Why I Chose to Learn AR/VR as a Student in 2025 (And Why You Might Want to Too)

Let me be honest — when I first heard about AR and VR, I thought of video games and sci-fi movies. I never imagined I’d be spending hours in Unity trying to figure out why my virtual hand wasn’t moving or why I was floating mid-air in a scene I built from scratch.

But here I am.

In 2025, with so many directions you can take as a tech student — web dev, machine learning, app dev, cloud — I somehow landed on AR/VR, and weirdly, it feels like home now.

---

So, why AR/VR?

I didn't pick it because it’s trendy or cool (even though it is). I picked it because it felt different — more immersive, more real, more fun.

I love the idea that we’re no longer limited to screens and buttons. We can now interact with technology the way we interact with the real world — with gestures, voice, and presence.

That blew my mind.

Imagine learning surgery in VR, navigating a mall with AR, or even attending a virtual college lab that feels real.
These aren’t future ideas. These are things people are building right now — and I wanted in.

---

How I got started (the real version)

I had zero idea where to begin. I had done some basic web development before, but AR/VR? No clue.

Then I got involved with a research center that focused on AR/VR. That was the turning point. I started using Unity (2022 LTS), downloaded the XR Interaction Toolkit, and got my hands on a Meta Quest 3 headset.

My first project? A basic VR scene with a floating skeleton model and two hands — it looked weird, clunky, and I was honestly just happy it didn’t crash.

After that, I got obsessed. I started building more scenes, downloading models from Sketchfab, and slowly began understanding how the whole thing worked.

---

Basic Setup for Students (If You Want to Try This)

If you’re thinking “okay, I want to try building VR too”, here’s a simple starting point.

🖥️ Hardware (optional but useful)

1. Meta Quest 2 or 3 – Great for testing your VR builds.
2. PC/Laptop with at least 8GB RAM and a decent GPU (GTX 1050 Ti or better works fine).

(You can still build and test VR apps without a headset using Unity's simulator mode.)

🧰 Software + Tools

• Unity 2022 LTS – Free for students. Use the Long-Term Support version for stability.
• XR Interaction Toolkit – Add VR controls like hand tracking, teleportation, grabbing objects, etc.
• Unity Input System – Helps in setting up controller inputs properly.
• Blender (optional) – If you want to model your own 3D assets.
• Sketchfab / Mixamo / Unity Asset Store – Free 3D models, characters, and animations.
• Meta Quest Developer Hub – Helps test and deploy builds to your Quest headset.

💡 Pro Tip:
If you're using Meta Quest, enable developer mode in the Meta app and connect it to your PC via USB. You can directly run and test your Unity VR scenes on the headset.

---

The moment it clicked

One of the coolest projects I’m working on right now is a VR environment for medical training. Think of it like a virtual skill lab — where students can practice procedures without needing real tools or real patients.

That’s when everything came together.

This wasn’t just “fun tech” anymore — it was useful tech.
Something that could save lives, improve education, and reduce costs.
That hit differently.

---

Why you should at least try AR/VR

If you're a student like me, wondering what path to take — I’m not saying AR/VR is the only way. But it’s definitely a unique and powerful one.

Here’s why:

• You’ll learn by building, not memorizing.
• You’ll stand out (because not many are doing this yet).
• You’ll actually see your ideas come to life — literally.
• And trust me, it's a lot more fun than debugging CSS at 2 AM.

You don’t need a super expensive setup either. Start with Unity, download the XR Toolkit, and test things in the editor. Use free 3D assets from Sketchfab or Mixamo. Just play around.

That’s how I learned most of what I know today.

---

Final words

AR/VR isn’t just for gaming. It’s for education, tourism, safety, training, and beyond.

If you’re curious, like experimenting, and want to be part of something that still feels new and full of possibilities — give AR/VR a shot.

And if you’re already building something or thinking about starting, I’d genuinely love to connect.
Let’s figure this crazy virtual world out together. 🚀

Thanks for reading! If this helped you, consider sharing it so more React devs can finally slay their side-effect demons.

✍️ About the Author

• Srujan Kashyap S – Full Stack Developer | Tech Explorer | Problem Solver
• A passionate full stack developer who enjoys building seamless digital experiences from backend logic to polished frontend interfaces.