University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

The professors are excellent. Courses are challenging, so you really need to keep up with your work and not fall behind. Most professors are great at helping out students with whatever they need. The majority of UVA students are very motivated and competitive (which kind of annoyed me sometimes..I tend to procrastinate). I was a psychology & biology double major. Double majoring isn't as difficult as it sounds. If you're interested in psychology, during your second year, look into becoming a research assistant in a psychology lab. You get credit for it (usually 3), and you don't have to do much (no tests, no studying, hardly any assignments.... EASY 3 credits!!).

Best Commerce school in the country! Great teachers, a lot of famous teachers and well respected professors within their industries. Class can be very competitive, but it makes you actually feel like you're in college and not high school all over again. Professors can be reached all the time and the school actually pays you to go out with them if you want! Education at UVA can be whatever you want it to be, from job oriented to artsy/out-of-this-world education.

The academics at UVA are tough and competitive, but completely manageable if you stay on top of your work. Students study hard, but also escape and enjoy Charlottesville/the greater college experience in general. I was a history major, so most of my classes were lectures with smaller discussion sections of 10-20 people. I've had only a few professors who have known my name, but the TAs are great about really getting to know and care for students and their academic needs.

Professors of smaller classes know students' names. Favorite class? Too many excellent classes for me to have a favorite. What about favorite classes: Art History: Renaissance to Modern; Greek Civilization; The Book of Job; Intro to Hebrew Bible. students study 3/4 of the time when they're not in class or partying. Class participation is often not as eager as one would hope, but it happens. I think students are afraid to speak because we all feel we have to say something impressive, innovative, deep. Intellectual conversations outside of class occur occasionally, in my experience. Students aren't so much competitive as want to do well. So, your classmate isn't going to lie to you, or cheat you, but everyone is very motivated to do well. The chemistry department at UVA is very well funded for the number of researchers there. Many professors focus their efforts on research instead of teaching, though they express an interest and joy in teaching, they often send the signal that they don't have very much time for you, and you should ask the TAs questions instead. The curriculum for a BS is challenging. The department is not very large, and if you take the honors chemistry classes from 181-282 (the first two years of chemistry) you will see the same ~90 people in your chemistry classes from first semester through fourth, and often in later classes as well. Trying to solve problems in groups is encouraged, but each person must do his/her own work. Exams are often very challenging and there is usually quite a curve. Without the curve, only a few people would pass the class with C's or better, but with the curve, grades are generally not something to worry about unless you don't do the work. My experience is that they have often poorly chosen textbooks to save students some money, at the expense of not being not very good, or worse, not very suitable for the class. TAs are generally know their stuff very well, and are generous with their time, and generally liberal with their explanations. Education at UVA, even in the science departments, is very much geared towards knowledge for knowledge's sake. Many people go on to graduate school.

Easy enough Professors accessable but won't give you back points T.A.'s can be really good

HARD. but totally worth it. i work hard. professors work hard too. students in general know how to work hard, but also how to play hard. the degree you get from the University is respected throughout the country to be really worth something. students are brilliant and competitive and smart as hell. if you are accepted to the University, you are really a force to be reckoned with. academics at UVA are for real. this isn't high school, and i'm sure your high school teachers tell you that, but you've got a whole new thing coming to you. its so worth it.

Academics at U.Va. are not as rigorous as they let on-you can take hard classes and kill yourself doing it, but you don't have to. There were a couple of times were I was breaking down under the crushing weight of work, but it was with classes that I chose to take, so there was some comeuppance to it. There's a whole range of things that can happen-you can take the easy route, the hard one, or follow somewhere in between. The same goes for professors-I did call some of them by their first name, and there were quite a few who knew me by name because I always went to their office hours (definitely a must!), but there were also some who couldn't recognize me to save their life. You make academics what you want-it's all about how much time you want to put into it.

Some professors know my name. My favorite class was a psych class. Students study very often. Everybody works really hard. Students are competitive in a healthy way in the sense that it keeps everyone striving to do their best. It's not cutthroat. I do spend time with professors outside of class. UVA's education prepares you for getting a job but is geared at learning for its own sake.

Most classes are big. I was really unimpressed. Most of the time in class I was thinking, this is supposed to be a good school?

As a student in the engineering school, my experience w/ academics is much different than other students. I usually have smaller "lecture" type classes and classes with the same people over and over again. I get to know my classmates as friends both in the classroom and outside, just because we are together so often. I've heard from College students that this is not the case at all, as you have so much more choice in classes to take in order to complete your major. I also get to know the professors because it's more likely I will have him or her again. The one thing I wish I could change about the engineering school is the ability to study abroad and get credit for classes. Also, if it were possible to have more time for HSS (elective) classes. I know that some engineering students don't really want to do that, but for those that do, I wish there was a way to get this accomplished.