Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

There is a huge Muslim Student Association, a few Christian organizations, and all other types of religious groups. There are various fraternities and organizations specifically geared towards certain ethnicities (a Filipino student org is really big at VCU), and there is Queer Action, the biggest LGBT organization we have on campus that does a lot. A student that is easily overwhelmed or scared of crowds would hate VCU. It's a big school. I notice a lot of people of Asian descent tend to hang out together. In some ways I think VCU is a little segregated, but I also know people who have friends from all sorts of backgrounds. Table 1- semi-asshole frat boys mixed with total asshole frat boys. Table 2- Artsy kids, Table 3-Asians, 4- THEATER STUDENTS. They travel in mass numbers. You can tell who's rich, I'll just say that. Many students are politically involved, which is something I really enjoy about VCU. I think there's a big mix of everyone, but most of the political or activitist organizations on campus are many more left wing, I think. The people in my major know we won't earn any money doing humanitarian stuff, so we mostly joke around about how we'll be poor but really fufilled.

VCU is a very racially and socially diverse school. There is a very broad variety in the kind of students who attend the school, and narrow-minded people usually have their minds opened when they come here because of that diversity. Also, each group of people have their own organizations and their own voice on campus, so that no matter who you are, you can fit in somewhere. Most students wear casual, yet classy clothes to class. There's a certain "urban style" among students, but people really just wear whatever they want. Students socialize with anyone really, but mostly the people they meet in their classes or extracurricular activities. Most students are from Northern Virginia, out of state, or the Virginia Beach area. Most students come from an upper middle class background. There are some people who are politically active, but compared to other schools it is generally docile when it comes to politics.

Most VCU students come in from about where you'd expect: Fairfax, Richmond, and VaBeach in rough order of proportion. Despite this VCU is something of a global microcosm: you're going to get representation from almost every minority ever. This is a good thing for expanding your horizons and getting used to the wider world, especially if you're coming from a more rural area and are planning on employment in a more urbanized area. The culture shock from this is severe but will wear off, especially as VCU does a good job of turning the first week of the fall semester a veritable string of "getting to know you" events. And with a student body THIS large, you're guaranteed to makes friends of some form. The dining hall is also quite huge and for the first year will constitute your primary means of feeding. In short, if you're a recluse, don't come here. As with most universities the student body is predominantly liberal, even moreso due to aforementioned art scene, though you won't be a pariah if you're conservative as there is a reasonably sized young republicans organization. Just don't expect to be outdoing the young dems for membership. In a nutshell, VCU's great at getting you used to being around a very, very, very wide variety of people of all creeds, colors, incomes, and scenes. As for the obligatory downside, the only universal catch is that due to the size of the student body you'll be waiting in line for EVERYTHING: food, class registration (though god help you if you have to do it in person, more on that later), getting books, if it involves a que you're in for a wait.

Our student body is pretty open. Since we are so diverse we are exposed to many different cultures. I dont think any student would feel left out. There is a club/organization for every ethnicity and racial group, clubs for LGBT, clubs for academics, sororities and fraternities, everything! As far as fashion goes..VCU is so different! You will see every fashion possible on VCU's campus! There are those who dress up everyday and those who dress down everyday, the goth look, the punk look, the preppy look, everything! VCU promotes self expression. You will see students of different ethnicities interacting with one another, it's common. It is common to walk into the Starbucks and see four people sitting together and everyone is from a different background. Most VCU students are from Virginia...we are in Virginia. But you will also find a lot of students from Washington D.C., Maryland, and other states mainly from the north. But we still have students from other states and countries. We are diverse.

Most students have there own "group" they hang out with. It is very diverse so everyone can make friends!

The only real complaint would be when the radical groups come out forcing their pamphlets of religion into peoples hands and talking about abortions and things. The campus should really stop those events immediately after they start. No one would feel out of place because there are so many different types of people represented. The financial background of many students seems to be the loaners. They have tons of loans are worried about how to pay them back. Albeit there are some who are wealthy, for the most part many are scrambling for nonexistent scholarships and bank loans to get through the semester. I know a lot of students just want to make sure they're not living on the streets and won't be in debt.

I don't think anyone would really feel left out at VCU. There is a nook for almost anyone. Most people, I would think, come from moderate income families and come from northern virginia, which actually makes me think the families are more low-upper class.VCU caters to anyone and everyone because they are liberal with their funding and are able to provide money to minority groups who choose to rally. Most people wear casual clothes to class, but I see an occasional pajama set. SKINNY JEANS ARE BACK IN FOR RVA!

I think it is impossible to feel out of place at VCU. With 30,000+ undergrads literally every clique, race, religion, etc- seems to be well represented. The majority are from Virginia though and many know each other from high school. The LGBT community is very well represented and other minority groups too. Like everywhere else, similar people hang out together. You are not going to see a girl from Phi Mu (a popular sorority here) sitting at Schafer with a girl covered in tattoos and piercings. That being said,VCU is incredibly diverse and there aren't any conflicts between groups or races that I know of. Everyone seems to get along.

Most VCU students seem to be from northern va and "757", wherever that is. I don't know who would feel out of place...probably a shy person from the country. The city can be overwhelming. I think it's really important to live in the dorms freshman year, it's harder to meet new people in the city. Different students might not interact at first, but after awhile everyone is cool with each other. The four groups of students in the dining hall: 1. The scenesters. These kids wear very tight jeans and a black tight shirt. They have disheveled hair or maybe a mohawk. They wear bandanas and usually have a cause...for example "go vegan" or "straight edge" etc. You all know who they are... 2. People doing stupid things to pledge for a fraternity/sorority or people that are wearing letters. 3. The rowdy group of friends that don't look like they fit into a crowd, because they all just live in the same dorm and eat together. 4. Random group of asians that don't talk to anyone else.

AGAIN, i love how diverse VCU is and you definitely see all different types of groups and people all over campus. I dont think any student would feel out of place at VCU. Most students wear comfortable clothes to class, lots of school t-shirts and sweatshirts. Yes lots of different students interact. Four tables would be consisted of a lot of different people, not just one group sitting together. Most students are from Virginia, but we do have a lot of out of state students as well as students from different countries. I believe that most students are predominantly left.