Pluspunten
The hci faculty is world renowned and the work environment is optimal. One of the biggest advantages in getting a degree in CS/HCI at Virginia Tech is that there is a LOT of collaboration, both within the center as well as interdisciplinary. Also, all faculty and students are fluent in research, and discussions are quite lively. It's great to be at paw where HCI is not a foreign discipline within the CS department.
Minpunten
Don't expect to get paid more than what is barely enough to makeebd meets as a graduate student at Virginia Tech. Nthis is, however, true for most other career programs. Don't consider a PhD at Virginia Tech if you cannot commit to be diligent about research, self motivated and proactive to make things happen. I've seen student get stuck for close to a decade due to a lack of those qualities.