University of Richmond Top Questions

If I was able to go back and have a chat with myself during my senior year, I would try to make myself understand the type of stress and workload I was signing up for. My past self would have to make the decision of whether to choose the school with ridiculously high academic standards with the knowledge of how hard it really will be. Knowing I could get a much easier education in state with a full-ride scholaship instead of paying much more for a shockingly increased workload as compared to high school would make the choice of coming to Richmond much more difficult. I would tell myself to be even more outgoing in my courses with mixed class levels so I could make a broader base of friends. I know that I would need to reinforce the fact that I shouldn't ever lose sight of who I know I am in the face of difficult social situations that are a staple of college life.

Make sure to look at all of the information available. Pick a place that not only looks good on paper, but that a place that you could see yourself spending 4 years. Visit the campus and possibly spend a night with one of the current students to get a better idea of the campus life.

I would advise parents and students to visit different schools and keep and open mind set. Don't just apply to schools that you hear about from others or that your friends are applying to. There are so many good colleges out there that have so much to offer you, its just a matter of what you want to get out of your college experience. I learned to love the University of Richmond after being depressed for the majority of my freshman year. I wanted to transfer... but I couldn't pin down why. My sophmore year, I started getting involved in more activities and started taking classes that I was truly interested in and started reaching out to people I never would have talked to. My experience and vision of the University of Richmond changed instantly. My grades began to go up, I partied less but had more friends, and I began to develop strong relationships with my professors. I started having fun not because of the partying, but because I felt that I was starting to be successful, doing things that I really wanted to do. I joined the Varsity Soccer team as a walk on shortly after!

Look at class size, whether or not classes are often taught by TAs rather than professors, how much on-campus housing there is and how easy it is to get it, how active the social life is on campus on the weekends, the safety of the surrounding area, and if the campus is involved with activities you enjoy (such as sports, helping the community, greek life, etc.).

I would tell students to take their time to research and visit as many schools as possible when going through the process. I made the mistake of not visiting many schools and therefore not knowing what they had to offer. Take into account important factors such as class size, school location, financial aid, and student involvement on campus. Do not let the cost of a particular school hinder your decision to apply. There are a variety of sources that will help to pay for college education. Making the most of your college experience is also very important. This is your chance to make lifetime friends and perhaps see the world. Take advantage of study abroad programs and summer internships. Make sure you find the balance between academics and a social life. You don't want college to be over and wish you would have done that one spring break and you also don't want to party so much that your grades suffer so much that it is more difficult for you to succeed at the next level in life. Good luck!

Find a place that suits your needs, both academically and socially. Know that both of these are very important in the things that you are going to take from your time at a university. Take advantage of whatever opportunities that come your way, but don't be willing to sacrifice your morals and personal ideals in order to impress those around you. College is a time to allow you to become sure of the person you are, to allow you to gain confidence in your own skin, and to show you that there are many other ways of looking at the world around you than you may have realized living at home with your parents.

When choosing the right college, make sure to not only focus on the academics area but also check out the type of students that attend the college to see if it is a good fit for your social life because that will be a major part of your college experience as well.

Visit the schools that your children are interested in; let them spend a night at the college in question that is; uncensored because in this way they will experience a regular day at the school and thus be able to make decisions. A day in class, and a day in the social life: those are the two factors that helps bring a decision to light

Come to Richmond!

Senior year of high school is obviously a stressful time, but make the most of it! As my parents and I looked at schools and talked about what I really wanted out of the college experience, it was an opportunity for us to grow closer as a family. Choosing a school is a lot like decorating a room: you have to have an inspiration piece. Choose a geographical region, a specific degree, or an overall campus "feel" that you know would suit you well, and then go from there. It's a good idea to choose a "safety" school, along with several you feel fairly confident you could get into and at least one that is something of a "reach" for you. With this strategy, you won't have to stress quite as much about where you'll get in...and as my Dad told me, you should go to the very best school you can get into! Lastly, don't be afraid to try again. Three of my friends transfered after our freshman year, and I made three NEW transfer friends the next year! All six of those girls were exponentially happier with their second college experience.

In order to find the right college, visit as many colleges as you can and gather as much information as you can. After that, close your eyes, and go with what your gut tells you. Don't think about what anyone else tells you or wants you to do. It's not them who will be living and existing there for four years, it's you - so do what makes you happy! While you're in college, make the most of every opportunity and experience - college may be the last chance you have to take that class on Roman architecture (even if you're a English major) or to drive to the beach with friends and watch the sun rise. You want to be able to look back at college and say you lived it to its fullest potential.

It is important to look at what kind of learning environment is best for the you. I learned more at this small school with small class sizes and lots of individual attention. I got to know my professors, and was not just a social security number like I would have been if I had gone to a big state school. Also when looking at schools, I feel it is important to look at the type of people that attend that school. This can say a lot about what it will be like socially.

I would recommend spending a long weekend there, sans parents. It is the best way to determine if it is a place where you will be happy. If you're not happy, then no matter the academic qualifications of the school you will not be at your optimum potential. While you're there attend a class in the field(s) you want to study, does it feel right? Are you challenged? Are you comfortable? If so, then this university may just be the place for you!

DO not let yourself get behind academically your first year. You do not want to spend the rest of your college experience playing catch up!

The best way to explore different college possibilities and to make the most of your college experience is to visit the campuses of the universities that interest you. Watching students interact on campus can indicated to what degree you will feel comfortable at each respective university. Eat at the dining hall, sit in on a class, and arrange an overnight stay with a student to explore campus life. Talk with students and admissions representatives to discover extracurricular opportunities. When making a final decision on which school to attend, do not choose based on academic reputation or the perpetual success of the vasity athletes; choose the school that feels the most natural and comfortable.

You won't know what the right place is until you get there. Don't let yourself freak out over not getting into a particular school. You'll end up somewhere, and either it will be right or it won't. If it turns out to not be the right place for you, look around to other options. Examine what you do and don't like about your situation, and use that to find something that's a better fit. Don't ever let yourself think that there is just one place that could be the right fit for you.

Parents and students should definitely explore many colleges adn visit when possible. As relatives and friends what universities they attended, look in the US World and News Report- branch out! There are so many great schools beyond the border of your home state! As for making the most of the college experience- it is a personal responsibility- don't expect your school to have your life and activities planned out for you. If you don't find an activity or group you'd like to join- start one. Explore the city your school is in- visit parks, go to cultural events. Take advantage of any and all opportunities and branch out and meet diverse people. ALWAYS meet at least once with each of your professors. Avoid procrastination. Remember that college is 3 things: study, sleep, play and you can only do two at a time. Get work done early so you don't have to put your social life aside and be a hermit. Have fun!

Size of school is VERY important. I thought that the size and social life did not matter, but in fact it does. To share a little background, my high school had about 2,000 students. University of Richmond has a little more then 3,000 undergraduates. People told me that it would seem like high school but I ignored, and it turns out they were right. I wish I had gone to a larger school, although for me, academic reputation took priority over size, hence my choice at the time. School is not only about learning in the classroom though, learning through socialization is also a big part, and when you go to a school about the same as your high school you get bored with it. Boredom can carry back over into the classroom and can even influence your attitude toward others. My advice, prioritize what you want out of college, not just college education, but college as an entirety.

Try to talk to students outside of the admissions people. Once in college, don't be afraid to join things.

If you are given the opportunity to visit a college before attending then definitely take that opportunity. I would have never been able to make the college decision had I never visited my top two college choises. Apply to a few normal schools and a few outrageous schools - you never know which will suit you best until you legitimately consider each option.