University of Virginia

I don't know whether it was genuine or they were trying to fit in, but many people at UVA had a strong sense of identity and pride in being a Hoo. I've never had this special love and commitment to UVA that so many of my peers seemed to have. That might say more about me than the school, however.

It was a good school, a great school even. I made good friends, partied a bit, learned a lot, joined some clubs, got involved in some shenanigans -- the typical college experience. UVA was a decent fit for... Read More me, but I likely could've done all of the above and thrived at 50 different schools.

On to the specifics, because that's what you most likely care about despite my words of wisdom above.

Pros first.
1. The college itself, the town of Charlottesville, and the surrounding country and mountains are all gorgeous. Although red brick and white columns may not be for you.
2. Despite its historical stereotype as a pretentious Greek school, I found UVA to be well-balanced and socially diverse. You can find pretty much anything you're looking for.
3. It's energetic. People are always doing things and are genuinely interested in doing these things.
4. Academics are challenging but not oppressive. And I felt like the college did a good job keeping you on track to graduate.
5. If you care about history at all, UVA, Charlottesville, and the surrounding areas are steeped in American Rev, Civil War, and more.
6. Sports scene, especially basketball, is good. But you're not going to get the football experience that you might desire.
7. Feels very small and unified for a state school.

Cons
1. I don't know where this comes from, but there's a certain element of exclusivity and snobbery, mostly with regard to specific clubs.
2. Food was mediocre. I got sick of it within a week.
3. Sometimes I got a little weary of being surrounded by overachievers. I often wondered if these people ever stopped to ask why they were really doing or saying something, rather than just padding their CVs or getting social credit. Take with a grain of salt. Again, this may be more reflective of my personality than UVA itself.

I completed a Masters degree last year from University of Virginia in an online curriculum & instruction program. I found the courses to be very thorough and focused on what I would need as a teacher. My degree focused on ESOL, but I am a World Language teacher and most professors allowed me to focus on my area of instruction for many projects that weren't specifically English based. It was a challenging experience that really helped me to grow as an educator and collaborative member of my school's... Read More faculty.

UVA is a great school. While at the beginning it is daunting due to the number of people who attend and the size of the campus (grounds), if you look you will find your place and your people. There is so much diversity of thought that makes the university unique and special. There are so many majors and opportunities, it's easy to plug in. Not to mention there is a large sport culture and the university historical so you learn a lot about the country and have the opportunity to reflect on a lot of... Read More the good and bad legacies that complex people leave behind.

The Batten School graduate Public Policy program is geared towards “accelerated “ students who are in their 4th year of undergraduate studies. Unfortunately, this leads to a lack of engaging class discussions and ability to share experiences. The Batten school also needs to improve how leadership is taught beyond male, dominated type leadership case studies and projects. I would not recommend this program for post graduate students who want an engaging, open, education on leadership in public policy.... Read More

There is a perception that the University of Virginia is elitist which it is. There are a very large demographic of those kinds of people there but if you are willing to look, you can kind a community of like minded individuals to be a part of. In terms of academics their science department is trash. UVA is more of a liberal arts school with its strength being in its social sciences. The name UVA opens lots of doors and has prestige but my biggest recommendation to college students would be to go... Read More to the place that gives them the most money. UVA is a great school I met lots of wonderful people there but if I could do it all again I would go for a more cost effective school. Doing well in whatever school you go to holds more weight than going to a particular school.

I decided to attend the University of Virginia at the very last second. It was nearing midnight on May 1st and I needed to make a decision. At eighteen years old, I had never left home for an extended period of time before, and the thought of moving to another state and away from my family was terrifying. With my family's encouragement, I paid my deposit and committed the next four years of my life to the University of Virginia. I never regretted my decision. I made lifelong friends in the marching... Read More band, who have become as close as family. I was challenged in every single one of my classes, and fell in love with the field of anthropology. My professors challenged me, encouraged me, and nurtured my love for archaeology and indigenous studies. The campus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the most stunningly beautiful college campus I've ever seen. (I've been to a lot of college campuses!) I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain. I cheered for the baseball, basketball, and football teams. I received a world-class education at an affordable price. The AccessUVA financial aid program made it happen for me and my family. If you are fortunate to be admitted to UVA, say yes. You will not regret it.

The University of Virginia was a mixed experience for me. I majored in Biomedical Engineering when the program was still new. The faculty was growing and the research opportunities were limited but interesting. I was able to work in a tissue engineering lab and gain valuable experiences under extremely intelligent and patient faculty members. The student life was a little challenging. I didn't fit in and that made the time difficult. I'm not a big party goer, and I don't drink, so I wasn't interested... Read More in the frat life. I ended up finding my core group of friends during my third year of school, which made the experience better.

UVA has its ups and downs, but ultimately I am very happy to have gone here. I think that this school has prepared me for the graduate school career I am about to embark on through both the level of discipline I have developed here and the actual material I have been taught. I have gotten to take classes on topics way outside of my scope of practice, each one I have appreciated and enjoyed. Additionally, I was wary of a big school at first, but I thank myself more and more every day for deciding... Read More to go here because of the increased number opportunities that have crossed my path.

My graduate degree from the University of Virginia is something that I will always be so proud of. The Adapted Physical Education program is absolutely fantastic - great professors, amazing experiences, and interesting classes. The experience I gained from my graduate program I would not have gained anywhere else. I had the privilege of teaching physical education to children with special needs and I cannot think of anything more rewarding than that. My professors prepared me well for being able... Read More to teach and communicate with students who were nonverbal. I have always had the goal of becoming a Physical Therapist for children with special needs and this program further confirmed that this is the career path that I want to take. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the University of Virginia! The city of Charlottesville is absolutely beautiful also!

University of Virginia (UVA) is one of the top best public schools in the U.S. I never thought I could attend this amazing institute. Even though I got acceptance admission letter from this school in summer last year, I still not believed that I could study here. The reason was I came from a very low-income family. When I lived in Cambodia, I couldn't even afford a one-dollar monthly tuition class. But I knew that UVA is an amazing school and investing in education is the best investment. Therefore,... Read More I decided to visit the school. I find out this great institution also offers a decent support to need-base student like me. What I found after my first semester at UVA was that this school not only provide a lot of supports to students financially, academically, and socially, it also has the best education system and phenomenal academic program. After finishing my first semester, I became a better person because of what I have learnt inside and outside of this marvelous institution. This school has helped me grow as a student and a person very quickly. Because UVA is such an amazing place to grow personally, academically, and mentally, now I am starting my own organization to share the knowledge and experience of UVAs students to other students around the world. I strongly recommend this school to any student who looks forward to pursuing a real quality of education. I confidently assert that the University of Virginia is one of the best universities in the world.

University of Virginia is a great school with great professors/classes--however, it's a school for those who are super mature and do not require much advising. Their college career services were lacking outreach when I was in school (over 10 years ago) and making sure young adults, away from homes for the first time, are doing okay and have the necessary tools to pick appropriate majors for the greatest return in their livelihood. Success is not always based on how much one makes but how much life... Read More satisfaction one obtains from their careers. However, all of this may have changed. But after talking to a parent whose child also went to my university--she also confirmed my experience with the school's advising services

The McIntire School of Commerce at The University of Virginia offers a once in a lifetime opportunity with their dual Masters in Global Commerce Program. Not only will I receive a degree from UVa, but I will also receive a Masters in Global Strategic Management from ESADE in Barcelona, Spain. This program attracts students from all over the world which leads to a very diverse group of students. Over the course of 10 months the program will challenge my ability to work in cross-cultural business settings... Read More in the US, China, and Spain. The rigor and content of the courses are very relevant and applicable for students who are interested in working in international business. My cohort is made up of 60 highly determined and intelligent recent grads who inspire me every day to learn more about different cultures. Overall, I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in living and learning with a close-knit group of students who are all interested in working in business across the globe.