University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Classes, no matter what they are, are extremely challenging, but you do end up learning a lot. And no matter how hard it gets, there is always someone that is around to help whether a professor, TA, or other students.

Students have been known to discuss intellectual subjects. People are smart enough that they are aroused by thinking in different ways and learning more, whether they choose to do it with their schoolwork or dabbling in whatever else interests them more. And if they choose to pursue their schoolwork seriously, they're set for whatever they choose to do later in life. Its an excellent setup.

I love the academics at UVa because there are so many classes that I look through and just think, 'Woah, that would be so interesting to take.' I am an English and Religious Studies double major, so my classes are all across the spectrum. The coolest class I took combined both my majors and was called "Religion and Modern Fiction." The professor is now my Religious Studies advisor, and I get excited for when the course directory for the upcoming semester comes out!

You can't go wrong with the academics, not here, not at most equivalent universities. Professors here and down the road at William and Mary are of the same caliber, researchers here are putting out just as much significant research as researchers are at Michigan. Most of the professors whom I know are giddy to talk about their classes and research. Frankly, it's often hard getting them to shut up. The large intro classes like econ 201 and stat 212 present a challenge for prof/student interaction; you'll be stuck interacting with TAs, and there's no way around it. BEWARE: TAs ARE NOTORIOUSLY BAD and difficult to understand. They *do* care, but just don't have the experience. My suggestion: go out of your way to meet your professors and to find TAs who speak fluent english.

There are a variety of professors here at UVa. Even in huge classes some manage to still learn your name. Most are willing to teach and ready to help us achieve. I am always amazed at how intelligent and exciting some of my lectures are. Some of my most exciting classes so far has been Personality psych and the Health of Black Folk. I could easily tell these professors were fully engaged in their topic. i can tell that the curriculum hear at UVa is geared toward self-exploration and future success.

The professors generally only know your name if you are in a small class of less than thirty or if you are very vocal in a class and participate a ton- then they learn your name pretty quickly. my favorite class... its funny my favorite classes arent necessarily because theyre intersting to me, it depends soley on the professor. My favorite class would have to be one i took in 2006 when i was a highschool senior and i got to take a class (SPAN313) here at UVa because i live in c-ville and my high school has a great relationship with UVa. that class was fun because of the both the teacher and the content, but mostly cuz of the teacher. my least favorite class would have to be my later medieval civilizations class that im taking right now- but its because my professor and i dont get along. Most students study a TON, but some how i dont really ever find myself doing much studying- it all depends on your classes. CLass participation is common in most classes except for those specifically designed as lectures. UVa students do have intellectual conversations out of class but not too often, we gossip and talk about our weekends and stuff like taht more. Students are not very competitive with eachother, but everyone really does strive for their personal best as cheesy as that sounds. the most unique class i have taken was an english writing class about antiheroes. it was unique because i got to write papers on batman, darth vader, and even snape from harry potter. i loved it. I am in the nursing school and although UVa has a really strong sense of community, the nursing school has even more. all the girls and the couple of guys are all really close because we have a ton of classes together and see eachother all the time. and the administration for the Nursing school is super cool and really helpful. i dont personally spend time with professors outside of class but there are programs and opportunities to have lunch and stuff. I like the academic requirements here, not only to get in but also to be able to be successful in class because it keeps us all on the same level and since theyre so high, it pushes us to work hard as well. Uva prepares you for a job definity.

Two professors know my name, the others have probably forgotten. My favorite class is Architecture 102, Lessons in Making, which is taught by Sanda Illescu. She's basically amazing. In that class, class participation is common. Sanda has people up on the platform in the front of the lecture acting out light rays and holding time lines of drawing. It's pretty great. All my classes are the most unique class I've taken. They're all completely different than whatever expectations I might have had walking in. And different in a good way, a way that is really thought provoking and engaging.

If you are accepted to UVA, you are probably the person in high school who excelled in academics, beat most of the curves, worked harder or was more intelligent than most of the other students. The bittersweet thing is that, at UVA, EVERYONE was that person in highschool. EVERYONE was the valedictorian, or captain of the sports team, or National Merit Scholar. It's harder to stand out-- but more satisfying when you do.

Students study all the time. people are very competitive becuase everyone comes from the top of their classes in high school so when they come here they are competiting with a bunch of people at the same intellectual level as them.

The most unique class I've taken was a Common Course (read: no specific department) called "Mind of the Artist." It was team taught by a psychology professor and composer who were married. The class explored why people feel the urge to creatively express themselves, and how they are or aren't different from others. We also talked more generally about what art is and is not--or if anyone can really make that distinction. Professors at UVA know your name and care about your academic success if you reach out to them first. No one is going to hold your hand unless you make it clear if you want it to be held. By the same token, if you actually make an effort to go to your professors' office hours and get to to know them, they will be so thrilled about it that they'll bend over backwards to help you. I have two majors at UVA, History and Foreign Affairs, which can be a little difficult to contend with. The Politics department at UVA is incredibly cutthroat--there's a lot of students who see themselves in public office that major in Politics, and boy are they stuck-up and infuriating. It's always satisfying to get better grades than them, however. I guess that reveals that some departments at UVA are very competitive. I've found that my history classes are way more laid-back: students frequently make study groups and help each other out.