University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Excellent school...very intense...be prepared to do a lot of writing.

Thank you so much for involving me with my mother and my family. I'm working on a psych degree in history. Good.

The best thing about this school is definitely the community. The community is absolutely great and everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand to other people. The honor code makes it a very comfortable, trusting environment. I transferred in from Virginia Commonwealth University and so whenever I tell people I go to University of Virginia, they are always impressed and assume I'm smart, which gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment. Although academics are very rigorous and you need to study hard to do well, what you learn and take from the school is only as much as you put in so all the hard work is worth it.

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I absolutely love UVA. Recently, I was chatting with a couple of friends and we unanimously decided that there is no other place we would rather be. UVA is great because not only is it known worldwide for providing a top notch education, but there are so many awesome traditions that students and faculty are really engaged in. Charlottesville is also a great place to be for young people. There are lots of great restaurants on the Corner or Downtown and the community's music scene is really great. We get some stellar performers like Dave Matthew's Band, Luke Bryan, Macklemore, Lady Gaga, etc. There really is something for everyone! One of tje best traditions at UVA is student self governance, and the administration's respect for us. Recently, President Sullivan was dismissed without a transparent reason by the Board of Visitors, but UVA students fought back and she was reinstated. I think this shows the pride we take in our institution and our academics. The fact that the administration was so supportive of the student body's activism in the situation shows that we are a school whose stakeholders are really engaged. I think one of my best experiences at UVA has been my time in the Cavalier Marching Band. I get to participate in one of the largest groups on Grounds and the students seem to really appreciate what we do at the football games. I love participating at the football games and getting the other students super hyped about our team!

I'm so happy I came here. It's strong academically, an ideal size where you will always see new faces, but also always recognize somebody and feel at home, and the traditions are rooted deep in the school. Whether it's singing the "Good Old Song" or storming the field/court after a win, the school pride is incredible. Now I love this school to bits, but I know it's not perfect. The quality of the dining hall food is well, cafeteria food. First year orientation was awkward and slightly directionless. Days on the Lawn could be more interactive and entertaining. I guess one of the greatest tragedies of UVA is how fantastic of a school it is and yet how poor UVA is at conveying its greatness to prospective students.

This school is so diverse! You have the opportunity to meet so many different people and expand your horizons. Being one of the top public schools in the country, UVA is an academically stimulating environment as well as a close-knit, trusting community. UVa is the perfect size and Charlottesville is a wonderful town full of great people and history. Other than the questionable weather, UVa is one of the best places to spend your college career!

So I am a transfer student and I absolutely L-O-V-E it here. I honestly couldn't imagine going anywhere but here and being as happy as I am here. I think some of my favorite things about this school is that it is steeped in tradition, the quality of the classes and professors is amazing, and the people are awesome! I think it is so neat to open a book and have my history professor listed as someone who has made significant contribution in his field!

The University of Virginia (U.Va.) has transformed me. I write that will all honesty. This school has made me much more politically and socially aware of the realities and social issues that we, as young people, live in, both nationally and globally. In the very beginning I didn’t know much about the University of Virginia, nor about university life in general because I am a first-generation college student in my family. However as more time went by and I began telling other university students that I studied at U.Va. often times the response was shock and excitement because they knew how competitive and well renowned the university is. I can honestly say that I’m very proud of myself for getting through the rigorous course work here at U.Va.I feel academically enriched in a way that has made me appreciate the university so much. One of my favorite things about U.Va. is the emphasis that professors and faculty place on studying abroad. This might seem a bit random but with the globalized world we live in, it is very important for American university students to have a world perspective. International study is a big deal here at U.Va. We have a very rich international student community from all parts of the world. Already enrolled U.Va. students have many opportunities to study abroad because in most of the schools here (i.e. College of Arts and Science, Engineering School, etc.,) there exists some kind of study abroad opportunity. U.Va. makes study abroad affordable for students by providing resources like grants, loans, scholarships, and other financial assistance that caters to study abroad. I studied abroad twice and in that time, financial assistance was always available to me. Hands down, one of my favorite things about U.Va. Although there’s the increasing interest by students to study abroad, we still love to be here at U.Va. and represent our university. The football games, I would say, are when you can see the school spirit the most. Typically the football stadium is blossoming with students wearing blue, orange, and white to represent U.Va. I am not a big football fan but rather I am a fútbol (soccer) fan. Even though I do not follow football as religiously, there’s something about being at the football games, and other U.Va. athletic team, games that inspires me to enjoy watching the game and more importantly being apart of U.Va’s school spirit. Outside of athletics, I see the school spirit embedded into the Charlottesville culture and regularly everyday students. Students are always wearing their U.Va. hads, shirts, skirts, socks, sweaters, back bags and more. U.Va. is a big school, but at the same time it is not. How does that work exactly? When it comes to actual U.Va. territory technically it’s a big school. However depending on your studies it can seem quite small. For example, for many students in the Engineering School, most of the classes are concentrated in one place, meaning they spend most of their time during classes in particular area. I really like this because it gives students the option to be apart of a big school, but without feeling too overwhelmed. Also students build mini-cultures according to students in their major or in their school. U.Va.’s history has greatly influenced the City of Charlottesville, and presents the city as a college town. There are so many things in Charlottesville that cater to university students from U.Va, in the form of school mascot banners posted in store window sills, puns on store names, and student discounts. For example, students can ride public transportation, like buses, for free by only showing their student identification card. This helps students save money and encourages them to explore more of the city without spending too much money. U.Va. is truly an amazing school however no school is perfect. I think the topic of diversity at U.Va. should continue to be address because it still is a concern by many students that my university is predominantly white. To be in a nation that’s so multicultural that also needs to be universities. U.Va. is increasing in diversity but it still has a little bit ways to go. That is definitely one thing I would change about U.Va., is increasing its diversity. Also, the topic of the professors is an interesting one. U.Va. is a research institution, which is great, because it is a school that is always on the cutting-edge. However, for some professors, their research sometimes seems more primarily for them, versus teaching. Most professors are pretty good about being accessible for questions students have however I had noticed, based on some conversations I have had with friends, that professors in the hard sciences like engineering, math, physics, statistics, etc., do not seem as available. One of the reasons being because of the dedication spent in research and less in instruction. Aside from the big emphasize on study abroad, awesome discounts, and the metamorphosis experience at U.Va., it also provides a space that really engages students critically. This engagement is reflected in the public discourses, presentations, programs, and debates that my university houses. These forums provide spaces to courage “hot topics” conversations to take place on grounds (the campus). For example recently one of the biggest debates on grounds, that engulfed Student Council meetings and CavDaily (one of U.Va.’s primary newspapers) articles was the topic of a living wage for employees. This was something that really forced university students to think about the administrative decisions that were taking place that did not increase wages for non-tenure employees, like staff that worked in cafeterias, janitorial services, etc.). The students were successful at strengthening the already established Living Wage Campaign, by marching, writing letters, encouraging more support from general student body, and directly engaging with administration about the topic. I absolutely loved the experience of listening and/or reading speeches and attending events by local and student activists, advocating for equality. I would say that is something that this school is infamous for doing.

I believe strongly that the University of Virginia is far and away the best public school in the United States and is on par with Ivy League institutions. It is unique in that it possesses each of the necessary requirements for an enjoyable and fulfilling college experience: outstanding academics with dedicated professors and researchers, national championship athletic teams, a thriving social scene, and a vibrant and nurturing local community that supplements but is not overwhelmed by the University. The University possesses an undergraduate population of ~21,000, which I believe is a happy medium between the large state schools and small private colleges that allow students to meet new people every day while still maintaining close personal and professional friendships. Students at the University exhibit a large amount of school pride, both for its academics, athletic teams, and the Charlottesville community. Approximately 97{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of first-year students return for their second-year, and almost as many leave the University as graduates with fond memories of their time in Charlottesville. The one experience I will always remember is my time as a student-athlete. I played on the Men's Tennis Team from 2005-2009 while earning my Bachelors degree. But I also had the chance to experience the University as a "normal" student while earning my Master of Arts from 2010-2011. My love for the University notwithstanding, there are certainly flaws and some odd traditions. For one, students are not called "freshmen," "sophomore," etc. but instead "first-year," "second-year," etc. Also the University's "campus" is called "Grounds," Ph.D.'s are called "Mr." instead of "Dr.", and Thomas Jefferson and his wishes guide most of the University's decisions. And if I had to change one aspect of the University, I would increase faculty salaries to encourage the best researchers and teachers to come to the University.