University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

The professors all know my name, even in a 100 person class. Students are really serious and focused on their work. Any school night, you'll see a lot of students studying. Students almost always participate in class. Intellectual conversations outside class are somewhat common, I've even heard some political talk at a few parties. The level of competition though is pretty intense. A lot of the super hard classes are graded on a curve, so you really have to stay on top of your game.

The academics at UVA are definitely difficult. One common misperception is that the hardest part about UVA is just getting in and once admitted, the classes are very easy. This is far from true. Professors and teachers assistants expect a lot from students. It is a very competitive learning environment. Grading curves are prevalent in math and science type classes. One of my least favorite qualities about UVA is the continual focus on curves and grading work based on other students' work. On the contrary, UVA is a school very strong in academics and therefore intellectual conversations are even encouraged outside the classrooms. It is nice to be able to learn from my peers and to partake in debates going on in the world. Even Professors usually make time to talk with students after class. I have never had a problem with receiving help from Professors. The "take your teacher out to lunch" program is a great opportunity for all students. Basically, each semester students can take up to three students out to lunch. This includes grabbing a meal on campus or even off campus at some restaurants at the Corner. A student receives $30 to split with the Professor. I took a Professor out to Mellow Mushroom (a popular pizza restaurant chain here) last year and learned a lot about his thoughts in his particular discipline.

The academic programs at UVa are diverse and vast. There are so many different majors to pick from and so many classes to choose from within that major. The professors at UVa are amazing. I cannot say enough good things about the UVa professors. Like any school, there are the few that you want to stay away from but, overall, they are fantastic. I'm an English major concentrating in Women's Literature. It's not an actual declarable "concentration," but there are so many classes about it that I can focus on exactly what I'm interested in. There are so many amazing classes that I've taken at UVa, but my two favorites (I couldn't just pick one) were an Appalachian Literature class and a 19th century literature class concentrating on Charlotte Bronte and Elizabeth Gaskell. Class participation in all small classes is mandatory, but it's really not hard to do because the material is so interesting and the students and professor are so interested in the subject as well that it's very easy to join in. The professors in these smaller classes always make a very conscious effort to learn everyone's names. In the big, 200 people lecture class that is very difficult, but the professors are still very easy to talk to and remember your name if you approach them outside of class. The students are kind of competitive, but in a very good, healthy way. The students challenge each other to do better, but also help each other out in any and all ways possible.

UVA is hard. The professors expect a lot from you, and most of the students expect a lot from themselves. It is a competitive academic environment, which is great, if you are actually trying to prepare yourself for the fabled "real world." I guess the most important thing to realize is that professors are actually people, too. Going to office hours can be a really scary event for many students (I don't think I went to office hours at all my first year), but, once you work up the nerve to have a little chat with Prof. Whatever, you'll realize just how helpful and, well, nice, so many of them are. And, if you are having trouble keeping the conversation going, just ask the Prof. about his/her research. You may spend the whole day in that office:-) As far as what a UVA education will prepare you for--job market, academia, homelessness, etc--it's just like any other school. You can major in underwater basket weaving and have bleak (and blurry) job prospects, but if you major in a field that you are passionate about, you can find a way to get a job doing what you love. It's very important, however, not to fall in the trap of believing that your degree will get you a job. This is NOT TRUE! No matter where you go, you have to make sure to take on some extracurricular job preparation activities. Work in a lab, intern at a local business, work in retail--just do SOMETHING that will set you apart, aside from taking relevant classes.

The academics are incredible. People say that all you do is sit around in 500 person lectures in big state schools, but every professor I've had knows my name. It's true that you have to go out of your way to do that, but I think in a large way that's a good thing. It encourages me to be vocal in the academic community. Outside of class, I think I have a great balance of intellectual and non-intellectual conversations. It's college, you know. I'm majoring in English. I visit each professor multiple times a semester, and I try to build a healthy report with all of them. The academic requirements in English are tough but fair. The department encourages its students to understand literary studies as a multicultural discipline. There's a balance between the "I want a job" route and the "experience of learning" route at UVa. UVa has competitive programs that put out many accountants and big money makers, but also has strong departments that encourage learning for learning's sake.

The best thing about UVa is the level of scholarship it offers. The academics are quite rigorous and UVa students work hard. There are many smart students at UVa, and it certainly shows. Competition, however, seems hardly present, and is certainly not stifling. Students are interested in academically assisting each other. The professors tend to be extremely intelligent and possess expertise in their fields. They all have Ph.Ds and relevant academic publications. Although there are many large classes and a few are required, it is possible to avoid large classes completely once the basic requirements have been fulfilled. In these smaller classes (10-15 students), the discussions are rich and elucidating, and the professors and students have an opportunity to develop personal relationships. Even so, the larger lecture classes can be equally valuable. Professors ensure a dynamic usage of media--film clips, music, art, etc.--in their lectures to keep the topic fresh and apply it to various other areas. It is common to hear students having intellectual conversations outside of class, but of course it depends on the students. Some students have no interest in academics and are at UVa simply for the degree and to start a career. However, this tends to be the exception. Many students are intellectually engaged. The education at UVa can be shaped specifically by the student. Some choose to apply it towards getting a job, whereas others choose to learn simply for the sake of learning. I study in the English department, and I tend to find many creatively-oriented colleagues in my classes.

The best thing about UVa is the level of scholarship it offers. The academics are quite rigorous and UVa students work hard. There are many smart students at UVa, and it certainly shows. Competition, however, seems hardly present, and is certainly not stifling. Students are interested in academically assisting each other. The professors tend to be extremely intelligent and possess expertise in their fields. They all have Ph.Ds and relevant academic publications. Although there are many large classes and a few are required, it is possible to avoid large classes completely once the basic requirements have been fulfilled. In these smaller classes (10-15 students), the discussions are rich and elucidating, and the professors and students have an opportunity to develop personal relationships. Even so, the larger lecture classes can be equally valuable. Professors ensure a dynamic usage of media--film clips, music, art, etc.--in their lectures to keep the topic fresh and apply it to various other areas. It is common to hear students having intellectual conversations outside of class, but of course it depends on the students. Some students have no interest in academics and are at UVa simply for the degree and to start a career. However, this tends to be the exception. Many students are intellectually engaged. The education at UVa can be shaped specifically by the student. Some choose to apply it towards getting a job, whereas others choose to learn simply for the sake of learning. I study in the English department, and I tend to find many creatively-oriented colleagues in my classes.

If I could sum up academics at UVA in a few words, I would say "you get what you put in." Here, the sky is the limit if you want to work hard and learn a lot. There are so many incredible, talented professors here, and every student can tell you who the top dogs are in his or her major. One of my favorite classes was an English seminar taught by an Oxford-educated man who is also a priest! Not only are the professors amazing within each major, but there is also a lot of academic life outside of class. Constant guest speakers (such as foreign leaders and famous intellectuals from every academic field) and drop-in, one time lectures are available for anyone who wants to take a break from their usual course of study. You can meet incredible scholars here, and many times I have looked at a textbook or bibliography and found my instructor's name among the authors. UVA hires very prominent people in the field, and the awesome community of people and strong academic atmosphere keeps these people here year after year. Some subjects are actively tied to the economy and getting a job, but others share in a tradition of learning simply for the love of knowledge. Students here ultimately love whatever they choose to study, because with such good people and peers, it is hard to ignore how great academic life is at UVA. Also, there is so much balance between life inside and outside of class, that people are genuinely happy, focused, and committed to their studies in a healthy way.

If I could sum up academics at UVA in a few words, I would say "you get what you put in." Here, the sky is the limit if you want to work hard and learn a lot. There are so many incredible, talented professors here, and every student can tell you who the top dogs are in his or her major. One of my favorite classes was an English seminar taught by an Oxford-educated man who is also a priest! Not only are the professors amazing within each major, but there is also a lot of academic life outside of class. Constant guest speakers (such as foreign leaders and famous intellectuals from every academic field) and drop-in, one time lectures are available for anyone who wants to take a break from their usual course of study. You can meet incredible scholars here, and many times I have looked at a textbook or bibliography and found my instructor's name among the authors. UVA hires very prominent people in the field, and the awesome community of people and strong academic atmosphere keeps these people here year after year. Some subjects are actively tied to the economy and getting a job, but others share in a tradition of learning simply for the love of knowledge. Students here ultimately love whatever they choose to study, because with such good people and peers, it is hard to ignore how great academic life is at UVA. Also, there is so much balance between life inside and outside of class, that people are genuinely happy, focused, and committed to their studies in a healthy way.

The professors know my name but it all depends on you I would say and what classes you have. You may have a class with just 20 people depending on the class and major and some lectures are 450 people, yet in all my classes I make sure my professors know my name. My favorite class was Business in the Workplace because it had guest speakers who have worked in business telling us their experiences, and as I have learned experience is everything. My least favorite class would be Statistics, maybe it’s just because I don’t get Statistics, but also because it was dense material and the teacher really couldn’t relate to the students as must do at UVA. Students often study a good part of the time, right now I actually studying for finals and people have their coffee and tea mugs and some food from the Corner and have locked themselves in study rooms with groups of friend or by themselves. Class participation is very common on average its about 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of classes and 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} are not at all, but most of the business classes are participation based. Well my friends in my Hall have intellectual conversations ranging from politics to how colleges can be run, to philosophy principles that we may relate to silly things or things which we find interesting with college life. Students are very competitive, but they are also willing to help you, it’s not like they are just competitive and only care about their well-being so hoard information, if you ask they will help all the time. The most unique class I have taken is Buddhism 2100 we actually went to a local temple and meditated at night it was interesting and really gave us an insight to the Buddhist doctrine and meditation techniques. My major is Pre-commerce (Must apply second year to get into the Commerce School). Yet there are many events to spend time with professors outside of class, such as bring your professor to lunch and professor dinner/receptions, and office hours of course. The schools’ academic requirements are challenging but reasonable of course, I feel the requirements fit perfectly to helping you be prepared for the real world. The education is actually geared to learning and having great Human capital and intellect as Jefferson wanted. Yet as for the Business school it is also based more on learning, but has heavy emphasis on preparing you to either owning your own business or working at a big firm.