the fifth and sixth semesters) and since
the TUD courses are usually not transferred to VT at the beginning of the fall term, getting
into the courses is difficult as the VT system assumes that the prerequisites are not fulfilled.
Therefore the student will see a ‘hold’ on the Hokie-Spa account, which is the online portal
for choosing courses, and will be unable to register for classes. Even if the hold is gone
students will most definitely face the problem of courses that are already full. American
students start months before the semester begins to register for classes and since there is a
maximum number of participants for a course, classes will fill up quickly and exchange
students from TUD will have no chance to get in. In that case, it is extremely important to see
your academic advisor and, in case of the Atlantis students, Dr. Linda Vick. She was most
helpful to us as she was able to first help us out with the hold on our Hokie-Spa accounts and
second force-add us into all the classes that we needed.
Shopping
Furniture
If you should need to furnish your room or the whole apartment, I can again recommend
asking the staff at the Cranwell center first. They have information about furniture give-aways
and second hand stores. Also, they can ask engaged residents of Blacksburg about
transportation issues of the heavy stuff. During orientation, furniture give-aways usually take
place. Just look for the flyers in the Cranwell center. Two recommendations concerning the
give-aways: First, bring friends, because usually everybody can choose one piece of furniture
only. Second, be there very, very early. In my case, people were already lined up when I got
there at 5am, three hours before the event started! Nevertheless, the trouble is worth it because
it is possible to get whole couches or desks for free. If you should not get enough furniture
there, go and hit the second hand stores of Blacksburg. The biggest one is the YMCA thrift
shop on south main. They have a lot of good stuff for cheap prices and they also deliver right
to your door.
Groceries
There are several possibilities to shop for groceries in Blacksburg. The most common food
stores are Foodlion and Kroger. In my eyes, Kroger is slightly more expensive, but offers
better quality and a greater choice. If that should not be enough, there is a Wal-Mart in
Christiansburg. Be advised, that, in general, food is more expensive in the US than it is in
Germany. This is especially significant when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Also,
remember that prices for food, like every price in the US, do not include taxes. Consequently,
you should expect the price to be about 10 per cent higher than you might have calculated. To
minimize the expenses, I recommend getting customer cards for all food stores. To get one
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just ask about it at the counter. You do not need to provide personal data, although they will
ask you to. The cards are unlocked right from the start. Using the customer cards, it is
possible to save a great deal, especially if you pay attention to the special offers of each store.
Courses
The following section briefly describes the courses that I have taken at Virginia Tech. Let me
first mention that the procedure to get into the classes is somewhat different from Germany.
In contrast to the TU Darmstadt, where one just has to apply for the final exam, it is necessary
to enroll in the courses right at the beginning of the term at VT. Usually students send a socalled ‘Course Request’ at the end of their previous term. As a consequence, courses fill up
pretty quickly. As an exchange student, I did not have the opportunity to send a course request
for my first semester. Therefore, I found that all the courses I had to take were already full.
The most important thing here is not to panic! Mrs. Linda Vick, who is one of the most
engaged persons in the Atlantis program, is able to force-add foreign students into any class.
Moreover, with the reformation of the Bachelor Program to Bachelor 2.0, it should be way
easier to get all the classes.
Engineering Design and Project (ME 4015)
The Engineering Design and Project, or just Senior Design Project, is the equivalent to the
German Bachelor Thesis. It spreads over both, the fall and spring terms and is worth 6CP
(12ECTS). There are many different projects focusing on virtually every aspect of mechanical
engineering. I participated in the SCRAMJET Design Project which was supervised by Prof.
O’Brien. The long-term goal of the project is to design a flight capable Scramjet engine which
is supposed to be tested on a sounding rocket. The project has been running for a few years
and is also likely to be continued for another couple of semesters. The topic itself was really
interesting to me, however the research is somewhat tedious and a lot of the problems are
really complex and difficult. For example, we had to deal with compressible fluid dynamics
and supersonic combustion. Also, the workload for this class is above average. There are oral
presentations every week and a written report is due in the middle and at the end of both
semesters (just to give you an idea: the final report for a group of 12 people was about 120
pages). Although Prof. O’Brien is a real good teacher who tries to explain every detail, the
class can be frustrating at times; especially if one has to solve a problem one has never heard
of before.
Just a tip: When choosing which project to participate in, I advise you that there are mainly
two types: some projects are connected to some kind of national or international competition
and the others are not. For example, there is a Design team building a race car in order to
participate in a race challenge among American universities. When taking part in such a team,
one has to consider that a certain amount of time MUST be spent in a workshop. This time is
NOT included in the regular class time. Therefore those projects can have a heavy workload.
If you should take 15 or more credits, I would not recommend participating in such a project.
You should then choose one that is not connected to a competition.
Conclusion: Heavy workload, interesting but frustrating at times, recommendable only for the
ones that are really interested in the topic
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Fall Term
Fluid Mechanics (ME 3404)
Fluid Mechanics, the American equivalent to ‘Strömungslehre’, was taught by Professor Ng
(pronounced ‘Ing’). The class itself was comprised out of the lecture and exercises. There is
weekly homework, and unannounced quizzes are part of the course. However, the class is
relatively easy and the workload is average. The book ‘Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics’ is
necessary since all homework is taken from it. Moreover, I was able to reuse the book in my
ME 4124 class. Nevertheless, I think that the ‘Strömungslehre’ class at the TU Darmstadt is
of higher quality. Therefore, I would not really recommend taking Fluid Mechanics, except,
of course, if you have to.
Conclusion: average workload, relatively easy, recommendable but German ‘Strömungslehre’
preferable
Mechanical Engineering Lab (ME 4006)
This class is a VT graduation requirement and has no real German equivalent. However, it
might count as a German ‘Tutorium, though. It is all about scientific writing and scientific
presentations and it is probably the worst class that I had to take at Virginia Tech. There are
four experiments one has to perform in a group. For each experiment, one has to write a
ridiculously long report that must follow the guidelines established in the class. Furthermore,
there are so-called ‘professional’ presentations for two of the four experiments. There is
absolutely no technical relevance in this course: the results of the experiments do not matter,
the only important thing is how you present them! The workload is really heavy and the
course is absolutely not interesting. Do not take it unless you must! Also, if you should take
the course do NOT buy the three books! You will never have to use them.
Conclusion: heavy workload, uninteresting, definitely not recommendable
CAD of Thermal Fluids (ME 4124)
This course is also a VT graduation requirement and has no German equivalent. It consists of
two parts: the first section of the course deals with heat transfer and was taught by Prof. Diller
while the second part, taught by Prof. Tafti, is concerned with internal and external flows.
Both teachers are really good and the course is quite interesting. However, since both Heat
and Mass Transfer and Fluid Dynamics are prerequisites, the course proved to be relatively
demanding at the beginning. Nevertheless, even without previous knowledge in the field of
heat transfer and internal and external fluid flows, it is possible to pull off good grades in the
weekly tests and the homework. Also, a weekly Lab session is part of the course. In the Lab
one uses the PC to design various parts of a heat exchanger or to simulate incompressible
flows using the software FLUENT. Consequently, for this class it is necessary to possess a
laptop. Furthermore, I recommend buying both books: ‘Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics’
and ‘Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer’.
Conclusion: average workload, very interesting, recommendable
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Controls Engineering I (ME 4504)
‘Controls’ is the equivalent to ‘Regelungstechnik’ and was taught by Prof. Leonessa. I assume
that Leonessa’s Italian origin is the reason for the ‘European Style’ of the class. It is far more
demanding than any other class I have taken at VT! The professor is very quick in
communicating the material and in the weekly quizzes you will see at least one question
which is completely new. For this class one really has to study beyond what the teacher is
recommending. There were quizzes for which the average of our class was about 25 per cent!
However, again the most important thing is not to panic. As long as you are above average,
there is absolutely no problem. Leonessa had to curve drastically in our class (which means he
basically puts the average on a B level) and he also allowed students to gather bonus points.
When you are not worrying about the grade you will find that the course is very interesting
and useful. In my eyes, it is qualitatively comparable to its German equivalent. Therefore, I
would recommend it. Also, the book ‘Modern Control Systems’ is definitely useful.
Conclusion: workload definitely above average, very interesting but also very demanding,
recommendable
Aerospace Propulsion Systems (ME 4234) – Technical Elective
This course was my only technical elective in the fall term and I hope that it will be
transferred as ‘Grundlagen der Flugantriebe’. I have a very polarized opinion about this
course. First, the teacher, Prof. Shingpaugh, is, by any definition, the worst professor I have
ever seen! He worked at VT as a network administrator and wanted to become an associate
AOE professor. I have no idea how he got to lecture the ME 4234 class since he has
absolutely no idea of what he is talking about! The topic of the class is quite complex and
covers all parts of a jet engine starting with the inlet, compressor, combustor, turbine and
nozzle. Isentropic flow equations through all these parts are probably the most important part
of the class. Professor Shingpaugh is neither able to communicate the facts nor can he answer
any questions. Every piece of information I learned in this class I taught myself by reading the
book ‘Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion’. However, the positive part of the
course is that this book is very good. I found myself able to pass all the tests as well as the
final and in the end I had to admit that I really learned a lot. Furthermore, this knowledge
should prove to be very useful for the ME 4224 course. As a result I can recommend the
course but definitely not the teacher! If the course is only offered taught by Prof. Shingpaugh
do not take it! Otherwise, give it a try.
Conclusion: average workload, very interesting, definitely not recommendable if taught by
Prof. Shingpaugh
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Spring Term
Heat and Mass Transfer (ME 3304)
The American equivalent to ‘Wärme- und Stoffübertragung’ was taught by Prof. Vick and his
associate professors Mr. and Mrs. Rylander. Because of my schedule, I had to take it with
Mrs. Rylander, who is definitely not the best professor I ever had. The class itself is really
easy and the workload is very small. One should be able to get good grades without much
effort, especially if one already took ME 4124. However, for that same reason, I cannot
recommend this course. The German equivalent is most likely of higher quality and therefore
preferable. But if you want to earn an easy A, this is a good course to do it. If you should take
this course, make sure you get the book ‘Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer’ as you
will need it for the homework.
Conclusion: workload below average, really easy, not really recommendable (German
equivalent is preferable)
Dynamic Systems – Vibrations (ME 3504)
‘Vibrations’ is the equivalent to ‘Strukturdynamik’. It was taught by Prof. Goulbourne. The
course is okay, although the German equivalent might be more demanding. Prof. Goulbourne
knows what she is teaching and is always available to answer questions. Compared to other
courses that I have taken at VT, the pace is quite high. There is weekly homework with the
opportunity to earn some bonus points if it is handed in early. Nevertheless, the workload is
definitely manageable and I can recommend it as an introduction to vibrations. There is a
book, ’Engineering Vibration’, for this class which you will need for the homework. If you
should be very interested in the topic you might want to take the advanced course though.
Conclusion: average workload, interesting and not too difficult, recommendable
Applied 7umerical Methods (AOE 4404)
Although this course is offered by the AOE department it is considered to be the equivalent of
‘Numerische Berechnungsverfahren’. The course is taught by Prof. Philen who knows his job.
It is available as a pure online class but I decided to take the one that offers lectures. If Prof.
Philen is not struggling with his Tablet PC, which unfortunately crashed from time to time,
the lecture is okay. The course focuses on various topics from polynomial approximations of
functions to partial differential equations. MatLab programs are written as homework, which
is given at the end of each chapter. There is no book required for this course and the slides of
Prof. Philen are really all you need. At the end you will have written a large number of
MatLab programs. Therefore, I recommend this course if you are into programming. Also,
since the lecture itself is not necessary to pass the course, you might also consider the online
version of AOE 4404.
Conclusion: average workload, not too difficult, recommendable for those who like to
program MatLab
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Aircraft Engines and Gas Turbines (ME 4224) – Technical Elective
My second technical elective can be considered to be the follow-up of the ME 4234 class. It
was taught by Prof Ekkad who is a very nice guy and who also knows what he is talking
about. While ME 4234 dealt with various kinds of jet engines as a whole, the ME 4224 course
focused especially on the compressor, the turbine and component matching. In this course
there was no homework at all. The final grade was comprised out of three design projects, a
midterm and a final exam. We had to design a compressor, a turbine and a whole engine. The
course was very interesting and I can really recommend it to everyone who is interested in
aircraft engines. However, certain knowledge of isentropic flow equations through aircraft
engines is beneficial when enrolling in this course. Officially, no book is required for the
course, but I recommend using ‘Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion’ which I
already used in ME 4234.
Conclusion: average workload, interesting, demanding but not too difficult, recommendable
World Regions (GEOG 1004) – Area 3, 7 Requirement
I took World Regions as a VT Area 3 and 7 graduation requirement. It was by far the best
course I have ever taken! The course is so good that it frequently fills up really fast (and there
are 540 seats available for this one). Ask Mrs. Vick to force-add you for this one as it fulfills
two area requirements at the same time. The course itself deals with mostly current but also
historical events in a global context. It is taught by Prof. John Boyer. The man is a legend! He
is able to teach you something and be funny at the same time. Check out his web-blog at
www.plaidavenger.com to get an impression. There are weekly online quizzes which one can
repeat as often as necessary and there is a final and a midterm exam (which you can only take
once). Also, there are movie nights! You have to watch at least five different movies over the
course of a semester and there are quick quizzes at the end of each of them (needless to say
that this is awesome fun and a 100% is pretty much guaranteed). The only negative thing
about the course is that you have to buy a new text book in order to get an access code which
is necessary for the quizzes. But anyway, the 80 dollars are wisely spent, considering the fact
that I would even pay entrance fee to see the lecture!
Conclusion: less than average workload, interesting, really funny, definitely recommendable
Creativity and Aesthetic Experience (FA 2004) – Area 6 Requirement
This course is just a 1 credit hour course to fulfill a VT area 6 graduation requirement. Next to
the class there are 4 events one has to participate in: a theater play, a concert, an art exhibition
and a film event. Other than visiting all those events, four short quizzes make up the whole
grade. The class was taught by Prof. Weinstein who made it not too boring. There is
practically no workload involved in this class and since it is just pass/fail one does not even
have to study for the quizzes. Therefore this class is really easy, but unfortunately also not
really interesting. If you should be 1CP short in area 6, this class is a good choice.
Conclusion: no workload, very easy, recommendable only if you need the area 6 credit
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Summer Term I
Human Development I (HD 1004) – Area 3 Requirement
I took this online course to satisfy a VT area 3 graduation requirement. Consequently there is
no German equivalent. The course deals with various aspects of human development like
physical development, cognitive development or emotional development. There is a huge
amount of information covered in this course. It is highly recommendable to print and fill out
the so-called study guides which are gapped texts. With the help of these guides, it should be
possible to pass the weekly quizzes and the midterm and final exam. Also, one has to write a
child observation paper which is a, more or less, detailed report that includes some of the
principles covered in class. For this class it is unfortunately necessary to get the textbook
‘Child Development’. The lecture heavily relies on this text. Since it is imperative to
communicate all the information in only 6 weeks the workload of this course is relatively
high. Nevertheless, I think it is a reasonable way to earn three area 3 credits, especially with
regards to the teacher, Mrs. Ivory, who was able to manage the class very well.
Conclusion: workload quite high, relatively interesting in some parts, recommendable if area
3 credits are needed
Music Appreciation (MUS 1104) – Area 2 Requirement
The MUS 1104 course, which I took to fulfill my area 2 graduation requirement, is the only
one that I have taken, which is completely self-paced. It deals with the features of classical
music and covers the periods form the medieval age to the contemporary age. No book is
required for this course, but one has to buy the software, which is quite pricy. The course is
well structured and there are quizzes, a midterm and final exam as well as 4 short written
essays (about 1 page each). Since it is self-paced one can finish the course within two weeks,
but some understanding of classical music is necessary since you will have to identify certain
characteristics by hearing the music only!
Conclusion: average workload, can finish the course quickly, quite interesting,
recommendable if you need area 2 credits and have good ears
Introduction to Humanity, Science and Technology (STS 1504) – Area 2 Requirement
This course, an area 2 graduation requirement, was a 12 week online class, which means it
spread over both summer terms. During that time we had to read a lot of texts that were
provided online. After reading the material, one has to participate in online discussions on the
VT discussion board. Next to this activity, there are two written essays and a final exam. The
course addresses various aspects of how science and technology are related to society. For
example, ethical issues and scientific stereotypes are discussed. Although the course is quite
interesting in some parts, the concepts seem to be rather cryptic and relatively far-fetched.
Also, Professor Nair, who managed the class, was quite demanding in her assignments. No
book is needed for the course.
Conclusion: average workload, quite difficult, not really recommendable as an area 3 course
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Summer Term II
During summer term II, I took both Freshmen English courses as they are VT graduation
requirements. Although there was no problem with taking both courses at the same time, I
strongly recommend taking both of them much earlier. This recommendation is based on the
fact that those two courses are required in order to be transferred from the department of
‘General Engineering’ into the department of ‘Mechanical Engineering’. Taking these two
courses at the very end of my year abroad, the process of getting my degree became very
complicated as I first had to get into ‘Mechanical Engineering’ and then apply for the degree
itself. However, with the new Bachelor 2.0 study plan, it should be possible to take both
courses in the fall or spring term.
Freshmen English I (E7GL 1105) – VT Graduation Requirement
Freshmen English I is a very basic course. There is no scientific writing or reading addressed
in this class. In fact, the content of the course heavily depends on the teacher and it is often a
collective decision which texts are read or which essays are written. Our lecturer, Prof.
Harvill, was one of the best ones I had at VT (only second to Prof. Boyer). She was very
understanding and we could basically choose the topics for our three required essays on our
own. Moreover, she offered personal conferences in which she went over the whole essay
with the student, making sure that each of those essays were straight A’s. Other than that, a
short oral presentation and class participation were part of the final grade. The class was
really easy and the workload was well below average. If you should have to take Freshmen
English I, try to get Prof. Harvill. If you do not have to take it, I would not recommend it,
since it does not really improve your language skills.
Conclusion: little workload, very easy, recommendable only if it is a requirement (try to get
Prof. Harvill)
Freshmen English II (E7GL 1106) – VT Graduation Requirement
In opposite to ENGL 1105, Freshmen English II is of much higher level. The center piece of
the class is a research paper. The student must select a topic and then find a number of
academic sources. In my class, which was taught by Prof. LeCorre-Cochran, we had to find 6
sources, but I know that this number might be as high as 20, depending on the teacher. We
then had to write two annotated bibliographies, an outline of the paper and various drafts.
Next to the research paper, we also examined a book which we had to buy (relatively cheap).
Moreover, we had to participate in some kind of fieldwork. Two oral presentations were also
part of the class. Compared to Freshmen English I, this class has a much higher workload.
However, one actually learns a lot about writing papers in English. Again, I would only
recommend the course to those who have to take it. If you should take it, Prof. LeCorreCochran is a quite good teacher; I have heard of much worse professors for this class.
Conclusion: high workload, not too easy but manageable, recommendable only if it is a
requirement
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Live in Blacksburg
Blacksburg is a nice, little town of about 40,000 inhabitants (60% of which are students of
VT). It’s located in south-west Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. The closest larger city,
which also has a regional airport, is Roanoke and is about 40 miles away. The landscape in
Blacksburg is amazing and is perfect for hiking or biking. But there are also many other
things to do in Blacksburg
Getting around in Blacksburg
Although the city does seem very rural, and thus quite small, on the first glance, the distances
one has to travel in the city are actually relatively high. Therefore, and also because it follows
American tradition, most locals have cars to get around. If you are staying in Blacksburg for a
longer time and also if you want to see the country and plan to travel a lot, it might be a good
idea to get a car. Although I did not buy a motorized vehicle, I know that cars can be bought
relatively cheaply. A good way to start is by asking the exchange students that are currently in
Blacksburg whether there are selling their old ones. Even, if you do not have a car, the bus
system in Blacksburg is quite good for American standards. During fall and spring terms
buses usually run every 10 or 15 minutes and can take you virtually everywhere in the city.
Should you be staying there for the summer as well, be prepared that the bus schedule will
look much worse as the number of rides is reduced drastically. I have made very good
experiences with getting a bike. As a biker you can get around Blacksburg really fast and it is
not too mountainous to be exhausting. There are some ways that are especially suitable for
bikers and it is even possible to go to Christiansburg by bike, riding along the scenic
Huckleberry Trail.
Things to do in Blacksburg
Student Organizations
Although I was not able to join any student organization due to my quite busy schedule, I
know that there are many clubs at VT. As a student, it is relatively easy to join and the clubs
are usually for free. Virginia Tech offers clubs in virtually every sport. Next to the sport clubs
there are thousands of others: like a cave club or even a skydiving club. Even if you should
not join a club, the facilities at VT are free to use. For instance, there are two pools and two
gyms waiting.
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Hiking
Blacksburg is located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Therefore, there are a lot of
nice trails. The Huckleberry Trail, for example, leads to the nearby town of Christiansburg.
You can also hike up to the Pandapas pond, a mountain lake not far from Blacksburg. The
‘cascades’, a quite large waterfall, is also a must-see. If you are more into hiking, go to
Roanoke and check out Smith Mountain Lake and the surroundings. By the way, hiking is
most enjoyable in the fall when all the leaves are colorful.
Downtown
Although not as big as Darmstadt, Blacksburg is a ‘student city’ and therefore has a quite
decent nightlife. On Main Street and College Avenue you will find numerous bars and
restaurants, most of them do not have cover fees. You have to be 21 and you must show valid
ID to get into any of the bars. As already mentioned, getting a drivers license is the best
solution. If you are looking for dance clubs, Blacksburg does not have much to offer, though.
However, there is an event called ‘Boogieburg’ in which a DJ comes to the bars and they
make room for a dance floor. I can definitely recommend checking out their website
www.boogieburg.com for the upcoming events. Be warned, though, that all bars close at 2am
sharp.
Football
A football game is a must see in Blacksburg. The sport is tremendously important to the locals
and the team – the VT Hokies – is one of the top college football teams in America. Even if
you do not like the sport, or you do not understand it, go to the game just for the awesome
atmosphere in the stadium. Said stadium, called Lane Stadium, is huge and fits about 70,000
people. At home games it is almost always sold out! Be advised that football games take place
only in the fall term. So do not put the visit of a football game off to the spring term as there
will be no football anymore. As a student you can win tickets online in a so-called lottery. The
chances of winning are very high. I tried three times and won two times. Also, take part in the
pre-game parties, which are called tailgating. Meet up at least three hours before kickoff on
the parking lots of VT and watch the Americans barbecuing, playing party games and having
fun. In the stadium itself, it is forbidden to consume any alcoholic beverages, so drink
everything you have before you enter the building. Just a modest warning at the end: A game
usually lasts at least four hours.
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Travelling around the Country
Once you are in the US, you should definitely use your leisure time to see something of the
country. On weekends or if there are three days off (like fall break or the Labor Day weekend)
I can recommend visiting Washington, Virginia Beach or other cities that are close by like i.e.
Atlanta. You can get there best, if you have a car. As gas is really inexpensive, even renting a
car is a good alternative to public transportation. I can recommend renting cars from
‘National’ since they are relatively cheap and they do have many offices around the country
where you can pick up or drop off the car. Again, an American drivers license will simplify
matters greatly. If you really do not want to get a car, there is the so-called Greyhound Bus
going longer distances (like i.e. to Washington). However, this bus will take forever to get
there.
If you should be off for a longer time, like i.e. during Thanksgiving week or before Christmas,
I can very much recommend visiting New York. Again, you should get a car to get there,
which will take you about eight hours. If you are willing to spend more money there are also
flights from Roanoke to LaGuardia. If you should go to New York, try to get a hostel or cheap
hotel in Manhattan. Although the subway system of New York is quite good, it will take you
about 40 minutes to get into Manhattan from Brooklyn or Queens. Also, all the sights and all
the nice nightlife of New York (clubs and bars) are on Manhattan. Be aware, nightlife can
become really expensive in New York. Other nice cities to visit for a longer stay are Boston
and Chicago. Although I was not able to visit these cities myself, I have heard that they are
definitely worth a trip.
For Spring Break, I can very much recommend heading south to Florida. I have been to South
Beach in Miami city and it was an amazing experience. However, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
and Daytona Beach are sure worth seeing too. Although I have taken the plane from Roanoke
via Charlotte to Miami, I know that you could also drive the distance. Should you be down in
Miami, try to visit the Everglades and the Florida Keys as well. That is, of course, if you are
not to hangover.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, I have to say that the year in Blacksburg was one of the most amazing
experiences in my life. Although the Atlantis Dual Degree Program is quite demanding and
the workload can be very high at times, I believe that it is a unique possibility for an
undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. In my eyes there are many ways in which
the benefits for the student become obvious.
First, one gets the possibility to study at an American university which has a very good
reputation concerning Engineering Sciences. The way Engineering is taught in America is
very different from Germany. I have made the experience that due to the amount of
homework, projects and reports the workload at Virginia Tech is definitely higher than at
TUD. On the other hand I also experienced a much closer relationship between student and
lecturer and the level of difficulty is usually lower at Virginia Tech. I think that it was very
beneficial for me to experience this alternative way of learning.
Of course, the classes that I have taken are not the only reason for this year being absolutely
unforgettable. Equally important were the new cultural and social experiences that I made. I
was lucky to meet many interesting people and I made a lot of new friends. Moreover, since
Virginia Tech is an international university with a lot of exchange students I was able to get in
contact with people from all over the world.
As a third point I would like to mention that the year abroad was also very beneficial to
improve my English skills. It is not necessary to speak English fluently at the beginning of the
first semester at Virginia Tech in order to get along in the new environment. By the end of the
year however, I was very confident communicating in the foreign language. Although I would
not argue that my English is perfect now, I believe that living in the US for a whole year
helped me a great deal.
Finally, all the beautiful places and cities I have seen will be unforgettable. If you should
study in the US I definitely recommend visiting cities like New York, Miami or San
Francisco. These trips will contribute to an amazing year abroad as you will be able to see and
live the ’American Way of Life’.
I have tried to address numerous aspects in this report and I hope that it will help future
students participating in the program. I can only recommend the Atlantis Dual Degree
Program. It is unique in its way and it will surely be an incredible experience!
André Niederdorf
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