University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

My major is astronomy...my minor is spanish. The students are very competitive, 'cause all are from the tops of their respective high schools and/or community colleges. Time with professors outside of class...somewhat limited, professor office hours are somewhat limited, but professors are willing to accomodate if one requests a special meeting with them. The astronomy department is small one. UVA's astronomy department is some and somewhat unique in the fact that it is independent and not incorporated within the physics department.

The best. I'm honored.

UVa has everything in terms of academics. There are hard classes and easy classes. I think it best to try everything before you settle on any one track. Take advantage of the learning community and really push yourself intellectually. Learn about things that you would never encounter anywhere else. Take a Gender Studies class, fail a Calculus class, learn about poetry. My goal is usually take four classes I need and I take one class for fun or that I wouldn't ever consider. Work hard, play hard is very truly. But what is most important is working smart. Only you know what works for you. Before you get here figure that out and you'll be okay. So long as you give you best you'll be okay. You'll definitely not be that smartest person in any of your classes, in fact sometimes you'll sound like an idiot, but what matters is going for it! In the true spirit of capitalism UVa is about input and output. SO put in time and effort and you will do great here.

.Academics at UVa are rigorous and respected with self-motivated and engaged students. You will walk by students discussing politics, science, and business and have exposure to hundreds of academic CIO's to exhaust your intellectual curiosity. Maybe of your suite mates is interning for an investment bank and the other traveling to South America to study abroad. Moreover, the professors are internationally recognized and the school is ranked near the top as a public university with an undergraduate business program and school of Public Policy and Leadership.

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The academics are beneficial and rigorous. Professors can be invited to lunch or visited in office hours. Their knowledge of your name depends on class size and your personal participation. Students study all hours at various libraries on grounds. Class participation is common during discussion sections and less common during lectures. Students often engage in intellectual conversations outside of class. Competition varies from field of study and student by student. The most unique class I have taken was Arabic language. I intend to major in commerce and minor in foreign affairs. I often attend professors office hours. The school's academic requirements are just and ensure the educational quality of the university. You can tailor classes to a job or explore intellectual curiosities because the university offers opportunities to do both.

One of the best things about my education at UVA is that it occurs both in and out of class. Most of my favorite classes have been small discussion based classes, but even my 500 person Economics class was awesome! What's even better is that we have these great class discussions and as we make friends in class, the discussions continue outside of lecture. Some of the best conversations I've had with people here have been intellectual. Because UVA's academic reputation is so high, the caliber of student here is unmatched. I've learned so much from my professors and my peers, and I think that is something unique about UVA. I'm an Economics and French double major and my experience has been incredible. The economics department is stellar, and my French professors have been some of the most engaged that I've ever experienced. What's great about the French department in particular, is that because the classes are small (usually 15-20 students) we tend to connect with each other and the professors on a really personal level. I've been to lunch with a professor, and many are very adamant that we stop by their offices even when we are no longer in the class. As for academic requirements, I feel that professors expect a lot of us, but that is a great thing! We all work really hard to meet those expectations and I think that enhances our educational experience. My best classes have often been my most difficult classes. What I love about UVA is that although the professors want us to learn certain quantifiable skills, they all seem really invested in our personal growth and education for its own sake. Group assignments are a pretty regular thing and most professors are always willing to recommend other classes or outside reading if you show interest. Academics at UVA are a very student driven experience. You as a student have to show interest and approach professors to grow from their experiences. This is highly encouraged and I think most students take advantage of the excellent faculty here.

Looking at our rankings, we're an academically strong school. Our East Asian Language Department is one of the most effective in the country (as a Chinese learner, I can attest to that). We have one of the highest African American graduation rates among major public institutions in America. It's hard when you're humble to imagine yourself attending one of the best schools in the nation. I feel a majority of the students wonder how they got into UVA when their peers have published books or have interned with presidential campaigns. Yet, everybody who goes here beat out other competitive applicants. They're here because they deserve to be here. I think the students here are incredibly motivated and engaged. When Secretary of State John Kerry came to speak here, the battle over tickets was ridiculous. People hosted viewing parties in their apartments during the 2012 presidential debates. Needless to say, the students here really care about being involved outside the classroom. Of course, they're involved in the classroom too. I've witnessed a good amount of people staying after class to ask questions, and I've received emails about forming study groups. The courses here are hard, but the students work harder.

Although some of the introductory courses are large, the professors are eager to have discussions and get to know their students. UVa even offers a free student and professor lunch! The classes here are challenging and force you to think outside the box. Academics at UVa stimulate you to think deeper and learn more than you ever though possible. Being a psychology major, all of my favorite classes are within the psych department. The professors int his department, and all over the school, are renowned and brilliant. And as our founder Thomas Jefferson believes: learning never stops. UVa is not just geared toward finding a career, but towards learning as much as you can and continuing your education even after your 4 years at the university. There is no better place to get an education.

Challenging. Thomas Jefferson designed UVA around the concept of an "academical villiage": a place where learning is continual. UVA is exactly that. I talk about the same things outside class as I do inside class. I regularly socialize with professors in casual and formal settings. Some of my closest friends at college are the professors I've met in class who I've adopted as mentors. They sense passion and are genuinely concerned with inspiring you to create goals and helping you make the connections to achieve them. Our professors genuinely care about helping you find your calling -- and they have the networks to get you there. Students are highly competitive. There is a reason we are a top recruiting school for investment banks and consulting companies: we love to win and we are willing to work for it. Competition is not cutthroat, but you have to be willing to work for the grade. You need A's to get in, but you have to learn how to function when B's and C's are the norm. If you cheated your way through high school, don't come here. UVA is famous for its honor code: if you substantially lie, cheat, or steal, you'll be expelled. We take it seriously and it's something most of us prize. UVA is serious about letting its students lead the institution. We have a multitude of interdisciplinary majors -- like global development studies or bioethics -- which developed from students creating independent majors. Exceptional students are admitted to the Echols Scholars Program: a program which exempts you from all prerequisites, gives you priority registration, and provides the option of creating an independent major.